RPSI Home - Steam Train Dates - Online Shop - Website Contents - About Us No. 85 Clearance Trials If you were a RPSI Footplate Representative, you could have been enjoying...a test train with No.85 and 4 Craven carriages from Belfast to Bangor on 14th April 2004: Having left Whitehead RPSI depot (light-engine) at lunchtime, our first stop was at Belfast Yorkgate station to cross trains heading to Larne and the depot at York Road. Here Barry, the NIR Steam Inspector, takes a break from the footplate. The Inspector plays a crucial role in liasing between the footplate and the railways signal and control personnel. He is also the senior man on the footplate. Looking out from the footplate NIR Steam Driver Noel chats to passengers waiting on the platform for the service train to Belfast Central. A change from the normal passenger sights! A very interesting series of movements was taking place. The train on the right has just arrived in from Belfast Central and all changed into a train in front of it, a stopper to Larne. The former train then heads off to the depot. Out on the Dargan Bridge can be seen another set waiting for the depot. This view shows 4 separate train movements in play at once! The Larne stopper is on the immediate right, with two sets behind it waiting for the depot. As soon as the line was cleared we are off again, reflected in the old Royal Mail sorting office at Tomb Street. Arriving at Belfast Great Victoria Street station we found our Cravens waiting for us.  Hauled up by IE bo-bo No.186 and along with NIR GM 111 meant that GVS was a hive of loco-hauled activity. Noel's standard driving pose at the regulator of 85.  Careful manipulation of the regulator he has his hand on, along with considered use of the reverser (like car gears) wheel in front of him, means that Noel can make the locomotive work but also be efficient in consuming steam (thereby saving money on coal and water consumption). A skilled job. This photograph demonstrates the order of the day.  Upon arrival at each station on the route an engineer checks the gauge of the carriages. 85 finds the gradient easy as we ease through Cultra. The smiles say it all. Footplate work is grimy, smelly and very rewarding! Big smiles from Noel (NIR Driver), Gary (NIR Driver and Steam Fireman) and Peter (RPSI Footplate Rep). Nearly there, we creep through Carnalea.  At Bangor station there was a pause whilst rush hour came and went. This time was used to get a bit more water in the tender and polish some of the dirt off the loco. In this short day from Whitehead-Bangor and back the locomotive used approx 2300 gallons of water. I hope this has given you a fun insight into a typical day volunteering on the footplate. Why aren't you enjoying life with us? Click on the RPSI logo (above) to go to the RPSI Homepage