RPSI

metrovick001 · 25-08-2013 9:12pm #1

On the 25-August-2013 the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland [RPSI] ran a mystery train using former Dublin South Eastern Railway [DSER] loco No.461 and a rake of Craven coaches from Dublin's Connolly station to a secret location which transpired to be the city of Kilkenny. The special was filmed near Cherryville Junction, Co. Kildare on the Waterford branch.

rameire · 25-08-2013 10:35pm

L1011 · 25-08-2013 11:06pm

Was getting off a 22k last night and explaining to my partner who never used trains until recently about having to lean out the window and use the handle on the Mk2s when I noticed the big lumps of orange (and some blue) beside me. Think it had a freight livery 071 on it then, though.

demanufactured · 25-08-2013 11:35pm

What type of coal does a steam engine use.?

Cookie_Monster · 25-08-2013 11:39pm

demanufactured wrote: »

What type of coal does a steam engine use.?

I remember seeing a series on a preserved line in the UK, the one that has the old BR1 vans in Irish colours. They import the stuff from Poland as the quality available in the UK is no longer good enough.

The_Wanderer · 26-08-2013 12:04am

Evening all,

A bumper weekend of photos from trips to Belfast on Saturday to travel and photograph the RPSI's Bangor Belle railtour, while on the Sunday I chased the RPSI's Marble City Railtour to Kilkenny.

RPSI Bangor Belle Pictures: http://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2013/RPSI-The-Bangor-Belle
RPSI Marble City Pictures: http://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/RailtoursPreservedRailways/2013/RPSI-The-Marble-City
Latest August 2013 Pictures include NI Railways pictures from Portadown, Lisburn, Belfast Central, Holywood, Marino & Helen's Bay on Saturday, plus the G.A.A. Specials from Mayo on Sunday morning. http://thewandererphotos.smugmug.com/2013Photos/August-2013#!/i-8SGGp2v

Enjoy!
The Wanderer.

Fred Swanson · 26-08-2013 2:52pm

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Losty Dublin · 26-08-2013 3:13pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Even less of a secret seeing that it was advertised as the Marble City Railtour

Thedarkb · 28-07-2015 2:00am

I know this is an old thread but the RPSI have said that if there's a fatality involving one of their trains, irish rail could cut off their access to the mainline. How would irish rail, as a seperate operator, be allowed to do that?

Captain Chaos · 28-07-2015 8:34am

Thedarkb wrote: »

I know this is an old thread but the RPSI have said that if there's a fatality involving one of their trains, irish rail could cut off their access to the mainline. How would irish rail, as a seperate operator, be allowed to do that?

Probably because they own and maintain all the infrastructure aswell just like Translink. Unlike the UK where one company maintains all the infrastructure and and an operator is just an operator.

The RPSI have to get permission from Translink and IR to run any and all trains on the main line even just testing kettles from time to time.

goingnowhere · 28-07-2015 10:24am

Thedarkb wrote: »

I know this is an old thread but the RPSI have said that if there's a fatality involving one of their trains, irish rail could cut off their access to the mainline. How would irish rail, as a seperate operator, be allowed to do that?

Irish Rail and Translink actually run the trains, RPSI have no licence or certification to run their own trains on the mainline. So Irish Rail or Translink can walk away from the RPSI at any time.

Legally there is nothing stopping the RPSI actually running their own trains under EU rules, but that would require a mountain of paperwork and insurance.

Losty Dublin · 28-07-2015 11:27am

Your comment is rather misleading. The RPSI are a recognised train operator by the RSC and have been for a few years now.

All rolling stock and haulage operated by the RPSI are permitted to run on the mainline under their SMS documents and with approval of the RSC. Track access for the RPSI is available subject to capacity and approval but to date this has never been an issue. The society pays for the track access and are there on merit and yes, they are fully insured to operate on the main line.

What Irish Rail do is that critical to operations are that they supply the staff drive/guard and oversee the operations on the day. This is more down to safety and the fact that the society aren't in a position to supply competent train crews. That said, the staff on board are under the auspices of the RPSI on the day and operate within their SMS and banner.

What you are correct in saying is that the RPSI are dependent on the cooperation of Irish Rail and Translink. Long may it continue

goingnowhere wrote: »

Irish Rail and Translink actually run the trains, RPSI have no licence or certification to run their own trains on the mainline. So Irish Rail or Translink can walk away from the RPSI at any time.

Legally there is nothing stopping the RPSI actually running their own trains under EU rules, but that would require a mountain of paperwork and insurance.

cml387 · 28-07-2015 12:12pm

The RPSI are right to be very careful. Possibly they had this incident in mind from last March.

Thedarkb · 28-07-2015 2:48pm

cml387 wrote: »

The RPSI are right to be very careful. Possibly they had this incident in mind from last March.

That incident is very different from someone walking in front of a kettle. I was told this by one of the members of staff while shooting the Emerald isle explorer in kilkenny as well as reading it on IRN. Surely you can't ban steam operation because of a few idiots who think it's ok to stand on live lines.

Losty Dublin · 28-07-2015 3:00pm

Thedarkb wrote: »

That incident is very different from someone walking in front of a kettle. I was told this by one of the members of staff while shooting the Emerald isle explorer in kilkenny as well as reading it on IRN. Surely you can't ban steam operation because of a few idiots who think it's ok to stand on live lines.

It's up to the operator to neutralise safety risks as much as possible. In the case of RPSI operations this means placing stewards on platforms to help prevent trackside incursions. If it continues to happen then things would have to be addressed.

Thedarkb · 28-07-2015 3:10pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

It's up to the operator to neutralise safety risks as much as possible. In the case of RPSI operations this means placing stewards on platforms to help prevent trackside incursions. If it continues to happen then things would have to be addressed.

Are there stewards on all platforms at all times in case someone decides to stand in front of a 22000?

flyingsnail · 28-07-2015 3:31pm

That would be either trespass or suicide, not something that is reserved for the arrival of a steam train.

Losty Dublin · 28-07-2015 3:40pm

Thedarkb wrote: »

Are there stewards on all platforms at all times in case someone decides to stand in front of a 22000?

That's Irish Rails problem to deal with and not that of the RPSI.

Thedarkb · 28-07-2015 4:32pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

That's Irish Rails problem to deal with and not that of the RPSI.

Line incursions shouldn't be the responsibility of the operator

Fred Swanson · 28-07-2015 4:38pm

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Thedarkb · 28-07-2015 4:54pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

That, while trespassing, is pretty harmless as long as no damage is done(In my opinion, it's still illeagle and will land you a fine)

Losty Dublin · 28-07-2015 4:56pm

Thedarkb wrote: »

Line incursions shouldn't be the responsibility of the operator

It's the responsibiliy of both the operator and the infrastructure owners. It's up to an operator to take reasonable steps when operating trains and for the owners to ensure that their system is secure.

The nature of an RPSI trip brings out sightseers and hangers on that a service train doesn't so extra care is required. There are extra hands on board to deal with this but it is something the society bears in mind, as would similar set ups around Europe

That said, it is an offence to trespass on a railway so personal responsibility must be considered as well.

Thedarkb · 28-07-2015 4:58pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

It's the responsibiliy of both the operator and the infrastructure owners. It's up to an operator to take reasonable steps when operating trains and for the owners to ensure that their system is secure.

The nature of an RPSI trip brings out sightseers and hangers on that a service train doesn't so extra care is required. There are extra hands on board to deal with this but it is something the society bears in mind, as would similar set ups around Europe

That said, it is an offence to trespass on a railway so personal responsibility must be considered as well.

The sightseers should be responsible for themselves, the only people the RPSI should be responsible for are it's passengers and volounteers

Losty Dublin · 28-07-2015 5:14pm

Thedarkb wrote: »

The sightseers should be responsible for themselves, the only people the RPSI should be responsible for are it's passengers and volounteers

Should be, yeah perhaps. In the real world it doesn't actually work your way.

The society must reasonably prepare to deal with the risks that they bring to the railway, including that to sightseers at stations en route.

Thedarkb · 28-07-2015 7:16pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Should be, yeah perhaps. In the real world it doesn't actually work your way.

The society must reasonably prepare to deal with the risks that they bring to the railway, including that to sightseers at stations en route.

I fail to see how a train hauled with a steam locomotive is any more dangerous than a standard freight train(brake force considered), the only danger to the sightseers is themselves.

end of the road · 28-07-2015 8:55pm

Thedarkb wrote: »

I fail to see how a train hauled with a steam locomotive is any more dangerous than a standard freight train(brake force considered), the only danger to the sightseers is themselves.

because in these modern times one is responsible for everyone else apart from themselves

Losty Dublin · 28-07-2015 9:28pm

Thedarkb wrote: »

I fail to see how a train hauled with a steam locomotive is any more dangerous than a standard freight train(brake force considered), the only danger to the sightseers is themselves.

At this stage I don't really know what your point is here.

Thedarkb · 28-07-2015 10:01pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

At this stage I don't really know what your point is here.

the RPSI shouldn't be considered any more a hazard to public safety than irish rail, it's already been established that irish rail can't really just cut off their access so thread over.

Peregrinus · 29-07-2015 4:20am

The question of whether spectators should experience an irrational attraction to steam trains is not relevant. The fact is that they do, and the operators of steam trains should foresee that this will happen and should factor it into the planning of their operations. Which, it seems, the RPSI does.

It may well be that if there is an accident it will be the spectator's fault for being a bloody idiot. But the object of a safety regime is not to ensure that the only accidents which occur are the fault of members of the public; it is to ensure, so far as possible, that accidents don't occur. Hence, planning has to cater for the foreseeable stupidity of members of the public.

This isn't rocket science. It's basic common sense. And it's by no means confined to "these modern times".

Captain Chaos · 09-08-2015 6:51pm

Just spotted No4 in action, passed through Killester with 7 Cravens + GSV for Connolly. Good to see her back down here again.

Losty Dublin · 10-08-2015 9:38am

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Just spotted No4 in action, passed through Killester with 7 Cravens + GSV for Connolly. Good to see her back down here again.

She is undoubtedly the best performer of all of the society's engines. Loads of grunt, route accessibility that's sky high and crucially, she is healthy and in working order and with a high traffic availability. Next year will be extremely interesting considering the motive power choices that should be at hand.

RPSI

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