Steam Ahead

We were delighted to hear speaker railway enthusiast Charles Friel, well known for his tremendous efforts over many years encouraging railway enthusiasm and the work of Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI), at the Club Monday 27 January 2014.

In a fascinating, richly illustrated talk Charles charted the history and work of the Society over the last 50 years, since its formation in 1964; the buildings at their headquarters in Castleview Road, Whitehead, Co Antrim and their plans for future enhancement to give visitors an enjoyable review of the history and current experience of Steam Engines using the main lines between Whitehead, Portrush, Belfast and Dublin.

He advised that the RPSI, now a registered charity with some 1,100 members worldwide, operates from its workshop and museum premises at Whitehead Excursion Station where, over the years it has refurbished and extended its engine shed, laid new track, and built a carriage shed and impressively fitted-out engineering workshop to restore and maintain its engines and carriages. It has collected an impressive 10 steam engines and 3 diesel locomotives and aims to have 3 mainline steam locomotives operational at anyone time - quite an undertaking given that maintenance is expensive and full overhauls are required every 10 years.

The Society's stock of cherished memorabilia includes 44 wooden-bodied carriages that are of great historical interest with some dating back to 1906. However, the Society has also suffered from acts of vandalism losing six wooden-bodied carriages to fire. These have been replaced with steel-bodied carriages. The RPSI operates steam excursions on the mainline network using modern all-steel carriages and include a licensed dining car.These include 'a day at the seaside' on the Portrush Flyer or Bangor Belle; 'dancing the night away' on the 'Steam and Jazz train'; 'celebrating with Santa' and 'Easter steam specials'. Private charters are also available.

While the society employs five full-time staff, its volunteers, operating out of Whitehead and its other premises in Dublin's docklands, lovingly carry out most of the work of restoring and maintaining rolling stock, track and buildings and of running its programme of regular excursions. They also organize illustrative talks and film shows, details of which may be found on RPSI's website here.

His most interesting talk was fully appreciated by all there.