Tenth ‘Emerald Isle Explorer’ tour all set for May 2023

STEAM Dreams is advertising its 10th ‘Emerald Isle Explorer’ tour to Ireland from May 3-11. The tour features one night in Dublin, two in Galway, three in Killarney, and two in Kilkenny.

After the first night in Dublin, the following day a steam-hauled train from Dublin Heuston station heads west to Athlone and Galway for a two-night stop.

Following a day to relax, on day four steam will transport passengers from Galway to Limerick on a line opened 12 years ago. There is a break at Limerick and then the train continues inland, passing Limerick Junction to Mallow before joining the main line south to Killarney for threenight break.

Day five is optional for a steam excursion to Tralee over a line with challenging gradients. Day six again is an optional steam trip to the southern city of Cork via Mallow. On Day seven, the train returns to Mallow and Limerick Junction before running onto Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny.

Day eight offers either a leisure day or an optional steam tour to

Wexford. It is 30 miles by road from Kilkenny to Wexford, but by rail it is about 200 because the train has to run via Dublin. In Dublin, a locomotive change takes place before the steam train heads south to Wexford, but passengers are returned by bus to their hotels in Kilkenny.

On Day nine, a return coach transfer will take passengers back to Wexford for a final steam-hauled return journey to Dublin.

Locomotives and stock will come from Railway Preservation Society of Ireland based at

Whitehead. Two Beyer Peacock 4-4-0s will be used on the tour: V class No. 85 Merlin was built in 1932 for express passenger use on the Belfast to Dublin line, and S class No. 171 Slieve Gullion, which dates from 1913, will be making its first appearance on a Steam Dreams tour.

Pullman-style dining is £3995, premier dining £2995, and premier standard £1995. There are optional packages available for train and ferry crossings.

For further details, visit steamdreams.co.uk