Explore Ireland in comfort and style

Far and away the most interesting means of discovering the rich heritage and pristine beauty of the Irish countryside is to enjoy it all from the window of an authentic antique steam train. The chug of the engine, an occasional puff of smoke, the endless spread of green valleys and the historic towns you pass along the route – it’s all about sight and sounds for this unique way to explore Ireland.

Many private companies offer steam train experience packages throughout the whole expanse of the United Kingdom, but an interesting way to find more about historic railway journeys is through the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. Offering creative and different packages throughout the year, you can chose any of the following steam train rides: “Easter Steam”, “Barrow Bridge”, “Steam & Jazz”, “Bangor Belle”, “European Architectural Heritage Day”, “Country comes to town”, “Broomstick Belle” or the “Santa Special” – phwoar! It all sounds steamier than any hot spa experience, and guaranteed to b e a whole lot more fun, social and informative!

More information can be found on the RPSI Events calendar of 2008, but they recommend that you book in advance, as these train rides are very popular! The only way that would come close to a steam train journey to explore Dublin, Waterford, Belfast, Bangor, Portadown, Lisburn, Whitehead, Carrickfergus and Dundalk would be on a hot air balloon ride - but it would be a pretty close call between the steam train and hot air balloon experience. However, despite the train being limited to ground passage, there’s still a lot of distance that can be covered – giving you the time to enjoy the onboard catering and relish the experien ce of exploring a new city, visiting historic local sites, indulge in a bit of shopping or just pop into a cafe for a nice cuppa on your transit break.