MORE MAIN LINE STEAM AS RPSI RUNS FESTIVE SPECIALS

THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s ex-GNR(I) ‘Q’ 4-4-0 No. 131 was back on the main line again during December hauling ‘Santa Special’ services over the three weekends leading up to Christmas. Two trains ran each day between Belfast Lanyon Place and Whitehead on December 4/5, 11/12 and 18/19; a special grotto bubble having been erected on Whitehead Excursion platform where Santa was on hand to receive visitors. The Mk.2 stock had been suitably decorated for the occasion, and adults were treated to a warm drink and a mince pie, while the children each received a gift. However, as reported in the December issue of The RM, the RPSI’s Dublin-based operations team elected not to run any festive trains during 2021.