Tour No. 32 : The Irish Mail (ITG Railtours)

Due to the current ban on the operation of diesel hauled railtours in the Irish Republic, ITG Railtours took the opportunity to operate its first mainland UK railtour. D1015 was the chosen motive power running from Ealing Broadway to Holyhead, the destination of the original "IRISH MAIL" boat train, returning via Manchester Victoria and Stoke on Trent.

The weather was cold and misty as we departed Ealing Broadway and it wasn't until North of Crewe that the sun finally came out. Following a scheduled photo stop at Rhyl we quickly sped along the North Wales coast and an on time arrival at Holyhead was easily achieved. A break of 90 minutes at Holyhead was enough to refuel the loco and water the stock while the tour participants had excellent weather in which to photograph the loco. The return departed at 15.15 and this time the photo stop was at Bangor. One of the highlights of the tour was Manchester Victoria with the engine opened up fully through the station although the anticipated assault of Miles Platting Bank was something of an anti climax with the loco hardly breaking sweat. Much of the schedule during the day was very slack but the tour was finished off in style with some high speed running up the Thames valley resulting in Ealing Broadway being reached 20 minutes ahead of schedule. A first class day out and a notable success for the ITG.