Royal Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI)

Braking trials pave way for ‘Q’ class 70mph running

by

Sam Hewitt

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24th June 2019

A series of braking trials for the RPSI’s Great Northern Railway (Ireland) ‘Q’ 4-4-0 No. 131 were completed during the early hours of April 7, which could clear the loco for 70mph running in Northern Ireland. The tests took place on the Antrim line, near Templepatrick, where the loco and train of Mk2 stock was accelerated…
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‘071s’ keep the West awake on RPSI diesel special to Ballina

by

Sam Hewitt

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23rd June 2019

MULTIPLE working was the order of the day for the RPSI’s ‘West Awake’ railtour on April 13. Class 071 Nos. 075 and 082 worked the eight-coach (required for braking purposes when multiple worked) train from Dublin Connolly to Claremorris, where retro-liveried classmate No. 071 took the train forward to Ballina. During the late afternoon the…
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No. 134 overhaul gathering pace at Inchicore works

by

Sam Hewitt

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13th March 2019

THE overhaul of the RPSI’s GM single cab Class 121 No. 134 by Iarnród Éireann-Irish Rail is making rapid progress at Inchicore, as the old body platework is stripped back in readiness for replacement. The RPSI’s project manager Gerry Mooney describes the overhaul as “the biggest diesel restoration ever undertaken in Ireland”, and it is clear…
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