New research tells the story of RPSI’s ex-Midland Railway Blitz coach
THE fascinating history of a 99-year-old former Midland Railway corridor composite coach with close connections to the Belfast Blitz has been brought to life in an audio story by the RPSI. Derby-built No. 68 was one of 20 carriages re-gauged and shipped over from England by the LMS in 1941 to replace rolling stock destroyed in Luftwaffe bombings of the Northern Counties Committee’s York Road station in April and May that year. A total of 20 carriages and 250 wagons were destroyed in the May attack alone. The three-minute audio short story, entitled ‘68 Can’t Be Late’, was written by the RPSI’s Robin Morton as part of Ulster University’s Northword NI initiative, which features a selection of writings by local authors. It tells No. 68’s story from the coach’s perspective, and has been made available online at www. steamtrainsireland.com/news/108/68cant-be-late No. 68 remained in traffic until 1978 when it was acquired by the RPSI, and was part of the heritage main line set until 2003. Since then it has been in regular use at Whitehead, where it has recently been refurbished ready for when the museum reopens.