Whitehead Railway Museum will be putting on a big birthday bash this Saturday to mark the centenary of the 1919 Guinness steam locomotive.
The engine named after Arthur Guinness was built to shunt wagons between the Guinness Brewery at St James’ Gate in Dublin and the nearby Kingsbridge (now Heuston) station.
The engine has shunted at Whitehead Excursion Station, worked train rides on the site and spent time hauling passenger trains on the Downpatrick and County Down Railway.
The birthday party will take place at Whitehead Railway Museum this Saturday (April 6) from noon to 4pm. Short steam train rides on the engine will be the main attraction and visitors can step on board a steam train perhaps for the first time.
Tickets are required for the train rides and are priced at £2.50 for adults and £2 for children. No need to book in advance as they can be purchased on the day.
For ticket holders there will be lots of fun activities throughout the afternoon including balloon modelling, face painting and the cutting of the birthday cake.
Big Telly Theatre Company will also be performing five minute pop-up plays at 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm, re-enacting the Whitehead train robbery of 1939. Museum tickets for the plays can be purchased on the day.
Siobhan Dillon, acting General Manager of Whitehead Railway Museum said this is a fantastic occasion for the museum.
“It is not often that you get to enjoy a 100th birthday party so we want to make it a memorable occasion. We are pleased to have delegates and invited guests join us from across Northern Ireland but want everyone feel welcome. The festivities are set to be a fantastic family fun day out and everyone is welcome to come along,” she added.
The Edwardian Tea Room will be open as usual from 10.15am serving homemade lunches and guided tours will be on offer at 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm. For more information visit, https://www.steamtrainsireland.com/.