And here is the splendid information which Kieran very kindly has shared with us. We are also very grateful to Donncha Cronin for alerting us to the Steam Event itself and for providing such accurate timetable facts.“When I gave a description of the type of engine (461) used was more or less correct, it was not the one used last Saturday going through Millstreet.
The Motive Power was what is known as a tank engine. Tank generally means that the Coal tender is built as part of the engine and contains the water tank as well.This means the tender is permanently part of the engine.
This particular unit has the No.4 painted on the buffer (as we noticed from our still images of the train). A brief history of these engines: They were built for the LMS (London Midland & Scottish) Railway prior to British railways being formed in 1948/49.They proved to be a good engine and steamed very well. The railway set up in the North of Ireland eyed these and ordered a number of them.
They were mostly used for traffic within the North with occasional trips down South. They gave a good account of themselves and were only withdrawn in the early 1970s. Only one went for preservation, No.4. This particular engine is used on enthusiasts excursions throughout the Irish rail/ NIR systems.
The logistics of organising these events require the use of more engines including Diesel hauled units. However, the description of engine 461 (which Kieran gave to us in our LTV2 Millstreet interview)
as stated above, is more or less correct and was the one used on the Dublin-Rosslare section of the event.” Many thanks, Kieran, for this much appreciated background information. (S.R.)
