LPHC No.3 ''R.H. Smyth''
| LPHC No.3 R.H. Smyth | |||||||||||||||||
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RH Smyth dropping ballast near Jordanstown in August 2005 | |||||||||||||||||
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Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners (LPHC) No. 3 R H Smyth is a preserved Irish steam locomotive.
Built by Avonside Engineering Company of Bristol, England works No. 2021 in 1928. A fairly typical 0-6-0 saddle tank built to the 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Irish broad gauge, it led a rather uneventful life shunting the dual gauge (5 ft 3 in and 3 ft) docks in Derry on the west bank of the River Foyle in Northern Ireland. It was equipped with a single off-centre buffer and coupling at each end for shunting 3 ft (914 mm) gauge stock, in addition to conventional buffers and drawhooks for 5 ft 3 in gauge. After withdrawal, it was bought privately in 1968 before being sold for £1 to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland at Whitehead in 1972.[1] The engine then acquired the nickname 'Harvey' in honour of showjumper Harvey Smith.
In 2000, 30 years after the end of mainline steam in Northern Ireland, No. 3 achieved something of a celebrity status when it was hired by Henry Boot Ltd to help engineering work on the relaying of the Bleach Green Junction - Antrim railway line. This was followed in 2005 by another contract assisting the relaying of the Carrickfergus - Whitehead railway line.
During 2006, the locomotive was placed on loan to the Downpatrick & County Down Railway In 2013 it was returned to Whitehead where it awaits Overhaul.[2]
References
- ↑ "Five Foot Three No.14". RPSI. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
- ↑ "Special Visitor Steams in to Downpatrick" (PDF). DCDR. Retrieved 2011-02-15.