Irish Railway Record Society

Operations

PASSENGER OPERATIONS  

Friday 23 May   A 10.00 Waterford-Rosslare Strand special operated for students of the Waterford Institute of Technology. The train was formed by 185 + GSV + 2 Cravens that were stabled between operating the 07.05 Rosslare Europort-Waterford and 17.05 return. The special returned at 12.30.

Sunday 1 June   Louth played Dublin and Westmeath played Meath in the Leinster Football Championship in Croke Park, Dublin. Two specials operated from Dundalk and one from Mullingar. The 10.45 Dundalk special was a 6-piece Mk III push-pull (DT6105) pushed by 8208 and passed Clontarf Road at 11.39. The 11.05 special was a 4-car 2600-class railcar and arrived very full in Connolly at 12.15. The Mullingar special arrived at 12.34 and was formed by 075 + 7 Cravens + GSV. The regular 10.00 Dublin Connolly-Rosslare Europort, 078 + 6 Mk IId + EGV, did not get away until 12.28 due to an over-run in the possession for renewal of Sydney Parade level crossing. The 08.45 Rosslare Europort-Dublin Connolly arrived at 12.53 instead of 11.42.

Friday 6 June   The 08.00 Drogheda-Dublin Pearse was formed by 162 towing a 6-piece Mk III push-pull (DT6101).

Saturday 7 June   The IRRS special from Dublin Connolly to Waterford in conjunction with the visit to the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway was formed by 2713/14/24/15/05/06. It departed Connolly at 09.34, but was delayed en route by a signalling failure and arrived in Waterford at 13.55. The return special departed at 17.48 and arrived in Connolly at 20.38.

Saturday 14 June   Kildare played Meath in an evening match in Croke Park. The 15.30 Athy-Connolly special was an 8-car 2700-class and passed Hazelhatch at 16.16. The 16.10 Kildare-Dublin Connolly special was 212 + 8 Mk IId + EGV and passed Hazelhatch at 16.34.

Sunday 15 June   Laois were playing in Croke Park. The 11.00 Portlaoise-Dublin Connolly special was 210 + 9 Mk IId + EGV and passed Kildare at 11.32. The 11.15 Portlaoise-Dublin Connolly special was 087 + 8 Cravens + GSV and passed Kildare at 11.56.

Friday 20 June   The 11.20 Limerick-Limerick Junction, 124 + 3 Mk III push-pull (DT 6102), was extended to Dublin due to the number of passengers travelling. It passed Grange at 12.25 with 124 pushing and returned empty to Limerick, passing Holycross (between Thurles and Limerick Junction) at 17.34.

Friday 27 June   The 11.20 Limerick-Limerick Junction was again extended to Dublin to relieve overcrowding on the 10.55 Cork-Dublin. It was formed by 124 + 3 Mk III push-pull (DT 6102) and again returned empty to Limerick.

Sunday 29 June   NIR locomotive 112 worked a 10.45 Waterford-Thurles GAA special for the Munster Hurling Final between Cork and Waterford. The train consisted of an EGV + 9 Mk IId and passed Tipperary at 12.23 and Kyle level crossing at Limerick Junction at 12.37. The other special was from Cork and was formed by an 8-car 2700-class railcar. A relief from Killarney operated ahead of the 13.50 Tralee-Dublin Heuston. It was formed by 160 + 4 Cravens + GSV and returned empty at 18.43 behind 159+190.

It was also Derby Day at the Curragh. The 10.30 Dublin Heuston-Curragh special was a 6-car 2700-class and passed Sallins at 10.52. The 11.05 Dublin Heuston-Curragh special was 231 + 6-piece push-pull (DT6104) and passed Sallins at 11.28. Other regular trains included the 12.05 Dublin-Cork, 4-car 2700 class, and the 12.25 empty to Galway, 4-car 2600-class. These passed the Curragh at 12.47 and 13.05 respectively. There was a relief to the 15.15 Dublin-Cork at 15.00 from Heuston and this consisted of 074 + 4 Cravens + GSV.

Monday 30 June   The 07.10 Maynooth-Rosslare Europort was worked by 225 + 6 Mk IId + EGV as far as Connolly, where 072 took over. The train departed at 08.43. The change was necessary as 201-class locomotives are not cleared to operate to Rosslare.

The same day, NIR 112 worked the 16.30 Dublin-Carlow and 18.06 return and NIR 8208 worked the 13.20 Westport-Dublin.

Saturday 5 July   The 07.30 Cobh-Cork was worked by 160+142 + 4 Cravens + GSV. They then worked an 08.50 Cork-Dublin relief.

Sunday 6 July   Kilkenny played Wexford in the Leinster Hurling Final in Croke Park. Specials ran to Connolly. In addition, many Wexford fans drove to Bray and other DART stations and took the DART to Connolly.

Return Connolly-Rosslare trains after the match were scheduled at 18.05, 18.30 and 19.00. The 18.05 special was formed by 079 + GSV + 9 Cravens and departed from platform 7 at 18.13. The 18.30 regular, 073 + 6 Mk IId + EGV, was occupying platform 5 and the rear of the 18.05 special fouled platform 6 due to its length. As a result, the through lines were blocked while the special loaded up. There were seats free on the 18.05 special, but the 18.30 regular was very full.

The 19.00 special was 086 towing 6 Mk III push-pull (DT 6101) and departed at 19.06 with over 600 passengers. There was criticism of IÉ for this overcrowding on a warm evening. IÉ said that because of a communication error, too many tickets were sold for this special. Two planned Connolly-Bray DART specials did not operate due to non-availability of drivers and southbound DART sets were only 4-car. Consequently, passengers were left behind on crowded platforms.

The 17.55 Kilkenny special, a 6-car 2700-class railcar, departed at 18.06. The 18.45 Kilkenny special, an 8-car 2700-class railcar, departed at 18.51 and the 19.25 Waterford special departed at 19.30. The latter was formed by Enterprise liveried locomotive 207 + EGV + 9 Mk IId. Kilkenny specials were well laden, but not overcrowded.

Friday 11 July   The 16.25 Fridays Only Dublin Heuston-Ballina was hauled by NIR locomotive 112.

Saturday 12 July   The 11.25 Saturday Only Dublin Heuston-Galway ran again this year as a relief to the 11.00 Dublin-Galway in July and August. On 12 July, it was formed by NIR 112 + 6 Mk IIab + EGV. The 18.50 Pearse-Mullingar was worked by 221+5 Mk III+DT6105 push-pull.

Monday 14 July   Relief trains are regularly required between Dublin and Cork to prevent overcrowding during summer months. On 14 July, a relief ran at 10.40 from Heuston to Cork ahead of the 10.55 regular. It consisted of 201 + EGV + 7 Mk III and passed the Curragh at 11.06. A 13.35 Dublin-Cork relief ran behind the 13.20 regular. It consisted of 216 + 4 Cravens + GSV and passed Kildare at 14.05. A 14.50 Dublin-Cork relief ran in front of the 15.20 regular. It was formed by 210 + 7 Mk IIab + EGV and passed the Curragh at 15.21.

Saturday 19 July   The 10.45 Waterford-Dublin Heuston was formed by a 6-piece Mk III push-pull pushed by NIR locomotive 8208.

Sunday 20 July   Kildare played Laois the Leinster Football Final in Croke Park. Return specials from Connolly that evening were to Athy, Kildare Portlaoise, and Ballybrophy. The 18.55 to Portlaoise was an 8-car 2700-class railcar and passed Drumcondra at 19.03 with about 500 passengers. The 19.05 to Kildare was a 4-car 2700-class and passed Drumcondra at 19.10 with about 360 passengers. The 19.20 to Ballybrophy was 072 + 8 Cravens + GSV and passed Drumcondra at 19.26 with about 550 passengers. The 19.35 to Athy was 232 + 8 Mk IId + EGV and passed Drumcondra at 19.45 with about 400 passengers. The 19.50 to Ballybrophy was 225 + 6-piece Mk III push-pull (DT6101), and had about 80 passengers.

A feature that evening and on most Sundays when there were big games in Croke Park was the running of a relief from Drumcondra to Maynooth in front of the 18.30 Pearse-Maynooth. The relief ran empty from Pearse to Drumcondra and both were formed by 4-car 2800-class railcars. Relief trains also operated from Clonsilla in front of the 12.30 Maynooth-Pearse on these occasions.

Saturday 26 July   The July-August Saturdays Only 10.35 Dublin Heuston-Waterford and 14.05 return were formed by 081+GSV+6 Cravens.

Saturday 2 August   An 08.50 Cork-Dublin Heuston special was scheduled to operate to relieve the 09.05 regular. However, it did not operate as planned and the 09.05, 215 + 7 Mk III + EGV, had passengers standing when observed in Kildare at 11.50. The 08.50 special, 076 + 4 Cravens + GSV, was following empty behind and passed Kildare at 12.00.

Sunday 3 August   Laois played Armagh in Croke Park and the game attracted a lot of interest in the county. There were two Portlaoise specials. The 11.10 Portlaoise-Dublin special was formed by a 6-car 2700-class railcar and arrived in Connolly at 12.32 with 350/380 passengers. The 11.30 Portlaoise-Dublin special was a 8-car 2700-class railcar and arrived in Connolly at 12.41 with 550/600 passengers. The 11.25 Ballybrophy-Dublin was 6-piece push-pull (DT6101) pushed by 221 and arrived at 13.09 with about 500 passengers.

Saturday 9 August   The Ballina branch train was worked by 176+177 on this day and on several others.

Sunday 10 August   Cork played Wexford in All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final at Croke Park. Returning specials that evening commenced with the 17.50 Connolly-Cork, a 6-car 2700-class railcar. This train had no working toilets and had to make ‘comfort stops’ en route. The 17.55 Connolly-Rosslare Europort special was an 071-class + 8 Cravens + GSV. The 18.35 Connolly-Belfast Central special was a 9-car 80-class. The 18.55 Connolly-Cork was an 8-car 2700-class railcar. The 19.00 Connolly-Rosslare Europort was 071 towing 6 Mk III push-pull (DT6105) and the 19.10 Connolly-Cork was 230 + 8 Mk IId + EGV.

Sunday 17 August   The All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final featured Kilkenny and Tipperary in Croke Park. Return specials that evening commenced with the 17.55 Connolly-Kilkenny, an 8-car 2700-class railcar, which departed at 17.40. The 18.05 Connolly-Limerick Junction special was 217 + 6-piece push-pull (DT6105), which departed at 17.48. The 18.45 Connolly-Waterford special was 082 + EGV + 8 Mk III. The 18.55 Connolly-Limerick Junction special was formed by 215 + GSV + 9 Cravens + GSV and the 19.25 Connolly-Kilkenny special was formed by a 6-car 2700-class railcar.

Tuesday 19 August   Ireland played Australia in an evening game at Lansdowne Road. With the game ending near the time the 18.20 Rosslare Europort-Connolly was due to pass, the train was cancelled from Bray. The set, 084 + GSV + 6 Cravens, stabled in the bay platform, later arriving in Connolly at 22.25. Cravens carriages were on the train due to re-laying work between Wicklow and Rathdrum, which prevented through working of the 13.25 Connolly-Rosslare Europort. They were off the 07.03 Longford-Pearse and worked empty to Wicklow to form the continuation of the 13.25.

Cravens carriages continue to be extremely reliable and they featured in other trains in the Connolly area on the same day. The 14.52 Pearse-Gormanston started from Connolly at 15.10 instead of Pearse and was formed by 086 + 6 Cravens + GSV. The 17.47 Pearse-Drogheda, usually a 6-piece Mk III push-pull, was also formed by Cravens carriages. It was 080 + GSV + 6 Cravens.

Sunday 24 August   Kerry played Tyrone in the All Ireland Senior Football Semi-Final and Kerry played Laois in the Minor Semi-Final in Croke Park. Two Kerry and one Laois special operated. The 06.50 Killarney-Connolly special was formed by 230 + GSV + 10 Cravens + GSV and arrived in Connolly at 10.40 with about 550 passengers. The 07.25 Tralee-Connolly special was 205 + 8 Mk III + EGV and arrived at 11.47 with about 430 passengers. The 11.10 Portlaoise-Connolly special was a 6-car 2700-class railcar and arrived at 12.30 with about 170 passengers. As on many occasions during the summer, demand for special trains far exceeded supply. Newspapers showed pictures of fans queuing from 01.30 for tickets for the Killarney special. IÉ advised prospective passengers that they were no longer in a position to provide the number of special trains they would like to provide due to the growth of regular patronage without any increase in rolling stock. Day-to-day passenger numbers grew 47% in the last 10 years.

Sunday 31 August   The Donegal versus Armagh All Ireland Senior Football Semi-Final in Croke Park produced one Sligo special for Donegal fans. Specials for Armagh supporters are detailed in the NIR News section. The 07.50 Sligo-Connolly special was 078 + GSV + 6 Cravens and arrived in Connolly at 11.00, before proceeding empty to Pearse for storage. The regular 08.30 Sligo-Connolly was 079 + 7 Mk IId + EGV and arrived at 11.38. The 11.00 Drogheda-Pearse regular, a 4-car 2800-class, was used to form a relief from Clonsilla ahead of the 12.30 Maynooth-Pearse. It passed Connolly empty on the outbound leg at 12.14 and arrived back at 13.02 The same morning saw the 12.42 Howth-Bray cancelled, leaving a gap in southbound DART trains from 12.50 to 13.36, followed by another southbound train at 13.40.

TIMETABLE

IÉ introduced a new timetable on 3 June, valid until 13 December. Most changes to the existing services are from reductions in journey times, but are otherwise minimal. There are no substantial increases in frequency on mainline routes. Despite reductions, journey times generally remain slower than those in operation in the late 1980s. One reason is ‘cascaded’ speed reductions, where speed limits are gradually reduced over a distance before a restriction. For example, speed is now reduced from 70mph to 45mph and then to 25mph instead of from 70mph to 25mph.

Dublin-Cork Time savings are generally betw-een 5 and 10 minutes. Following completion of the Heuston Re-development Project, line speeds on the approach to Heuston have been raised. The new limits include several crossovers with 60mph speed limits on diverging routes. The speed limit through Limerick Junction has been reduced to 25mph for ³/₄ mile between MP106¹/₂-107¹/₄.

FREIGHT

Timber   Following the securing of a new three-year contract, trains of cut logs re-commenced operation to the Coillte factory in Waterford. Initial annual carryings are predicted at 100,000 tonnes, rising to 200,000 tonnes.

The first laden train was the 17.00 Sligo-Waterford on Saturday 24 May. It consisted of 074 + 12 air-braked 60’ bogie-wagons and passed Kilfree Junction at 17.21. It stabled in Maynooth on Saturday night and in Heuston on Sunday night before proceeding to Waterford at 08.50 on Monday morning. It crossed the 10.55 Waterford-Dublin Heuston at Thomastown. It had previously run empty to Sligo on Wednesday 21 May, passing Drumcondra at 14.15.

There were laden timber trains from Sligo on subsequent Saturdays, operating to a similar pattern, with trains stabling in Heuston overnight. Some ran laden to North Wall to run round and proceed to Heuston, while others ran round in Pearse or Connolly if North Wall yard was closed. On Public Holiday Monday 2 June, 077 + 12 bogies departed Heuston at 08.35 for Waterford. On Saturday 7 June, 077 + 12 laden bogie wagons arrived into platform 4 in Connolly, where 075 took the train on to Heuston. It departed Heuston on Monday at 09.00 behind 081.

Westport and Ballina were quickly added to the network of timber trains. On Thursday 5 June, 080 + 8 empty bogie-wagons departed Portlaoise en route to Ballina. On Monday 9 June, 081 departed Heuston at 08.55 with 12 bogies of timber for Waterford.

On Saturday 21 June, the 12.00 Sligo-Dublin Heuston was 071 + 12 bogies. It crossed the 13.35 Dublin Connolly-Sligo in Boyle, the RPSI Mid-Summer Night steam special in Killucan, the 17.15 Connolly-Longford in Enfield and the 18.10 Connolly-Sligo in Maynooth. It passed Mageney near Carlow at 14.05 the next day en route to Waterford.

The Ballina-Waterford laden timber train on Wednesday 16 July was formed by 146+186 + 12 bogies and passed the Moy Bridge at 17.15 and Roscommon at 19.00.

On Saturday 19 July, the 12.00 Sligo-Dublin Heuston, 078 + 12 bogies, passed Drumcondra at 17.24 on its way into North Wall. It ran-round immediately and passed Drumcondra heading for Heuston at 17.56. There were only 11 bogie wagons on the Sligo-Heuston-Waterford timber on Sunday 27 July, one having been detached in Longford. The train passed MP49 in the Athy-Carlow section at 13.35 behind locomotive 087.

On Saturday 2 August, NIR 112 + 12 empty bogies on the 12.10 Waterford-Ballina arrived in Kildare at 14.30 and was held until 15.23. This was after the 14.40 Dublin Heuston-Galway and the late running 13.25 Dublin Heuston-Tralee, 213 + GSV + 4 Cravens, had passed. The Tralee passed at 15.19. 

On Tuesday 5 August, a laden Ballina-Waterford timber train NIR 112 + 12 bogie-wagons stopped in Claremorris to check the tightness of the retaining straps and examine the train from 18.12 to 18.32 before proceeding. It crossed an empty to Westport at Castlerea, which consisted of 142+153 + 12 bogies. The latter worked back from Westport next day.

On Thursday 7 August, 072 + 12 empty bogies arrived in Kildare at 21.17 en route to Westport. Due to up passenger train movements, it was held on the main line before running round and departing at 21.56. On Thursday 28 August, 083 + 12 bogies departed Westport at 17.00 for Waterford.

On Saturday 30 August, the 12.00 Sligo-Heuston timber was 082 + 12 bogies. It arrived in North Wall at 15.50 and departed at 16.10 for Heuston. A second Sligo train per week commenced in August. On Monday 1 September, the Waterford-Sligo empty train stabled in Carlow and was observed passing Kildare at 09.50 on Tuesday.

New Container Trains     Norfolk Line returned to Irish rails in July with the commencement of a twice-weekly Waterford Belview to Cork North Esk container train. The first train operated from on Waterford on Monday 7 July. Trains depart Waterford at 02.00 on Mondays and Fridays, arriving in Cork Kent at 06.45 and North Esk at 07.20. Return trains depart Cork North Esk at 16.00 on Tuesdays and Fridays.

IÉ's Freight Manager Stephen Aherne said ‘we're delighted to secure our second major new business this summer, serving the Waterford area. Following the return of pulpwood traffic to rail between the West of Ireland and Waterford, this new container business from Norfolk Line represents the future of container rail operations in this country. Rail-freight is competitive point to point in full trainloads for single customers, as opposed to the difficulties of single containers with different customers, which suffers from diseconomies of scale. In addition we do not have any lifting or storage costs in Waterford. This business is a template for how we see our rail freight container business developing and returning to profitability’. It is understood that the entire train is hired to Norfolk Lines and they are responsible for filling it to the maximum capacity of 18 bogies.

The Cork-Waterford liner on Tuesday 8 July was 087 + 18 bogie wagons. On Tuesday 15 July the 16.00 Cork-Waterford liner was 078 + 18 bogie wagons and arrived in Limerick Junction at 18.05. On Friday 18 July, it was formed by 079 + 18 bogie wagons and arrived at Limerick Junction at 17.35. It waited there until the arrival of the 17.00 Waterford-Limerick empty bulk-cement at 19.32. It departed to Waterford, having changed drivers with the cement train, at 19.33. While it was waiting at Limerick Junction, a 17.50 Cork-Dublin North Wall liner, 223 + 2 bogie container + 17 four-wheel bulk-cement + 3 four-wheel oil wagons, stopped from 18.13 to 18.55 for a crew change with a passenger train.

In July, the Irish Exporters' Association called on the Government to set up an industry-based rail task force to extend the use of rail freight. They stated that ‘In 1989, rail freight accounted for 29 per cent of total freight; today it accounts for less than 6 per cent. The Booz Allen Hamilton strategic rail report, completed earlier this year, said the annual cost to the exchequer of transferring all rail freight to the roads would be around €36m. Of course the reverse holds true, a return to the 1989 situation could save the exchequer €175m a year’. 

Liners   On Friday 9 May, 082 + 18 laden bogies worked the 19.50 Dublin North Wall-Ballina liner. The same train of 18 laden bogies was worked by NIR locomotive 112 on Tuesday 13 May as far as Inchicore where it was exchanged for an IÉ 071-class.

On Saturday 10 May, the 10.30 Limerick-Waterford was 150 + 3 bogie container wagons + 14 laden bulk-cement wagons. It crossed the 11.34 Waterford-Limerick empty bulk-cement, 163+134 + 20 empty wagons, at Limerick Junction. The same day saw 216 + 12 container-pocket-wagons held at Heuston for three hours because of a signal failure.

On Friday 16 May, 204 + 12 container-pocket-wagons passed Drumcondra at 12.45 on the 12.05 North Wall-Mallow. Later that evening, NIR 112 + 18 laden bogies were on the 19.50 Dublin-Ballina liner. It returned next morning, passing Hazelhatch at 07.45.

Lunchtime on Saturday 24 May saw three freight trains in Limerick Junction within a few minutes of each other. The 11.34 Waterford-Limerick empty bulk-cement, 163+134 + 14 four-wheel wagons departed for Limerick at 12.50. A liner consisting of 205 + 6 bogies + 5 four-wheel wagons followed the 12.20 Saturdays-Only empty Cork-Dublin passenger train, departing at 13.00. Five minutes later, a down bulk-cement train, 214 + 12 four-wheel wagons + 5 oil tanks, arrived. This train was left in the yard and the locomotive proceeded light towards Cork at 13.15.

On the same day, 217 + 16 bogie container + 10 empty four-wheel bulk-cement wagons passed Cabra at 11.30 on a Cork-Dublin North Wall liner. The 02.50 Sligo-North Wall liner ran very late and passed Liffey Junction at 12.50 with 077 + 4 bogie + 6 four-wheel beer wagons.

On Monday 26 May, 146+156 towed 184 + 2 bogie + 11 four-wheel empty keg-beer wagons on the North Wall-Heuston transfer. The 11.50 North Wall-Mallow was 224 + 12 container-pocket-wagons.

On Tuesday 27 May, NIR 112 + 18 bogies departed North Wall at 20.20 while working the 19.50 to Ballina. On Thursday 29 May, the 20.00 North Wall-Sligo liner was 077 + 6 bogie container wagons + 4 bogie keg-beer + 6 four-wheel keg-beer wagons, all laden.

On Thursday 5 June, 154 worked  a container

train along the tramway on Alexandra Road in North Wall to the Irish Ferries terminal. There were 7 bogies on the train, of which 6 were full. It returned with the 7 wagons laden. On Monday 9, the 19.20 Sligo liner departed North Wall at 19.30 with 087 + 3 bogie beer  + 10 four-wheel oil + 1 four-wheel beer. On Tuesday 10 June, the 19.55 North Wall-Ballina was 071 + 18 bogies full (6 Dana tanks, 3 TMI tanks, and 9 containers), passing Islandbridge Junction at 20.30.

On Thursday 12 June, 167 + 6 full bogie container wagons ran on the Alexandra Road tramway to the Irish Ferries depot, returning with 4 full bogie wagons. NIR 112 + 13 four-wheel   bulk   cement   +   4   four-wheel   fuel oil  passed  Cabra  at  15.00 en route from Cork. Later, 112  worked  the  20.10  North Wall-Waterford,  passing  Drumcondra at 20.50 with 6 bogie container + 13 four-wheel beer wagons.

The next day, 112 arrived back in North Wall at 15.30 with 12 empty timber wagons for Sligo. On Saturday 14 June, 112 + 12 laden timber wagons arrived in North Wall at 17.55 from Sligo, before running round and heading for Heuston where the train stabled until Monday. It departed Heuston at 09.00 behind 071.

The 03.08 Ballina-Dublin North Wall on Friday 13 June was 075 + 18 bogies and passed Portarlington at 06.27. The 12.00 North Wall-Mallow was 203 + 12 container-pocket-wagons. It crossed 226 + 10 empty bogie bulk-cement wagons in Portlaoise at 16.45.

On Thursday 19 June, the 19.55 North Wall-Ballina liner was 081 + 18 bogies. The 20.10 North Wall-Waterford liner was 216 + 16 four-wheel beer wagons and the 20.40 North Wall-Cork liner was 228 + 5 bogie beer + 8 four-wheel beer + 6 four-wheel fuel oil wagons.

On Friday 20 June, the 03.08 Ballina-Dublin North Wall liner was very late and passed Hazelhatch at 15.15 with 081 + 18 bogies. The 12.00 North Wall-Mallow on Friday 20 June was 216 + 12 container-pocket-wagons and it passed Holycross at 15.40.

On Saturday 21 June, the 03.08 Ballina-Dublin North Wall liner was held in Athlone and passed Portarlington at 11.00. It consisted of 204 + 18 bogies, of which 17 were full. On Thursday 26 June, the 19.55 North Wall-Ballina liner was Enterprise locomotive 207 + 18 bogies and passed Hazelhatch at 20.50.

The 12.00 North Wall-Mallow liner on Friday 27 June was formed by Enterprise locomotive 207 + 12 container-pocket-wagons. It departed at 12.30. On Saturday 28 June, the 02.45 Sligo-North Wall liner, 080 + 10 bogies, ran in day-light. It passed Edgeworthstown at 14.00, foll-owed at 15.30 by the Sligo-Heuston timber, 071 + 12 bogies, which ran to the Boston Sidings in Pearse to run round.

NIR locomotives featured on liners in early July. On Wednesday 2 July, the 20.40 North Wall-Cork was NIR 8208 + 5 bogie beer + 5 four-wheel beer + 4 four-wheel oil + 4 four-wheel beer wagons. The second Ballina liner, generally still known as the Claremorris liner and at 20.45 from North Wall, featured NIR 112 + 5 bogie container + 20 four-wheel beer + 2 four-wheel oil wagons on Tuesday 8 July.

The 14.00 Dundalk-Dublin North Wall liner was 074 + 5 bogie + 10 four-wheel wagons on Monday 7 July. It carried mainly kegged beer traffic and passed Ardgillan at 15.19.

Evening liner departures were observed passing Drumcondra on Thursday 10 July. The first departure was the 19.20 North Wall-Sligo, 080 + 7 bogie container wagons + 1 bogie beer wagon + 1 empty bogie wagon + 10 four-wheel oil wagons + 2 four-wheel beer wagons. It passed at 19.25. The 19.55 North Wall-Ballina was 224 + 18 laden bogies and passed at 20.27. The 20.10 North Wall-Waterford was formed by 213 + 2 bogies + 1 four-wheel wagon and passed at 20.32. The 20.40 North Wall-Cork was 212 + 5 bogie + 6 four-wheel wagons and passed at 20.40. This train used regularly be the equivalent of 18 bogies in length. The 20.45 North Wall-Ballina liner was 202 + 4 bogie container + 6 four-wheel beer + 3 four-wheel oil + 7 four-wheel beer wagons and passed at 21.16. The 21.30 North Wall-Limerick liner was 205 + 6 bogie container + 3 bogie beer wagons. The last liner at 23.20 to Cork was not observed.

On Tuesday 22 July, the 19.20 North Wall-Sligo liner was 088 + 3 bogie beer + 9 Esso oil + 3 four-wheel beer wagons and departed North Wall at 19.45. The 19.55 North Wall-Ballina was NIR 112 + 18 laden bogies. The 22.50 (Friday) and 03.08 Ballina-North Wall liners on Saturday 26 July were 227 + 20 four-wheel beer wagons and 071 + 18 bogies, passing Cabra at 07.30 and 08.10 respectively.

The 14.00 Dundalk-North Wall liner on Thursday 7 August arrived in North Wall at 15.30 and was formed by 077 + 6 bogie + 9 four-wheel wagons. On Friday 8 August, the 12.00 liner ran to Cork instead of Mallow. It consisted of 223 + 19 bogies and departed North Wall at 12.50. On Tuesday 12 August, the 22.20 Ballina-North Wall liner departed Athlone at 15.00. It was looped at Hazelhatch at 17.00 for 3 passenger trains, leaving the loop at 17.25 with 147 hauling 203 + 28 four-wheel wagons. These were 9 four-wheel beer + 11 four-wheel Esso oil + 3 four-wheel fuel oil + 5 four-wheel beer wagons. On Friday 29 August, 148 + 8 laden bogie shale wagons arrived in Limerick at 11.45 from Kilmastulla. An empty Long Welded Rail (LWR) train consisting of 192+146 + 6 bogie wagons arrived from Ennis at 14.00, ran round and departed to Portlaoise at 14.15. The 12.00 North Wall-Mallow was formed by 212 + 12 laden container-pocket-wagons and arrived in Limerick Junction at 16.20. The 16.00 Cork-Waterford Norfolk Line train, 081 + 16 bogies, arrived in Limerick Junction at 17.20, ran round and departed for Waterford at 17.40. The 12.40 Athy-Limerick empty bulk-cement, 153+134 + 20 four-wheel wagons, passed on the Direct Curve at 17.10.

Cement   On Thursday 8 May, NIR 112 + 9 empty bogie bulk-cement wagons passed Cabra at 19.45 en route to North Wall. On Wednesday 14 May, 112 worked the 14.05 Tullamore-North Wall empty bulk-cement, arriving at 15.10 with 12 four-wheel wagons. Five minutes later, 141+144 arrived with 18 laden four-wheel bulk-cement wagons from Drogheda. The pair of locomotives then worked the empty Tullamore cement wagons back to Drogheda. NIR 112 towed 153 to Inchicore and the laden wagons were left to be later worked forward to Cork.

On Tuesday 20 May, the second Limerick-Waterford bulk cement train consisted of 190 + 20 four-wheel wagons, passing Limerick Junction at 11.35. The 11.34 Waterford-Limerick empty bulk-cement train on Wednesday 4 June was 156+134 + 5 bogie container wagons + 1 four-wheel wagon carrying wheels + 18 four-wheel cement wagons. It passed Tipperary at 13.20, but was held at Limerick Junction for a track possession and passed Killonan at 17.10. On the same day at 16.30, the 12.40 Athy-Limerick empty bulk-cement, 147 + 20 four-wheel wagons, crossed the 16.12 Limerick-Limerick Junction, 124 + 3 Mk III push-pull (DT6102) in Dromkeen.

On Friday 6 June, the second Limerick-Waterford bulk-cement train of the day at 10.30 was 185 + 12 laden four-wheel wagons. It passed Killonan at 11.05. The same day, 148 + 3 bogie keg-beer + 3 four-wheel keg-beer + 11 empty four-wheel bagged cement wagons arrived in Limerick Junction at 13.10 from Cork and departed to Limerick 5-minutes later. It was followed at 13.25 by the 11.34 Waterford-Limerick empty bulk-cement, 156+134 + 28 four-wheel wagons. Later, these locomotives worked the 17.10 Dublin Heuston-Ennis, EGV + 7 Mk III, from Limerick to Ennis. The 12.40 Athy-Limerick empty bulk-cement, 147 + 18 four-wheel wagons, passed Holycross at 16.25. An up empty bulk-cement train consisting of 223 + 12 bogies  passed  Drumcondra  at 18.51

en route from Cork to Platin, Drogheda.

On Friday 13 June, 151 + 20 laden four-wheel wagons passed Portlaoise at 05.50 while working the 03.45 Limerick-Athy bulk-cement train. On 17 June, the 10.30 Limerick-Waterford cement was 147 + 4 bagged-cement + 16 bulk-cement wagons and passed Tipperary at 12.45.

On Friday 20 June, 201 + 11 bogie wagons were on an empty Cork-Dublin-Drogheda bulk-cement that passed Limerick Junction at 14.15. The 12.40 Athy-Limerick empty bulk-cement was 146 + 20 four-wheel wagons and it passed Killonan at 16.45. Shortly afterwards at 17.03, 169 + 8 bogie shale wagons passed en route from Kilmastulla to Castlemungret.

A bagged-cement train, 146 + 16 four-wheel wagons, ran from Limerick to Thurles on Monday 23 June. It departed empty back to Limerick at 11.40. A Cork-Dublin-Drogheda empty bulk-cement consisting of 163 + 15 four-wheel wagons passed Ballybrophy at 13.33. The 12.00 Dublin North Wall-Mallow, 215 + 12 container-pocket-wagons, passed at 14.54.

On Saturday 5 July, 088 + 9 bogie bulk-cement wagons passed Rush and Lusk at 13.40 en route from Drogheda to Cork, while on the following Saturday 075 + 10 bogie bulk-cement wagons arrived in North Wall at 15.30 on the same duty.

With the Waterford-Limerick Junction line closed for track re-laying, the 11.34 Waterford-Limerick empty bulk-cement was diverted via Lavistown Junction and Kildare on 30 July. It passed Carlow at 13.15 and Portarlington at 14.35 and consisted of 155+153 + 20 four-wheel wagons. The same day saw 223 + 18 laden four-wheel bulk-cement + 5 four-wheel fuel oil pass Thurles at 09.03 heading for Cork. Later Thurles had a bagged cement train, 186 + 15 wagons, which departed empty back to Limerick at 10.40. The 12.00 Dublin-Cork liner, 210 + 5 bogie beer + 7 bogie container wagons, passed Portarlington at 14.25.

A bagged-cement train, 148 +13 wagons, ran to Ennis on 31 July. The empty train passed Clarecastle at 12.20. On Monday 11 August, 207 + 15 empty four-wheel bulk-cement + 4 fuel oil passed Drumcondra at 15.00 heading for North Wall. Twenty minutes later, 167+192 + 6 bogies of concrete sleepers passed en route for track re-laying on the Dublin-Rosslare line.

On Thursday 28 August, the 12.40 Athy-Limerick empty bulk-cement train was 134+153 + 20 four-wheel wagons, departing at 14.00.

A timetable alteration was issued in August to show a Monday-Friday 17.50 Cork-North Wall empty bulk-cement and a Monday-Saturday 04.55 North Wall-Cork laden bulk-cement.

IÉ has now ceased carrying palletised bagged-cement and closed its depots in Cork

and Waterford on 4 July, Tralee and Wexford on 18 July, Portlaoise and Mallow on 1 August and Thurles and Ennis on 29 August. Some of these locations were served by road only in their latter days.

Oil   The Dublin-Sligo ESSO liner on Monday 19 May was 152+168 + barrier + 22 four-wheel wagons and passed Maynooth at 19.10. Dedicated oil trains ceased with the introduction of the new timetable on 3 June and oil wagons are now carried on the Sligo liner. On Wednesday 4 June, the 19.20 Dublin-Sligo liner was 075 + 10 bogie wagons + 13 four-wheel oil wagons + 3 four-wheel keg-beer wagons. It passed Liffey Junction at 19.45.

The remainder of this article appears in IRRS Journal number 152, published October 2003.

Copyright © 2004 by Irish Railway Record Society Limited
Revised: January 07, 2004 .