A UNIQUE day out for all the family is departing from a train station near you this summer.
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) is running a series of ‘shuttle services’ on their collection of trains from yesteryear.
One that proved such a big hit with the Fetherston family was the Wicklow Shuttle from Wicklow Town that ran all the way along the beautiful coastline to Greystones on one recent Sunday.
The trip on a real
‘steamy’ brought out the Thomas the Tank Engine fan in all of us but for our four-year-old Sam, who is a fanatic follower of the little blue engine, it was a dream come true.
From the moment we arrived at the car park and heard the shrill whistle and saw the plumes of steam rushing into the sky we knew we were in for a treat.
The platform was packed full of excited faces all craning to get a look at the 1922 era steam engine, and that was just the dads.
Kids on shoulders peered open mouthed as the crew busied themselves for departure by funneling coal into the raging furnace. Then the whistle sounded again and it was all aboard for the adventure.
With another great blast of steam we were off, slowly at first as the engine built up momentum, but soon we were barreling along the line with the sea to one side and the beautiful mountains on the other.
Despite its age the little green engine, number 461, built up such a speed that at one stage a bemused fellow passenger observed that it was faster than the usual morning commute that he obviously endures.
As we peered through the windows puffs of steam would occasionally drift past the window reminding us what it must have been like to travel in another era.
All along the coast, families on picnic blankets and bathers in the sea would stop and turn to wave as we sped past, giving all the kids a great thrill to wave back.
On board, sandwiches and tea were passed around and there was even a buffet car for those who forgot to bring a flask.
All too soon we were arriving in Greystones where the passengers tumbled out on the platform to get a better look at the busy little engine as it was uncoupled to be hitched up at the other end of the train for the return journey.
Within an hour we were back at Wicklow station and the 21st century but for the rest of the journey back to Dublin in the car there was only constant chatter from the back seat about the adventure.
The RSPI runs a series of shuttles from various stations around the city and details can be found on their website www.steamtrainsireland.com
The next shuttle to Maynooth departs on Sunday, July 29 from Connolly Station at 10.55am. A second train leaves at 2.35pm. For further information tel 01-4800553.
The RSPI is run by a dedicated group of volunteers who give freely of their time to keep a fascinating and important part of our industrial heritage alive.