Thanks are due to all photographers who took the time to send us pictures of this year's May tour. The best photographs are published here:
 At
an early hour on Saturday, 12 May 2007, David tops up the oil in No.4's
left-hand eccentric rod. Despite its relatively modern build date (1947),
No.4's motion still boasts a variety of corks - you can see the one from
this cup sitting on the rod. Photo by P J Lockett. |
 No.4
gets away from Dublin's Connolly (originally named Amiens Street) with
the first leg of the Garavogue, which she will work as far as Mullingar.
Here No.4 and train clear the last of the Overhead Line Equipment as they
approach North Strand Junction and begin to swing west to join the GS&WR's
line from the North Wall towards Glasnevin Junction. The second vehicle
from the camera is State Saloon 351 which was built at Inchicore in 1902
and was part of the GS&WR Royal Train in 1903. Photo by P J Lockett. |
 The
Saturday of the tour turned out to be very damp as we headed west. This
is Cloncurry Bridge, at MP 25 or about a mile and a quarter before the
water stop at Enfield. Here 2-6-4T No. 4 heads the Society's Dublin-based
train of wooden-bodied coaches; the first of which is ex-GNR(I) Third No.9,
one of the last carriages bult at Dundalk (in 1954) but now renumbered
1949 for IE reporting purposes. Photo by B Pickup. |
 After
handing the train over to a pair of IE General Motors diesel electrics,
No.4 was stabled in the now-disused Up Galway platform at Mullingar.
The fire was raked and the loco "put to bed" until the next morning. Photo
by M S Walsh. |
 This
is the next morning - Sunday May 13. While the tour train was making
its way back from Sligo behind a pair of GM diesel electrics, David and
Ken were preparing No 4 for the Mullingar to Dublin part of the day.
Here Ken (right) is topping up the oil pots on No 4's right hand side slide
bars. David seems to have an affinity with the NCC. Photo by M S
Walsh. |
 David
and Ken were just two of a team who looked after No 4. Here they take a
quick break for a photograph before the train arrives from Sligo. We see
(left to right) Bill, Mark, James, Lar, David and, at the front, Ken and
Phil. |
 Inspector
Tony is on the left of this group along with (from left) Gerry, Lar, James
and Ken in the upper row and David, Philip and Mark in the lower row. Photo
by M Howkins. |
 The
GM diesels which had worked the train from Sligo were used to place No
4 on the front of the train. With Mullingar's turntable out of action,
No.4 worked the train bunker-first back to Dublin - and beyond. Photo
by C P Friel. |
 No.4
and train await departure time at Mullingar. The first coach on the
right is Great Norther Dining Car No 88 with Open Third Laminate No 1463
of 1958 beyond. No 88 is in CIE green livery, something similar GNR dining
cars carried while on loan to CIE for their Belfast - Dublin - Cork Enterprise
set in 1950. Photo by M Howkins. |
 As
No 4 heads away from us at MP 40, we see (from left to right) Bar Car 2421
built in 1956, the State Saloon 351 and Brake Third Open (and generator
car) 1916 built in 1957. Photo by Barry Pickup. |
 No.4
and train pause at Connolly's platform 5 before continuing south towards
Bray. Photo by M Howkins. |
 The
train is now on the former City of Dublin Junction Railway, just south
of Connolly and approaching the crossing of the river Liffey. Photo by
M Howkins. |
 No.4
is caught alongside Bray's former signal cabin while running round the
train - the station is to our left. Photo by M Howkins. |
 No.4
is now ready to leave Bray's Down platform and makes it way among the DART
electrics on the return to Dublin. Photo by M Howkins. |
 Well
before sunrise on Monday May 14, a diesel-soaked rag catches fire.
Soon, No.4's firebox, with its charge of scrap timber and plenty of coal,
will come to life and preparations for another main line journey will get
under way. Photo by M S Walsh. |
 The
preparation crew had time to give No.4 a good clean. She looks splendid
with steam drifting from the drain cocks and the tank sides reflecting
the blue of the early morning light - a blue Jeep? Photo by J J Friel. |
 Train
time approaches and No.4 is coupled to the Society's Mark II carriages
in platform 3 at Amiens Street. The participants are safely aboard, ready
for a prompt departure. Photo by M Howkins. |
 This
near Milepost 25 - or just north of Gormanston - and No.4 has the job well
in hand as she heads north with the five Mark IIs. Photo by B Pickup. |
 After
a quick water stop at Drogheda, No 4 and train climbed Kellystown bank.
Here No.4 is enjoying the downhill stretch of 1 in 197 from Kellystown
towards Dunleer. The scene at Milepost 40 was captured by B Pickup. |
 At
Portadown, Driver Noel Playfair chats with two of the train marshals during
the brief stop at Platform Two. Photo by M Howkins. |
 With
St Mark's Parish Church and a crowded car park behind, No 4 prepares to
leave Portadown en route to Whitehead. Photo by M Howkins. |
 During
the stop at Belfast Central, David uses a devilishly clever gadget to check
the temperature of No.4's motion. The red spot identifies where the
temperature reading is being taken from. For the record, all was
well. Photo by J J Friel. |
 With
the architecture of Berkeley Deane Wise all around, No.4 pauses in Carrickfergus
on the last lap of the trip home to Whitehead Excursion station - and we
were still an hour ahead of the timetable! Another chapter of RPSI history
was about to come to a successful conclusion. Keep an eye on these
pages for the destination of next year's big tour. Photo by M Howkins. |
