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The largest locomotive in the RPSI fleet is GNRI V class 3 cyl compound No 85 'Merlin', one of a class of five (83-87) built by Beyer Peacock in 1932. No 85 Merlin runs round the ‘Portrush Flyer’ at Central Station, Belfast on 31 July 2004.
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Ex-GNR V class 4-4-0 No 85 'Merlin' climbing the bank near Craigavad, on the Bangor line with a 'Titanic' special on 18 April 2004.
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The second engine preserved in the popular GNRI blue livery is No 171 'Slievegullion' seen here at the closed station of Craigavad on the 26 August 2000 with a 'Bangor Belle' working. There were once eight engines of this type – five S class (170-171), built in 1913, and three S2 class (190-192), built in 1915, both batches by Beyer Peacock. All were renewed in 1938-39 at Dundalk.
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Another mainline RPSI locomotive is Ex-LMS(NCC) WT class 2-6-4T No 4, seen at Portrush on 21 August 2004, waiting to depart with the up 'Portrush Flyer'. Eighteen locomotives of this class (1-10, 50-57) were built by the LMS and UTA in 1946-50. When withdrawn in 1971, No 4 was one of the last three mainline steam engines in company service in the UK.
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Recently restored to full working order by the RPSI is ex-GSWR 0-6-0 No 186. Here it is giving 'Easter Bunny' rides at Whitehead on 12 April 2004. |
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Ex-GSWR J15 class 0-6-0 No 186 passing Holywood on 28 August 2004 with the down 'Bangor Belle'. |
One of two industrial tanks preserved by the RPSI is Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners 0-6-0ST 'RH Smyth'. Smyth was a director of the Harbour Commisioners but the engine goes by the nickname 'Harvey' after the famous jockey. In the summer and autumn of 2000 'Harvey' was used for ballast work by the contractor of the Bleach Green to Antrim line. Here, driven by Irwin Pryce, 'Harvey' propels three heavy ballast wagons through Templepatrick on 19 July 2000. |
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On 16 November 2000, 'Harvey' propels three wagons under the A8 Larne Road at the former Ballyclare Junction. To avoid loss due to vandalism, the nameplates were temporarily removed and the engine referred to as 'RPSI No 3'. The ballast wogons started life on the English Southern Railway. |
The RPSI has an interesting fleet of preserved carriages which include former Director's saloon No 50, built by the GNR in 1911. This saloon was used as the Queen's coach on the Royal Train in 1953. it was photographed at Whitehead on 22 July 2004. |
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Wooden bodied coaches can no longer by operated on RPSI trains over NIR. Railtours are operated using a recently restored rake of Mk2 vehicles, painted in 1960s UTA livery. First class side corridor coaches 181 and 180 are seen at Whitehead on 22 July 2004. |
On the Giant's Causeway narrow guage steam railway, 0-4-0T No 3 Shane departs from the Causeway station on 31 July 2004. This engine previously ran on the Shane's Castle Railway and was originally built for Bord na Mona in 1948. |
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Downpatrick Railway O&K 0-4-0T No 3 passing the signal cabin at Downpatrick on 12 April 2004. |
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