By Robin Morton, RPSI Events Convenor
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland hit the buffers in March 2020. Covid derailed the Society’s plans for its usual steam train trips on the mainline plus a series of events at Whitehead Railway Museum.
Restrictions meant that the Society’s plans for a programme of 35 trains during the year had to be scrapped. And although the museum was able to open its doors in August, September and October, the museum wound up remaining closed for 33 weeks during the year.
The impact of the pandemic was felt not just in Northern Ireland, where the Society is based, but also in the Republic. The usual programme of steam train trips from Dublin had to be scrubbed, with the Society’s Southern-based engine left holed up in a shed at Dublin Connolly.
Volunteer members of the RPSI's Curatorial Committee erect period enamel advertising signs at Whitehead Railway Museum.
The reality was that, at a stroke, the Society had been deprived of its two main sources of income. The RPSI, which had a turnover of £1m in 2019, relies on its popular steam train outings to bring in money to keep the wheels turning. The other source of income is the museum, and over the three months for which it was open, footfall and income were gratifyingly higher compared with 2019.
Interestingly, the demographic of our visitors had changed – our market was now predominantly family parties rather than retirement groups or dedicated railway enthusiasts. Another change was that our out-of-state visitors were primarily from the Republic, a reflection of the fact that overseas travel was still fraught with problems.
Our abrupt closure in March was all the more frustrating because we had high hopes of a further increase in our visitor numbers. In 2019 the figure was up by 26% to a record of 19,454. But instead, everything ground to a halt. Most staff were put on furlough while volunteers were stood down.
Opportunities provided by lockdown
Bit by bit, though, we realised that the lockdown was providing us with opportunities. Our social media presence was enhanced to remind the public that although we were closed, things were going on behind the scenes. We wanted to retain as much profile as possible.
One example of this strategy was the Last Days of Steam video which marked the 50th anniversary in May of the final steam train operation in Northern Ireland in 1970. The online launch of this video provided valuable PR on radio and in the newspapers and helped to keep the flag flying while the museum doors were closed.
Another opportunity of which we took advantage was a virtual Industrial Heritage Week run by Mid & East Antrim Council in May. To mark the occasion, we went online with an absorbing film of the “ring of fire” in the locomotive workshops – the heating up and removal of a redundant tyre from one of steam engine No. 4’s driving wheels. It caught the eye and gave the public an idea of the sort of heavy engineering projects which take place behind the scenes.
The weeks ticked by and various events such as Steam Saturdays and a schools competition with Translink went by the board. But as the restrictions were eased, plans were made to re-open the museum. Risk assessments were carried out, while staff and volunteers received training and PPE. New systems were devised to keep everyone safe. When we did open in August, we switched to online booking and time slots to reduce social contact.
RPSI steam locomotive No. 3BG Guinness operates one of the popular summer Saturday steam train ride trips at Whitehead Railway Museum.
With mainline steam in abeyance Whitehead Railway Museum became the shop window of the RPSI. The feedback in the visitors’ book and on social media was overwhelmingly positive, with many visitors vowing to come back.
The museum offering itself was enhanced by several projects. No. 186, a steam engine which is part of the display, was given a facelift with footplate controls being shone up and then labelled for the benefit of visitors.
Lessons learned from Covid
We learned many lessons as a result of Covid.
We realised the significance of online booking and dedicated time slots. We learned the importance of keeping in contact with the public through social media. We appreciated the value of keeping in touch with our volunteers, mainly by regular e-bulletin updates. The hiatus also gave us an opportunity to review all the Society’s operations and work out which are profitable and which are marginal.
Covid has been a challenge but thanks to the sourcing of a number of substantial grants by our General Manager, Lisa Adair, the RPSI has managed to remain solvent. All the funding was most helpful, in particular an offer in February 2021 of £167,300 from the Heritage Recovery Fund, run by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We now look forward to re-opening the museum in the summer and hopefully getting the wheels turning again on the mainline, north and south.
The RPSI has achieved so much in its 57 years of existence that it is determined to bounce back. And we know Whitehead Railway Museum will be a key part of that revival.