RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF IRELAND
(22 July 2004)
A veteran of the steam age returned triumphantly to service today after an £85,000 overhaul at Whitehead.
Steam engine no. 186, which is owned by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, was celebrating her 125th birthday in style.
The locomotive, which was originally built in 1879, was officially launched at a ceremony at Whitehead by Keith Moffatt, the chief executive of Translink.
Mr Moffatt drove the locomotive through a commemorative tape to formally mark the successful completion of a four-year restoration project.
No. 186, which has been out of traffic since 1980, will now be used by the Society for its special trains throughout Ireland.
Mr Moffatt said: "I commend the RPSI and its members for all their hard work and determination in restoring this locomotive to traffic.
"While we in Translink and our passengers prepare for a new era in rail transport with the introduction of our latest C3K diesel trains, it is important that we do not forget our rich railway heritage and the RPSI certainly helps to keep this alive."
The Lord O'Neill, president of the RPSI, said they were delighted to have no. 186 available once again.
"She was one of the first locomotives we secured after the Society was formed in 1964 and has always been a very special engine to us.
"Because of her light axle-load she can operate on lines throughout Ireland which means she is a valuable asset to the Society.
"We are grateful to those who supported the restoration fund and those who have toiled long and hard at Whitehead to turn this dream into a reality."
Norman Foster, RPSI chairman said: "Our 1,100 members have been eagerly awaiting this day and are keen to travel once again behind no. 186.
"The Society is now drawing up a programme of special trips which will see no. 186 visiting many far-flung parts of the Irish rail network, north and south.
"We are very grateful to both Translink and Iarnrod Eireann for facilitating the operation of our trains on the modern railway system.
"As the years pass by we realise increasingly what a valuable collection the RPSI has built up over the past 40 yeaers.
"We know no. 186 will be a major draw not just with railway enthusiasts from near and far but with local people and tourists looking for a day out with a difference."
At today's ceremony, the 80 guests also had a chance to sample the Society's new carriages, which date from 1970 and which have been restored at Whitehead at a cost of £200,000.
The coaches, which formerly ran on the Enterprise, will be used on the Portrush Flyer, which starts on Saturday July 31.
Editor's notes:
No.186 – A VETERAN OF THE STEAM AGE
* No. 186, which dates from 1879, is one of the oldest main-line steam locomotives still in operation anywhere in the world.
* The engine was built by Sharp Stewart in Manchester for the Great Southern & Western Railway in Dublin.
* She is a survivor of the successful J15 class which was the most numerous in Ireland with 111 locomotives being produced.
* Over the years no. 186 has undergone several rebuilds to incorporate improvements such as heavier frames.
* In 1965 she was saved from the scrapman's torch by CIE, which presented the locomotive to the then newly formed RPSI.
* Now she is celebrating her 125th birthday by being returned fully restored to traffic after a four-year overhaul by the Society.
* During her time with the RPSI no.186 has featured in a number of films, most notably in The First Great Train Robbery with Sean Connery in 1978.
* The RPSI this year celebrates its own 40th birthday, having been formed in Belfast in September 1964.
* The Lord O'Neill has been president of the RPSI for its entire 40 years.
* The next operation by the RPSI will be the Portrush Flyer which runs on Saturdays July 31, August 14 and 21.
* The RPSI will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with a gala dinner at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum in Cultra on October
Further details from:
Sarah Stanczyk Translink 028 90 899 455 or Robin Morton at 028 90 264 443
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