In
a Class of their own...
186 storms away from Waterford. Photo by Tim Stephens
(courtesy C.P.Friel collection)
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186 rounds Bray Head. Photo by Tim Stephens (courtesy
C.P.Friel collection)
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186 leaves Whitehead for Belfast York Road to pick up
passengers for the RPSI Whitehead Open Day, 5th July 1980. This was
186's last day in traffic. Photo by Barry Pickup
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186 returns to Whitehead, seen here leaving Whitehead
tunnel, to drop her fire for the last time before this overhaul, 5th July
1980. Photo by Barry Pickup
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The
Society thanks all of you who helped
TARGET £85000
In January 2004 No.186
was steam tested and by the spring she was back in traffic.
Many hundreds of hours of
paid and unpaid labour in our workshop at Whitehead were devoted to the
engineering work required and the locomotive is a credit to your help and
RPSI engineering.
186's restoration won the
2004 HRA John Coiley Award for locomotive restoration.
On the 18th January 2004, No.186 was steam
tested at Whitehead. A period of testing and commissioning now begins
with the target of having the locomotive completed in time for running-in
prior to this years May Railtour.
The photograph shows the locomotive in
steam at Whitehead. |
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A lot of work remains to be carried out
to complete this extensive overhaul, so our appeal is still ongoing for
funds and volunteers.
The photograph shows RPSI volunteer Jeff
Spencer putting coal on 186's first fire in nearly 24 years. |
YOU have helped
make this possible by donating over £45000.
Photos below
taken on 11th October 2003. Click on images below to see a larger
version.
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An overall view of the RPSI workshop
showing 186 beside the boiler and firebox of No.461 and behind the frames
of No.461.
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A frontal view of No.186 in the workshop
at Whitehead. Overhauling boiler fittings and pipework ongoing.
Assembly of valve gear nearly complete. |
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A view taken standing on the tender
of No.186 and looking over the backplate fittings. The boiler and
smokebox of No.461 can be seen on the right. Cab and boiler cladding
is ready
for assembly, boiler lagging fitted. |
Tender reunited with wheels and
coupled to loco. Drawgear and buffers
being assembled. Overhauling
steam heating equipment. New electrical
equipment including lights
and speedometer being installed. |
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Thanks to the heritage grants programme
of the National Heritage Council, the Society received a grant of €15000
towards the restoration of the tender of 186. The bulk of the work
was contracted to CME's department, Iarnrod Eireann, and was undertaken
in the Wagon shop in Inchicore Works. This consisted of removal and
replacement of wasted plate, and the dismantling, inspection and refurbishment
as necessary of wheelsets, brakes, and running gear.
The assistance of the National Heritage
council is much appreciated. It allowed us to outsource much of the work
on the tender, thus bringing forward significantly the overall completion
date. |
Martin Proctor and Michael Murphy prepare 186's tender
for transportation to Whitehead following restoration at Inchicore. |
Photos below
taken during August 2002. Click on images below to see a larger version.
For a detailed history of No. 186
CLICK
HERE
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