Belmond Grand Hibernian

Del.Monte · 09-04-2018 12:11PM

dowlingm wrote: »

They cost money to maintain and there isn't enough need for them to justify the expense vs occasional LE movements?

Running railways cost money and there's no way around that. Penny pinching at every opportunity leads to an inflexible mess.

I am reminded of the true story about Buttevant where a special left the station in the morning using the Up platform but had to de-train at Mallow on the return as the Down platform had been permanently removed during the day.

Praetorian · 09-04-2018 12:30PM

Does anyone have any idea if the tickets are selling well? I think I could only justify going if I won the lotto

I wonder if like cruises, that they would do cheaper tickets if they were not sold out at the last minute.

XPS_Zero · 10-04-2018 03:10PM

Praetorian wrote: »

Does anyone have any idea if the tickets are selling well? I think I could only justify going if I won the lotto

I wonder if like cruises, that they would do cheaper tickets if they were not sold out at the last minute.

I'd imagine there are plenty of well off tourists who could afford it. A lot of wealthy Americans with the most remote connections to Ireland (connections that nevertheless fire their imaginations and they want to explore) come here just to get a kick out of exploring the country this kind of way

Only 4% of the Irish population make over 100k a year and even less than that are actually wealthy (sorry mount merrion / foxrock residents you're upper middle class, despite what you might allow yourself to imagine - not among the 1%), but there are enough of them and well off tourists to fund this kind of thing. I will definitely do it later when I sell out to the establ--i mean when ...nothing.

Ireland trains · 11-04-2018 08:51PM

The train will be travelling south of Connolly this weekend

GM228 · 11-04-2018 08:59PM

Ireland trains wrote: »

The train will be travelling south of Connolly this weekend

And breaking new ground as per the schedule I posted above.

From next week new Tuesday schedule as follows:-

Tuesday - 201 Class
14:25 Heuston to Cork
20:35 Cork to Thurles
22:50 Thurles to Charleville

GM228 · 14-04-2018 05:04PM

The Belmond broke new ground today reaching Rosslare Strand (with 082 standing in for 216).

Del.Monte · 14-04-2018 07:35PM

Just passed through Enniscorthy a few minutes ago. Ex.railway enthusiast or not I just had to take a look.

XPS_Zero · 14-04-2018 11:27PM

Del.Monte wrote: »

Just passed through Enniscorthy a few minutes ago. Ex.railway enthusiast or not I just had to take a look.

Where can one find out where it is ATM? and where it's going next?
I'm on south of the line would love to see it down here. Have seen it at Beflast Central but be nice to see more of it

Jamie2k9 · 14-04-2018 11:42PM

XPS_Zero wrote: »

Where can one find out where it is ATM? and where it's going next?
I'm on south of the line would love to see it down here. Have seen it at Beflast Central but be nice to see more of it

Its in Gory now and will be departing at 08.15 and arriving in Connolly at 09.55 and Departing at 10.05 to Waterford. GM220 has the full schedule on the previous page.

Del.Monte · 15-04-2018 02:50PM

Here's a few pics of the train on Wexford Quays yesterday from my friend Eamonn Redmond. I took some excellent shots of rails and ballast but thought people would prefer these.

Belmond%2BGrand%2BHibernian%2BWexford%2B14th%2BApril%2B2018.png

Grandeeod · 03-05-2018 10:47PM

It was parked up in Portarlington at 10.30am this morning. I don't know where it was heading.

tabbey · 03-05-2018 11:08PM

This weekend,will BGH run down the DSE or north to Belfast / Dundalk?

Jamie2k9 · 03-05-2018 11:23PM

It was parked up in Portarlington at 10.30am this morning. I don't know where it was heading.

Galway

tabbey wrote: »

This weekend,will BGH run down the DSE or north to Belfast / Dundalk?

Rosslare Strand

Seanmk1 · 04-05-2018 05:56PM

There must be a lovely musical sound in the bar car when it's being dragged backwards by an 071

GM228 · 04-05-2018 11:25PM

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Rosslare Strand

And 216 should make it to Rosslare Strand tomorrow instead of an 071.

Fred Swanson · 04-05-2018 11:28PM

This post has been deleted.

GM228 · 04-05-2018 11:41PM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Can they not go to the harbour?

Mk3s not cleared for the Harbour.

tabbey · 04-05-2018 11:43PM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

The harbour station was closed some years ago.
It was replaced by a platform which should be occupied by the regular service train.
They would also need another loco to pull the train out of the "terminus"

Jamie2k9 · 04-05-2018 11:44PM

GM228 wrote: »

And 216 should make it to Rosslare Strand tomorrow instead of an 071.

Why the late change last time, it was due to go then?, does it also mean 216 should also head to Waterford as well?

GM228 · 04-05-2018 11:48PM

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Why the late change last time, it was due to go then?, does it also mean 216 should also head to Waterford as well?

216 required some TLC in Inchicore last time.

The plan was to use 216 through to Waterford this weekend, but it requires an exam and will be taken off in Connolly and run LE ahead of the Belmond to Inchicore, an 071 will then work the train to Waterford.

GM228 · 05-05-2018 12:02AM

tabbey wrote: »

The harbour station was closed some years ago.
It was replaced by a platform which should be occupied by the regular service train.
They would also need another loco to pull the train out of the "terminus"

It could be run around in the station without a second loco, problem is it can't use the platform to do so and Mk3s are not cleared for that section of the line anyway.

You also have the problem of the regular on the platform as you mentioned and a weekend stabled set on the loop. Both would need to be moved, but there's no point when the platform can't even be used and the Strand can be used with no impact on other trains.

I'm more interested in what 2019+ holds as an itinerary change is on the cards with "new routes" mentioned, trials may operate after the 2018 season for the 2019+ seasons.

end of the road · 05-05-2018 12:34AM

i'm surprised mk3s would need clearence given they operated out of the harbour a good few times before. mind you it was the old station and the last time was either the late 90s or at most the early 2000s. i presume the clearence would be for the current station rather then the stretch of track from the strand onwards?

goingnowhere · 05-05-2018 09:53AM

The problem is there is a train sitting in the loop at Rosslare Europort so you cannot run around

Be a bit tight between the points and the turntable for a 201 class

GM228 · 05-05-2018 10:42AM

end of the road wrote: »

i'm surprised mk3s would need clearence given they operated out of the harbour a good few times before. mind you it was the old station and the last time was either the late 90s or at most the early 2000s. i presume the clearence would be for the current station rather then the stretch of track from the strand onwards?

They need clearance for the new station as they never operated into it and would have no grandfather rights over the new platform.

May 2007 saw the last Mk3 operate to Rosslare Harbour, the following year the station was no more.

end of the road · 05-05-2018 01:42PM

GM228 wrote: »

May 2007 saw the last Mk3 operate to Rosslare Harbour, the following year the station was no more.

i presume that was a special?

Fred Swanson · 05-05-2018 01:47PM

This post has been deleted.

GM228 · 05-05-2018 01:59PM

Wexford Opera special.

7612 on the rear of the 2007 Opera Special, 15.25 Connolly to Wexford/Rosslare.

Fred Swanson · 05-05-2018 02:07PM

This post has been deleted.

GM228 · 05-05-2018 02:26PM

Fred Swanson wrote: »

I didn't think the opera trains went to the harbour to run round.

They always ran empty Wexford-Rosslare-Wexford. They stabled in Rosslare for several hours.

Last ever Opera special - formed of Mk3s, Thursday 31st May 2007:-

13.20 Heuston-Connolly empty
15.25 Connolly-Wexford
18.10 Wexford-Rosslare Harbour empty
22.40 Rosslare Harbour-Wexford empty
00.01 (Friday) Wexford-Pearse
02.25 (Friday ) Pearse-Heuston empty

Borzoi · 05-05-2018 02:49PM

Praetorian wrote: »

Does anyone have any idea if the tickets are selling well? I think I could only justify going if I won the lotto
.

likewise, but I was lucky enough to have lunch on board as part of pre season preparation, and sitting opposite the former general manager, so got some tales - though not many of interest to train enthusiasts.

tickets - its booked solid for the next 2 years, so dont expect any bargains. in its 2 operationsl years, they've had a total of 8 Irish passengers. most are US, then UK, then mixed European. Some of the US guys would have had private trains cars

the season for them is 6 months and then done. they dont do any private hire due to staff and maintenance situation
they pitch it similarly to a luxury cruise, with everything included. the chef is ex Thorntons on the green so food is great.

Belmond Grand Hibernian

Comments