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Steam Trains Ireland - RPSI Events 2008
Further down the page is a table of all the trains we plan to operate this year.

RPSI Upcoming Events:
Posters for our trains.
You can help us by printing them out and displaying them in a public place.  Thank you.
Details of the event.
When it operates, how much it costs and where to buy tickets.
Book tickets for Dublin based steam trains.
Steam Trains from Dublin

Our Dublin based steam trains can be booked in advance by printing off, completing and returning the Dublin Area booking form with the correct payment. 

You can also obtain this form by calling our Dublin ticket agents on 01 280 9147
 

"Summer Steam"
Train rides and site tours at our Northern Headquarters in Whitehead, County Antrim.
26th July, 17th August, 31st August, 14th September
  • Ride in a real steam train! 
  • Meet the driver and the fireman and see the world of steel, steam and fire they inhabit.
  • Find out about the lowly guard who cares for the safe passage of train and passengers.
  • See IVAN launched back into service.
  • Explore the footplate of a veteran of the Enterprise!

  • Feel the controls of Merlin, Ireland's only compound locomotive.
  • Visit the sheds and workshops where Ireland's largest collection of preserved trains are kept and maintained in working order.
Tickets are available on the day from our shop on the platform.
The fares for the train ride and site tours are;
  • Adults (ages 16 - 65) £2.50 each
  • Children and their grandparents (ages 2 - 15 and 65+) £2.00 each
  • Under 2s go free!
Please note due to an ongoing tidy up of our yard there will be no site tours on Saturday July 26th.
"Bangor Steam Train Excursion"
Saturday 9th August
Portadown-Lisburn-Bangor & return


  arrive depart
Portadown   13:35
Lisburn   14:10
Bangor 15:05 17:40
Lisburn 18:40  
Portadown 19:20  

Due to ongoing track upgrade work on the railway line to Londonderry, the RPSI will not be able to operate its famous "Portrush Flyer" steam trains this year.  Instead it is offering the public the chance to travel by steam train to Bangor.  Passengers can join this train at either Portadown or Lisburn and the journey follows the coast of Belfast Lough, up the steep gradients to Crawfordsburn and then gently down into Bangor station.
For details of events that may be taking place in Bangor on this date (not in connection with our steam train) see the North Down Borough Councils Events Page.

Return tickets cost £13 for adults and £9 concession (3-16 years old or 65+) and are available now from:
Millennium Court Arts Centre, William Street, Portadown, Northern Ireland BT62 3NX (Phone: 028 3839 4415)

"The Bangor Belle"
Sunday 24th August
Lisburn-Belfast Central-Bangor & return [x2]


TRAIN 1 arrive depart
Lisburn   12:40
Belfast Central   13:03
Bangor 13:35 14:25
Belfast Central 15:00   
Lisburn 15:30  
TRAIN 2 arrive depart
Lisburn   15:50
Belfast Central   16:15
Bangor 16:45 17:35
Belfast Central 18:10   
Lisburn 18:35
Due to ongoing track upgrade work on the railway line to Londonderry, the RPSI will not be able to operate its famous "Portrush Flyer" steam trains this year.  Instead it is offering the public the chance to travel by steam train to Bangor.  Passengers can join the train at either Lisburn or Belfast Central and the journey follows the coast of Belfast Lough, up the steep gradients to Crawfordsburn and then gently down into Bangor station.
For details of events that may be taking place in Bangor on this date (not in connection with our steam train) see the North Down Borough Councils Events Page.

Return tickets cost £10 for adults and £7 concession (3-16 years old or 65+) and are available now:


Book tickets for Dublin based Santa steam trains.
Santa steam Trains from Dublin

Our Dublin based Santa steam trains sell out very quickly, so we open booking even earlier! They represent one of the most exciting ways to meet Santa in Dublin. Tickets can be booked in advance by printing off, completing and returning the Dublin Area Santa train booking form with the correct payment. 

You can also obtain this form by calling our Dublin ticket agents on 01 280 9147

Sign up for email reminders
Our trains are very popular.  Register your email address with us and we will send you an email with details when  tickets go on sale.  We promise not to give your email address to any other organisation.
Your Email Address: 

REMEMBER - ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL TRAINS unless otherwise stated.
Attempting to travel without a ticket at the main departure station OR without a ticket and at a different station on the route causes the RPSI major problems.  We sell tickets for the seats on the train, therefore you are very likely to be refused a seat on the train or be asked to leave if you do not have a ticket.  Please purchase your ticket in advance.
PLEASE ACT RESPONSIBLY AROUND OUR TRAINS:
If you are going to watch, photograph or travel on an RPSI steam train, please remember that the trains are operated on the national rail networks along with scheduled passenger services.  Trespassing to watch or photograph a steam train endangers your safety, the safety of others and disrupts the operation of all trains on the network - please act responsibly.  Both Translink and Irish Rail have severe penalties for trespassers.



Public Steam Trains in Ireland 2008
The right hand column in this table lists the preserved steam locomotive that we are planning to haul your train.  We will make all reasonable efforts to have this locomotive haul the train, however, we reserve the right to substitute another steam or diesel locomotive. 
It should be noted that all train details are subject to change or cancellation at short notice and advance booking is essential.
Month
Date
Day
Starting Station - Destination Station
Ticket status & proposed steam locomotive
that will haul the train.
March
24
Mon
“Easter Bunny”; Whitehead train rides & site tours
3BG
Sold
May
7
Wed
“Barrow Bridge”; Dundalk - Dublin
4
Sold
 
9
Fri
“Barrow Bridge”; Dublin - Mullingar - Dublin
186
Sold
 
10
Sat
“Barrow Bridge”; Dublin - Carlow - Waterford - Clonmel -Waterford
4
Sold
 
11
Sun
“Barrow Bridge”; Waterford - Rosslare - Dublin
4
Sold
 
12
Mon
“Barrow Bridge”; Dublin - Dundalk
4
Sold
 
17
Sat
“Whitehead Sooty Face”; Whitehead train rides site tours and displays
3BG
Sold
June
6
Fri
“Steam & Jazz”; Belfast - Mystery Destination & return (wine & music)
4
Sold
 
13
Fri
““Steam & Jazz”; Belfast - Mystery Destination & return (wine & music)
4
Sold out
20
Fri
“Steam & Jazz”; Belfast - Mystery Destination &return (wine & music)
4
Sold out
 
22
Sun
“Strawberries and Steam Enterprise”; Belfast - Dublin & return
4/186
Sold out
 
27
Fri
“Steam & Jazz”; Belfast - Mystery Destination & return (wine & music)
186
Sold out
 
28
Sat
“Narnia Express”; Dublin - Mullingar - Enfield - Mullingar
4
Booking Form
 
29
Sun
“Narnia Express”; Mullingar - Dublin
4
Booking Form
July
13
Sun
“Sea Breeze”; Dublin - Wexford - Rosslare Strand & return
4
Sold Out
 
26
Sat
"Whitehead Community Festival";  Whitehead train rides & site tours
3BG
Pay on the day
August
3
Sun
“Sea Breeze”; Dublin - Wexford - Rosslare Strand & return
4
Booking Form
 
9
Sat
“Bangor Steam Train Excursion; Portadown - Bangor & return
186
On Sale Now
 
17
Sun
"Summer Steam"; Whitehead train rides & site tours
3BG
Pay on the day
 
24
Sun
“Bangor Belle”; Lisburn - Bangor & return [x2]
186
On Sale Now
 
24
Sun
“Sea Breeze”; Dublin - Wexford - Rosslare Strand & return
4
Booking Form
 
31
Sun
"Summer Steam"; Whitehead train rides & site tours
3BG
Pay on the day
September
14
Sun
“European Architectural Heritage Day”; Whiteheadtrain rides & site tours
3BG
Pay on the day
 
20
Sat
"Country Comes to Town"; Lisburn - Moira - Lurgan - Portadown& return [x3]
186
Not for sale yet
 
28
Sun
"Dundalk Excursion"; Details TBA
4
Booking Form
October
26
Sun
“Broomstick Belle”; Belfast - Whitehead & return[x2]
186
Not for sale yet
November
29
Sat
“Santa Special”; Ballymena - Antrim & return/ Belfast - Whitehead & return
186
Not for sale yet
December
6
Sat
“Santa Special”; Dublin - Maynooth & return [x3]
4
Santa train booking form
 
6
Sat
“Santa Special”; Portadown - Lisburn & return [x2]
186
Not for sale yet
 
7
Sun
“Santa Special”; Dublin - Maynooth & return [x3]
4
Santa train booking form
 
7
Sun
“Santa Special”; Belfast - Whitehead & return [x2] +Carrickfergus & return 
186
Not for sale yet
 
13
Sat
“Santa Special”; Dublin - Maynooth & return [x3]
4
Santa train booking form
 
13
Sat
“Santa Special”; Belfast - Whitehead & return [x2]
186
Not for sale yet
 
14
Sun
“Santa Special”; Dublin - Maynooth & return [x3]
4
Santa train booking form
 
14
Sun
“Santa Special”; Belfast - Whitehead & return [x2] +Carrickfergus & return
186
Not for sale yet
 
20
Sat
“Santa Special”; Dublin - Maynooth & return [x3]
4
Santa train booking form
 
20
Sat
“Santa Special”; Belfast - Whitehead & return [x2]
186
Not for sale yet
 
21
Sun
“Santa Special”; Dublin - Maynooth & return [x3]
4
Santa train booking form
 
28
Sun
“Steam Enterprise”; Belfast - Dublin & return
4/186
Not for sale yet
 

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