Railway Preservation Society of Ireland

The RPSI's oldest locomotive, No.186, a GS&WR Class 101, in steam at Whitehead.

The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) is an Irish railway preservation group operating in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1964. The Society has its headquarters at Whitehead, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and a base at Mullingar, County Westmeath. Restoration work is also carried out in the Dublin area.

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 Portrush during the summer. Out of Dublin, several "Sea Breeze" trains are operated over the scenic Rosslare line to Wexford and Rosslare over the course of the Summer.

Each year the Society organises a major weekend event, operating usually from Dublin in May and covering major routes in Ireland at a leisurely pace. Many visitors return year after year from homes as far flung as New Jersey and Berlin. The 2008 tour operated to Waterford and the 2009 tour to Westport.

Excursion trains run throughout the year, primarily at weekends, from both Dublin and Belfast. A operational set of vintage carriages is kept both at Whitehead and in Dublin for these purposes. These trains are frequently packed to capacity, and advance booking is recommended.

Other Operations

'R. H. Smyth' dropping ballast near Jordanstown in August 2005

An RPSI steam locomotive has on two occasions been used for permanent way work by subcontractors for Northern Ireland Railways. In 2000, 'R. H. Smyth' was employed to pull ballast dropping wagons on the Bleach Green to Antrim line, and in 2005 the engine performed a similar role on the Bleach Green to Whitehead route.

On many occasions the RPSI has provided trains for films and television dramas, notably The First Great Train Robbery in 1979.

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.

In 1987 the RPSI won a certificate of commendation in the British Coal Annual Steam Heritage Awards for the restoration of No. 85 Merlin.

In 2000 the Heritage Railway Association gave the 'Supreme Champion' award in the Carriage and Wagon category to the RPSI for its work on Irish State coach No.351.

The HRA has also presented the RPSI with the John Coiley Award for Locomotive Preservation (in 2004, for No. 186); 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).

Chief engineer and Locomotive Officer Peter Scott received an MBE for his services to the Railway Preservation Society in Northern Ireland in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, June 2006.

Fleet

The RPSI owns a total of nine steam and five 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. The society also owns or cares for a large collection of carriages and wagons of varying ages.

At present, the operational mainline steam locomotive used by the Society is former GSWR Class 101 0-6-0 No.186, shortly to be joined by former DSER K2 class 2-6-0 No.461, which has just been overhauled. This is the only surviving mogul locomotive to have inside cylinders in either Ireland or the UK. Normally, one loco is based in Dublin and one in Whitehead, with locos occasionally being swapped round to suit local requirements.

The RPSI has recently set up a Diesel department with a view to running a few railtours a year using vintage diesel locomotives. 141 class locomotives Nos. 141 and 142 were acquired in 2010, repainted in original CIÉ Black livery. It is planned to acquire another 141 class loco, No. 175, along with 121 class locomotive No. 134 in the near future.

As of 2011, the society has in operation three distinct rakes of carriages. One is made up of a mixture of NIR and BR mk2 vehicles, based at Whitehead. This rake is painted in the RPSI's dark green livery. 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). 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. These are being repainted in the RPSI's own blue livery with yellow lining.

The Society's founder members still perform regular maintenance tasks and undertake full engine restorations. They are joined regularly by new volunteers who assist in tasks from boiler repair to carriage painting. Volunteers are always welcome to visit and help at either of the engineering depots.

RPSI Timeline

1964 Society is formed at meeting in Belfast (30th September).

1965 First steam railtour operates: Belfast York Road - Portrush - Portadown - Belfast Great Victoria Street.

1966 Society sets up home at Whitehead Excursion Station on Belfast - Larne line.

1967 “Dalriada” Railtour is the first to use a locomotive (No.186) owned by the Society. “Cuchulainn” Railtour, Belfast - Dundalk & return, is the first venture on to CIÉ metals.

1968 “St. Ciaran” Railtour is first two-day event, with overnight in Athlone.

1969 First Open Day is held at Whitehead, with 3 locomotives in steam.

1970 NIR’s last year to use steam locomotives. Society launches appeal to buy No.4.

1971 No.4 arrives. Work starts on locomotive shed extension at Whitehead.

1972 No.186 hauls the “North Kerry” Railtour, Limerick - Tralee & return.

1973 First season of “Portrush Flyer” trains is operated.

1974 First Schools’ Day is held at Whitehead.

1975 The “Burma Road” Railtour traverses the Claremorris - Sligo line. Society gains recognition as a charity.

1976 No.4 becomes first steam locomotive to pass through the new Belfast Central Station. Enterprise Ulster commences a huge work programme at Whitehead, including excavations to create new siding space and rebuilding the platform.

1977 Mullingar is established as a base for restoration of locomotive No.184. No.461 also comes into RPSI care.

1978 No.184 & No.186 star in the film “The First Great Train Robbery”. Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Leslie-Anne Down also appear!

1979 Whitehead shed extension finally gets a roof. RPSI sales van takes to the road.

1980 No.171 hauls first “Steam Enterprise” train, Belfast - Dublin & return, one week late due to a bomb on the line.

1981 “Ben Bulben” Railtour traverses Mullingar - Sligo line, and the Society completes its coverage of every railway line still open in Ireland.

1982 Locomotive wheel lathe from Belfast York Road is installed at Whitehead.

1983 Society receives the Association of Railway Preservation Societies Annual Award for: “Operation during 1983 - and for many years past - of steam excursions”. No.184 stars in the TV series “The Irish R.M.” Peter Bowles and Bryan Murray also appear!

1984 No.4 hauls ballast trains for NIR during running-in after an overhaul.

1985 No.85 “Merlin”, on loan from the UFTM, enters service after an overhaul sponsored by the late Lord Dunleath. The Whitehead Railway Project (a youth training scheme run by NIACRO) completes the restoration of former LMS NCC coach 68.

1986 Society purchases nine coaches from CIÉ to establish a train based in the Republic. Enterprise Ulster installs the former Ballymena turntable in Coleraine.

1987 On 11th August, NIR charters Society train hauled by No.85 for re-enactment of first “Enterprise Express” exactly 40 years earlier.

1988 Series of Dublin-based public one day steam trips is run to celebrate the Dublin Millennium.

1989 Series of Belfast based public one day steam trips is run to celebrate 150 years of Ulster railways.

1990 NIR Locomotive Inspector, and good friend of the Society, Frank Dunlop retires.

1991 President Mary Robinson officially launches No.461 after its restoration after over 30 years out of traffic.

1992 Belfast’s new Yorkgate Station becomes the starting point for the first series of northern Santa Steam Trains.

1993 No.171 assists the movement of vehicles from the Belfast Transport Museum to the new Railway Gallery of the UFTM at Cultra. Work progresses on the new Whitehead carriage shed, financed with grant aid from the Ireland Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.

1994 No.85 becomes the first steam locomotive to cross the new Dargan Bridge over the River Lagan in Belfast. No.171 & No.461 feature in the BBC’s “Derry To Kerry Great Railway Journey” with Michael Palin.

1995 No.171 & No.461 star in the film “Michael Collins”. Liam Neeson and Julia Roberts also appear! No.85 becomes the first steam locomotive to enter the new Great Victoria Street Station, Belfast.

1996 Nos.85, 171, 186 & 461 appear at Dublin’s Inchicore Works 150th anniversary celebrations.

1997 New locomotive workshop, incorporating a 100 year old overhead crane, is completed at Whitehead.

1998 Iron foundry is established at Whitehead. No.461 helps to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the MGWR into Mullingar.

1999 No.85 helps Irish Rail to celebrate the 150th anniversaries of the arrival of the railway in Dundalk and Cork.

2000 President Mary McAleese officially launches recently restored Irish State Coach No.351. No.3 “R.H. Smyth” is hired by Henry Boot Ltd. to assist with relaying the Bleach Green - Antrim line.

2001 The “Northern Counties” Railtour becomes the first Northern Ireland based two day railtour. Irish State Coach 351 is awarded the Supreme Champion in the HRA Carriage and Wagon Awards.

2002 Dr. Joan Smyth, Chair of the N.I. Transport Holding Co., re-launches No.4 after its 10 year overhaul.

2003 The Whitehead based train of wooden body coaches is used for its final season.

2004 50th edition of the Society’s magazine “Five Foot Three” is published. The 30th season of Winter meetings in St. Jude’s Hall, Belfast, is completed. First public operation of new Mk2 coaches. No.186 returns to traffic after 24 years. The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland celebrates its 40th anniversary with a gala evening at Cultra.

2005 HRA’s Coiley Award is presented for restoration of No.186 to main line status. Between August and December “R.H. Smyth” is on hire to Amec Spie to work on relaying of the Bleach Green to Whitehead line.

2006 Official opening on 4th July of the “Henry Dunleath Workshop” at Whitehead. Locomotive Officer Peter Scott receives an MBE for his contribution to railway heritage.

2007 Press release in January as Whitehead depot is officially bought from Carrickfergus Borough Council. The Society gains full Museum status.

2008 GNR brake van No.81 is immaculately restored by a team of younger members at Whitehead. Secondary Door Locking fitted to Mk2 coaches for operation in Northern Ireland. Mk2 diner 547 returns to traffic. First Cravens coaches into preservation operate.

2009 Tony Renehan, the first driver to spend his entire steam career on RPSI trains, retires after the “Top Link” railtour to Cork. Society purchases first of class diesel locomotives GM B141 and B142 from Irish Rail.

2010 Society wins Heritage Railway Association Carriage & Wagon Award (Wagon Category) for the restoration of GNR brake van No.81.

2011 At an EGM the “Council” becomes the “Board”. Subsidiary company Heritage Engineering Ireland is set up.

In popular culture

The satirical online newspaper The Portadown News made reference in 2005 to a 'Railway Preservation society of Northern Ireland'.

See also

• Irish Steam Preservation Society
• Irish Traction Group

Further reading

• "Five Foot Three". Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

• RPSI website
• RPSI archive photos