As described on the events page we are still working behind the scenes to gain approval from the Railway Safety Commission, which will allow us to resume main line operations in the Republic of Ireland.  Our volunteers are also at work preparing carriages to be used on Dublin-based trains once approval is received.

Pictures by E Friel unless otherwise stated.

As some readers may have seen in 'Steam Railway' magazine, a project has been underway since year to overhaul NCC carriage 68.  This is the latest in a series of schemes to take advantage of grant money to look after parts of our collection which can not earn their keep on the main line. The project has been partly funded by the Northern Ireland Museums Council and by several very generous donors. In this shot, from March, the brake cylinders have been overhauled and the exterior painting complete other than markings.
The carriage began life in 1922 as No.3421 on the Midland Railway in England, and shortly afterwards was inherited by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and renumbered 4914. On Easter Tuesday 1941 Belfast was bombed by the Luftwaffe and many NCC carriages were destroyed.  The NCC's parent company, the LMS, shipped replacements from Britain - 4914 among them.  It soon received 5'3" bogies and a new number - 68.  68 remained in service until 1978, when it was acquired by the RPSI for main line steam trips.  She was in main line use until 2003. She is seen here in April, freshly repainted into NCC maroon livery.
This livery matches that applied last year to dining car 87.  The two carriages will be in use together this year for Whitehead open days.
The project was well funded and this allowed the interior to be totally repainted according to the original specifications - here we see the first class section with handpainted walnut effect walls.
68 is unusual in having some one-sided 'half compartments' - better known as 'honeymoon compartments', since helpful railwaymen often made sure newlyweds got one to themselves!
The second-class section has mahogany-effect walls.  All the seats have been re-upholstered in a colour scheme closely matching the originals.
Mark, the project organiser, looks pleased with the results - and so he should!  The public were very impressed when 68 made its debut on April 26th. 68 will be in operation with the Guinness Engine and brake van 81 on all the remaining open days - the next one is on Father's Day, 19th June, when you can also see a classic routemaster bus and get a unique chance to see main line diesel locomotives - see below!

Last April we reported on No.85 being lifted from her wheels. In recent months a lot of work has been done to the wheelsets, axleboxes and bogie. Here Brian is at work machining one of the four driving wheel axleboxes.
Nowadays work at Whitehead involves a lot more than polishing up old parts - the big end brass on the right is an original, while that on the left has been cast in our own foundry and then machined as seen here. Picture by CP Friel.
85's driving axle outside the workshop.  All of 85's wheels have now had the tyres reprofiled, and all the journals have been skimmed.  They have also been painted - it's a difficult job to do with them under the engine! Picture by R Edwards.
Since last April 85's frames have been sitting on temporary workshop bogies in the engine shed. Several jobs have been done here including rivet renewal and the fiddly task of removing carbon fouling from the steam passages to the cylinders.  The boiler is on stands to the left awaiting its turn in the workshop. Picture by R Edwards.
On May 8th the frames and wheels were to be reunited.  First the wheels were moved from the workshop to the heavylift road, under the shear leg cranes. Picture by R Edwards.
Individual wheelsets are difficult to wheel along by hand - they tend to derail easily.  The sheer size of 85's driving wheels, and their counterweights, would make them particularly awkward.  They were therefore moved by the Guinness engine and the mobile hand crane. Picture by R Edwards.
The overhead workshop crane was then called upon to put the bogie back on its wheels.  The bogie frame had received a lot of attention, including welding work and renewal of slack rivets. Picture by R Edwards.
With a little guidance, the axleboxes slide easily into the hornguides.  Volute springs and rubber dampers will be added at a later date. Picture by R Edwards.
The four-wheeled bogie is rather more manageable  and pushing it into position by hand was fairly easy... Picture by R Edwards.
..at least with gentle encouragement from the locomotive officer! Picture by R Edwards.
Now... any volunteers to list all the missing parts? Picture by R Edwards.
Here are some of them, anyway, as the Guinness brings 85's frames into position. Picture by R Edwards.
The frames are lifted, wheels wheeled underneath, and the frames lowered on top. Picture by R Edwards.
The wheels should now be fit for several years' main line service without needing any major attention. Picture by R Edwards.