Táilte Tours is to run a two-day railtour in August, which is set to visit the Cavan and Leitrim Railway.

Táilte Tours is a new voluntary-led committee that seeks to raise funds and awareness for Ireland’s smaller railway heritage groups.

The organisation is named after one of Ireland’s largest steam locomotives, and aims to organise railtours and other railway-themed events throughout Ireland. Its first event is a two-day rail tour weekend taking place over the weekend of Saturday, 20th and Sunday, 21st August.

On Saturday, 20th August the “Premier Rose” will provide a very rare opportunity to travel on a locomotive-hauled train on the scenic Kerry branch line to Killarney and Tralee. It will comprise Iarnród Éireann Mk.IV coaching stock which normally only operates on Dublin to Cork services. The rail tour departs Dublin Connolly at 10:00 and will offer passengers the option of nearly five hours in Killarney or three hours in Tralee, which will be in the opening weekend of its famous “Rose of Tralee” festival.

Motive power will be provided by a member of the 201 class GMs. Since the takeover of most long-distance Iarnród Éireann services by Intercity Railcars in the late 2000s, these locomotives have generally only seen passenger use on Dublin to Belfast and a portion of Dublin to Cork services. Their use on rail tours is also uncommon. The tour will provide a rare chance to travel behind a 201 class on one of the branch lines.

On Sunday 21st August, the “Wild Rose” will include a trip to the Cavan & Leitrim Railway at Dromod, where there will be the opportunity to ride behind their restored Avonside tank engine Nancy in its first season of operation. Former Bord na Móna diesel No.LM114 Joe St. Ledger will also be available for haulage opportunities. Leitrim is known as the ‘Wild Rose county’.

A two-day ticket costs €120 and all proceeds will be donated towards Irish heritage railway groups. Tours on both days can also be booked individually. Tickets for the Sunday include travel from Dublin to Dromod on an Irish Rail service train. Tickets for the weekend can be booked online at http://www.tailtetours.com.

Any profits raised will be donated to a selection of Irish heritage railway groups.