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The book marking the 40th anniversary
of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, was launched at a ceremony
at the appropriate setting of Belfast Central station on 30th June 2004.
The book is called Forty Shades of Steam (Colourpoint £12) and it has been written by two founder members of the society, Joe Cassells and Charles Friel. The book, illustrated by 120 colour photographs, tells the story of the founding of the Society and the Portrush Flyer, and details 2,500 mainline steam train movements organised by the RPSI over the last four decades. |
 The
men behind the book. On the left, Charles Friel, on the right, Joe
Cassells.
Joe Cassells, one of the authors, expressed gratitude to Translink and Iarnród Éireann for facilitating the Society's trains. He said he was gratified that two companies which ran a modern railway system were still prepared to make room for steam engines. He also said he wanted to personally thank the men from both railway companies who were prepared to drive and fire the engines. He said the RPSI was fortunate that there were men who were still willing to take on the challenge of a day on the footplate. He expressed gratitude to the drivers, firemen and inspectors from York Road, Dublin Connolly and Inchicore. and said he was delighted to see some of them present at the ceremony. Joe also expressed thanks to the men who drove and fired steam engines in the 1960s, and who gave so much of their time to working RPSI trains in the early years. All had retired, some had sadly passed on, but many of their names were recorded in the book. He said that he had packed as many stories as possible into the record of 2,500 train movements, and said anyone who had travelled on the Society's trains or seen them on television would be able to relive the magic moments. Finally, Joe expressed thanks to all who had helped in the compilation of the book, and in particular Society secretary Paul McCann and former locomotive running officer Brian Hill. He also thanked his co-author Charles Friel and his son James, and expressed appreciation to former secretary Robin Morton who had helped co- ordinate the project. In Norman Johnston of Colourpoint, he said he did not think he could have found a more tolerant, sympathetic or generous publisher. The RPSI, he said, owed Colourpoint a lot for what had been achieved. |
 Dr
Joan Smyth, the Translink chairman, who officially launched the book, paid
tribute to the work of the Whitehead-based
Society. She is seen here with Charles and Joe, just before the launch.
Charles Friel, in his speech, reiterated the thanks of all present to Translink for hosting the reception. He said loco maintenance officer Peter Scott and his team deserved great credit for having kept the show on the road over the years. |
 Amongst
the dignitaries and special invites were many former and current NIR and
Irish Rail steam men. Irish Rail's current steam drivers Dan and
Tony Renehan are seen here enjoying a pre-launch chat with Joe and Charles. |
 The
launch itself took place in the appropriate setting of the concourse are
Belfast Central Station. Those at the launch are seen here amongst
the travelling public. |
 Councillor
Tom Ekin (pictured at the podium), the Lord Mayor of Belfast, who also
took part in the ceremony, praised the work of the RPSI in attracting tourists
to the province and in providing a valuable leisure amenity for local people.
He wished the Society well in the future.
On the right of the picture is Lord O'Neill, who has been president of the Society over its entire 40 years. In his speech he said he was delighted that so many of the RPSI's early dreams had been realised. He said: "When the Society was founded in 1964 we hoped we might be able to prolong the life of steam traction for a few more years, but quite honestly nobody imagined that we would still be able to travel on a steam train in Ireland in 2004. "The greatest credit must go to all those members of the Society north and south who toiled long and hard over the years to restore and keep the locomotives and carriages in mainline condition." To the left of the podium are Dr Joan Smith, Chairman of Translink; Robin Morton, event organiser and former RPSI secretary and Mal McGreevy, General Manager Northern Ireland Railways. |
 Norman
Johnston of Colourpoint said his firm was delighted to be associated with
the book. He praised the authors and said it was notable that all royalties
and copyright payments were in this case going directly to the RPSI, something
which he hoped would be of significant benefit to the Society. |
 Amongst
those invited to the launch are Gerry Mooney and Peter Emmett, both current
RPSI Council members, seen here admiring the models of John Richardson,
former RPSI Treasurer. |
 Current
Northern Ireland Railways Steam Driver, Noel Playfair, enjoys the attention
of the media. Along with the Renehan brothers on Irish Rail, Noel
ensures that RPSI steam trains are still operated safely and competently
on the national rail network. |
 Robin
Morton, former RPSI Secretary and organiser of the book launch (along with
the other members of the RPSI 40 Committee) is seen here chatting with
Irwin Pryce, long serving RPSI Driver and Roster Standards Officer. |
 Enjoying
some of the buffet lunch laid on after the launch are Ciaran McAteer, HRA
Secretary; Sullivan Boomer, former RPSI Chairman and Colin Halliday. |
