Slieve Gullion steams for first time in over 20 years


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Newly overhauled GNR(I) ‘S’ class No. 171 Slieve Gullion beside the signal box at Whitehead on July 27. PHIL LOCKETT

EX-GREAT NORTHERN Railway (Ireland) ‘S’ class 4 ‐ 4‐0 No. 171 Slieve Gullion returned to steam for the first time in two decades at the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s Whitehead headquarters on July 27.

Last steamed in July 2002, the overhaul of the 1913-built locomotive originally began in January 2014 when it was sent to Railway Restoration North East Ltd in Shildon. However, No. 171 returned to Ireland after the company ceased trading in February 2015, and it was temporarily re-assembled for display inside the RPSI’s Whitehead Railway Museum. Work resumed in September 2019, when it was moved to the RPSI’s Dunleath workshops.

The society said: “We now need to work our way through 30 minor defects and other matters identified during the test. And there are also two major items – painting and the electrical work.”

The first steam test took place in January last year, while the wheels and frames were reunited in May 2023. At present, the RPSI is unable to operate on the main line in Northern Ireland, but plans are afoot to move No. 171 to Dublin for trials.

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