BRITISH railtour operator Steam Dreams returned to Ireland during September with its multi-day ‘Emerald Isle Craic Express’.
The charter was operated in conjunction with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI).
The RPSI’s Dublin-based Cravens set was given the luxury treatment to bring it up to Pullman standards, including carpets, curtains, table lamps and antimacassars.
The transformation of the six coaches was carried out by Steam Dreams, which previously paid for the refurbishment of the Cravens set for its first ‘Emerald Isle Explorer’ in 2015.
The ‘Craic Express’ started from Dublin Connolly on September 6 with GNR(I) ‘V’ No. 85 Merlin taking the seven-coach train (six Cravens and BR Mk1 generator van) out to Killarney.
The train departed under blue skies at 10.37 (4min late) then ran via Hazelhatch, Portarlington (water stop), Thurles and Limerick Junction, where No. 85 was turned for a tender-first run to Killarney.
Read more and view more images in the October 2019 issue of The RM – on sale now!
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