Whitehead News (2020)

Some views from around Whitehead on various dates in 2020.

14/3/2020: The panelling on 861 is progressing well.

14/3/2020: Doors have been fitted to the Guinness grain van.

14/3/2020: Some intricate joinery on the air vents on the grain van.

14/3/2020: New upholstery fitted to Mk2 carriage 302.

15/8/2020: With the pressure washer engine making more smoke than the locomotive ever did, Alan washes down B142's bogies.

15/8/2020: A new display in the Tea Room.

15/8/2020: With a number of tables removed from the Tea Room, visitors are encouraged to have their coffee outside when the weather permits.

15/8/2020: Quite a number of new picnic tables have been provided on the platform for visitors.

15/8/2020: On this date the 75th anniversary of VJ was marked in the UK. Here the Red Arrows display team pass directly over the platform at Whitehead on their way to a flypast in Belfast.

16/8/2020 (10:51): Smoke is rising over Whitehead. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (11:08): Driver Phillip Lockett is filling coal buckets for No.3BG's bunker. Fireman Chris Ragg waits on the engine. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (11:17): The crew notice the P-Van has had a second-hand lorry curtain side fitted following its starring role in 'Ulster Giants'. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (11:19): No.3BG is ready to move B142 out of the way to gain access to No.131. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (11:29): Chris Ragg watches as No.131 is pulled out of the shed for two trips up and down the yard to combat static bearing damage. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (11:32): No.131 has completed her first return trip up to near the yard gate. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (12:02): A trip to the workshop reveals that No.171's boiler has resumed it's vertical position on the rotator following copper firebox work. Nathan Lawrence drills holes in No.105's frames. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (12:50): Mk2 movement is underway. Diner 547 is among those at the platform and has undergone something of a makeunder prior to a repaint. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (13:01): Retrieval of 180, 181, 68 and 81 from A-Road leads to 3 engines in a row in an unusual location. No.3BG didn't go back far enough to get buffers in shot but you've seen them before! (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (14:34): No.3BG has partly re-stocked part of the carriage shed with Mk2s and uncoupled 68 from 81 and positioned it on the turntable. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (14:34): A few seconds later and No.3BG waits while 68 is swung round on the turntable behind to place its compartments on the platform side. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020: (14:35): It has taken somewhat less than TWO MINUTES to turn 68 with a mere four people, those in the know can compare that ratio to turning a locomotive! (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (14:42): 68 has arrived at the platform from the turntable. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (14:43): Doors open! Compartments at the platform will permit segregation of passengers (wasn't that the original idea of them!) by not requiring them to all pass through the same aisle. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (14:44): Now with 8 doors on the platform side rather than 4, the Second class is now towards Belfast and the First towards Larne. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (14:44): No.3BG and 68 at the platform, minus usual companion of brake van 81 which is parked on the loop road, out of sight behind 68. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (14:45): As Guinness things (rather like 3BG) say on billboards 'Ready when you are'. The 4 nearest are 1st class doors are in Walnut scumble and 2nd class 4 (furthest) in mahogany. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (14:45): Another view of the platform side compartment doors. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (15:07): No.3BG has repositioned a wagon on the turntable and re-attached 68 to 81 and now places both of them back in the carriage shed, near the Belfast end for potential Train Ride use. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (15:27): The last job of the day is to move Dutch Van 462 (out of shot on far end of 8911) against static bearing damage. No.3BG is about to run up the yard with the incidental 8911, and 462. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (15:41): 462 and 8911 are back under the gantries and No.3BG is being refuelled before bed. Whoever the feet are attached to will be lifting coal buckets into the cab. The engine was in bed by 16:00. (M. Walsh)

16/8/2020 (16:00): As a nice little reward for 68 remedial work, the operating crew have been gifted these surplus picnic tables for al fresco dining ... and not for burning before anyone thinks that. (M. Walsh)

29/8/2020: No.3BG "Guinness" in steam for test trains prior to public train rides the following week. B142 looks on forlornly. (J.A. Cassells)

29/8/2020: Diner 547, after an external overhaul, getting its undercoat. (J.A. Cassells)

29/8/2020: Alan McKnight unscrews an axlebox cover on one of the Mk2 coaches.

29/8/2020: The used grease has been removed and the axlebox is being refilled by a compressed air grease gun.

12/9/2020: The top coating of Diner 547 has commenced.

12/9/2020: Work on the boiler of a steam boat "Maggie"'.

12/9/2020: An audience with Peter Scott. A group from Donegal discuss 3ft gauge locomotives at the back of the Workshop.

26/9/2020: No.131 in steam for Whitehead train rides. (N. Lawrence)

26/9/2020: No.131 teases No.3BG "Guinness" as it gets to operate the train rides. (N. Lawrence)

27/9/2020: The enamel signs added to the platform wall of the station. (M. Walsh)

3/10/2020: Diner 547 with its new top coat, awaiting lining out.

1/11/2020: No.131 is having a platform day, whilst No.3BG shunts No.461 up and down the yard a few times to keep her freed up and combat static bearing damage. (M. Walsh)

7/11/2020: No.3BG "Guinness" shunting the hand-crane and a bogie from a Mk2 carriage. (N. Lawrence)

19/12/2020: In the workshop new cab sheets have arrived for CDR No.5 "Drumboe".

19/12/2020: The engine shed has been cleared to allow B142 to be shunted out of the wheel-drop shed.

19/12/2020: No.131 and No.171's tender have been temporarily removed from the engine shed.

19/12/2020: No.3BG is in the shed to haul B142 out.

19/12/2020: No.3BG and B142 on the way to the heavy-lift gantries for B142 to have its engine hoods removed.

19/12/2020: No.3BG and B142 under the gantries. (J.A. Cassells)

19/12/2020: B142 has its engine and generator exposed. (J.A. Cassells)

20/12/2020: After another hard day's shunting, it is sunset for No.3BG and 2020 as the final move of the year comes to an end. (M. Walsh)