THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI)’s “Sligo Leitrim Railtour” on April 22, was notable as it was planned to be the first time that a GM 201 Class locomotive hauled a passenger train from Dublin through to Sligo.
Previously, Longford was the furthest station on the route that a 201 Class had operated a passenger train. The visit to the M3 Parkway branch on a passenger train was also a first for the class. The sold-out railtour started from Dublin Connolly and the consist of British Railways van No. 3173 and six Cravens coaches was initially hauled by Belmondliveried No. 216 to M3 Parkway.
GM No. 075, which had earlier hauled the empty stock movement from Inchicore to Connolly, ran light to M3 Parkway and returned the train via Drumcondra to Connolly. It had been planned to run to Docklands station, but permission was withdrawn by Iarnród Éireann (IE) at short notice.
No 216 was in charge for the run from Connolly to Sligo which featured stops at
