27th March 1999

I.T.G.
Back in Black

Locos Used IE : A39 (1) & 170

Route :

Loco Route
170 Dublin Heuston - Islandbridge Jn
A39 Islandbridge Jn - Dublin Connolly - Bray
A39 Bray - Dublin Connolly - Islandbridge Jn - Limerick Jn avoider - Limerick
A39 Limerick - (2) - Ennis - Athenry
A39 Athenry - Athlone - Portarlington - Islandbridge Jn - Dublin Connolly - Dun Laoghaire

Notes :
(1) originally booked for haulage behind loco A3.
(2) ran as an Iarnrod Eireann service train Limerick to Ennis.

Source : Jonathan Wilcox (taken from Websites/ITG "Irish Mail")

Tour Review
(from Martin Barnsdall)

Bet the ITG committee rues the name of that tour – something just had to go wrong.

About a week prior to the tour, the tickets arrived with the news that 003 was poorly and would not make an appearance – in black or any other colour!

Ah, well, 039 (again!).

The loco arrived at Connolly looking very nice and shiny in silver. However, not for long.

As we sallied southwards towards Limerick reports filtered through that 039 was spewing oil and this was confirmed an arrival at Limerick, 039 was fairly splattered with black! I suppose 039 was making up for 003 not being there…..

An amount of time was spent at Limerick – a quick nebby round the shed was obtained with good photos to boot!

Then up to Ennis and Athenry. The return to Dublin was delayed by a bridge strike – I think near Portarlington, but we were not delayed too much.

Another fine tour by those fellows at the I.T.G.!

Martin Barnsdall

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