Northern Ireland Railways - Steam on Larne Line (1968)

[@RUOKH]

WOW - I remember these spoil trains puffing along the shore between Magheramorne and Carrickfergus. Thanks for the return down memory lane.

[@royrobinson9009]

Arnold Dean from Whitehead wrote a book about steam, mostly about the main line, Belfast to Portrush and Londonderry, he mentions us and a number of other firemen and drivers.

[@davey9955]

Was a fireman on the spoil trains 🚂

[@IrishRailwayRecordSociety]

Thanks David, hope the film brought back good memories.

[@andyatkinson3574]

I lived most of my life in Greenisland and travelled to School by train for 5 years. I still like to take the odd trip to Whitehead.

[@irishrailtrains]

Excellent footage!

[@fergusalex]

thanks.....brings back a lot memories

[@davey9955]

Great memories, as I was a fireman on these jeeps

[@IrishRailwayRecordSociety]

That's great David, glad you enjoyed the film.

[@philiphart6688]

As a then teenager, I was extremely lucky to get to travel on the footplate from Whiteabbey to Magheramorne (and back) with Harry Ramsay during the very last week of operation of the spoil trains. A magical experience I will never forget.

[@davey9955]

@@philiphart6688 sadly harry passed away

[@philiphart6688]

@@davey9955 Many thanks. Yes I guessed as much. His son would probably be the same age as me - early 60s - so that would have made Harry 90+ if he was still alive. Not impossible by any means - my own mum and my mother-in-law are both 92 - but certainly less likely.

[@Isochest]

@@philiphart6688 Respect to all.

[@royrobinson9009]

pity it wasn't digital photography, I and my brother fired on these stone trains. Roy Robinson

[@IrishRailwayRecordSociety]

Thanks Roy, I say that must have been a great experience!

[@davey9955]

Remember you both, and your dad,also your uncle, hope your all keeping well, David gunboat smyth, carrickfergus

[@davey9955]

Hi roy hope you're doing well, yes wonderful memories, David gunboat smyth

[@royrobinson9009]

@@davey9955 yep remember you well, gunboat, doin well, hope same for yourself. Roy

[@davey9955]

@@royrobinson9009 great to hear from you roy,yes fantastic memories, did you know tommy mccrum is in a nursing home in whitehead with dementia sadly, the wasp and George gaw both passed away a few years ago sadly, not many of us left ,30 odd years ago I lived in the barnhill in larne when I was classed as homeless, but back living in carrickfergus, married with 4 children

[@Isochest]

It's Great. Mae'n Bendigedig. Unfortunately I don't know Irish yet though from Duolingo I can see it's a lot like Welsh. Ulster steam was the last of UK Mainline steam and has been ignored sadly.

[@andyatkinson3574]

smashing footage! soundtrack could be better! Woody Guthrie or something that tells the story of a hard working man. the harp is very nice and ephemeral but not quite right

[@IrishRailwayRecordSociety]

Thanks Andy, glad you enjoyed the film.

[@philiphart6688]

I actually thought it nicely accentuated the sense of nostalgia I felt when looking at these lovely images from my youth, and the memories they triggered of the many fine people who worked the rails when I was a lad. But "à chacun son goût" as the French say.