That was by no means the end of the story and in the late 1980s, No.90 was loaned to Westrail and moved to Tuam. Not only did Westrail volunteers energetically restore the loco to working order, but made the additions necessary for operating passenger trains in the 1990s - for example, vacuum brakes and electric lights. The boiler was rebuilt by the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth. For several years the loco operated in a not only in the Galway area but briefly at Cork. Unfortunately, this did not continue (lack of local steam crews and the end of Tuam as a block post were two reasons). The engine was still owned by Iarnrod Eireann and was removed to their Inchicore works for safekeepking. The loco was been loaned to the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway, who secured funding for basic boiler and other repairs necessary to make the loco operational for their line. They asked RPSI Engineering at Whitehead to carry out this work, and the loco was delivered straight to Whitehead from Inchicore. During her stay at Whitehead, No.90's boiler was completely retubed and all glands were repacked. The whistle, which had been removed by unscrupulous persons before her arrival at Whitehead, was replaced with a new one, modelled on the original GS&WR whistle on No.186.
One major achievement was correctly setting the valves. To alter the valve setting valve rods had to be shortened and lengthened by heating and some heavy blacksmith work! However, the valves are now set correctly and the locomotive's performance seems to be greatly improved. The regulator was also proving unsatisfactory, so a new valve was made and the quadrant and handle modified. New brass window frames were made to the original design. Finally the locomotive was painted in a colour specified by the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway, and will be lined out and finished by their expert painters. No.90 was delivered to Downpatrick on Sunday 30th September, and can be seen there to this day.
Keeping Steam and Diesel alive in Ireland since 1964 |
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