After a COVID19 enforced break, the RPSI are running their first diesel railtour since October 2019, with a trip from Dublin to Dundalk and Galway on Saturday 12th April.

The tour, using the RPSI's Cravens carriages complete with the usual facilities of snack car serving a variety of hot and cold items throughout the day alongside the renowned bar car with draught and bottled beverages available all day departed Connolly at 0820 behind 081 for a swift run to Dundalk, the highlight on the outward run being the use of the reversible working between Skerries and Balbriggan.

After 081 ran around at Dundalk, the tour returned to Connolly with photo stops at Laytown and Skerries.

On arrival at Connolly, CIE retro liveried 071, complete with the current IE logo rather than the CIE logo it should carry was waiting to take the railtour to Galway with photostops along the way at Clara and Athlone. Due to the loco being late to the train at Connolly, departure was about 10 minutes late and the tour lost its path to Portarlington, being loop at Kildare to allow the 1245 Heuston - Westport to operate in advance. An emergency 5mph restriction at the 81 milepost was causing delays on the Galway line and arrival at Galway was approx 35 minutes behind schedule at 1540.

After a 65 minute break at Galway the tour departed at 1645 to return to Connolly with pathing stops at Woodlawn, Ballinasloe & Geashill and a set down stop at Portarlington. Arrival was approx 45 minutes late due to the emergency speed restriction which was affecting all services on the Galway route.

As usual thanks to all the RPSI and IE staff involved for making sure the tour operated to plan throughout the day.