Vital volunteers preserve and share railway heritage

Vital volunteers preserve and share railway heritage

Family gathered on the platform at Whitehead Railway station watching a locomotive approach

Heritage Grants

Whitehead South
Mid and East Antrim
Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
£1809900
Thanks to National Lottery funding and the support of their dedicated volunteers, the Railway Preservation Society for Ireland (RPSI) have been able to preserve and bring the story of Ireland’s railways to life.

RPSI is a voluntary organisation dedicated to the conservation and operation of heritage trains.

In 2013, they were awarded the second round of their National Lottery grant to help conserve their collection of locomotives and develop their Whitehead site into a working museum.

RPSI’s collection is managed almost entirely by its 150+ enthusiastic and highly-skilled volunteers. They play a key role in the restoration and maintenance of many of its trains and carriages, such as the Guinness Grain Van, used to transport bulk grain to the Guinness Brewery in Dublin throughout the 20th century.

“Volunteering helps me feel part of a like minded community”

Mark Bailey, Whitehead Railway Museum volunteer

Volunteers at Whitehead Railway station
Volunteers working at Whitehead railway station


Volunteers also lead tours at the Whitehead Railway Museum, create new exhibitions and organise a range of popular events, such as ‘Steam Saturday’ train rides and Teddy Bear Picnics.

Mark Bailey a volunteer at Whitehead Railway Museum said: “Volunteering helps me feel part of a like minded community, committed to preserving the steam heritage of Ireland for future generations.”

Book tickets for train rides.