Irish Steam

Would you travel to Ireland for Steam? Feel free to add your comments or experiences.

 

Pure Derby heritage, what's not to like?

 

Done it three times.
Back in the mid 90s I purchased a ticket to ride the Santa ecs from Belfast to Whitehead. Dear old Sullivan Boomer invited me into the bar car for the run into Belfast - for which I had no ticket - and it seems the whole of the RPSI bought me Guinness on the way there and back to Whitehead. We were still imbibing in the bar car while it was being shunted in and out of the various carriage roads at Whitehead. I was then taken for a "quiet drink" at a local hostelry, come closing time the group retired to Sullivan's house via the local Chinese takeaway and once there the Bushmills was broken out. Somebody finally took me back to my guesthouse after a most enjoyable trip and demonstration of Irish hospitality.
The following year I booked the final day of the International Tour. Booked for 171 we got 461 instead as the S Class had run a hot box. Needless to say the 2-6-0 lost time from the moment it left Connolly and by the time we reached Dundalk I had to bail out and catch an Enterprise or miss my flight home. Learnt a valuable lesson that day - never book your flight home on the same day as the final day of the tour.
Did the whole of the International Tour last year and that was great fun. Merlin's performance was outstanding. If it's 131 and the Jeep next year I'll probably do the International Tour again.

 

Done the Dublin to Kilkenny and return, great day out and good value for money.

Chris

 

I'd love to go and see some Irish steam...just as I would like to go and sample the railways of the USA, Australia, South Africa...however, sadly I only have so many weeks' holiday a year, and very little money!

 

I have been to Ireland a few times for steam and thoroughly enjoyed those trips, but getting there and accommodation add significantly to the basic cost, so I mostly do day trips within England.

 

I have the opposite problem, solved with a Duck.

Duck is on classic Tax and Insurance so relatively cheap. Ferry + petrol cheaper than hire car + B&Bs. Roadtrip 2016 III planned for August