The old Belfast Central Railway which links the former G.N.R. and B.C.D.R. systems is being used by a steam train for the last time today. She's an excursion train to Bangor from Portadown and as she left stations all along the route, the 17-year-old number 49, one of only two steam engines left in service with the U.T.A., made it a splendid exit.

The Belfast Central is closing because it's in the way of progress on the new Lagan bridge scheme. Oddly enough the trip coincide with the opening of the Belfast to Bangor line a hundred years ago.

And as if to show that steam engines can still do an effective job, the train was two minutes early arriving at Bangor. Tonight, on the return journey she'll be packed with railway enthusiasts.