RPSI starts running tours again

THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is to resume running trains after a gap of almost 20 months due to lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions.

It will be running `Wizard Express' Halloween trains between Belfast and Whitehead on October 30/31 behind GNR(I) Q class 4-4-0 No. 131.

The Whitehead railway museum and Platform 3 café will be open, but visitors to the museum are requested to book a time slot online due to Covid-19 precautionary measures.

The society has also announced a mini appeal of £3000 towards the purchase of a new authentic Wakefield cylinder lubricator for GNR(I) No. 85 Merlin.

Currently on No. 85 is a nonauthentic Silvertown lubricator, fitted because the original Wakefield model was missing at the time of the 4-4-0's restoration.

There are two lubricators on the engine. On the fireman's side of the framing is a lubricator which feeds engine oil to the four driving axleboxes. On the driver's side is the lubricator which feeds thicker oil to the cylinders, valves and glands.

Both lubricators are mechanically driven by a linkage to the motion.

RPSI officials have thanked everyone who donated to the Buy a Tube appeal for GNR(I) S 4-4-0 No. 171 Slieve Gullion, a big step towards getting it back in steam – something which is becoming more urgent as the clock continues ticking on the boiler life of No. 85.