In February 1952 Lord O'Neill and Lord Dunleath had volunteered for Army service and reporte dto Hadrian's Barracks in Carlisle where their fellow new recruits were a group from Paisley whose language left something to be desired.  Eventually, the two Lords joined the 11th Hussars but ultimately, with only seven months of their service contract to go, they returned to Carlisle to be given the job they really wanted - being put in charges of the motor pool. 

Back in Northern Ireland, they joined the North Irish Horse, a Territorial Army regiment, where Lord Dunleath became military transport officer which enabled him to develop his interest in old motor cars.  His other main interest was organs, and Lord O'Neill recalled many trips to inspect old church organs. On such visits, Lord Dunleath would play the organ while Lord O'Neill's role was to pump the organ to keep it going. 

Lord O'Neill recalled Lord Dunleath's association with no. 85 and said that on the day of the launch of the engine at Whitehead his memory was of Lord Dunleath leaping onto the footplate and announcing to one and all: "This is one hot lady." Lord Dunleath, he said, had made a very major contribution to the Society, serving as vice-president from 1981 until his death in 1993.

Mrs Palmer said Translink and the RPSI had complementary roles in that the Society celebrated the culture and heritage of Ireland's railways while Translink supported the Society by continuing to let it operate its trains on the main line. This was good for Translink as a company, and good for the Society. 

Mrs Palmer said that a business case was being prepared for funding for the replacement of the class 450 trains on the Larne line, with the hope being that the funding would be included in the Government's comprehensive spending review for 2007.  The increased patronage on the Belfast-Bangor line had shown how effective the introduction of new trains could prove to be.

Mr Wilson said it was very fitting that the workshop should be named after Lord Dunleath. He said Lord Dunleath had been a character, something that public life missed these days. He recalled one occasion in the old Assembly when Lord Dunleath had been deputy Speaker. During a heated debate one Assembly member had asked Lord Dunleath to stop the other politician "acting the fool". After surveying the situation, Lord Dunleath's response was: "I don't think he is acting." 

Mr Wilson said the development of the workshop showed that steam railways were not just the preserve of "anoraks". By restoring old steam engines to working order, the RPSI was playing an important part in the local economy.  Mr Wilson said that the NI Affairs Committee at Westminster was shortly to investigage the promotion of tourism in Northern Ireland and he said it was already emerging that steam trains and preserved railways had an important part to play in the tourism market. 
 

Mr Hilditch also announced that following recent negotiations, Carrickfergus Council had agreed to transfer ownership of the site at Whitehead to the RPSI. The relevant papers were not being prepared for signature and soon the RPSI would have title to its own premises instead of being a lease-holder from Carrickfergus Council.

Mr Scott expressed thanks to everyone who had helped make the workshop project a reality, including those members who had contributed to the scheme, the ERDF and the general public who travelled on the RPSI's steam train excursions.

Johnny Glendinning then read a number of messages from guests who had been unable to attend. These included Frank Dunlop, formerly chief locomotive inspector with Northern Ireland Railways, Richard Gibbon from the National Railway Museum in York, Marshall McKee, director of operations at National Museums Northern Ireland and Keith Moffatt, chief executive of Translink.  Fr Eddie Creamer, a member of the Society and a workshop regular, was then invited to say Grace. 

After lunch, Lord O'Neill invited Chris Smyth of the Heritage Railway Association in England to speak. Mr Smyth said he was most impressed by the achievements of the RPSI and had enjoyed particpating in a number of trips the Society had organised. He said it was particularly encouraging that the interest in railway preservation at Whitehead was cascading down to the next generation. 

Lord O'Neill said one exciting new development at Whitehead was a project to partially restore former Co Donegal Railway 2-6-4T Drumboe on behalf of the Co Donegal Railway Restoration Society.  He said the contract, which was being part-funded by the EU's Interreg fund, showed that the RPSI's workshop was now capable of winning work from outside bodies, which was a welcome development. 

Lady Dunleath then recalled some happy memories of life with Henry Dunleath who, she said, had a reputation as something of a practical joker. She said his interests ranged from church organs to volanoes and from vintage cars to steam trains. Lady Dunleath recalled a number of amusing incidents from their trips to foreign parts such as Poland, South Africa and India. 

She said Lord Dunleath had been particularly pleased to be part of the project to take no. 85 Merlin out of the museum and restore her to working order.  She said she was pleased to hear that the locomotive might now be coming up for a refit and said it would be lovely to have another trip behind the engine. 

Lady Dunleath said she had greatly enjoyed the day and expressed thanks for the album of photographs of Lord Dunleath and the RPSI which had been prepared by Charles Friel as a souvenir for her. 

Sir Ken Bloomfield, the RPSI vice-president, proposed a vote of thanks to various parties including Whitehead Golf Club, Lord O'Neill, to all who had made the RPSI what it was and to Lady Dunleath for performing the opening ceremony so well and for her message of support to the Society. He said the RPSI was an enterprise which ultimately was made possible by the commitment of a lot of volunteers who got stuck in and did not mind getting their hands dirty. 

Mary Glendinning then came forward to present Lady Dunleath with a bouquet of flowers. Lord O'Neill thanked all present for attending and announced that the formal proceedings were now concluded. The guests were transported back to the site by Ulsterbus Goldliner coach.