ITG Supertrain Tour

14th October 2006

Rowan and I took the night ferry to Dublin to join the Irish Traction Group's Supertrain tour, which we booked through Pathfinder, who organised a bus to get us from Dublin Ferryport to Connolly station. We arrived bleary-eyed, hung round for the café to open for a much-needed coffee, and then onto the concourse. Class 071 locomotive number 080 was at the head of our train, but off the end of the platform with a signal in the way. 221 was well placed for the cameras, at the head of the first Enterprise service of the day, the 07:35 to Belfast.

We departed at 07:50, passing 086 and 207 on shed, and took the route through Phoenix Park tunnel, normally restricted to freight. We were held for 230 to pass with a Westport service, which gave us the opportunity to photograph 163 through the window, as it was stabled in a siding at Heuston. 220 also passed us on a lightly-loaded northbound service.

We spotted 083, 144, 165, 173, 210, 217 and 229 outside Inchicore works, then passed 219 on a northbound service comprising a Mk 4 set.

We also noted 072 at Newbridge and 202 after Monastereven, both on Dublin-bound passenger services as we made for the south coast.

After an hour and a half, we secured our first pictures of our train at a short photo-stop at Charleville.

We were held outside Cork, allowing us a view of the tunnel leading into Kent station. The steep gradient was a severe test for steam locomotives leaving the station.

Cobh