Coronavirus hits RPSI railtours

THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland cancelled or postponed all of its booked railtours during March, April and May as the nation took preventative action against the spread of the coronavirus.

The two ‘Midlander’ tours on March 15, scheduled to feature GNR(I) ‘V’ 4-4-0 No. 85 Merlin on out-and-back runs from Dublin Connolly to Maynooth, were postponed, as was April 4’s ‘EastWest’ diesel railtour from Dublin to Galway.

The multi-day ‘Lough Foyle Railtour’ on May 9-11, together with the associated ‘Ormond’ diesel tour on May 8, also fell victim to the measures; as with the other charters the RPSI has described the tour as postponed rather than cancelled.

Unfortunately, the popular Dublin to Wicklow Easter trains had to be cancelled.