MERLIN BEING EXAMINED AFTER FAILING ON DUBLIN TO ROSSLARE RUN

Great Northern Compound No. 85 Merlin has been undergoing an examination after failing on July 7, when it was stopped en route from Dublin to Rosslare.

The train was terminated at Gorey, 60 miles from Dublin, and a planned afternoon excursion from Wexford to Rosslare was cancelled.

The RPSI said: “The Irish Rail driver was unhappy with the locomotive’s performance. There appeared to be a steam leak.”

The train had stopped at Arklow for a ‘blow-up’, but the problems persisted.

Passengers had to disembark and spent the afternoon in Gorey while a GM diesel locomotive was summoned to bring the train home to Dublin.

The GNR(I) 4-4-0 was set for a return to home territory with the RPSI’s ‘The Boyne Special’ from Dublin to Dundalk, on July 21.

It was due to operate from Dublin to Drogheda, and then complete a return trip to Dundalk before operating an afternoon run to Skerries loop and finally back to Dublin.

●● The ‘V’ class is based in Dublin over the summer, and on August 4, it is to return to the Dublin & South Eastern line to Rosslare.

On August 24, No. 85 is rostered for a ‘Marble City’ special from Dublin to Bagenalstown and thence to Kilkenny.