Some background on why we are unable to run mainline steam trains in Northern Ireland at present.
13th October 2023
RPSI volunteers can operate within our premises at Whitehead, County Antrim, to overhaul, maintain and prepare the locomotives and carriages for the main line. But to get a steam train out on the main line we have to have a driver, fireman, guard and inspector from either Northern Ireland Railways or Iarnród Éireann.
All are regular staff from the companies, employees who volunteer for steam train work. The RPSI then provides the necessary classroom training and practical experience for them to become qualified inspectors or firemen and later, graduate to driving. Their training is overseen by one of the main line steam train operators in Britain and usually includes a week's supervised experience/training/examination on somewhere like the North York Moors Railway or the Fort William to Mallaig line. This gives NIR and IÉ some confidence that these guys know what they are doing out on the main railways.
At present, there are three qualified steam drivers and two qualified steam firemen on Iarnród Éireann. The situation on Northern Ireland Railways, though, is not so rosy. There are two qualified steam firemen but, very sadly, the only steam driver on NIR died suddenly in January 2023, aged only 62.
This leaves us unable to operate north of Dundalk until crews are trained up and qualified - and that will inevitably take time. Our guys are exploring ways of solving the problem both as a short term fix and for the long term - but, for now, no-one can predict when steam trains will operate from our Whitehead base.
It is a huge blow for the RPSI !!
Both of our operational mainline steam locomotives are in Dublin and will be working a programme of day trips as in previous years,
In Whitehead, we will be running a series of events, including steam train rides and Museum entry, within our Whitehead Excursion Station premises.
25th March 2024
The position as of now is that we are putting in place a new system which suits both the needs of the Society and our operating partners in Northern Ireland, Translink.
This work is still ongoing and is complex in nature, but it is the correct course of action to future-proof operations for many years to come.
We ask that you please bear with us for the coming months as we hope to make an announcement about mainline running from Whitehead later in the year.
9th July 2024
Our new safety management system for operating in Northern Ireland is well on the way to completion and will soon be ready for submission to the safety and railway authorities for approval.
26th September 2024
An application for a Railway Licence and our draft Safety Management System are submitted to the Railway Safety Authority.
Some answers to Frequently Asked Questions On NI Trains.