Whitehead News (2022-2026)

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Some views from around Whitehead on various dates from 2022 to 2026.

22/1/2022: A slotting machine on loan from the Strathspey Railway. It is for making keyway slots and similar operations where the required surface cannot be generated by rotating either the workpiece or the cutting tool. (P.A. Scott)

13/2/2022: Cast iron water pump under repair as contract job. (R.B. Hill)

17/2/2022: Turnout for 1 and 2 shed roads being excavated. (J.A. Cassells)

17/2/2022: New crossing timbers for 1 and 2 shed roads turnout. (J.A. Cassells)

19/3/2022: The gangway connection from Mk2 carriage 300 removed to have new rubber surround fitted.

19/3/2022: The vacant track and stairs left by the scrapped Mk3 sleeper coach 26.

19/3/2022: No.3BG 'Guinness' on the St Patrick's weekend train rides..

24/3/2022: Muir-Hill front-end loader No.1 being craned for departure, after being sold for further preservation. (P.A. Scott)

24/3/2022: The Muir-Hill shovel loaded for departure. (P.A. Scott)

16/4/2022: The sea-ward side of Mk2 300 being prepared for repainting.

16/4/2022: Mk2 300 has received a replacement door.

4/6/2022: No.131 on train rides duty.

4/6/2022: When local man Brian Reid asked if he could house two colonies of Buckfast bees in our yard we were happy to oblige. The mainline alongside the site sources a wide variety of suitable flowers for the bees.

23/6/2022: The launch of a new book 'Steam's Last Challenge': John McKegney (RPSI Chairman), Councillor Noel Williams (Mayor, Mid & East Antrim), Joe Cassells (RPSI, author), Mark Kennedy (RPSI Curator).

12/7/2022: Craven bogie undergoing overhaul. (R.B. Hill)

12/8/2022: B142 in the Paint Shop for a re-spray.

12/8/2022: The seaward side of 861 is nearing completion. The vehicle will have to be turned to allow work on the other side to commence.

12/8/2022: Joe Cassells doing a bit 'to camera' for one of a series of short videos to be produced by Curator Mark Kennedy.

22/9/2022: David Orr painting the Whitehead lever frame under the watchful eye of Roy Thompson. (R. Morton)

29/9/2022: Willie Hollinger and David Orr with the newly repainted lever frame which came originally from Tubbercurry in Co Sligo. (R. Morton)

29/9/2022: Peter Lindsay, Dermot Mackie and Colin Stewart admire the newly operational home signal at Whitehead Excursion Station. (R. Morton)

1/10/2022: No.131 performing train ride duty.

1/10/2022: Bessbrook & Newry Tramway trailer in the workshop for painting.

28/10/2022: Halloween movie night in 837 at Whitehead. (M. Kennedy)

29/10/2022: Ian Wilson looks on as Joe Cassells paints the inner frame of the corridor connection for MK2 carriage 304.

29/10/2022: The kitchen of Mk2 diner 547 stripped for overhaul.

26/11/2022: This traction engine visited Whitehead as part of the Victorian Street Fair. (N. Lawrence)

4/12/2022: Wheel lateh repainting underway. (R.B. Hill)

17/12/2022: No.131 gets a top up of coal after arrival on the first Santa train of the day.

8/4/2023: Ian Wilson preparing tables from the Gatwick coaches for fitting in Mk2 304.

26/8/2023: Bogie from Howth tramcar No.9 in for overhaul.

26/8/2023: Recovered bogie from Glasgow underground which will be modified to fit Howth railcar No.9.

28/10/2023: The beginnings of construction of a sales kiosk for the platform, made from recycled doors.

18/11/2023: Sam Hall, Matthew Wilson, Tyler Playfair and George Surgenor have being busy on B142, which is getting a new coat of paint in the interior of both cabs. (J. Clinton)

6/7/2024: GS&WR 837 has had its outer panels stripped in the Wheeldrop Shed.

3/8/2024: Joe Cassells (left) and Ian Wilson painting an overhauled Cravens bogie, while Bob Skingle looks on in the background.

24/8/2023: The Cravens bogie with its top coat of paint.

31/8/2024: Musician and Society member Jim Corr launching GM diesel locomotive B142.

31/8/2024: Jim Corr on B142 before driving it through a red tape to officially launch it.

21/8/2025: No.4 (frames) has been pulled out from under the gantries at Whitehead to facilitate painting of the latter.

21/8/2025: Our Joiner/Fitter James Spurle attends to the painting of the gantries with the use of a 'cherry picker'.

20/9/2025: Interior restoration of GS&WR carriage 837 in progress.

1/10/2025: Carriage 304 (ex CIE 1st Class) being fitted out with seats aligned with windows (7 bays).

13/3/2026: The Whitehead Site Squad re-ballasting the platform road.