‘Q’ PREPARES FOR 70mph RUNNING

Recently restored ‘Q’ 4-4-0 No. 131 is set to become the first RPSI main line engine to be passed for 70mph running.

Translink NI Railways and the RPSI organised a brake test under special licence for the GNR(I) locomotive in the early hours of April 7 after the final service train had run.

It left Whitehead shortly after midnight with the RPSI’s set of Mk 2 carriages, heading towards Belfast and then up the Antrim line. A series of 70mph braking tests were carried out over a set distance near Templepatrick using specialist electronic monitoring equipment.

Initial indications were positive, but the results were being analysed by Translink NIR before official confirmation could be given.

The RPSI’s operational main line engines – ‘WT’ 2-6-4T No. 4, Compound No. 85 and No. 131 – have been restricted to 60mph in preservation (SR486) which makes scheduling problematic.

Now that No. 131 has been tested, the plan is for No. 4 and No. 85 to follow suit, with the latter’s test already pencilled in for the end of May.

The ‘Q’ was booked for the RPSI’s Easter specials from Belfast to Whitehead on April 20 and 22, before moving light engine from Whitehead to Dublin to have a new Irish Rail cab radio commissioned.

Provided that process is completed, No. 131 could play a part in the RPSI’s 50th anniversary railtour to Waterford and Limerick on May 11/12.

First choice engine No. 4 has received new tyres at Whitehead (SR490), but the work has taken longer than expected, and there was no official comment from the RPSI as to whether it would be out in time for the May tour.

If the ‘Jeep’ is not ready, that would leave Nos. 85 and 131 as the only two operational main line engines for the tour.

Peter Scott of the RPSI’s locomotive department said: “Profiling of the pony wheelset is complete and the bogie wheels are almost complete. The driving wheels will certainly take longer – if for no other reason than at 6ft they are twice the diameter!”