Harvey On The Ballast - 2 (2005) - Whitehead Railway Museum

"R.H. Smyth" on the ballast. Following its successful venture onto the main line in 2000 for the project to relay the line from Antrim to Bleach Green, No.3 was hired again to work on a track relay. The route this time was from Bleach Green to Whitehead. The job lasted from 4th August until 9th December 2005.

4/8/2005: No.3 'RH. Smyth' on its way to Greenisland to start work on the ballast contract. Seen here near Whitehead. The engine is in light steam. (W. Adams)

10/8/2005: Early days on the Up road - first drop of ballast at No.3 Meadowbank Farm Crossing, near Jordanstown. (W. Adams)

September 2005: Locomotive No.3 "R.H. Smyth" is seen waiting at Carrickfergus station for the next ballasting operation to commence. (M. Walsh)

1/9/2005: No.3 propelling what looks like an empty train in the Belfast direction between Greenisland and Trooperslane. (W. Adams)

22/10/200: The Bleach Green - Carrickfergus section of the Larne line reopened in early October 2005. No.3 "R.H. Smyth" is seen having her train of ballast hoppers refilled at the salt mines, north of Carrickfergus. (M. Walsh)

22/10/2005: Harvey and train at the crossover between Carrickfergus and Barn. (J.A. Cassells)

22/10/2005: Laying ballast under the iconic NCC concrete bridge at Barn. (J.A. Cassells)

22/10/2005: The new track much in evidence at Barn as ballast is laid on the Up line. (J.A. Cassells)

22/10/2005: Harvey in full cry, with the then minimal Downshire halt in the background. (J.A. Cassells)

22/10/2005: A close-up at Downshire, showing the lighting-up timber on the front of the engine. (J.A. Cassells)

22/10/2005: One of the access points near Downshire where Harvey is getting a re-supply of coal. (J.A. Cassells)

22/10/2005: Harvey heads towards Kilroot with an empty train. (J.A. Cassells)

11/11/2005: No.3 "R.H. Smyth" reached Whitehead for a weekend of maintenance. Here the tired engine is seen with the crew who brought it in from the salt mines, Driver Jeff Spencer (right) and Fireman Phil Lockett. (P. Lockett)

13/11/2005: The relay had progressed sufficiently that Harvey, though still hauling ballast trains, was able to reach Whitehead for a weekend of maintenance. Here, the locomotive is in steam for testing purposes and shunting after a boiler washout.

19/11/2005: This is the fireman's view from the footplate of No.3 "R.H. Smyth". The loco is passing milepost 13 on the Bleach Green - Whitehead line while engaged in ballasting duties. (M. Walsh

1/12/2005: No.3 "R.H. Smyth” is seen in Whitehead station, only a few hundred yards from the RPSI's headquarters. Wood is stacked around the front of the engine for lighting the engine's fire each morning. (J. Spencer)