Show threadBart BusschotsDec 28

If you have an Irish connection and value seeing our wonderful railways heritage, consider joining me as a proud member of the #RPSI — I added a little extra to my membership in recent years to support the restoration of No. 171 Slieve Gullion so she looked just that little bit nicer in my eyes 🙂

https://www.steamtrainsireland.com/get-involved/joinrenew

RPSI - Join/Renew

Volunteers & Members - Railway Preservation Society of Ireland

Bart BusschotsDec 28

All my photos from the 2025 #RPSI Dublin - #Maynooth Santa Special steam trains. This was the first big outing for newly restored No. 171 Slieve Gullion, and she performed as well as she looks — great! Thanks to the amazing RPSI volunteers and #IrishRail.

https://glass.photo/bbusschots/series/4Arwj506lHLfsaTwD5g4ao-the-2025-santa-specials

The 2025 Santa Specials, a Series by Bart Busschots — Glass

One of the holiday highlights when you live along the Dublin to Maynooth railway line is the series if 12 steam-hauled special trains opperated over three weeke…

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 20
I chose to this sharp turn in the railway line and #RoyalCanal at #Leixlip Louisa Bridge station because it’s only usable when the weather is overcast or you’ll have the sun against you, and the forecast was overcast. When #RPSI #steamLoco No.171 arrived, so did the sun, so I chose a silhouette!