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Steam Trains Ireland

The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) was formed in 1964 to preserve in working order steam locomotives and other rolling stock built for the Irish railway system, from 1850 to the present day.

RPSI is Ireland’s only remaining mainline steam engineering depot. Whitehead Excursion Station is where all the locomotives and carriages in the RPSI's Northern Ireland collection are stored. It is where all locomotive maintenance and overhaul is carried out. The station consists of a station building (housing a shop open on their Summer Steam days), a platform, a short running line for public demonstrations and to allow the shunting of their stock. Beyond the station are the sheds housing the engineering equipment and stores necessary to maintain Ireland's mainline steam train fleet.

The RPSI maintains a museum at Whitehead and operates steam-hauled excursions over the present day Irish railway network for families and enthusiasts. On "Summer Steam" open days, they steam a locomotive and the public and enthusiasts are welcome to come along and have a short ride by steam train within their site for a nominal charge. Their 1951-built dining car is on hand for teas and refreshments, and a Souvenir Shop is open. The full site is usually open and guided tours run throughout the afternoon.

The Society is a not-for-profit charity managed by volunteers. All funds from ticket sales, shop sales, membership fees or donations go directly to keeping Ireland's steam railway heritage operating for future generations.

For details of upcoming events, visit www.steamtrainsireland.com/events.

For tickets and enquiries contact: Belfast Welcome Centre, 47 Donegall Place, Belfast, BT1 5AD. Email welcomecentre@belfastvisitor.com or telephone (028) 9024 6609.

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