Downpatrick and County Down Railway recently received a very unexpected donation from a visitor.
“He had a piece of one of our steam engines in his attic for over 50 years!” explained a spokesperson for the local heritage railway.
“And not just any piece – a rare ‘Zwiebelpfeife’ whistle.
“In the 1960s, Blundell Harris lived close to where two ex-Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta (Irish Sugar Company Ltd) Orenstein & Koppel tank engines, Nos. 1 and 3, were stored before they were preserved at Downpatrick.
“As the engines were out of use at the time, he took the opportunity to ‘borrow’ one of their whistles to add to his railwayana collection.
“These were made to a rare ‘Zwiebelpfeife’ (onion pipe) design.”
The local heritage railway spokesperson explained that this type of whistle was unique to Orenstein & Koppel steam engines.
“We were unable to source a replacement when we acquired the locos,” they added.
“The engines were therefore fitted with standard off-the-shelf cylindrical whistles when they entered service at Downpatrick.
“After meeting a DCDR volunteer at one of the railway’s model show stands last year, Blundell made the journey to Downpatrick a few weeks ago to visit the locos that he climbed on when he was young.
“He very generously donated the whistle to the museum.”
Although neither of the Orenstein & Koppel steam engines is currently in service, the heritage railway says it is looking forward to fitting the whistle to one of them when they return to steam in a few years’ time.
