"THE TUAM FREIGHT-LINER" RAILTOUR APRIL 1995

[@vicsams4431]

Thanks for posting this video. I was on this tour, from Dun Laoghaire, having done the tub from Holyhead. As I recall, BR / Virgin Trains decided to cease operation of the Down Irish Rail (the 22.00 Euston to Holyhead) necessitating Pathfinder Tours to run a connecting road coach from the West Country. I picked up this bus at Wolverhampton, having gone by train from London. The bus driver fell asleep at the wheel, and instead of going around a grass roundabout on the A5 in Anglesey, the bus went over it. I had to endure the bus back to Wolverhampton the next night, and a long wait for the first train on a Sunday, the 07.12 to Euston. Still it was worth it. I had forgotten the cows on the line. I think this tour was the last passenger train to transverse Athenry to Claremorris ? Tuam was the site of Westrail; their E Class 428 worked Pathfinder Tours Balligo Divider in 1988, a video of which is also on KZbin. I was on that train also.

[@berylwiffen3311]

Thanks Vic for your comments,most interesting,yes it was a most enjoyable tour! we set out from Oxford on the pick up bus to Birmingham via Swindon and meany other destinations? after the ferry crossing we where well and truly tired !! yes you are wright it was the last trip on the Athenry to Claremorris, but i think there are plans to reopen the line!! glad you survived the the bus journey?

[@vicsams4431]

@@berylwiffen3311 I don't normally do long-haul bus trips, but unless you wanted to fly the day before to Dublin; there was no other way of getting to Holyhead. I remember a couple from Oxford ! Having done around 2,000 tours (starting with BR Merrymakers in the 1970s, the RESL, Hertfordshire Railtours, Southern Electric Group, Pathfinder Tours), I progressed to ITG Tours, and finally PTG Tours. Covering Alaska to the Ukraine by rail. I can recommend PTG Tours, of the 33 trips done with them, I have had cabrides in Canada, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, and even a 'driving lesson' across Hungary.

[@vicsams4431]

@@berylwiffen3311 I just watched this again. I spotted me. I am the chap in the scarlet red and blue ski jacket at Dublin Connolly with a blue baseball hat, at 3:49 photographing 143 on the Up Arklow / Down Mosney.

[@SouthernYard]

Great video!

[@jayo4266]

Alan, I'm looking for the West side of Athlone, in particular the Athlone Drivers Dormitory (now Joe Lynches Car Showroom) which is on the Galway route. This video cuts to Ballinasloe station. Do you have anything that shows the Galway Mayo rail junction but traveling towards Galway. Thanks

[@berylwiffen3311]

Hi thanks for enquiry all I can say is look at my others videos on my KZbin channel there is one other “The Beet campaigner”

[@niallkelly2514]

Excellent, any more Irish vids?

[@berylwiffen3311]

Hi Niall thanks yes have a look on my KZbin channel at The Beet Campaigner “

[@vicsams4431]

Suggest you search on KZbin for the Balligo Divider, and the Yankee Explorer. I was on these, plus the Tuam Freight Liner. Enjoy !