RPSI ‘The Liffey Leesider’ Railtour - Day 1, 21st October 2023

The “Liffey Leesider ” - Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October 2023 The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is delighted to announce "The Liffey Leesider" 2 day Diesel Railtour. Saturday 21st of October The tour will depart from Dublin Connolly and take the electrified DART route to Howth; the branch between Howth Junction and Howth rarely sees diesel operated trains let alone a loco-hauled one. Upon arrival in Howth, there will be time for some photographs at this picturesque seaside terminus while we await a change of locomotive for the return journey back into Dublin Connolly. Back at Dublin Connolly, we will once again change locomotive and then proceed towards Drumcondra station before taking the route through the Phoenix Park Tunnel and onto the Cork mainline at Heuston for the run to Limerick Junction. En route to Limerick Junction, we plan to operate via the Down Slow line over the 4-tracked section between Inchicore and Hazelhatch to call at Adamstown for a photo stop before then running to Portarlington. Here there will be a short stop for photographs and an opportunity for passengers to join the train if they wish. Departing Portarlington, we will now run to Ballybrophy for another photo stop and then run non stop onwards to Limerick Junction. At Limerick Junction, we will propel around the back of the former ‘North Signal Cabin’ in order to join the Limerick-Waterford line. This is one of two lines remaining on the Irish Rail network with ETS Signalling operations. With a photo stop at Tipperary, we plan to arrive into Clonmel Station circa 13:00hrs for a 75 minute break. There will an opportunity to explore the town or admire the semaphore signalling in operation at Clonmel while our locomotive runs around the train. On departure from Clonmel, we will traverse our earlier route and stop at Cahir for photographs before running non-stop through to Limerick Colbert terminus, where we will have 30 minutes and a requested change of locomotive. We will then depart Limerick and operate back to Limerick Junction before again rejoining the Cork mainline, but this time to head further South to Cork Kent station where Day 1 of the Railtour will conclude. There will be opportunities to photograph the train at Cork while it shunts to and from “the slab” for servicing. An early evening arrival of circa 18:00hrs allows passengers some time to enjoy the sights and sounds of Cork City with its many fantastic bars and restaurants and weekend nightlife.