G601 - copyright ITG C231 - copyright ITG
 
 

 

 

 

The Beet Route

Saturday 09 March 1991

Station Arr Dep/Pass   Loco
Bray   07:20    
Dun Laoghaire 07:34 07:36    
Dublin Connolly 07:48 07:50   104
Clonsilla   08:06    
Maynooth 08:16 08:17    
Enfield   08:30    
Killucan   08:50    
Mullingar 09:02 09:07    
Moate 09:37 09:42    
Athlone Midland 10:00 10:10 Rev  
Clonydonnin   10:22    
Clara   10:32    
Tullamore   10:42    
Geashill   10:52    
Portarlington   11:04    
Kildare   11:17    
Newbridge   11:21    
Sallins   11:28    
Hazelhatch   11:36    
Inchicore   11:44    
Dublin Heuston 11:50 12:15    
Inchicore   12:20    
Hazelhatch   12:28    
Sallins   12:36    
Newbridge   12:43    
Kildare   12:47   027
Cherryville Jn   12:52    
Athy   13:04    
Carlow   13:16    
Bagnalstown 13:30 13:40    
Kilkenny 14:00 14:10 Rev  
Thomastown   14:25    
Waterford 14:55 15:25 Rev 056
Carrick on Suir   15:45    
Clonmel 16:05 16:10    
Cahir 16:25 16:30    
Tipperary 16:50 17:00    
Limerick Jn 17:10 17:20    
Thurles   17:45    
Ballybrophy   18:07    
Kildare   18:49    
Inchicore   19:16    
Dublin Connolly 19:30      
         
Notes  
Rev - Reverse
 

Tour Review

This railtour was originally advertised to run from Waterford to Rosslare Harbour and then from Rosslare Harbour to Dublin Connolly on the return leg. However, on 7th March a shipping vessel collided with the Barrow Bridge (between Waterford and Campile), which resulted in the line being closed for several months. The railtour itinerary showed the original route, but a revised schedule was prepared whereby the railtour would run from Waterford to Limerick Junction and then back to Dublin Connolly as shown in the timings schedule above. 

Due to delays in bringing the empty stock round from Dublin Heuston in the morning, the railtour started at Dublin Connolly instead, with passengers being conveyed up from Bray and Dun Laoghaire by service DART. Further delays due to poor train regulation meant that departure from Dublin Connolly was significantly later than planned. As a result, on arrival at Kildare, it was decided to send the train directly down the Waterford line, instead of running to Dublin Heuston and back. Unfortunately, further pathing problems on the Waterford line incurred further heavy delays, and so upon arrival at Waterford it was then too late for the train to return via Limerick Junction. The train then returned directly to Dublin Connolly via Kilkenny and Kildare. Finally, due to engineering work, the railtour was eventually terminated at Dublin Connolly, with passengers being transferred onto to a service DART for Dun Laoghaire and Bray.

The train was formed of Iarnród Éireann Cravens coaches.

 

at Athlone Midland

027 at Kilkenny

056 at Waterford

All photos Derek Thompson

 

 

 
Date last updated: 14 March 2010