GNR : Dublin - Belfast by Enterprise Expresses : publicity leaflet : Great Northern Railway of Ireland : Dublin : nd [c.1947] : outer folds - 1

A charming multi-fold colour publicity leaflet issued by the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and advertising their new "Enterprise Express". Undated, the fact it is described as "new", gives a journey time of 2hr 14min and notes the Customs examinations before departures makes it highly likely the leaflet was issued for the launch of the new Dublin - Belfast express service in 1947. Certainly the fashions and hair styles are of the period. The leaflet folds out in four panels creating a marvellous panorama of the Express; the other side gives details as to the "quiet comfort" of the new Expresses, travelling in "bbright surroundings" whilst having "perhaps a cocktail" and with a "meal to follow". Cocktails on either side of the Border seem a bit louche to me for post-War, or post-Emergency, Ireland.

 

Introduced on 11 August 1947, using the GNR's most modern coaching stock and usually hauled by one of the railway's Class V (later Class VS) locomotives, there was initially one journey a day; this being a 1030 departure from Belfast and a return trip leaving Dublin at 1730. In May 1948 two more journeys a day, an 0930 from Dublin and a 1715 return from Belfast was introduced. The service became jointly operated between CIÉ and the UTA upon dissolution of the GNR Board by both jurisdictions in 1958 and by which time new DMUs had been introduced. The Enterprise still runs today, now operated jointly by NIR and IR, on an hourly frequency.

Done