Onboard the RPSI Sea Breeze 07/07/2019|No85 Merlin Steaming Through Dublin & 074 to the Rescue!

Here we see the RPSI's Sea Breeze railtour hauled by no 85 Merlin out of Dublin and as far as Gorey and then back with class 071 no 074. The footage in this video has been carefully selected out of nearly 2 hours of footage taken by myself onboard the tour and at a few stations. This was my first steam hauled railtour and my first time travelling on the line. The day started with 074 bringing the coaching stock into Dublin Connolly from Inchicore. The loco then headed off light engine to make way for no 85 'Merlin', a beautiful V class 4-4-0 Compound built in 1923 by Beyer Peacock for the GNR. (03:45) Heading out of Dublin we cross the river Liffey and pass through Tara Street and Pearse. (08:51) We then head towards the coast and around the curves at Dalkey before passing through Bray and along the famous stretch along the cliffs to Greystones (12:02). (19:38) The next scene is somewhere between Wicklow and Rathdrum with Merlin working hard up the climb. (20:30) We then stop at the closed station site at Avoca to take on water before blasting away towards Arklow. Everything was going well until Arklow where the train stopped just short of the station. After raising pressure at Arklow we were then able to get moving again towards Wexford with another water stop booked at Gorey. Whilst at Gorey no 85 Merlin was declared a failure and the tour was terminated. Fortunately the town of Gorey wasn't a long distance away from the station, so whilst we waited for a diesel to arrive, we were able to head off into the town for a few hours and find lunch. (22:17) I included a shot from the road bridge by the station at Gorey of Merlin's dropped fire being cooled to show the situation. (22:28) After a few hours of waiting, 074 arrived and the coaching stock was shunted to the other platform and Merlin was moved to a nearby siding. 074 then took control of the tour and we travel behind the delightful class 071 back to Dublin. I have included a few shots of the journey back. (23:52) We depart Gorey behind 074 with Merlin in the siding awaiting an inspection. (25:55) In the following shot 074 thrashes up to Rathdrum and through the tunnel before shutting off through the station. The diesel then opens up again shortly after the station. The next few shots were taken on the return journey at Wicklow and between Greystones and Bray. (30:12) We then move on to the arrival into Dublin where we thrash through Pearse before slowing down and coming to a halt at Connolly. (33:33) With the train unloaded, 074 took the Cravens stock back to Inchicore but the shot only had to be bowled by and incoming 8 car DMU. Although Wexford was never reached and Merlin was left behind, I enjoyed the day out very much. Big thanks to the RPSI for a great railtour and best of luck getting Merlin fixed. Hope you enjoy.