#rpsi — Public Fediverse posts

As always, a little reminder that if you want to join me in supporting the #RPSI in keeping these beautiful historic machines running on Irish main lines, consider joining, it’s not expensive, and you get advanced notice of all the trains so you book or photograph!

https://steamtrainsireland.com/get-involved/joinrenew

Finally finished my series for #RPSI “The Midlander” #steam #train specials on the 20th and 21st of June between Dublin and #Maynooth.

Most of the trains were pulled by the beautiful blue loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion, but diesel loco 071 made a guest appearance!

https://glass.photo/bbusschots/series/77zeUDsJK7QZEWv3Qx7kAm-2026-06-20-and-21-the-midlander

This final shot of former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (#GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam #train No. 171 Slieve Gullion working “The Midlander” along the #RoyalCanal in #Leixlip for the #RPSI took AGES to edit — loved the composition, but the light was TERRIBLE. Eventually got to this #BlackAndWhite version.

Former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (#GNRi) 4-4-0 steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion peaking around the sharp turn between the two #Leixlip stations with “The Midlander” special #steam #train for the #RPSI. Because there’s no turntable in Maynooth anymore, the loco has to run tender-first.

Former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (#GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion pulling “The Midlander” #RPSI special #train around the turn between Matt Goff Bridge and the 13th lock along the #RoyalCanal in #Leixlip. #blackAndWhite

Unlike the steam loco due to pull this #RPSI “The Midlander” special, the #IrishRail 071-class diesel locos have two cabs, so the look the same from both ends! Here the loco is pulling the return leg from #Maynooth back to Dublin along the #RoyalCanal, using the opposite cab to the first leg!

Right on time, but not at all what myself and my fellow train spotters were expecting, the fifty year old diesel loco 071, in it’s commemorative original 1970s livery appeared pulling the #RPSI “the Midlander” ‘steam’ special towards #Maynooth at Pike Bridge on the #RoyalCanal. #IrishRail

Former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (#GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion pulling “The Midlander” out of #Maynooth and back towards Dublin along the #RoyalCanal on an #RPSI special. #BlackAndWhite

With a little help from the channel mixer and some selective adjustments in Photoshop, this nice but not quite perfect colour image makes a striking monochrome! #RPSI #steam #Maynooth #RoyalCanal #BlackAndWhite

Having picked my spot carefully, tested my composition with a Commuter train, the Irish weather played a mean trick on me! A cloud blotted out the foreground sun just as former #GNRi #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion approached #Maynooth along the #RoyalCanal with “The Midlander”! #RPSI

My full series of photos from the #RPSI “Midlander” special #trains on the 17th of May. The two Dublin - Maynooth - Dublin runs were pulled expertly restored steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion with its beautiful blue Great Norther Railway of Ireland (GNRi) livery.

https://glass.photo/bbusschots/series/1vG6zfZ8dRniCBTqIwY9ju-2026-05-17-the-midlander

One last glimpse of former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion as it heads for home pulling the last leg of the last “Midlander” #RPSI special #train the weekend before last. The venerable old loco performed flawlessly all day 🙂

A glimpse of former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion working the last leg of the last of the #RPSI “Midlander” special #trains through the trees along the #RoyalCanal between #Maynooth and #Leixlip.

Former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion passing “the Duke’s Harbour” on the #RoyalCanal at Carton House near #Maynooth with an #RPSI “Midlander” special #trian.

Former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion accelerating out of #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal working an #RPSI “Midlander” special #train tender-first. The loco’s blue livery compliments the yellow rapeseed blooms nicely.

Former Great Northern Railway of Ireland (GNRi) 4-4-0 #steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion, skilfully preserved by the volunteers in the #RPSI (Railway Preservation Society of Ireland). #train

If you have an Irish connection and value seeing our wonderful railways heritage, consider joining me as a proud member of the #RPSI — I added a little extra to my membership in recent years to support the restoration of No. 171 Slieve Gullion so she looked just that little bit nicer in my eyes 🙂

https://www.steamtrainsireland.com/get-involved/joinrenew

All my photos from the 2025 #RPSI Dublin - #Maynooth Santa Special steam trains. This was the first big outing for newly restored No. 171 Slieve Gullion, and she performed as well as she looks — great! Thanks to the amazing RPSI volunteers and #IrishRail.

https://glass.photo/bbusschots/series/4Arwj506lHLfsaTwD5g4ao-the-2025-santa-specials

My last shot of former #GNRi 4-4-0 steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion working the last of the steam-hauled #RPSI Santa Specials of 2025. She performed wonderfully, and sped past the Duke’s Harbour on the #RoyalCanal at #CartonHouse near #Maynooth. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it! 🎄

A peek at former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion through Pike Bridge at the Duke’s Harbour on the #RoyalCanal at the entrance to #CartonHouse pulling the last steam-hauled #RPSI Santa Special of the 2025 season out of #Maynooth.

Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion passing the Duke’s Harbour on the #RoyalCanal at the gates to #CartonHouse as seen from Pike Bridge with the last steam-hauled #RPSI Santa Special of the 2025 seanson. No steam as she’s coasting towards the #Maynooth approach signal.

Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion working an #RPSI Santa Special tender-first along a beautiful rural stretch of the #RoyalCanal east of #Maynooth.

As the wind picks up the steam from former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion swirls down and onto the #RoyalCanal towpath east of #Maynooth as she pulls an #RPSI Santa Special back towards Dublin tender-fist. Thankfully she was running clean, smelled like an open fire when it hit me 🙂

Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion with it’s clean white steam contrasting against the December clouds as she works hard accelerating an #RPSI Santa Special away from the sharp turn in the line and #RoyalCanal at #Leixlip Louisa Bridge.

Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion pulling an #RPSI Santa Special around the sharp turn in the line and the #RoyalCanal at #Leixlip Louisa Bridge station. #blackAndWhite #momochrome

I chose to this sharp turn in the railway line and #RoyalCanal at #Leixlip Louisa Bridge station because it’s only usable when the weather is overcast or you’ll have the sun against you, and the forecast was overcast. When #RPSI #steamLoco No.171 arrived, so did the sun, so I chose a silhouette!

Former GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion at full steam as she accelerates an #RPSI Santa Special out of #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal tender-first.

This is the best side-view I was able to get of former #GNRi 4-4-0 steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion working the 2025 #RPSI Santa Specials. This shows the engine’s defining features nicely:

1. Two sets of small leading wheels, two sets of big driving wheels, and no trialing wheels, hence 4-4-0!
2. An un-tapered boiler (cylindrical)
3. A separate coal and water tender (so not a tank engine despite the Thomas-blue colour)

Former #GNRi 4-4-0 steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion gently steams into #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal with an #RPSI Santa Special on a particularly dull December afternoon.

Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion appears around the last corner as it approaches #Maynooth with an #RPSI Santa Special along the banks of the #RoyalCanal.