Operations 161

Irish Railway Record Society

Operations

PASSENGER OPERATIONS

The IRRS special from Westport to Athlone on Saturday 27 May was formed by 074 + EGV + 7 Mk IId.

On Sunday 28 May, Cork played Clare in Hurling in Thurles. There were two specials from Cork; the 11:40 was 072 + GSV + 9 Cravens + GSV and the 11:50 was 075 + GSV + 5 Cravens. There was one special from Limerick, a 3-car 2700-class and an 11:55 special from Ennis, 221 + 6 Mk III push-pull. All were stabled in Thurles, both Craven sets in the down loop, the railcar in bay platform and the push-pull in the up siding.

There were two Cork-Thurles specials for the Munster Hurling Final on Sunday 25 June. The 11:40 was 076 + GSV + 9 Cravens + GSV, departing Charleville at 12:25. The 11:50 was 078 + GSV + 5 Cravens, departing Charleville at 12:31.

Gaeltacht specials operated between Dublin and Galway during the summer. On Thursday 20 July, the 08:45 Galway-Heuston special was 078 + GSV + 5 Cravens + GSV. The 14:45 Heuston-Galway special was 212 + GSV + 5 Cravens + GSV.

As in recent years, seats for GAA specials were sold out well in advance for most games this summer. All trains from Limerick to Thurles for the Hurling Quarter Final between Limerick and Cork on Saturday 22 July were completely sold out in advance. The 11:40 Cork-Thurles special was 112 + GSV + 5 Cravens and the 11:50 special was 214 + 5 Mk III push-pull + EGV. The special train and regular trains from Ennis and Limerick to Dublin for the second All Ireland Hurling Quarter Final next day were also sold out.

On Friday 28 July, there was a second Mk IId set on Dublin-Sligo services, with 077 working the 08:00 Dublin-Sligo and 11:50 return instead of the normal 4-car 29000-class railcar and 084 working the 15:55 Dublin-Sligo. The 16:50 Dublin-Belfast and 20:10 return were then worked by 077 + EGV + 6 Mk IId. On Public Holiday Saturday 5 August, the 06:50 Sligo-Dublin and 17:00 Dublin-Sligo were worked by 086 and Mk IId carriages. The same day saw over 300 passengers depart Dublin in a 4-car 29000-class railcar on the 11:00 Dublin-Sligo, which is approximately twice the number of seats provided. It should be noted that the 11:00 train did not even exist one year ago.

On Tuesday 1 August, 124+134 + GSV + 2 Cravens operated Ballina Branch trains from 13:00 and all next day.

The All Ireland Hurling Semi-Final was played in Croke Park, Dublin, on Sunday 6 August. The following specials operated: 07:30 Cork 075 + 5 push-pull + EGV, 07:45 Cork 234 + 6 push-pull (DT6102), 08:55 Waterford 204 + EGV + 7 Mk III, 08:10 Cork 077 + 8 Cravens + GSV, 07:00 Tralee 223 + 5 Mk III + EGV, 10:15 Waterford 205 + EGV + 6 Mk IId and 10:55 Waterford 6 push-pull (DT6103) + 206.

The All Ireland Hurling Final between Cork and Kilkenny took place on Sunday 3 September. Over that weekend, IÉ expected to carry 10,000 fans from Cork to Dublin for the match; with a further 4,000-plus expected to travel by rail from Kilkenny. An IÉ spokesperson said ‘We've put on three special trains on Sunday, with a total capacity of around 1,100, and they sold out over the web inside 11 minutes. The first train was filled within 4 minutes, the second inside 9 minutes and the third train went 2 minutes later … We had 47,000 hits on our website in just 11 minutes’. The Sunday specials were: 08:10 Limerick Junction 080 + 4 Mk IId + EGV, 07:50 Mallow 201 + 5 push-pull + EGV, 07:50 Galway 082 + EGV + 6 Mk IId, 07:40 Cork 075 + 7 Mk IId + EGV, 07:50 Cork 112 + GSV + 7 Cravens + GSV, 07:00 Tralee 210 + 7 Mk III + EGV, 09:45 Kilkenny 205 + 6 push-pull (DT6104), 09:55 Waterford 080 + 5 Cravens + GSV and 10:30 Waterford 206 + 6 push-pull (DT6102).

FREIGHT

A report on Port infrastructure called ‘Ireland's Great Freight Shortfall' stated that maritime container traffic through Irish ports increased 23.5% between 2001 and 2004, during which period rail carryings were reduced. It predicts the number of containers or truck trailers using Irish ports will grow by 70% by 2014, twice the Government forecast of 35%. A Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources recommended for the transport area ‘the increased use of rail for goods transport’. It noted that the number of goods vehicles doubled, from 135,809 to 268,082 - between 1994 and 2004.

The removal of rail freight facilities continues. In July, the sidings to the former container yard in Limerick were disconnected and Bus Éireann applied for planning permission for a new bus station on railway lands to the north of Colbert Station to replace its existing bus station to the south of the main station building. The application requested permission for ‘removal of redundant rail tracks’. The new-two storey bus station will be connected to the railway station by a covered glass walkway. The existing bus yard will be turned into a car park and it is intended to landscape the front area of main station building, which is now used as a car park. The connections to the cement siding and silo at Tullamore were signed out of use in August.

Regarding freight facilities, the Minister for Transport told the Dáil ‘I understand from Iarnród Éireann that the Claremorris freight facility will be retained and that replacement business is actively being sought. In the meantime Iarnród Éireann has advised me that the points will be terminated, as distinct from removed, as a safety precaution and this process can be reversed in less than one day’. He also told the Dáil ‘I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the works planned on the Cork-Cobh line will have no impact on the North Esk freight facility and the freight yard will remain connected to the rail system’.

Guinness The reports below detail some of the last workings of trains carrying Guinness kegs by rail. On Tuesday 2 May, 087 + 8 laden bogie wagons of keg beer departed Heuston at 19:50 with the Claremorris liner. Next evening the same train was formed by 124+167 + 8 laden bogies and departed Heuston at 19:25.

On Wednesday 24 May, NIR 112 + 12 bogies departed Cork North Esk at 16:45 for Dublin. The 20:12 Dublin-Limerick Junction was 234 + 14 laden bogies + 4 four-wheel oil wagons and passed Hazelhatch at 20:15.

On Thursday 25 May, 124+184 towing NIR 112 and 8 bogie wagons departed North Wall at 10:15. At 20:00, 124+184 + 9 laden bogies departed Heuston with the Claremorris liner.

On Wednesday 31 May, 177 + 4 bogies worked the 14:00 Dundalk-North Wall liner. That evening, the Dublin-Claremorris liner, 124+184 + 10 bogies was looped in Hazelhatch for the 20:12 Dublin-Limerick Junction liner, 210 + 10 bogies of kegs + 2 four-wheel cement wagons. Next day, the 14:00 Dundalk-Dublin liner had 177 again, but with only 2 bogies and passed Donabate at 15:15. The Dublin-Claremorris liner, 144+185 + 8 bogies, was again looped in Hazelhatch but this time for the 21:00 Dublin-Cork.

On Wednesday 7 June, the Dublin-Claremorris liner was 086 + 7 bogies and the 20:12 Dublin-Limerick Junction liner was 220 + 17 bogies. On Thursday 8 June, the 14:00 liner was still being hauled by 177. It consisted of 4 bogies and passed Donabate at 15:10. The Dublin-Claremorris liner was 144+185 + 10 bogies. On Wednesday 14 June, 081 + 5 bogies worked the Dublin-Claremorris liner. It passed Hazelhatch at 20:20. On Thursday 15 June, the Claremorris-Dublin liner arrived in Heuston Goods at 07:20 with 192+181 + 7 bogies.

On Tuesday 27 June, the 20:00 Dublin-Claremorris liner was 144+177 + 11 bogies. It crossed the 16:40 Westport-Waterford laden timber train, 134+146 + 12 bogies, in Kildare at 20:45. On Wednesday 28 June, the 20:12 Dublin-Limerick Junction liner, 210 + 13 laden bogies of kegs + 6 four-wheel fuel wagons, passed Sallins at 20:35. The Claremorris liner 149+166 + 7 bogies passed ten minutes later.

On Friday 30 June, 219 in new InterCity livery, departed Heuston Goods at 19:50 for Limerick Junction with 13 laden bogies of kegs + 2 four-wheel wheel-set carriers.

The last Claremorris-Dublin liner ran on Wednesday 5 July. It was formed by 177+144 + 14 bogies. It arrived in Heuston at 07:19 next morning and backed into the Guinness yard at 08:07. Thus ended freight train services between Dublin and the west of Ireland after over one hundred and fifty years.

On Tuesday 11 July, 080 + 13 bogies, departed North Wall at 10:30 for Heuston.

On Wednesday 12 July, the 14:00 Dundalk-North Wall liner was 147 + 15 bogies and passed Malahide at 16:00. Limerick Junction was busy that evening. The 16:00 Limerick-Limerick Junction was 175 + 7 bogies of kegs. It arrived at 16:45 and 175 departed back light to Limerick at 17:05. The next arrival was 079 + 7 bogie bulk cement wagons, which arrived at 17:00 from Cork and was stabled before going forward to Platin. The 16:15 Cork North Esk-Limerick Junction liner arrived at 17:25. It was formed by 222 + 6 bogies of kegs and it backed onto the 7 bogies from Limerick to make up the train to Heuston. At 18:05, the 16:30 Cork-Platin empty cement, 084 + 32 four-wheel wagons, arrived for stabling. The 20:12 Heuston-Limerick Junction liner was Enterprise 207 + 12 laden bogies of kegs + 4 four-wheel cement wagons.

On Thursday 13 July, 088 departed North Wall at 12:10 for Longford with 10 bogie wagons to clear out Longford Yard. This was the first liner to Longford in over a year. All 10 wagons where loaded with kegs in pallets and the train departed at 15:45. There was a further train hauled by 086 a week later.

The 20:12 Heuston-Limerick Junction liner was 076 + 12 bogies on Friday 14 July and 223 + 17 laden bogies on Monday 24 July.

On Wednesday 26 July, 175 + 10 bogies of kegs worked the 16:00 Limerick-Limerick Junction liner. It deposited the 10 bogies in Platform 3 before departing light back to Limerick. The 10 bogies were picked up by 088, which arrived from Cork with 5 bogies of kegs. The 15 bogie train departed Limerick Junction at 18:05 and was looped in Ballybrophy for the 17:30 Cork-Dublin. The 20:12 Heuston-Limerick Junction was 087 + 9 bogies of kegs + 1 Tara wagon + 2 four-wheel cement wagons + 1 four-wheel oil wagon + 1 four-wheel barrier wagon.

The 20:12 Dublin-Limerick Junction was 226 + 9 bogies on Friday 28 July, 212 + 12 bogies on Monday 31 July and 209 + 20 bogies on Wednesday 2 August.

The Guinness transfer departed North Wall at 11:20 for Heuston on Tuesday 1 August was 229 + 7 bogies. On Wednesday 2 August, 209 + 20 bogies departed Heuston at 19:40 for Limerick Junction. The Guinness transfer on Tuesday 8 August was 165 + 15 bogies and arrived in Heuston at 10:00.

On Friday 11 August, 088 + 12 bogies departed Heuston at 19:55 for Limerick Junction. On Friday 18 August, 079 + 10 bogies of kegs departed Cork North Esk for Limerick Junction at 17:10. Earlier, 160+190 + 15 laden ballast wagons departed North Esk for Limerick at 11:15. Next day, 222 + 4 bogies of kegs + 5 four-wheel cement + 6 fuel oil wagons arrived in Mallow from Dublin where they stabled until the following Monday.

On Thursday 31 August, the Guinness transfer was 165 + 9 bogies and arrived in Heuston at 11:15. The 14:00 Dundalk-North Wall liner also ran that day and was 086 + 8 bogies of empty steel pallets for kegs.

Laden Guinness trains on the Dublin-Cork/Limerick and Dundalk lines ceased at the end of August, but a number of trains of empty kegs and pallets ran in the following week. On Saturday 9 September, a clearout of Heuston Goods Yard took place when 124+134 departed at 12:00 for Limerick Junction with 18 bogies of empty keg pallets for storage in Cork.

Norfolk Lines On Tuesday 23 May, 181+192 + 18 laden bogies worked the 12:10 Waterford-Ballina (8 bulk tanks and 10 Norfolk containers). The 11:47 Ballina-Waterford was 075 + 18 bogies and both liners crossed in Portarlington. The Waterford-Ballina later crossed with the 16:40 Westport-Waterford timber, 079 + 12 laden bogies, at Castlerea.

On Friday 26 May, 088 + 12 Norfolk containers + 6 bulk tanks worked the 07:50 Waterford-Ballina, with 181+192 + 18 bogies working the 08:15 Ballina-Waterford. Both liners crossed in Portarlington. On Tuesday 30 May, the 12:20 Waterford-Ballina liner was 077 + 18 laden bogies (10 containers and 8 DANA bulk tanks).

On Friday 23 June, the 08:15 Ballina-Waterford, 144+147 + 13 containers + 5 bulk tanks, crossed the 08:05 Dublin-Westport in Knockcroghery. It later crossed the 07:50 Waterford-Ballina, 079 + 11 bulk tanks + 7 containers, in Geashill.

On Tuesday 25 July, 151+144 + 8 DANA bulk tanks + 10 containers worked the 12:10 Waterford-Ballina. It crossed with the 11:47 Ballina-Waterford, 079 + 18 bogies, in Portarlington at 16:30. On Friday 28 July, 124+134 + 18 bogies worked the 07:50 Waterford-Ballina, while 144+151 + 18 bogies worked the 08:15 Ballina-Waterford.

In September, the maximum weight of Norfolk liner trains was increased to 830 tonnes when hauled by an 071 or 201-class with six functioning traction motors. The train length remained 18 bogie wagons. On Tuesday 5 September, 205 worked the 12:10 Waterford-Ballina and 209 worked the 11:47 Ballina-Waterford.

Oil In August, diesel fuel oil for internal use ceased to be rail hauled, with all deliveries being made by road. The last operations of the Dublin Port and Docks tractor with oil wagons on Alexandra Road were with 6 empty tanks on Monday 14 August, returning on Wednesday with the full tanks for Cork.

Cement On Wednesday 24 May, the Cork-Drogheda Platin empty cement, 087 + 19 four-wheel wagons + 2 four-wheel oil wagons, passed Kildare at 18:30.

On Tuesday 30 May, 078 + 10 empty bogie bulk cement wagons passed Hazelhatch at 19:00 en route from Cork to Drogheda. Shortly afterwards, 185+144 + 25 empty four-wheel cement wagons passed en route from Waterford to Drogheda.

On Thursday 22 June, 071 + 10 laden cement bogies from Drogheda to Cork crossed with 124+160 + 27 empty four-wheel cement wagons in Thurles 11:30. On Wednesday 28 June, 172+151 + 23 laden four-wheel wagons worked the Drogheda-North Wall cement.

On Wednesday 5 July, the Waterford-Drogheda empty cement 142+147 + 21 four-wheel wagons + 1 four-wheel fuel oil wagon passed Islandbridge Junction at 11:00. Later the same day, 084 + 23 four-wheel empty cement wagons from Cork to Drogheda passed Cabra at 14:15.

Unusually for a Sunday, the North Wall-Waterford laden cement train operated on 9 July. It was formed by 160+146 + 23 four-wheel wagons, passing Newbridge at 11:40.

On Wednesday 26 July, 134+124 + 25 four-wheel wagons worked the 11:50 Cork-North Wall (Drogheda) empty cement, while 079 + 20 four-wheel wagons worked a 13:45 North Wall-Cork laden cement. Both trains crossed in Templemore.

On Thursday 27 July, 081 + 21 four-wheel bulk cement wagons departed North Wall at 13:55 for Cork. On Monday 31 July, 147+187 arrived in North Wall with 25 four-wheel laden cement wagons at 13:30 and departed back to Drogheda with 20 empties at 13:55.

On Tuesday 1 August, 151+144 + 36 four-wheel cement wagons passed Kildare at 16:30 with the 14:05 Waterford-Dublin empty cement. Next day the train was 170+142 + 25 four-wheel wagons. Earlier on 2 August, 147+187 + 8 bogie bulk cement wagons arrived in North Wall at 12:00 from Drogheda and the locomotives picked up the 36 empty four-wheel wagons from the previous day’s Waterford-Dublin train.

On Saturday 5 August, 134+124 + 36 four-wheel wagons passed Hazelhatch at 17:40 on the 14:05 Waterford-Dublin empty cement. On Wednesday 9 August, NIR 112 + 25 four-wheel wagons worked a 13:45 North Wall-Cork laden cement.

On Wednesday 16 August, 187+147 + 25 laden four-wheel cement wagons arrived in North Wall at 13:30 from Drogheda. The locomotives returned to Drogheda at 13:50 with 10 empty bogie-bulk cement wagons. They were back in North Wall with the 10 bogie wagons now filled with cement at 19:50.

On Monday 28 August, the Cork-North Wall empty cement was 084 + 10 bogies and passed Drumcondra at 14:35. On Wednesday 30 August, 173+181 + 20 laden four-wheel cement wagons passed Hazelhatch at 12:20 en route to Cork.

Timber On Friday 12 May, the Waterford-Sligo empty timber train departed North Wall at 12:30 with 124+167 + 12 bogies. The laden train arrived back in North Wall at 16:00 next day. On Tuesday 23 May, 134+146 + 12 bogies worked the 07:50 Waterford-Sligo empty timber.

On Saturday 27 May, 181+192 + 12 empty timber bogies passed Castlerea at 18:15 en route to Westport. On Sunday 28 May, the Sligo-Waterford timber train, 079 + 12 bogies crossed the 14:30 Waterford-Dublin in Ballyhale. At 16:00, 134+146 arrived in Waterford from the South Wexford line with an empty ballast train.

On Wednesday 7 June, 144+185 + 12 empty timber bogies departed North Wall for Sligo at 14:00. On Sunday 11 June, 151+166 + 12 laden bogies worked the Sligo-Waterford laden timber train. On Tuesday 13 June, the Waterford-Sligo empty timber train was 146+134 + 12 bogies and arrived in North Wall at 11:55.

On Friday 23 June, the 16:40 Ballina-Waterford timber, 134+146 + 12 laden bogies, crossed the 16:20 Dublin-Ballina Fridays-Only in Roscommon. The Sligo-Dublin-Waterford timber train departed North Wall at 13:50 for Waterford on Tuesday 27 June. It was formed by 087 + 12 laden bogies.

On Saturday 1 July, 134+146 + 12 laden timber wagons passed Maynooth at 15:00 en route to North Wall from Sligo. On Friday 21 July, 124+134 departed North Wall for Sligo at 12:25 with 11 empty timber wagons. They passed Longford at 13:45 next day with the laden train. On Monday 24 July, 160+146 + 12 laden timber wagons departed North Wall for Waterford at 11:45. On Tuesday 1 August, 080 departed North Wall at 10:00 for Sligo with 12 empty timber bogies. A week later, 077 + 12 laden bogies passed Platform 10 at Heuston at 10:15 en route to Waterford.

On Tuesday 8 August, 144+151 + 12 empty timber bogies passed Cherryville Junction at 10:30 bound for Westport, 077 + 12 laden timber bogies passed at 10:50 from Sligo. At 12:47, 152 + 8 laden barytes wagons passed Portarlington en route to Portlaoise. Three minutes later, 171+184 departed Portarlington for Roscommon with a long welded rail train. Only three minutes later 141+177 passed with 12 empty bogies as the ‘steel train’ en route to Waterford to pick up new rail. At 14:52, 081 + 18 bogies passed Cherryville Junction on the Waterford-Ballina Norfolk liner. It was followed at 15:09 by 175 + 4 wagons of wheels for Limerick and at 16:30 by 170+142 with the Ballina-Waterford Norfolk liner.

On Tuesday 22 August, 124+134 + 12 laden timber wagons departed North Wall for Waterford at 10:30. They crossed the 12:10 Waterford-Ballina Norfolk liner, 088 + 18 bogies, in Carlow. The 11:47 Ballina-Waterford Norfolk liner was 185+172 + 18 bogies. On Monday 4 September, 124+134 + 12 bogies departed North Wall at 08.30 for Waterford with the laden Sligo timber train.

Tara On Wednesday 7 June, the 12:20 Navan-North Wall Tara Mines was 082 + 12 bogies. On Monday 3 July, the 12:20 Navan- North Wall Tara Mines was 074 + 11 laden bogies, while the 13:20 North Wall-Navan was 086 + 12 bogies.

Wagons Ten redundant container pocket wagons (CPWs) were transferred from North Wall to Limerick for storage on Tuesday 29 August hauled by locomotive 081. They passed Islandbridge Junction at 13:30; the first movement of the CPWs in over a year. On Wednesday 13 September, 124+134 departed North Wall at 11:55 with 11 CPWs for storage in Limerick.

Cutting up of four-wheel wagons has taken place at various locations. These include four-wheel Guinness wagons (MX-type).

The remainder of this article appears in IRRS Journal Number 161, published in October 2006.