Joint Railtour (1964) - Whitehead Railway Museum

This marathon tour, over 9 days in June 1964, took in most of the still-existing lines of Ireland and was a joint venture by the Irish Railway Record Society, the Railway Correspondence & Travel Society and the Stephenson Locomotive Society. The photographs (with a few separately-attributed exceptions) are by Roger Joanes, who says: "It was a memorable trip. The organisers sold tickets for individual days as well as for the whole tour, and I took advantage of this to choose the days with the rarest bits of track. On other days I was able to follow the train, more or less, by using regular trains, in a car hired by some friends, or by hitch-hiking. Hence far more pictures on some days than on others." Viewing the photographs will be greatly enhanced by reading the tour report which is available in the Publications/Irish Railways General web page. Reference to subsequent RPSI tour galleries will show how much has disappeared over the years from what was a very interesting railway system.

5/6/1964: No.198 at rest in Amiens Street depot.

5/6/1964: The tour began with a trip to Ardee. No.183, with No.198 coupled behind, is at Dublin Amiens Street in the morning.

5/6/1964: No.183 & No.198 call at Drogheda.

5/6/1964: Dunleer was then still very much a working station.

5/6/1964: The branch platform at Dromin Junction.

5/6/1964: At Ardee, (then goods only, though with a quite extensive layout) there was some rather complicated manoeuvring to transfer the locomotives to the other end of the train. (J.J. Davis)

5/6/1964: The extensive facilities at Ardee are evident as the locomotives are prepared for departure.

5/6/1964: A heavy rain shower cleared Ardee yard of most photographers.

5/6/1964: Back at Drogheda, the sun came out again as the locomotives visited the depot. No.198 has already made use of the turntable.

5/6/1964: In front of the impressive Drogheda South cabin, No.198 backs onto the train, while No.183 waits to exit the depot yard.

5/6/1964: After Drogheda the train double-headed to East Wall, where 183 was uncoupled to run light to Amiens Street. No.198 then took the train into North Wall yard where this view was taken.

5/6/1964: Diesel E431 was attached to the rear of the train which reversed to Newcomen Junction. No.198 was again in sole charge up the bank into Amiens Street, seen here.

5/6/1964: No.183, which had turned in the meantime, now came on the rear of the train. It is pictured at the branch platform of a very rural looking Howth Junction.

5/6/1964: The next stop was Sutton. The chimney of the former power station of the Hill Of Howth Tramway is visible.

5/6/1964: The train is at the then single platform at Howth. No.183 has run round and is approaching again from the Dublin end.

5/6/1964: No.183 blowing off at Howth.

5/6/1964: No.183 returning the train to Amiens Street. The climbing rungs on the tender indicate that it once held a tank for an oil-burning locomotive. (P. Proud)

5/6/1964: A rare view of the coaling crane at Amiens Street as No.183 is coaled after the Howth trip. (P. Proud)

6/6/1964: The next day started out wet and stayed that way all day. No.186 is leading No.130 as the train enters Bray heading south.

6/6/1964: Starting off from the southern end of Bray.

6/6/1964: A view from Bray's south end showing, to the left, the former road to the turntable.

6/6/1964: No.186 and No.130 fly through Avoca.

6/6/1964: Still very wet as the train halts at Enniscorthy.

6/6/1964: Leaving Enniscorthy, the train crosses the River Slaney.

6/6/1964: Overcoats aplenty at Wexford North.

6/6/1964: No.186 and No.130 crossing the Crescent Bridge on Wexford Quay.

6/6/1964: Wexford South station was then still a going concern.

6/6/1964: Wexford South had an island platform and an extensive yard.

6/6/1964: The locomotives skirt the sea wall on the pier on the approach to Rosslare Harbour terminus.

6/6/1964: At Rosslare's locomotive shed, No.186 has already turned and No.130 can be seen leaving the turntable.

6/6/1964: With No.186 still leading, the train is entering Bridgetown on the South Wexford line.

6/6/1964: The train has arrived in Campile. (Photographer unknown)

7/6/1964: The next morning No.186 has run light to Clonmel, and No.130 has the train in one of the west-facing bays at Waterford.

7/6/1964: No.130 has arrived in Clonmel and will uncouple. No.186 is seen approaching the train from the rear.

7/6/1964: No.186 is now on the rear of the train at Clonmel.

7/6/1964: At Clonmel, No.186 has coupled up in preparation for a trip up the branch to Thurles.

7/6/1964: No.186 at Fethard, about one-third of the way from Clonmel to Thurles.

7/6/1964: No.186 racing through Laffansbridge.

7/6/1964: No.186 hauls the special into Thurles.

7/6/1964: In front of Thurles shed, locomotives 262, 124, 104 and 195 are stored out of use.

7/6/1964: No.186 has turned and is back on the train at Thurles. B105 with a gas tank wagon is alongside to refill a leaking gas cylinder in the diner.

7/6/1964: The train has returned along the branch to Clonmel and is now at Cahir. Not sure why the loco is uncoupled - maybe to access a water column?

7/6/1964: The train has reached Limerick Junction and reversed into the mainline platform. No.130, which had come light earlier in the day from Clonmel, can be seen at the rear of the train.

7/6/1964: No.106 and No.125 are out of use and covered in pigeon droppings at Limerick Junction shed.

7/6/1964: No.130 at the south end of the train at the Junction. B105 has arrived back from Thurles with the gas wagon.

7/6/1964: No.130 and train at Rathluirc (now Charleville).

7/6/1964: No.130 turning at Rathluirc to face north.

7/6/1964: No.130 and train at Rathluirc. It will head north again for a mile then take the Cork & Limerick Direct Railway branch to Patrickswell.

7/6/1964: Bruree was the first station on the C&LDR branch.

7/6/1964: Photographers make good use of the bridge at Bruree. (J.J. Davis)

7/6/1964: This shot suggests it was non-stop through Croom, the third and last station on the branch.

7/6/1964: At Patrickwell, No.186, which had travelled light from the Junction via Limerick, is now on the train for a reversal to Foynes. No.130 can be seen in the distance heading to Limerick.

7/6/1964: First stop is at Adare.

7/6/1964: At Ballingrane Junction, where the North Kerry route diverges on the right behind the photographer.

7/6/1964: There is evidence of goods traffic at Askeaton.

7/6/1964: The terminus at Foynes where No.186 has uncoupled to turn and run round.

7/6/1964: The young boy to the right probably won't see the like of this visit again until the first RPSI tour to Foynes in 1972.

8/6/1964: A new day and a new route. No.186, with No.130 behind, setting off along the direct curve from Limerick to the Tralee line.

8/6/1964: Arriving at Newcastle West.

8/6/1964: Newcastle West is a terminal station having one platform with two faces. No.130 is running along the opposite platform to the turntable.

8/6/1964: The train reversed in Newcastle West and is heading south again. This is a stop in the small station of Barnagh.

8/6/1964: Still on the North Kerry line, at Kilmorna.

8/6/1964: A rare colour shot of the tour, at Kilmorna. (N. McAdams, courtesy IRRS)

8/6/1964: The tour train at Listowel.

8/6/1964: As the column was at the north end of the platform, the train set back to take water.

8/6/1964: The train has arrived at Tralee and No.186 is running to the back of the train for the trip to Fenit.

8/6/1964: At Fenit, Deutz diesel G617 (out of sight) has pulled the train back to allow No.186 to access the loop.

8/6/1964: No.186 is at the Tralee end of the train again at Fenit. With the closure of the Valentia line, Fenit was then the most westerly railhead in Europe.

8/6/1964: On the move between Fenit and Kilfenora.

8/6/1964: Kilfenora, with Saint Brendan's Island and Fenit pier in the background.

8/6/1964: Back at Tralee, No.186 joined up with No.130 again, and has stopped at Farranfore on the way to Mallow.

8/6/1964: As always, a reversal was required to bring the train into Killarney.

8/6/1964: Killarney with a busy yard full of cattle wagons. (J.J. Davis)

8/6/1964: No.186 taking water at Millstreet.

8/6/1964: A stop at Banteer. Note the Morris Minor being unloaded from a flat wagon.

8/6/1964: The train has arrived at the loop platform at Mallow.

8/6/1964: A visit to Mallow shed shows J15 No.116 out of use.

9/6/1964: Early in the morning and No.186 and No.130 are being prepped in Limerick.

9/6/1964: The rain has come on heavy as the train approaches Birdhill.

9/6/1964: Arrival at Nenagh enabled the centenary of the completion on 1st June 1864 of the Birdhill-Nenagh line completing the direct Limerick-Dublin route to be remembered.

9/6/1964: Arriving at a soggy Roscrea.

9/6/1964: At Ballybrophy the train is on the Down main. No.130 has already turned and is awaiting No.186 to do likewise.

9/6/1964: At Portarlington, with 186 pulling and 130 propelling, the train visited the power station branch off the Athlone line. Here the tour is waiting for No.186 to join the rear of the train.

9/6/1964: At Athlone shed, No.183 is being prepared to take over from No.130 for the run on to Galway.

10/6/1964: No.183 being made ready in Galway locomotive yard.

10/6/1964: No.183 carrying out some shunting at Galway before departure on the tour.

10/6/1964: No.183 collecting the train from the storage road at Galway as intending passengers look on.

10/6/1964: At Athenry, ready to lake the line to Claremorris.

10/6/1964: Plenty of steam in the boiler at Ballyglunin.

10/6/1964: Awaiting the gates at Tuam.

10/6/1964: The gates being opened at Tuam.

10/6/1964: No.183 has arrived in Claremorris, where steam from No.130 and No.186 can be seen beside the water tower.

10/6/1964: While No.183 ran back to Athlone, No.186 piloted No.130 from Claremorris to Westport, where the train can be seen with No.186 already removed.

10/6/1964: Both locomotives have been turned and are getting serviced at Westport.

10/6/1964: No.130 took the tour down to Westport Quay, and has just uncoupled to run round.

10/6/1964: No.130 stalled on the climb back from the Quay and No.186 was sent down to help. Here they are arriving back at the main Westport station.

10/6/1964: No.186 and No.130 being photographed at Manulla Junction.

10/6/1964: The train with both locomotives has arrived back at Claremorris.

10/6/1964: At Claremorris, No.186 ran round first, then No.130 seen here, departing for the turntable.

10/6/1964: With No.130 now leading, the train stops at Kiltimagh on the Burma Road.

10/6/1964: A very neat looking Swinford.

10/6/1964: A view over No.130's cab approaching Tubbercurry.

10/6/1964: No.130 taking water at Tubbercurry.

10/6/1964: Still on the Burma Road and a stop at Leyny.

10/6/1964: At the GS&WR station at Collooney, before the climb to the MGWR main line.

10/6/1964: On the main Sligo line at Ballysodare.

11/6/1964: First thing in the morning and No.130 took the train from the main station down to Sligo Quays.

11/6/1964: No.183 followed light to the Quays and carried out a bit of shunting with No.130 before returning the train to the station. No.130 returned light. (T. Edgington)

11/6/1964: Back at Sligo station, No.130 is returning the train to the platform.

11/6/1964: No.130 and No.183 power through Collooney MGWR.

11/6/1964: No.130 and No.183 departing Longford.

11/6/1964: At Mullingar No.198 had come out from Dublin to stand pilot and is waiting in the bay as the tour train arrives. As it had a full tank of water, it saved time watering two engines to change it for No.130.

11/6/1964: For the last 50 miles to Dublin, No.183 and No.198 were in charge and here they are leaving Mullingar.

11/6/1964: At Amiens Street, UTA No.207 "Boyne" was waiting to take over. (T. Edgington)

11/6/1964: The train has arrived at Amiens Street and No.207 "Boyne" has coupled up. (J.J. Davis)

11/6/1964: While the tour made its way to Belfast, No.130 ran in light from Mullingar. The locomotive has paused at Hill Of Down.

11/6/1964: No.130 at Hill Of Down.

11/6/1964: No.130 gets water at Enfield.

11/6/1964: Approaching Amiens Street, No.130 meets E407 on a transfer goods from North Wall.

12/6/1964: The first trip of the day was Belfast GVS to Belfast York Road with UTA No.97. Then Jeep No.7 took the train to Larne, stopping here at Carrickfergus. (J.J. Davis)

12/6/1964: Back at York Road, No.97 "Earl of Ulster" came on again and is seen departing for Portrush and Derry Waterside.

13/6/1964: UTA No.60 "Slieve Donard" (ex-GNR 172) was the motive power from Derry's Foyle Road. It is pictured in the bay at the Belfast end of Omagh.

13/6/1964: No.60 on the tour train at Omagh. (T. Edgington)

13/6/1964: No.60 leaking a lot of steam as it tops the bank between Carrickmore and Pomeroy.

13/6/1964: Approaching Portadown from the Derry Road.

13/6/1964: At Portadown No.170 "Errigal" took over and is passing Scarva on the way to Warrenpoint.

13/6/1964: A photo stop at Narrow Water.

13/6/1964: At Newry Edward Street, U class No.66 "Meath" (GNR 201) was in steam.

13/6/1964: Back on the main line again and No.170 is heading south between Bessbrook and Adavoyle.

13/6/1964: J15s No.198 and No.183 took over at Dundalk, and here they have arrived back in Dublin's Amiens Street. (T. Edgington)