| CELTIC RAILS A Rail Travel Center tour. June 2006 |
| In June 2006 Geoff Cooke hosted a tour to Ireland and Wales for the American specialist tour operator, Rail Travel Center. The participants experienced some of the delightful railways in these two diverse Celtic lands. |
| This report and photographs are Copyright to Geoff Cooke |
Wednesday. 14 June 2006
The group arrived in Dublin this morning and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day was
spent relaxing, getting over the long flight.
The group arrived in Dublin this morning and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day was
spent relaxing, getting over the long flight.
Thursday. 15 June
We caught the hop – on open top bus tour
of the city of Dublin, always a great way to
find your way around a strange city.
We stopped off to see the Guinness
Storehouse, where the exhibits include a
steam locomotive. A great bonus - you get
a free pint of Guinness and a great view
from their 7th floor bar.
We caught the hop – on open top bus tour
of the city of Dublin, always a great way to
find your way around a strange city.
We stopped off to see the Guinness
Storehouse, where the exhibits include a
steam locomotive. A great bonus - you get
a free pint of Guinness and a great view
from their 7th floor bar.
| Some of the group at the Guinness Storehouse |
The 2006 Rail Travel Center tour to Ireland, Wales and England was organised hosted by Geoff Cooke. |
| It really is a steam locomotive! |
| A pint of Guinness |
Friday. 16 June
This morning, we took a train to Waterford to visit the Waterford Crystal factory.
"God bless the driver." Commented the guard as we arrived on time.
This morning, we took a train to Waterford to visit the Waterford Crystal factory.
"God bless the driver." Commented the guard as we arrived on time.
This afternoon, we drove to the Rock of
Cashel to see the spectacular group of
Medieval buildings set on an outcrop of
limestone.
Lovely scenery and a turbulent history
dating back to St Patrick.
Cashel to see the spectacular group of
Medieval buildings set on an outcrop of
limestone.
Lovely scenery and a turbulent history
dating back to St Patrick.
| Dublin Heuston Station |
| Waterford Crystal |
| The Rock of Cashel |
Saturday. 17 June
After a night in Killarney we joined a tour of the Ring of Kerry. Great scenery and a delightful
coach driver who assured us that he always told the truth because he went to confession in the
morning.
After a night in Killarney we joined a tour of the Ring of Kerry. Great scenery and a delightful
coach driver who assured us that he always told the truth because he went to confession in the
morning.
| The view across Dingle Bay to Dingle Peninsular |
| The town of Sneem, Ring of Kerry |
Sunday. 18 June
Today was an unstructured day, a small group took the
train to Tralee where they found the Blenaville Windmill,
and the steam railway, sadly not working but still a fun
exploration.
"We may be running in a few weeks" was the opinion of
the enthusiasts working on the locomotive.
"Maybe not." was the opinion of the group.
Today was an unstructured day, a small group took the
train to Tralee where they found the Blenaville Windmill,
and the steam railway, sadly not working but still a fun
exploration.
"We may be running in a few weeks" was the opinion of
the enthusiasts working on the locomotive.
"Maybe not." was the opinion of the group.
Monday. 19 June
Today we took to the rails again as we travelled to the city
of Cork and on to Cobh. We visited the Cobh Heritage
Center to find out about Cobh's origins, its unique history
and legacy that includes the Titanic, Emigration & Famine.
Tourism based on a legacy of disasters.
Today we took to the rails again as we travelled to the city
of Cork and on to Cobh. We visited the Cobh Heritage
Center to find out about Cobh's origins, its unique history
and legacy that includes the Titanic, Emigration & Famine.
Tourism based on a legacy of disasters.
| Blenaville windmill |
| Part of the Lusitania Memorial in Cobh |
| The same - but different! |
| The statue to Molly Malone |
Tuesday. 20 June
This morning we took a coach to Listowel to ride Ireland’s most unusual railway, the Lartigue
Monorail. A short section of the famous monorail has been rebuilt. To ride this unique train and
to watch the convaluted switching movements needed to turn the locomotive is an unforgettable
experience. We continued to Limerick to visit the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
This morning we took a coach to Listowel to ride Ireland’s most unusual railway, the Lartigue
Monorail. A short section of the famous monorail has been rebuilt. To ride this unique train and
to watch the convaluted switching movements needed to turn the locomotive is an unforgettable
experience. We continued to Limerick to visit the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
| The Lartigue Monorail. A very Irish Railway! |
| Bunratty Castle, and part of the adjacent heritage park. |
Wednesday. 21 June
This morning we took the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, and transferred from there to Penrhyn
Castle at Bangor, an extravagant example of early 19th century neo-Norman architecture built
from the profits of Welsh slate and Jamaican sugar.
The Industrial Railway Museum in the old stables was the star attraction for some.
This morning we took the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, and transferred from there to Penrhyn
Castle at Bangor, an extravagant example of early 19th century neo-Norman architecture built
from the profits of Welsh slate and Jamaican sugar.
The Industrial Railway Museum in the old stables was the star attraction for some.
| The Industrial Railway Museum. Penrhyn Castle |
| Penrhyn Castle |
Thursday. 22 June
This morning we rode the Welsh Highland
Railway from Caernarfon to Rhyd Ddu in the
Snowdon National Park. On arriving back in
Caernarfon, we stopped off at the Black Boy
Inn for lunch before visiting Caernarfon
Castle, possibly the most famous of Wales’
many castles.
This morning we rode the Welsh Highland
Railway from Caernarfon to Rhyd Ddu in the
Snowdon National Park. On arriving back in
Caernarfon, we stopped off at the Black Boy
Inn for lunch before visiting Caernarfon
Castle, possibly the most famous of Wales’
many castles.
| NGG16 Garratt Locomotive at Caernarfon |
| The Black Boy Inn |
| Caernarfon Castle |
Friday. 23 June
This morning we rode the Snowdon Mountain rack railway where maintenance work near the
summit restricted our journey to the half way station. We drove up Llanberris Pass for a
different view of Snowdon before visiting the Slate Museum, located in the old workshops of the
Dinorwic Slate Mine.
After lunch, we rode the Llanberris Lakeside Railway and followed this with a trip into the heart
of the mountain to see a gigantic power station that was built in an old slate cavern to avoid
disturbing the national park.
This morning we rode the Snowdon Mountain rack railway where maintenance work near the
summit restricted our journey to the half way station. We drove up Llanberris Pass for a
different view of Snowdon before visiting the Slate Museum, located in the old workshops of the
Dinorwic Slate Mine.
After lunch, we rode the Llanberris Lakeside Railway and followed this with a trip into the heart
of the mountain to see a gigantic power station that was built in an old slate cavern to avoid
disturbing the national park.
| A steam train on the Snowdon Mountain Railway |
| The Llanberis Lakeside Railway |
Saturday. 24 June
We rode the Ffestiniog Railway from
Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog before
driving to Betws y Coed, where we stopped for
refreshments and to visit the Conwy Railway
Museum and miniature railways.
This afternoon we joined the Llangollen
Railway at Carrog, taking the line down the
Dee River valley to Llangollen. From there we
drove to Shrewsbury.
We rode the Ffestiniog Railway from
Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog before
driving to Betws y Coed, where we stopped for
refreshments and to visit the Conwy Railway
Museum and miniature railways.
This afternoon we joined the Llangollen
Railway at Carrog, taking the line down the
Dee River valley to Llangollen. From there we
drove to Shrewsbury.
| The Ffestiniog Railway, Blaenau Ffestiniog |
| Two miniature railways. Betws y Coed |
Sunday. 25 June
This morning we rode on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, followed by a visit to the
Powis Castle and Gardens.
This morning we rode on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, followed by a visit to the
Powis Castle and Gardens.
| Powis Castle |
| The Welshpool & Llanfair Railway |
Monday. 26 June
Our last day included a ride on railway from
Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth. On arrival we
walked through the town and down the
seaside promenade to Constitution Hill,
where we took the Funicular Railway up to
the Victorian Camera Obscura.
This afternoon we rode a steam train to Devil’
s Bridge on the Vale of Rheidol Railway
before catching the train back to Shrewsbury.
Our last day included a ride on railway from
Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth. On arrival we
walked through the town and down the
seaside promenade to Constitution Hill,
where we took the Funicular Railway up to
the Victorian Camera Obscura.
This afternoon we rode a steam train to Devil’
s Bridge on the Vale of Rheidol Railway
before catching the train back to Shrewsbury.
| An Arriva Train at Aberystwyth Station |
| Climbing Constitution Hill |
| The Vale of Rheidol Railway |
| A LLangollen Railways train arriving at Carrog |
| Geoff in particular was well versed in all matters that we were exposed to. Surely his run down on castles and their construction and purpose was indeed remarkable together with Irish and Welsh history - all this to complement the railway subjects and of course to please the ladies. Thanks for a good tour - even the weather held up fairly well! Jack. |
| Celtic Rails June 2008 Click here to find out more about the 2008 Celtic Rails Tour |
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