Healy train is the goal for railway trust

The trust plans to purchase a 1960s diesel locomotive similar to this one for its Healy train

By Ross McKee
BBC News

Anyone watching Northern Ireland footballer David Healy in action will be well aware of his passion for points.

But that phrase is set to take on a whole new meaning for the Killyleagh man as a local railway trust plans to name a train after him.

The Belfast and County Down Railway Museum Trust is in negotiations with Irish Rail to purchase a 1960s diesel locomotive which will put the Healy express on track.

It aims to paint the engine in the green livery of the former Belfast and County Down Railway and fit it with specially cast plates bearing the record-breaking striker's international shirt number.

"We are asking Northern Ireland football supporters and railway enthusiasts to pledge support for the purchase of the engine," Bob Pue of the Trust said.

"Once we get sufficient pledges to cover the cost we will write to them to honour their pledges.

"They will be given numbered certificates with photos of David and the engine when it has been restored.

"The engine will be painted in a green livery similar to that used by the old Belfast to County Down Railway which used to run to Newcastle.

David Healy is Northern Ireland's record goalscorer

"We will also be getting brass name plates which will have David Healy MBE attached to the engine.

"There will also be number plates made with David Healy's shirt number, number nine. "In the trust's archive we have a number nine plate from the original Belfast and County Down engine."

Mr Pue said the trust was looking to raise £25,000 to purchase and restore the Healy train, but said the final cost would "depend on the deal it negotiates with Irish Rail".

"It is the only place where engines are available, in Northern Ireland there was nothing available that would be suitable," he added.

World Cup

"David is from Killyleagh and we are in the process of securing the former railway between Saintfield and Ballynahinch which runs close to Killyleagh."

The railway trust representative said David Healy had agreed to the train being named in his honour and they planned to invite him to the official unveiling in the future, with a proposed target date of 2010.

Northern Ireland fans will be hoping their dreams of World Cup qualification are still on the rails by then.