IRISH ANGLE
DMU tour offered upmarket ‘staycation'.
WITH the Covid-19 crisis leading to an absence of overseas visitors to Ireland this summer, and a plea by the Government for residents to consider a ‘staycation', Railtours Ireland First Class saw an opportunity to cater for those wanting an ‘up market' local holiday.
The company planned a series of four identical seven-night rail and coach tours of Ireland during August, marketed as the ‘Emerald Pullman', which would start from and finish at Dublin Connolly. These offered four star accommodation, meals, and hosted visits to historical locations and beauty spots.
An IR 190-seat three-car 22000 Class ICR DMU was chosen for each tour, but only 68 seats could be used because of social distancing requirements. While private charters have been worked by this type of DMU before, this was the first time that one had been booked for a week-long duty.
Unit No. 22x03, which is equipped to run over NIR metals, was chosen and prepared at Laois Traincare depot for its tour duties. The passenger saloons were decorated with tablecloths and fresh flowers to help bring the interiors up to a superior standard. There was also a First Class welcome for guests, as red carpets were placed at exterior doors at station stops. On-board refreshments comprised light meals and drinks, which were served by Corporate Catering staff.
Finbarr O'Neill
TOUR ITINERARY
The inaugural tour started on Sunday, August 9 and departed Connolly at 12.50 for Rosslare Strand with No. 22x03 sporting a headboard. At Rosslare Strand, the 25 guests transferred to a road coach for the remainder of the journey to Waterford, while the unit ran empty to Waterford via Dublin.
The next day the tour continued from Waterford (dep 09.40) via Clonmel and Limerick Junction to Cobh (arr 13.05). The unit was stabled in the (rarely used) siding there until the tour continued to Killarney (dep Cobh 15.15) for a two-night stay. Wednesday, August 12 saw No. 22x03 depart Killarney at 08.55 and run to Galway via Mallow, Limerick Junction, Ennis and Athenry.
On the 14th, No. 22x03 ran from
GM No. 221 River Fealge powers out of Castlerea, County Roscommon, on August 17 with the morning IWT liner from Ballina to Dublin Port.
Galway (dep 08.55) to Belfast Great Victoria Street (GVS) via Connolly, where there was a short break. A pilot driver, who boarded at Adelaide, accompanied the unit into GVS platform 4 and also later as far as Adelaide when No. 22x03 ran empty to Drogheda depot.
The tour party was to travel on the 09.15 GVS to Larne Harbour timetabled service on August 15 as part of a coach tour of the County Antrim coast. This rail trip was not possible because of a total engineering possession of the Whitehead to Larne Harbour section. This possession on 15th and 16th was to facilitate repairs to a culvert at Magheramorne Loop.
No. 22x03 ran empty from Drogheda depot (dep 08.10) to GVS (platform 4) on Sunday, August 16 with a pilot driver again on board between
Adelaide and GVS, and the run from
GVS to Connolly marked the final leg of the inaugural ‘Emerald Pullman'.
The initial plan for four tours was subsequently reduced to two, but then the second tour on August 23 had to be cancelled because of events beyond Railtours Ireland's control.
On August 18, the Irish Government responded to a significant increase in coronavirus cases by tightening restrictions in order to help combat the spread of the disease. Following Government advice, the company decided to suspend the remainder of its 2020 operations.
On a more positive note, however, the tour company stated that it was inviting expressions of interest for a 2021 season of ‘Emerald Pullman' tours, which are scheduled to start in April.
E
TRAFFIC AND TRACTION: The 2600 Class DMU-worked services between Cork and Cobh/Midleton featured extensive use of four-car units instead of two-car units during the period under review. This was done to adhere to social distancing requirements. Formations noted included: Nos. 2614/17/08/07 and Nos. 2602/01/10/13.
No. 071 hauled an empty spoil train from Gorey to Dublin Connolly yard on August 1 (see last issue).
Also on August 1, the driver of the 10.00 Heuston to Cork service, which was worked by five-car ICR DMU
No. 22x34, reduced the train's speed and sounded the horn while passing the closed station at Buttevant between Charleville and Mallow. This was done as a mark of respect for the 18 people who died when the 10.00 Heuston to Cork loco-hauled service on August 1, 1980 was routed into a siding at speed at Buttevant with devastating consequences – 70 others were injured. While locomotive No. 075 received only minimal damage, three of the 12 vehicles in the consist were destroyed, three were badly damaged, and only the three at the rear were undamaged. A wide ranging review of safety procedures and the crashworthiness of 1950s/60s stock was undertaken after the accident. This led to the withdrawal of wooden framed stock from mainline service and the ordering of 124 new Mk.3s. Later, ex-BR Mk.2s and Mk.3s were also obtained.
Five-car ICR DMU No. 22x36 was used on Connolly to Sligo services during the weekend of August 1-3. It was then withdrawn from traffic to be refreshed internally.
Further relaying of sections of the Nenagh branch continued while the passenger service remained suspended.
On August 6, GMs Nos. 072 and 073 ‘top and tailed' a ballast hopper train from Lisduff sidings (between Ballybrophy and Templemore on the Dublin to Cork line) to the work site between Castleconnel and Killonan Junction.
ICR DMU No. 22x34 was failed at Kilkenny on August 11 while working the 10.15 Heuston to Waterford. Passengers were transferred to a road coach for the remainder of the journey. No. 22x34 was repaired by a technician from Laois Traincare depot and the unit then ran empty to Waterford and worked the 14.50 to Heuston. Also on this day, inspection
Waterford & Suir Valley Railway loco No. 3 Enterprise poses with two coaches at Kilmeaden station on August 22. The six-mile narrow gauge line is built on the trackbed of the former Mallow to Waterford line. car No. 722 traversed the Waterford to Rosslare Strand line.
Delivery of life-expired concrete sleepers from North Wall to locations between Rathdrum and Arklow continued during August. On the 12th, No. 085 worked the train of seven loaded spoil container wagons via Islandbridge Junction to the work sites and thence to Gorey. No. 085 returned to Dublin from Gorey with the empty train on the 14th.
A further delivery was made on the 15th, with No. 085 again in charge. After recessing at Gorey, the loco and train returned to Dublin later the same day.
Freight traffic continued to operate during the period under review. Locomotives noted working Tara Mines (Navan) to Dublin Port bulk ore trains included Nos. 071, 079, 080 and 084. Locomotives used on IWT container trains between Ballina and Dublin Port included Nos. 076, 080, 081, 086, 221 and 226. Bulk timber continued to be dispatched from Westport to Waterford. Locomotives used on this flow included Nos. 071, 075, 078 and 083.
Storm Ellen made landfall in Ireland during the evening of August 19 with heavy rain and winds of up to 90mph being reported. The south-west was badly affected, but other areas also endured serious weather conditions.
On the 20th, early morning services from Cork and Limerick to Heuston experienced serious delays because of fallen trees and other debris. ICR DMU No. 22x11 returned empty to Cork after its Heuston bound service was terminated at Charleville. Passengers transferred to the 07.00 Cork to Heuston service worked by GM No. 216 and Mk.4 train (DBG No. 4008).
The 07.05 Tralee to Heuston worked by unit No. 22x32 was delayed, as were services on the Limerick to Limerick Junction section. Eleven trees blocked the Glounthaune to Midleton branch and it was reported that some sections were temporarily closed to enable teams to clear the lines.
GM No. 082 departed Portlaoise PW yard bound for Dublin with the Sperry train on August 21. The consist was a flat wagon with an empty spoil container/weedspray tank, the Sperry container wagon and the weedspray train's ‘BR' van No. 3187. No. 082 and train were stabled at North Wall on the 23rd.
The 15.50 Maynooth to Connolly was failed at Leixlip Confey on the 22nd. As a result, services were suspended between Maynooth and Clonsilla while trains from the Dublin direction terminated at or started from Clonsilla. Rail tickets were valid on Dublin Bus services and normal rail services restarted at around 18.00.
DART PROBLEMS: The 07.20 Howth to Greystones on July 29 terminated at Booterstown after the EMU was failed.
Services between Connolly and
Howth/Malahide were suspended on August 1 after OHLE was damaged. A DART service was subsequently restored between Connolly and Harmonstown, while diesel-worked passenger trains operated with some delays. However, all services were suspended when repairs were being carried out.
DART services were disrupted again on August 5 when a power supply problem at Bray saw services suspended between Dalkey and Greystones. On both occasions rail tickets were valid on parallel Dublin Bus services and normal services resumed later the same day.
A shuttle service was worked by a DMU between Bray and Greystones on August 20 because of an electrical power supply problem linked to Storm Ellen. The DART service restarted later the same day.
CROSS-BORDER: Loco-worked passenger trains may have been reintroduced to ‘Enterprise' duties on July 24. However, reliability issues with the GM 201 Class+De Dietrich/
Mk.3 trains saw DMUs again in use, substituting as required.
On August 6, the 07.35 Connolly to Lanyon Place and 10.35 return were worked by a DMU because of ‘mechanical issues'. The departure of the 09.00 ex-Lanyon Place on Sunday, August 9 was badly delayed because of a problem, while the 11.05 ex-Lanyon Place was worked by a unit because of a ‘train fault' – the 14.00 ex-Connolly being worked by unit No. 3005.
The late running 11.20 ex-Connolly on the 15th was stopped at Newry with a fitter in attendance – the return 14.05 ex-Lanyon Place was worked by a DMU.
Locomotives noted in use on ‘Enterprise' duties during the period under review included: Nos. 207, 228, 231, 233, 8208 and 8209.
INFRASTRUCTURE: A new footbridge is being installed at
Carlow station.
The trackbed of former railway lines and sidings in the Docklands/ Newcomen Junction area of Dublin have been used for a new greenway.
Four sidings have been relaid in the up yard at Connolly and new buffer stops installed. It is believed that a multi-storey block of the new Connolly Quarter development is to be built above the sidings.
Building of a new station at Pelletstown on the Maynooth line is progressing.
Construction of the new Broadmeadow Greenway – between Malahide and Donabate, which will parallel the Dublin to Belfast line – has received planning permission.
Local councils and other interested parties have stated that the Waterford to Rosslare Strand line should be safeguarded for possible reuse, and that its possible conversion to a greenway should be resisted.