Ben Bulben Railtour (1981) - Whitehead Railway Museum

This tour was delayed from May because of problems with No.171. Also, at Collooney a short ceremony was held commemorating the completion of the RPSI’s coverage of the entire Irish railway network. Saturday 26th September: (171 LE) Mullingar - Dublin Pearse; (171) Dublin Pearse - Mullingar; (184+171) Mullingar - Longford; (184) Longford - Ballymote; (171 LE) Longford - Ballymote; (171+184) Ballymote - Sligo. Sunday 27th September: (171+184 ECS) Sligo - Sligo Quay - Sligo; (171+184) Sligo - Carrick-on-Shannon; (184 LE) Carrick-on-Shannon - Mullingar; (171) Carrick-on-Shannon - Dublin Connolly (via Newcomen Junction); (171) Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central - Belfast CSD. No.171 slipped to a stand at Newcomen Junction within sight of Connolly and was eventually diesel-hauled into Connolly. Ex-MGWR six wheel coach No.62 was attached at Drogheda.

26/9/1981: The tour started from Dublin Pearse, and here No.171 has the train on the Loop Line approaching Connolly.

26/9/1981: The train was to have been routed via Newcomen Junction, but a signalling faux pas sent it out via the normal North Strand Junction route, where No.171 is approaching.

26/9/1981: The tour was accompanied by this helicopter from Connolly for some distance into the country. Did footage ever appear?

26/9/1981: No.171 approaching Liffey Junction and the end of the climb out of Connolly. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: No.171 rounding the curve at Liffey Junction, with the Royal Canal to the right. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: Running alongside the Royal Canal near Kilcock. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: Coming to a stop at Enfield, with an Up liner alongside. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: Crossing a foggy River Boyne near Moyvalley. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.171 coming off the the train at Mullingar. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.171 goes to take water at the Down Galway platform.

26/9/1981: As No.171 heads to the Galway platform No.184 has come on to the rear of the train - was van 114 taken to the yard to service No.171? (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: No.184 at the rear of the train on Down Sligo platform.

26/9/1981: No.184 beneath Mullingar's impressive cabin. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: No.171 nips to the yard to get coaled. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: There was plenty of time to have a mooch about Mullingar, and a line of GNR(I) tenders is pictured outside the locomotive shed.

26/9/1981: Inside Mullingar shed is No.461 (wearing its D&SER No.15). The locomotive has been there since March 1977. It moved to Whitehead in November 1984, and was next in Mullingar (in steam) in April 1991.

26/9/1981: No.184 is now at the head of the train at Mullingar, waiting for No.171 to come back from getting water and coal. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: At Mullingar, No.171 and No.184 have coupled up for a double-headed run.

26/9/1981: The Mullingar starting signal is off for the road to Sligo.

26/9/1981: No.171 passing Lough Owel. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: The train is at Multyfarnham for a photo stop. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: A photo stop at Multyfarnham.

26/9/1981: Another view of the locomotives at Multyfarnham.

26/9/1981: At Street & Rathowen there was a runpast. Hopefully, the clothes on the washing line didn't suffer too much!

26/9/1981: Street & Rathowen runpast. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: Inspector Eamonn Lacken appears very nonchalant on No.171's footplate at the Street & Rathowen runpast.

26/9/1981: As the train sweeps past and the cameras pan, it's everybody duck!. That looks like Bill Scott with the camera.

26/9/1981: Michael McMahon and Kathleen Arnold (on the bank) speak to Bob Clements on the train. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: A donkey and goat are casual spectators at Street & Rathowen.

26/9/1981: The next photo stop was at Edgeworthstown (Mostrim).

26/9/1981: A fine view of the double-header at Edgeworthstown. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: The GNR(I) Directors' Saloon 50 looks well in the rake at Mostrim. The coach was having its first major outing and a premium fare was charged for travelling in it.

26/9/1981: A party from the Lady Victoria Boat Club in Belfast were travelling in the Saloon.

26/9/1981: Flying along west of Mostrim. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.171, No.184 (hidden in steam) and the train have arrived in Longford.

26/9/1981: Both engines at Longford. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: No.184 was due to come off at Longford, but No.171's injectors were playing up and it was taken off instead.

26/9/1981: No.171, removed from the train, is alongside No.184 at Longford. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.171 making itself scarce at Longford.

26/9/1981: No.171 backing away from the train at Longford. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: No.184's crew bravely agreed to take the train forward, despite it being overweight for such a small engine. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: The train is setting off from Longford. (J. Hunt)

26/9/1981: No.184 and coach 861 at Dromod.

26/9/1981: The photo stop at Dromod.

26/9/1981: Dromod cabin, and No.184 seemingly dwarfed by its train. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: No.184 crossing the River Shannon. (A. Gray)

26/9/1981: No.184 passing the closed station of Drumsna. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: The water stop at Carrick-on-Shannon draws a large crowd.

26/9/1981: No.184 at Carrick-on-Shannon. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: Carrick-on-Shannon. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: No.184 struggles on after Carrick-on-Shannon.

26/9/1981: Tullyleague, about a mile west of Carrick-on-Shannon. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: The size of the train for such a small engine can be clearly seen at Tullyleague. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.184 coasts towards Boyle. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: West of Boyle and crossing the Boyle River at Gowel. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: At Rathmullen, south of Ballymote. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: Steaming away from Rathmullen. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.184 and train reach Ballymote. (A. Gray)

26/9/1981: No.184 catching a breath at Ballymote as a service train to Sligo overtakes. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.171 arriving at Ballymote, having run light from Longford. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: No.171 had followed behind the tour train, and here it is catching up at Ballymote. It was coupled up again here for the stretch into Sligo.

26/9/1981: Double-headed once again, the train departs Ballymote. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: Super power departing Ballymote. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.171 and No.184 at Toberscanavan, near MP 125, south of Collooney. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: At Collooney there was a short ceremony held to mark the completion of the RPSI covering the whole Irish railway network. But the rain was torrential and there were few there to see or record the event.

26/9/1981: A few brave souls venture out for the ceremony at Collooney. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: The Mayor of Sligo boarded at Collooney and here he is talking to John Richardson in the Directors' Saloon.

26/9/1981: Crossing the Ballysodare River. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: The train has arrived in Sligo. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: The traditional arrival shot in Sligo. (J. Hunt)

26/9/1981: Sligo's unique roof is hard to miss. (J.A. Cassells)

26/9/1981: No.171 in Sligo shed - very late in the evening! (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.171 in Sligo shed, between B123 and No.184. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.171 in Sligo shed. (C.P. Friel)

26/9/1981: No.184 in Sligo shed. (C.P. Friel)

27/9/1981: On Sunday morning, No.184 and No.171 are at the buffer stops in Sligo, ready to propel out to go down the Quays.

27/9/1981: The train has reversed outside Sligo station and is descending the goods only line to the Quays.

27/9/1981: No.184 and No.171 in Sligo goods yard, seen from the Deep Water gate. (C.P. Friel)

27/9/1981: The coupled locomotives have changed ends and are tackling the steep climb from Sligo Quays to the main station.

27/9/1981: A bit further up the climb from the Quays. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: The climb from the Quays, with just a vague glimpse of Ben Bulben in the murk. (C.P. Friel)

27/9/1981: The two locomotives at Sligo's departure platform. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: Leslie McAllister (right) in carriage 1333 before departing Sligo. (C.P. Friel)

27/9/1981: Plenty of steam at Sligo for the road ahead. (C.P. Friel)

27/9/1981: Inspector Eamonn Lacken crossing to the Cabin at Sligo to get the staff, with a young Tony Renehan looking on from No.184. (C.P. Friel)

27/9/1981: With the weather that bad that water is flowing over the ballast, No.171 and No.184 pass under Maugherboy Road outside Sligo. (C.P. Friel)

27/9/1981: A lineside shot in foul weather between Ballysodare and Collooney.

27/9/1981: Passing Collooney. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: Another linside shot - between Collooney and Ballymote.

27/9/1981: Taking water at Ballymote. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: A photo stop at Boyle. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: The double-headed train has arrived at Carrick-on-Shannon, and is taking water before drawing forward. (A. Gray)

27/9/1981: At Carrick-on-Shannon. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: No.184 came off the train at Carrick-on-Shannon, and it has moved to the Up platform to let No.171 and train proceed. It will follow light to Longford.

27/9/1981: No.171 now has the train by itself, and is speeding through Drumsna. (A. Gray)

27/9/1981: No.171 waiting at Longford for No.184 to follow. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: No.171 at Longford.

27/9/1981: No.184 comes in light to Longford.

27/9/1981: It was about this time that the 'Boaters' called for a basin from the diner, into which was poured a variety of bottles from a box. The resultant punch was passed round to all in the Saloon. It proved to be very satisfactory!!

27/9/1981: Passing Lough Owel. (A. Gray)

27/9/1981: Lough Owel. (A. Gray)

27/9/1981: As the train drew into Mullingar, this was the spectacle which greeted passengers.

27/9/1981: Peter Scott supervises No.171 taking water at Mullingar. No.184 has come off the train and will stable in the locomotive shed here. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: Another look at those GNR(I) tenders at Mullingar. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: To make up for missing Newcomen Junction on the outward journey, the return train was routed this way. However, the steep bank on a curve proved too much for No.171 and it stalled. It is seen waiting for help. (J.A. Cassells)

27/9/1981: 054 after hauling the whole train into Connolly.