The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) recently awarded MSM Contracts with the main building contract to carry out major development works to transform their Whitehead base into a unique visitor-friendly living museum and interpretive centre.

Works during the 36-week programme will involve major extensions to both the locomotive workshops and carriage shed, construction of an exhibition building, construction of a period-style signal building, a 60ft locomotive turntable and extensive siteworks.

Funding for the project, costing in excess of £2m, has been provided by Heritage Lottery Fund and Tourism Northern Ireland, with additional support from Mid and East Antrim Council and Ulster Garden Villages.

Our managing director, Robert Mackey, said: “MSM Contracts are delighted to have been appointed by RPSI to deliver the next phase of the development of their Whitehead Railway Centre. Having previously completed a construction project at the Whitehead site in the 1990s, MSM are proud to be involved as main contractor on another exciting project with RPSI that will seek to preserve the history and excellence of our steam train engineering past.
“Our company is positive that on completion of construction works, the Whitehead Railway Centre will be a first class living engineering museum and educational facility that will complement other recent tourist attractions in the local area.”

The professional design team on this NEC3 project comprises RPS Group (project manager, structural/civil engineers and CDM Co-Ordinator), Ostick + Williams (architects), TUV SUD Wallace Whittle (M&E), Clarke Shipway (cost manager) and Dillon Project Management (project manager for RPSI).

Pictured (from left to right) in the above image are Frank Robinson (RPSI), Spencer Savage (MSM Contracts), Alan McNeill (MSM Contracts), Caroline Bell (Tourism NI), Paul Mullan (Heritage Lottery Fund NI), Robert Mackey (MSM Contracts) and Dr Joan Smyth (RPSI)