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RPSI Carriage & Wagon
The RPSI has the largest
collection of preserved vintage railway carriages in Ireland (and a few
wagons too!).
On the annual May Railtour (three days of steam to various parts of Ireland), we use our own carriages, often using both our Whitehead and Dublin based sets. Restoration of carriages is carried out at both our Mullingar and Whitehead sites. Wooden-bodied coaches can no longer be used in Northern Ireland and so Belfast area vintage carriages are used mainly for Whitehead open days, having been replaced for main line duties by 1960s Mark two vehicles in a distinctive green livery. However, their use is still permitted on some of the lines of Iarnród Éireann, and so we have a 'heritage set' based in Dublin as well as steel-bodied 'Cravens'. |
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Now you can try it out for yourself on many of our Dublin-based trips! In the 1990s, in association with FAS, the employment and training agency, and in co-operation with IE, the RPSI embarked upon a most ambitious restoration programme, that of GSWR built Irish State carriage No.351. The restored vehicle was the Overall Winner (Supreme Champion) in the Heritage Railway Association bi-annual Carriage and Wagon competition. For this, the RPSI held the "Railway Magazine Lamp" for the years of 2001 and 2002. In addition we received a commemorative plate in the style of a carriage builder's plate. This plate was produced by Swindon Historic Castings, a joint venture between HRA and the local authority. The awards were collected by David Humphries, the RPSI's then Honorary Business Development Officer. The judges commented: "This vehicle is in a class of its own. It was built for Edward VII as an opulent clerestory roofed, single gangwayed saloon. In due course it became the Irish State Coach. After withdrawal in 1970 it survived a fire in Inchicore works, suffered from various forms of rot, and has now been restored by RPSI. The restoration features appropriate furnishings, panelling in the style of Francis I, light fittings in Waterford crystal and wash basins in Connemara marble." And yet 351 is just one of nearly 90 carriages and wagons owned by or in the care of the RPSI. They are kept at several locations in the Dublin area, at our main base at Whitehead, or on loan to other museums and preservation groups. Each is unique in its own way; if they could only speak they would have many stories to tell. Many are in pristine condition and regular use, like 351; many others await the day when workers and money can be found to return them to their former glory. Recently the vehicle in the worst condition of all received a complete top-to-bottom overhaul by our youth team, and we would like to be able to do the same with others in our collection. As ever funds and manpower are needed - every little helps! You
can make the impossible possible!
Featured Vehicles
Keeping Steam alive in Ireland since 1964 |
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