RPSI - Santa Trains 2003

RPSI Home - Steam Train Dates - Online Shop - Website Contents - About Us

Ho Ho Ho...
'Santa Specials' 2003
From the 29th November through to the 21st December, the RPSI ran 26 'Santa Special' trains on Irelands public transport system. A unique achievement in the UK and Ireland. Did you miss it? Not surprising, 8000 people travelled on comfortably full trains from Dublin-Maynooth, Coleraine-Ballymoney, Coleraine-Castlerock, Belfast-Whitehead and Belfast-Antrim!
Our webmaster was roaming around the Belfast Santas of the 13th, 14th and 21st December with his digital camera - click your mouse on pictures to see larger versions.

	Firstly, gather your crew at Whitehead. Back (l-r): Stephen (NIR Fireman), Barry (NIR Inspector), John (RPSI) Front (l-r): Noel (NIR Driver), Philip (RPSI)
Secondly, make up your fire. John shows us how, on the footplate of Merlin.
	Finally, before you go, make sure the brake is off! NIR Fireman Gary does the honours whilst RPSI Rep Jeff fills the firebox for the off.
"Got the road - away we go" Merlin eases her train of 7 carriages out of Whitehead town. Whitehead is now associated worldwide with mainline Irish steam, however, it's railway pedigree goes back much longer - click here to see why.
	Merlin pauses on her way to Belfast (at Whitehouse) to pass a 'Castle' class railcar on it's way to Larne.
No choice but to forget about the first signs of snow as Merlin comes into sight of the Belfast Central home signals.
CLICK HERE (This is a Movie clip which lasts 19 seconds and is 839kb)	After the NIR Fireman has uncoupled the locomotive from the train, the Driver can open the regulator and run the loco away from the train.
After getting the road to "run round", Merlin makes her way through a quiet Belfast Central to the other end of her train. However, the peace is soon to be shattered by over 300 people keen to see the man in the red suit...
The railway line from Belfast Central runs firstly up a short, but steep gradient on to the "Dargan Bridge". This crosses the River Lagan with views of the docks and the City. Dropping away steeply past the main NIR Depot at York Road, the line runs parallel to the M2 and M5 motorways and then uphill to Whiteabbey. The fireman gets a temporary reprieve here as the line dips under the flyover Bleach Green Junction and runs level through Jordanstown station and level crossing. It then climbs steadily up to Greenisland station where the injector should be singing for the long fall through Trooperslane, Clipperstown and Carrickfergus. Here Merlin approaches the top of the bank at Greenisland station in characteristically festive weather!	CLICK HERE (This is a Movie clip which lasts 28 seconds and is 1.2Mb)
	Undoubtedly the most picturesque section is from Carrickfergus and Downhill under the towers of Kilroot power station to the seaside town of Whitehead. Here Merlin eases her train off the mainline and into the RPSI's station, the mainline to Larne running to the right of the picture.
Despite the bitter cold, our passengers can't resist the temptation to visit the station shop or watch and admire the locomotive as it runs over to the water column for a top-up.
	The RPSI's Sullivan fills the tender of Merlin, whilst at the other end of the locomotive...
..his footplate partner, Brian operates the firemans injector to fill the boiler.
	After running round, there's just enough time to marvel at what goes on, up there on the footplate...
...and of course, say hello again to the key person on the train. All before...
	... Henry, the RPSI Train Manager, gathers passengers back on to the train for the return to Belfast.
So, what does happen up there on the footplate? This short movie clip shows NIR Driver Noel getting the locomotive underway, whilst NIR Fireman Gary tends to the fire - not an easy task for either of them as they run into the oncoming icy wind and often horizontal snow!	CLICK HERE (This is a Movie clip which lasts 34 seconds and is 1.5Mb)
	Heating for the train is provided by the locomotive as well. This shot shows the steam rising gently from between the carriages before our final run of the year, this time up to Antrim station.
On board, RPSI Catering guru, Rita, is happily serving another coffee...
	..whilst Thomas pulls another pint of the black stuff behind the bar.
At Antrim station, the locomotive creates the atmosphere and another full trainload of passengers can't help coming out to take a look.
	Too cold for some though...one of the small band on the RPSI's Belfast Operations Committee, Mervyn takes in the view from the warmth of the Dining Car.
	Still smiling....or has his face frozen into that shape?! With temperatures now well below zero degress celcius, NIR Driver Noel prepares to take Merlin over the last few miles to Whitehead and home for another year. Noel's unstinting enthusiasm is a key cog in Ireland's mainline steam calendar, to which we are all indebted.

I hope this has given you a fun insight into the operation of just one of our many annual trains. Come and join us - travel, bring your family and friends, enjoy and experience this unique form of travel.

Click on the RPSI logo (above) to go to the RPSI Homepage