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→‎{{Anchor|A-museum}}Whitehead site and museum: 'Whitehead RPSI Siding' is it's official designation by NIR, not a spur
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The '''Whitehead Railway Museum''' opened without ceremony in early 2017.{{sfn|Hewitt|2017}} The 5-year project to expand the site from a working steam and engineering depot to include a rebuilt ''Whitehouse Excursion station'' and the museum. The total cost was £3.1m from various funding sources.{{sfn|Hewitt|2017}}
The '''Whitehead Railway Museum''' opened without ceremony in early 2017.{{sfn|Hewitt|2017}} The 5-year project to expand the site from a working steam and engineering depot to include a rebuilt ''Whitehouse Excursion station'' and the museum. The total cost was £3.1m from various funding sources.{{sfn|Hewitt|2017}}


Whitehouse Excursion station lies to the north of {{rws|Whitehead}} (main) station on a spur diverging to the east of the [[Belfast–Larne line]].{{cn|date=August 2021}}
Whitehouse Excursion station lies to the north of {{rws|Whitehead}} (main) station on a siding diverging to the east of the [[Belfast–Larne line]].{{cn|date=August 2021}}


The site includes an extensive engineering workshop, capable of major engineering work from overhauling locomotive and rolling stock to the building a locomotive. Much of this was made by possible thanks to the [[European Regional Development Fund]] provided by the [[EU]] in the 1990s. These EU funds enabled them to build a locomotive workshop and carriage shed.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Five Foot Three|title=Article title unspecified|date=1994|issue=40|publisher=RPSI}}</ref>
The site includes an extensive engineering workshop, capable of major engineering work from overhauling locomotive and rolling stock to the building a locomotive. Much of this was made by possible thanks to the [[European Regional Development Fund]] provided by the [[EU]] in the 1990s. These EU funds enabled them to build a locomotive workshop and carriage shed.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Five Foot Three|title=Article title unspecified|date=1994|issue=40|publisher=RPSI}}</ref>

Revision as of 21:43, 16 August 2021

Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
AbbreviationRPSI
Location
  • Dublin
  • Whitehead
Websitewww.steamtrainsireland.com

The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) is an Irish railway preservation group operating throughout Ireland, founded in 1964.[1] Mainline steam train railtours are operated from Dublin and from Belfast, but occasionally from other locations as well.[1] The society has bases in Dublin and Whitehead, County Antrim, the latter also has a museum and occasionally operates short steam rides within the confines of its site.[2] As well as heritage wagons, carriages, steam engines and diesel locomotives the society also owns steel-bodied carriages suitable for mainline use.[3]

History

The RPSI was formed in 1964.[1]

In 2020 and 2021 RPSI operations were curtailed due to the restrictions placed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Whitehead site and museum

The Whitehead Railway Museum opened without ceremony in early 2017.[5] The 5-year project to expand the site from a working steam and engineering depot to include a rebuilt Whitehouse Excursion station and the museum. The total cost was £3.1m from various funding sources.[5]

Whitehouse Excursion station lies to the north of Whitehead (main) station on a siding diverging to the east of the Belfast–Larne line.[citation needed]

The site includes an extensive engineering workshop, capable of major engineering work from overhauling locomotive and rolling stock to the building a locomotive. Much of this was made by possible thanks to the European Regional Development Fund provided by the EU in the 1990s. These EU funds enabled them to build a locomotive workshop and carriage shed.[6]

Dublin Branch

Largely separate to operations at Whitehead, the RPSI Dublin Operations grew out of the Mullingar base and have been active since the late 1980s. This started as part of the Dublin Millenium Festival in 1988.[7]

The Dublin Operations more or less operate independently of Whitehead with their own coach stock and a rent of the Irish Rail locomotive shed at Connolly station.

The Dublin Operations section is responsible for the greater majority of income for the organisation.[8]

The Dublin Management Team are responsible for Dublin Operations.They have a Train Operating licence from the CRR and are classed as an operator in themselves. This is unlike the Whitehead Operations, who use NIR.[9]{Additional citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Operations

Passenger excursions

The Society runs mainline trains on the Irish railway network using steam traction and vintage carriages. It also owns a small fleet of vintage diesel locomotives. Its longest running and most famous train, the Portrush Flyer, takes day trippers from Belfast to Coleraine during the summer. Out of Dublin, several trains are operated over the scenic Rosslare line to Greystones and Wicklow throughout summer.

Each year the society organizes a major weekend event, operating usually from Dublin in May and covering major routes in Ireland. Currently trips and tours are on hiatus owing to Covid-19 restrictions. [citation needed]

Excursion trains run throughout the year from both Dublin and Belfast, primarily at weekends. An operational set of carriages is kept both at Whitehead and in Dublin for these purposes.

Other operations

On many occasions the RPSI has provided trains for films and television dramas, notably The First Great Train Robbery in 1979[10] and Michael Collins. RPSI also provided a train for filming on the Sky TV series Moone Boy.[11]

The RPSI also runs special charter trains for companies like Steam Dreams and Railtours Ireland.

In winter months the Society runs public meetings in Belfast, consisting of slide shows, films, and guest speakers. Topics featured often include the Derry Road, Spoil Trains, the Ulster Transport Authority and the last days of steam in Ulster.[12]

Recognition

In 1983, the Association of Railway Preservation Societies (now known as the Heritage Railway Association) presented the RPSI with its annual award for "continuing highly successful operation...of steam excursions", and for the restoration of steam locomotive No. 4 and carriages 87, 1142 and 91.[13]

In 1987 the RPSI won a certificate of commendation in the British Coal Annual Steam Heritage Awards for the restoration of No. 85 Merlin.[14] Unfortunately the locomotive developed problems and was withdrawn again in 1989.[citation needed]

In 2000 the Heritage Railway Association gave the Supreme Champion award in the carriage and wagon category to the RPSI's Dublin crew for its work on Irish State coach No. 351.[15]

The HRA has also presented the RPSI with the John Coiley Award for Locomotive Preservation (in 2004, for now withdrawn[16]); a certificate of commendation in 2006 (for its part in the Bleach Green to Whitehead track relay) and the Wagon Award in 2009 (for the restoration of a GNR(I) brake van[17][18]).

2018 saw the society win the Manisty Award in recognition of opening the new Whitehead Railway Museum.[19]

Fleet

The RPSI owns a total of ten steam and six diesel locomotives, a mixture of large main line and small industrial shunting types, all to the Irish gauge of 5ft 3in. In addition it has had No.85 Merlin, last of the GNR(I) Class V, on loan from the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum since the 1980s. In addition they intend to build a new W Class engine No.105. The Society also owns or cares for a large collection of carriages and wagons of varying ages.

GSWR steam locomotive No.186 on former GNR tracks, near Newry.
RPSI Steam Locomotives[20][21]
Number Name Class Wheel Arrangement Build Date Original Operator Notes
3 R.H. Smyth 0-6-0ST 1928 Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners

Stored awaiting overhaul. It recently got a repaint at Whitehead by the volunteers.

3BG 0-4-0ST 1919 Arthur Guinness, Son & Co Overhaul completed 2016. In traffic. Used on Whitehead train rides, once used on a tour of Belfast dock lines in the 1960s.
4 WT 2-6-4T 1947 LMS NCC Operational, Mainline Certified. Returned to steam after overhaul in June 2015. This locomotive has spent far longer in RPSI ownership than either of the three railway companies that owned it before or combined.
27 Lough Erne Lough 0-6-4T 1949 SL&NCR UTA No.27 of class Z. Stored. In need of extensive restoration. Only steamed in early days and now has extensive corrosion around smokebox and other areas. Proposed to loan to Westrail Tuam in the 1990s.
131 Uranus Q 4-4-0 1901 GNR(I) In traffic. Certified for mainline use 2018. Tender body is largely new. Loco was originally partly restored by the Great Southern Railway Preservation Society in Mallow. Not yet passed for the Iarnród Éireann network so unable to run in the free state.
171 Slieve Gullion S 4-4-0 1913 GNR(I) Under overhaul at Whitehead.
184 101 0-6-0 1880 GS&WR Stored. Requires heavy overhaul. Cylinder block may need replacement.[22] Restored at Mullingar. Only loco yet to run in the north. Unlikely to ever see traffic again.[citation needed]
186 101 0-6-0 1879 GS&WR Out of traffic and unlikely to return in the long term.
461 K2 2-6-0 1922 DSER Out of Traffic, Mainline Certified. Originally DSER No.15, renumbered by GSR.
85 Merlin V 4-4-0 1932 GNR(I) Operational, Mainline Certified. On long term loan from UFTM Cultra. Tender is RPSI owned and was saved at Mullingar. It was rebuilt then at Whitehead.
134 at Inchicore railway works
RPSI Internal Combustion Locomotives [20][21]
Number Name Class Wheel Arrangement Build Date Original Operator Notes
1 Carlow Ruston 88DS 4wDM 1955 Comlucht Siúcre Éireann Teoranta (Irish Sugar Co., Carlow Shunter at Whitehead. Repainted to original livery 2018.
4wPM 1965 UTA 'Unilok' road-rail shunter, light overhaul in progress (2018) at Whitehead.
23 Planet Hibberd 88 hp 4wDM 1951 Irish Shell Stored at Whitehead. It was originally used by Irish Shell in Dublin docks. The only 5'3 gauge loco of its make.
B134 121 Bo-Bo 1961 CIÉ Overhaul in progress at Inchicore works.
B141 141 Bo-Bo 1962 CIÉ Stored at Connolly.
142 141 Bo-Bo 1962 CIÉ Withdrawn for engine overhaul after liner gasket failure December 2020. The repaint of this locomotive had been going on for a very long time.[23]
175 141 Bo-Bo 1962 CIÉ Stored at Connolly

The group has three operational mainline steam locomotives, DSER K2 class 2-6-0 No. 461 (last overhaul completed 2011), the borrowed Great Northern Railway (Ireland) V Class 4-4-0 No. 85 Merlin (last overhaul completed 2014) and LMS NCC WT 2-6-4T No. 4 (last overhaul completed 2015). No. 461 is the only surviving mogul locomotive to have inside cylinders in either Ireland or the UK, while No. 85 is the only operational compound railway locomotive. Normally, one locomotive is based in Dublin and one in Whitehead, with locomotives occasionally being swapped round to suit local requirements.

The RPSI has a diesel department. 141 class locomotives B141 and B142 were acquired in 2010, repainted in original CIÉ black livery. But since then 142 is being repainted at Whitehead and has been half painted for several years now due to extensive bodywork repairs to both cab bodywork and floors.,[23] 175, along with 121 class locomotive B134 are also owned by RPSI. B142 aka the B-Special was used as a shunter at Whitehead before suffering engine failure in 2020; as of May 2021 it is having cylinder liner gaskets replaced after coolant leaks were discovered. B141 and 175 are stored in the engine shed at Connolly Station in Dublin which is leased from Iarnród Éireann. both locomotives having been started with no issues. In early 2017 B134 was sent to Irish Rail's Inchicore depot for restoration to mainline standard. Work on this is still ongoing.[24]

As of 2014, the society has in operation three distinct rakes of carriages. One is made up of a mixture of NIR, Irish Rail, and BR Mark 2 vehicles, based at Whitehead.[25] This set is painted in the RPSI's dark green livery and seats up to 250 passengers. In Dublin, there exists two further rakes of carriages. One, the "heritage set", is mainly made up of 1950s vintage CIÉ Park Royal and laminate stock, along with some ex-GNR(I), GSR and GSWR vehicles (including 1st corridor No. 1142).[26] These are mostly painted in 1950s CIÉ green livery. The other is made up of ex-Iarnród Éireann Cravens coaches, along with a BR steam heating van. Both Dublin sets carry over 320 passengers.[27]

Some carriages have at times been displayed in the Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra. These include GNR(I) Director Saloon No.50 and CIE dining car No.2422.[28]

Incidents

On 7 November 2014, an RPSI train chartered by Web Summit blocked a level crossing in Midleton for over 25 minutes. The operation was referred to the Commission for Railway Regulation. The resulting investigation found that the Society had knowingly run a train that was too long for the station's platform and that it would block a level crossing, yet senior IR management overrode their internal safety department by allowing the train to run.[29][30][31]

See also

References

Notes

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c RPSI 2016.
  2. ^ RPSI 2021s.
  3. ^ RPSI 2021a.
  4. ^ RPSI 2021b.
  5. ^ a b Hewitt 2017.
  6. ^ "Article title unspecified". The Five Foot Three. No. 40. RPSI. 1994.
  7. ^ "Article title unspecified". The Five Foot Three. No. 35. RPSI. 1988.
  8. ^ "Article title unspecified". The Five Foot Three. No. 42. RPSI. 1996.
  9. ^ CRR 2019.
  10. ^ "Film Contracts". RPSI. Archived from the original on 24 July 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  11. ^ The, Wanderer (August 2013). "The Wanderer, August 2013".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ 31interactive.co.uk. "Railway Preservation Society of Ireland - Belfast Meetings". www.steamtrainsireland.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Edgar, Alan (1984). "Editorial" (PDF). Five Foot Three. No. 29. RPSI. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  14. ^ Morton, Robert (1988). "News from Council" (PDF). Five Foot Three. No. 34. RPSI. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  15. ^ Rigley, Peter (2002). "Southern Operations" (PDF). Five Foot Three. No. 48. RPSI. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  16. ^ "RPSI Wins Major HRA Award". RPSI. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  17. ^ "RPSI Wins HRA Award". RPSI. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  18. ^ AT staff 2011.
  19. ^ "Manisty Award - Whitehead Railway Museum".
  20. ^ a b Cassells & Friel 2004.
  21. ^ a b "RPSI Locomotives". RPSI. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  22. ^ "GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY: 101 (GSR J15) 0-6-0 No.184". RPSI. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  23. ^ a b "?". Retrieved 11 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "Inchicore to carry out RPSI's Class 121 overhaul". The Railway Magazine. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  25. ^ "RPSI Carriage & Wagon Lists Steel-bodied Carriages in the Belfast Area". RPSI. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  26. ^ "RPSI Carriage & Wagon Lists Vintage Carriages in the Dublin Area". RPSI. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  27. ^ "RPSI Carriage & Wagon Lists Steel-bodied Carriages in the Dublin Area". RPSI. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  28. ^ "RPSI Newsletter". RPSI. June 1994.
  29. ^ "RPSI CRR".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ "UK Times".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  31. ^ "CRR report" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Sources

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