Bart BusschotsDec 25
My last shot of former #GNRi 4-4-0 steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion working the last of the steam-hauled #RPSI Santa Specials of 2025. She performed wonderfully, and sped past the Duke’s Harbour on the #RoyalCanal at #CartonHouse near #Maynooth. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it! 🎄
Bart BusschotsDec 24
A peek at former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion through Pike Bridge at the Duke’s Harbour on the #RoyalCanal at the entrance to #CartonHouse pulling the last steam-hauled #RPSI Santa Special of the 2025 season out of #Maynooth.
Bart BusschotsDec 23
Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion passing the Duke’s Harbour on the #RoyalCanal at the gates to #CartonHouse as seen from Pike Bridge with the last steam-hauled #RPSI Santa Special of the 2025 seanson. No steam as she’s coasting towards the #Maynooth approach signal.
Bart BusschotsDec 22
Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion working an #RPSI Santa Special tender-first along a beautiful rural stretch of the #RoyalCanal east of #Maynooth.
Bart BusschotsDec 22
As the wind picks up the steam from former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion swirls down and onto the #RoyalCanal towpath east of #Maynooth as she pulls an #RPSI Santa Special back towards Dublin tender-fist. Thankfully she was running clean, smelled like an open fire when it hit me 🙂
Bart BusschotsDec 21
Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion with it’s clean white steam contrasting against the December clouds as she works hard accelerating an #RPSI Santa Special away from the sharp turn in the line and #RoyalCanal at #Leixlip Louisa Bridge.
Bart BusschotsDec 21
Former #GNRi 4-4-0 #steamLoco No. 171 Slieve Gullion pulling an #RPSI Santa Special around the sharp turn in the line and the #RoyalCanal at #Leixlip Louisa Bridge station. #blackAndWhite #momochrome
Bart BusschotsDec 18

This is the best side-view I was able to get of former #GNRi 4-4-0 steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion working the 2025 #RPSI Santa Specials. This shows the engine’s defining features nicely:

1. Two sets of small leading wheels, two sets of big driving wheels, and no trialing wheels, hence 4-4-0!
2. An un-tapered boiler (cylindrical)
3. A separate coal and water tender (so not a tank engine despite the Thomas-blue colour)

Bart BusschotsDec 17
Former #GNRi 4-4-0 steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion gently steams into #Maynooth along the banks of the #RoyalCanal with an #RPSI Santa Special on a particularly dull December afternoon.
Bart BusschotsDec 17
Former #GNRi 4-4-0 steam loco No. 171 Slieve Gullion coasting towards #Maynooth station along the banks of the #RoyalCanal with an RPSI Santa Special.