RAILTOUR HEADS NORTH FOR IRISH END-OF-STEAM ANNIVERSARY

The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s ‘Heritage Weekend’ is heading north for the first time since 2001, marking 50 years since steam ended on Northern Ireland Railways.

Its ‘Irish Railway Heritage Weekend’ railtour usually runs from Dublin to the south and west of the Republic, and has only visited Northern Ireland once before.

In 2001, the railtour had been due to head to Galway but travel in the Republic was restricted by an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Instead, it was decided to run the ‘Belfast & Northern Counties’ tour, covering the lines from Belfast to Portrush and Londonderry as well as the Lisburn-Antrim branch.

One of the highlights of 2020’s trip, titled the ‘Lough Foyle’, will be the first steam run to Bangor in three years, with GNR(I) Compound No. 85 Merlin expected to haul the train on the County Down branch on Saturday May 9.

The last steam trip along the 12-mile commuter line took place on June 25 2017, when No. 85 completed three round trips as part of a ‘Sea Bangor’ festival.

As reported in SR500, the ‘Lough Foyle’ railtour is also due to reach the northerly outpost of Waterside station in Londonderry, on Sunday May 10.

Tickets for the steam section, which starts in Dublin on the

Saturday morning, are priced at “approximately” £195 for all three days, with a non-member supplement of £25.

As well as No. 85, the society plans to utilise LMS (NCC) ‘WT’ 2-6-4T No. 4, as well as GNR(I) ‘Q’ 4-4-0 No. 131, which is still restricted to Translink NI Railways.

The RPSI has been waiting since 2018 for the Commission for Railway Regulation in Dublin to approve the engine for main line operation in the Republic.