IARNROD EIREANN / IRISH RAIL
■ LOCOMOTIVES:
GM No. 219 has received a six-year exam at Inchicore, while Nos. 206 and 221 have also received attention. No. 224 has been withdrawn after being out of traffic since July 6, 2020, when it was failed because of structural issues. NIR GM No. 8208 was used for driver training in the Dublin area on Sunday, September 19. Belmond liveried
No. 216 ran light engine from Belfast York Road to Dublin Connolly on October 5. Retro liveried No. 073 has received a repaint.
■ TRAFFIC & TRACTION:
IWT container traffic between Dublin
Port and Ballina continued during the period under review with many trains being fully loaded. Locomotives used included Nos. 071,074,076,083,084 and 227. Timber traffic between Ballina/Westport and Waterford Sallypark yard has been buoyant recently. Locomotives noted included Nos. 076,080 and 088.
No. 080 failed near Castlerea on September 21 while working an empty Waterford to Ballina timber train. Assistance came in the shape of No. 088, which hauled the stricken loco and its train to Ballina. Locomotives used on the Tara
Mines (Navan) to Dublin Alexandra Road bulk ore flow included Nos. 071,082,086 and 088.
The Sperry train continued its tour of the system (see November issue). No. 086 and the three vehicle consist ran from North Wall to Ballina on September 20. They then returned as far as Claremorris for overnight stabling. No. 086 was again in charge on the 22nd, with overnight stabling at Athenry. The Sperry train had returned to North Wall by September 24, with
No. 081 working it on this day to and from M3 Parkway. The same loco hauled the train from North Wall to Portlaoise PW yard on the 26th. RPSI ‘BR' van No. 3173 was subsequently hauled to Inchicore for stabling by GM No. 083.
A points failure at Connolly during the morning peak on October 8 caused disruption to all services until repairs were completed. The Newbridge/ Hazelhatch to Grand Canal Dock service was diverted to work to and from Heuston, while Maynooth line services could not serve Drumcondra. Delivery of new rail from Belview to Portlaoise PW yard recommenced after a break. GM
No. 077 worked a train of empty wagons to Belview for loading on October 10. A consignment had previously been delivered by road to the yard. Malicious damage was caused to the OHLE in the Kilbarrack area during the afternoon of October 12. DART services were suspended between Harmonstown and Howth/Malahide until repairs were completed. On October 20 a signalling problem saw bustitution introduced at around 16.25 between Kilkenny
and Waterford and was subsequently operated between Bagenalstown and Waterford from around 17.25 until the problem was resolved. A five-car ICR DMU was in regular use on the Cross Border route during October, with No. 22x37 active on the 20th.
Pelletstown, located between Broombridge and Ashtown on the Dublin-Maynooth/Sligo line, was opened
on Sunday, September 26. The first train was the 08.07 Maynooth-Connolly worked by ICR DMU No. 22x21. An €8 million infrastructure upgrade project at Cork station started on October 16 and was scheduled to be completed on the 26th. The work included renewal of track and signals and the commissioning of a new signalling centre. Bustitution was in operation between Cork and Mallow during the period of disruption and the last Dublin-bound timetabled departure from Cork on the 16th was the 20.25 to Heuston worked by Mk.4 train (DBG No. 4005) powered by No. 232. The Cork to Cobh and Midleton services were bustituted from October 23, with rail services planned to be reintroduced on the 27th.
Irish Rail has taken delivery of a new Kirow-built KRC 500 rail crane. The machine, running number 900, will be used by the PW Dept in association with Rhomberg Sersa.
■ PRESERVATION:
The restoration of the RPSI's ex-IR/CIE single cab GM
No. B134 to full working order continues at Inchicore Works. The locomotive's frame and bodywork have been repaired with new or replacement parts as required. The next stage includes refitting of mechanical parts, installation of electrical and control gear and repainting. An issue which has been resolved thanks to the Dromod-based Cavan & Leitrim Railway (C&LR) has been the sourcing of a pair of swivel seats as originally used on this class of locomotive. The fixed seats that had been fitted to B134 while in company service were suitable when it worked push-pull trains with cab outermost. However, the locomotive is planned to be driven bonnet first on the mainline as well as cab first. The C&LR's preserved cab from scrapped sister loco No. 133 contained two suitable seats and these have been swapped with the pair from No. B134.