Downpatrick and County Down Railway
The Downpatrick and County Down Railway is a 5 ft 3 in gauge heritage railway in County Down, Northern Ireland. It operates passenger trains with Irish steam and diesel locomotives and carriages on part of the former Belfast and County Down Railway mainline. Its four miles of track connect the town of Downpatrick with the local tourist attractions of Inch Abbey and King Magnus' Grave, as well as Downpatrick Loop platform.
The railway's Downpatrick terminus, located at the foot of Down Cathedral, contains an award-winning museum which houses a variety of railway artefacts. These range from restored locomotives and coaches to historic railway relics and buildings from across the whole island.
It is the only operational Irish standard gauge heritage railway in the whole of Ireland.
History
Belfast & County Down Railway
The railway first arrived in Downpatrick on 23 March 1859, with the completion of the Belfast and County Down Railway's mainline from Belfast Queen's Quay railway station. The line originally terminated at Downpatrick, but in 1869 a separate company- the Downpatrick, Dundrum & Newcastle Railway- built an extension to the seaside town of Newcastle. The BCDR took over the DDNR in 1881, though this unforeseen extension had created an inconvenience wherein trains running between Belfast and Newcastle had to run around at Downpatrick to continue their journey in a fashion similar to Kilkenny railway station on the Great Southern and Western Railway. The opportunity arose in 1892 to end this cumbersome practice with the opening of the Downpatrick, Killough and Ardglass Railway and, with it, Downpatrick Loop Platform. The DKAR was built and operated by the BCDR, and branched off from their mainline about half a kilometre from the new Loop Platform. In conjunction with this, a 'Loop Line' was constructed which enabled trains to bypass the main Downpatrick Station, calling instead at the Loop Platform where passengers intending for Downpatrick could switch to a local train and carrying on without having to run around.Closure
Following the 1945 Ballymacarrett rail crash and the resultant £80,000 it had to pay in compensation, the Belfast and County Down Railway was financially ruined. This was a deciding factor in the nationalisation of the company as part of the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948. The UTA closed all BCDR lines except the Bangor branch a mere two years after taking them over, and so on Sunday 15 January 1950, all the railways around Downpatrick were closed. The tracks were lifted in 1953 and Downpatrick station was handed over to the UTA's bus division, becoming Ulsterbus in 1968. Ulsterbus moved out of the station in 1975 and it was demolished shortly after, erasing the last trace of the railway in Downpatrick town.Heritage Railway
Local architect Gerry Cochrane M.B.E. was inspired to start the scheme after taking a walk along the route of the line, and by 1982 had gained support to rebuild part of the line as a heritage steam railway from the local council. Lord Dunleath, whose father had purchased the railway trackbed adjacent to his estate after the closure of the BCDR in Downpatrick, gave the newly formed society a package of land on which to build the line and station for a peppercorn rent. This was on the approaches to the old Downpatrick station, which had been demolished in the 1970s. Work started on rebuilding the railway in 1985, with public trains finally running in the town again in Friday 4 December 1987, making it the first Irish gauge heritage railway in Ireland to carry passengers over its own track. Track has been relaid on nearly 6 km of Belfast and County Down Railway trackbed, and a 1.6 km extension south to the hamlet of Ballydugan is planned.The railway began life as the Downpatrick & Ardglass Railway, as the original intention was to extend the railway to this fishing port on the south coast of County Down. This name was dropped in 1996 following the abandonment of this proposal and the railway was renamed the Downpatrick Railway Museum until 2005 when the new name, Downpatrick & County Down Railway was adopted following the opening of the Inch Abbey extension.
Operations
Approximately 5 km of Irish standard gauge track are open, along which a steam locomotive, currently either O&K No. 1 or 3, and 1950s-60s era diesel locomotives are run, drawing preserved rolling stock. Passenger trains are usually operated with brake/generator standard class coach 3223, which was built in 1954 by Córas Iompair Éierann, brake/standard class coach 728, which was built in 1951 by the Ulster Transport Authority, and Park Royal brake/standard class coach 1944, also built in 1954 by Córas Iompair Éierann. Stock is added to or withdrawn from the 'running set' as maintenance allows. Older carriages built by the Great Southern and Western Railway and Belfast and County Down Railway were operated on the line, but as 1950s/1960s stock became available the DCDR moved these vintage carriages inside for overhaul and display. These vintage coaches are now used on a select few special running days, such as European Heritage Open Days and for private contracts, as they are too historically important for everyday wear and tear.The railway also aims to have an at least partially operational mechanical signalling system, using the preserved King's Bog and Bundoran Junction signal cabins along with multiple semaphores that are on the site. Related to this is the Double Track Project, which will allow simultaneous operation on the North and South lines.
Every year, the DCDR operates the following trains:
- Saint Patrick's Day Specials, which are held on Saint Patrick's Day and operate to Inch Abbey.
- Easter Specials, which take place over a couple of days around the Easter Period, and operate to Inch Abbey.
- May Day Specials, which take place on May Day and operate to Inch Abbey.
- Summer Specials, which take place every weekend during summer and operate to Inch Abbey. One of these days is typically reserved for diesel haulage.
- EHOD Days, which run in conjunction with the last Summer Specials weekend. These offer visitors free cab rides in a diesel as well as behind-the-scenes tours.
- Halloween Specials, which take place on the weekend prior to, and on, Halloween night, and operate to Magnus' Grave.
- Santa Specials, which take place on the weekend prior to Christmas, and operate to the Loop Platform.
- Mince Pie Specials, which take place on either the last or last weekend of the year, and operate to Magnus' Grave or Inch Abbey - these are usually diesel-hauled.
On operating days, visitors have access to the BCDR Museum which is housed upstairs in Downpatrick railway station, the Downpatrick East signal cabin, a model railway room, the workshop viewing area and the Carriage Gallery.
A gift shop and buffet carriage, the latter of which will be parked at Inch Abbey or Downpatrick Loop Platform railway station, are open on operating days.
In 2020, all DCDR operations have been either cancelled or postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stations & Buildings
Stations
- Downpatrick Station is the principal station on the DCDR network, where all passenger trains originate from. It has two platforms, though one of these is currently out of use. The original BCDR station was sited on Market Street, but was demolished and replaced by a supermarket before the DCDR was established.
- Downpatrick Loop Platform has no road access, which helped it to escape demolition in the 1950s. It serves as the interchange point between the DCDR's South and Loop lines. Downpatrick Loop has two platforms.
- King Magnus' Halt is the current terminus of the South Line. It has one platform and serves the grave of Viking King Magnus Barefoot, a site previously inaccessible before the arrival of the railway. Magnus Halt was not an original BCDR station, though it is located at the site of the BCDR's Ardglass Junction.
- Inch Abbey Halt is the current terminus of the North Line. It has two platforms and serves the ruins of Inch Abbey. The station was not part of the BCDR, as it is located on a short deviation away from the original trackbed.
Buildings & Structures
- Downpatrick Station Building was originally the town's Gas Manager's House, sited across the road from the DCDR and moved over brick-by-brick.
- Downpatrick Signal Cabin, a BNCR structure, was moved brick-by-brick from Kingsbog Junction on the Belfast–Derry line.
- Downpatrick East Signal Cabin, a GNR structure, was originally Bundoran Junction's North Cabin. It was moved to DCDR in 2011 and opened to the public in 2017.
- Downpatrick Locomotive Shed, a BNCR structure, was moved stone-by-stone from Maghera where it was originally the goods shed.
- Downpatrick Station Canopy was originally attached to the Maghera Shed.
- Downpatrick Water Tower was moved from Antrim station.
- The Arch, which spans the main gate, bears the name of the railway and is based on an original design at Cookstown.
- Bridges 163 & 164 are original BCDR bridges, and carry the Back and South lines respectively across a narrow stream.
- Downpatrick Loop Platform and Canopy are the only BCDR buildings left in Downpatrick.
- The Cutting is just beyond the limit of passenger operations on the South Line. It carries trains up a slight gradient, with vertical retaining walls on either side.
- The Quoile Bridge is the longest bridge on the DCDR. It carries the North Line over the River Quoile, and though the spans are newly fabricated, the concrete centre pier is original.
Carriage Gallery
The Carriage Gallery was officially opened by the Earl Of Wessex in 2014.
Rolling Stock
Overview
The railway hosts three steam locomotives, eight diesel locomotives, seven diesel railcar sets, twenty-four carriages, thirty-four wagons and two permanent way vehicles, making for a total of seventy-seven railway vehicles. If the railcar constituent coaches are considered as individual carriages, the total is eighty-one vehicles.At present O&Ks No.'s 1 and 3 are the operational steam locomotives.1875-built 0-6-0 tank engine, GSWR No.90, which was delivered to Downpatrick on Sunday 30 September 2007 after overhaul at the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's workshops in Whitehead, Co Antrim, is Ireland's oldest operational steam engine. Two E Class diesels, No.'s E421 and E432, were acquired in 1986, with E421 working the Society's first passenger trains. However, the E Class could not start from cold and to this end, three G Class diesels arrived at the railway to facilitate shunting and works trains- One of which was donated to the society after a member purchased it from Westrail, and two of which are on long-term loan from the Irish Traction Group. The ITG also loans three mainline diesels to the railway- These are CIÉ A class No.A39R, 141 class No. 146 and 201 Class No. C231..
There are three main rakes of carriages. The passenger set is used on most running days, and consists of CIÉ 3223, UTA 728, and CIÉ 1944. On special days, the 'vintage set' is used, consisting of BCDR No.'s 72 and 148, and GSWR 836. The buffet set is parked in a platform on running days but publicly accessible, and before it was replaced by a converted 450 class railcar, consisted of CIÉ carriages 3189, 2419, 1918 and 2978. The carriage fleet is considerably varied, with a mix of six-wheeled and bogie carriages, and representatives from virtually every time period and Irish gauge railway company- Including the BCDR, GNR, GSWR, GSR, UTA, NIR, CIÉ, and most significantly, the Ulster Railway, which is represented by No. 33, the sole surviving UR vehicle and Ulster's oldest carriage. Other notable carriages are BCDR Railmotor No. 72 and Royal Saloon No. 153, both of Ireland's extant Travelling Post Offices and the last AEC railcar. Two carriages, GSWR No.'s 1097 and 1287, arrived at the railway in the mid-2000s on loan from RPSI, though ownership was later transferred to DCDR.
The DCDR also has a large selection of wagons, goods vans and underframes. Ex-NCC brake van No. 33 was the railway's first passenger-carrying vehicle. Included in the railway's wagon fleet is the most powerful steam crane in Ireland, NCC No. 3084.
The railway has also been donated several items of stock by Iarnród Éireann, such as Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway Railcar B, built in 1947. This railcar arrived in poor condition and it will be some time before the DCDR can return it to operational condition. Prototype BR-Leyland Railbuses, RB3, which was modified in the early 1980s to run on Irish metals and was used for a period by Northern Ireland Railways, was acquired by DCDR in 2001, with the hope of using it to run midweek trains as it did not require as large a crew as locomotive-hauled trains. However, due to several faults inherent with the prototype Railbus' design, this did not come to fruition. Three more ex-NIR railcars are owned by DCDR, encompassing the last 450 Class, 458
Stock Lists
| Number | Type | Original Operator | Arrived At DCDR | Current Status | Photo | Notes |
| 39 | Six-Wheeler | BCDR | 1987 | In Carriage Gallery, awaiting overhaul | Third Brake - on temporary underframe | |
| 72 | Bogie | BCDR | 1985 | On display in Carriage Gallery. Part of 'vintage set', used for special events. | Originally railmotor; later converted to autocoach | |
| 148 | Bogie | BCDR | 1987 | On display in Carriage Gallery. Part of 'vintage set', used for special events. | Includes half of carriage BCDR No. 152 | |
| 153 | Bogie | BCDR | 1987 | In Carriage Gallery, Awaiting Overhaul | Royal Saloon: carried at least 3 British Monarchs; on temporary underframe. Acquired 1984 before DCDR had its own land- Stored at RAF Bishopscourt until 1987. | |
| 154 | Six-Wheeler | BCDR | 1984 | In Carriage Gallery, Awaiting Overhaul | Second - on temporary underframe | |
| 638a | Four-wheelr | CIÉ | 2019 | Undergoing assessment | Arrived at DCDR 05/03/2019. | |
| 1918 | Bogie | CIÉ | 1988 | In use as part of Winter buffet set | Laminate Brake | |
| 1944 | Bogie | CIÉ | 1995 | Operational | Park Royal. Returned to traffic 24/11/2018 after a 20-year overhaul. Part of running set. | |
| 2419 | Bogie | CIÉ | 1988 | In use as part of Winter buffet set | Buffet Carriage | |
| 2977 | Bogie | CIÉ | 2017 | On display inside the Carriage Gallery | Travelling Post Office, owned by An Post. | |
| 2978 | Bogie | CIÉ | 1995 | Used as Grotto Carriage at Halloween & Christmas | Travelling Post Office owned by An Post | |
| 3223 | Bogie | CIÉ | 1988 | Operational | Laminate - Brake Generator Second. Part of running set. | |
| 6111 | Bogie | CIÉ | 2015 | Awaiting Overhaul | Former AEC railcar 2624, converted to push-pull driving trailer in 1974. | |
| Unknown | Six-Wheeler | GNR | 1993 | Awaiting Overhaul | Third - on temporary underframe | |
| 33 | Unknown | Ulster Railway | 1986 | In Carriage Gallery, undergoing remedial work. | Only surviving stock from UR; on temporary underframe. Third oldest carriage in Ireland. | |
| 25 | Six-Wheeler | MGWR | 2006 | In Carriage Gallery, Awaiting Overhaul | - | |
| 53 | Six-Wheeler | MGWR | 2006 | In Workshops, awaiting overhaul | - | |
| 69 | Six-Wheeler | GSWR | 1992 | Undergoing Overhaul | Converted from Full Brake to Brake First Saloon; Privately Owned | |
| 836 | Bogie | GSWR | 1986 | On display in Carriage Gallery. Part of 'vintage set', used for special events. | - | |
| 1097 | Bogie | GSWR | 2005 | Stored | Originally on loan from RPSI, ownership later transferred. | |
| 1287 | Bogie | GSWR | 2004 | In use as a 'Tarry' | Originally on loan from RPSI, ownership later transferred. | |
| 728 | Bogie | UTA | 1991 | Operational | Ex-MPD driving trailer; later 70 Class Intermediate. Part of running set. | |
| 8918 | Bogie | BR | 2014 | In use as part of Spring/Summer buffet set | Ex-BR DBSO 9712, later came to NIR but was never used in service. Used as translator wagon between 458 and 146 for buffet train. | |
| 3189 | Bogie | BR | 2007 | In use as part of Winter buffet set | Ex-BR MK I Brake Third - Converted by CIÉ to Generator Coach |
| Number | Type | Original Operator | Arrived At DCDR | Current Status | Photo | Notes |
| 1536 | Tanker | Private Owner | 1999 | Not In Use | - | |
| 18885 | Goods Van | CIÉ | Used for storage | Contains Generator - known as Roaring Meg | - | |
| 27756 | Container Flat | CIÉ | 2017 | In use | Carries a spare English Electric 4SRKT engine | |
| 8452 | Plough/Brake Van | GSWR | 1990 | Used for storage | - | |
| 8314 | Ballast Hopper | GSWR | 1986 | Used for Ballast Trains | - | |
| 8411 | Ballast Hopper | GSWR | 1986 | Used for Ballast Trains | - | |
| C496 | Ballast Hopper | NIR | Used for Ballast Trains | - | - | |
| Unknown | Goods Van | BCDR | 2013 | Awaiting Overhaul | Body Only | |
| Unknown | Cement Van | GNR | 1998 | Stored | Disassembled, in 'kit' form | |
| C505 | Flat | NCC | In Use | - | - | |
| 713 | Flat | NCC |
| In Use | Former 70 Class Driving Trailer; body destroyed by arson in 2002 | |
| C604 | Container Flat | NCC | In Use | Brown Van underframe; Carries BCDR Van | - | |
| Unknown | Bridge Wagon | BCDR | Awaiting Overhaul | 1 of 3 Bridge Wagons | - | |
| Unknown | Bridge Wagon | BCDR | Awaiting Overhaul | 1 of 3 Bridge Wagons | - | |
| Unknown | Bridge Wagon | BCDR | Awaiting Overhaul | 1 of 3 Bridge Wagons | - | |
| C378 | Open Wagon | Courtaulds | 1987 | Not In Use | - | |
| 33 | Brake Van | NCC | 1987 | Not In Use | Used in the lifting of the Portadown - Derry/Londonderry line | |
| 619 | Underframe | GNR | 1987 | In Use | Carries BCDR Royal Saloon No. 153. | |
| Unknown | Underframe | GSWR | In Use | Carries UR No. 33. Former horsebox. | - | |
| C??? | Container Flat | NCC | Not In Use | Brown Van underframe one of 599-608 series | - | |
| 3084 | Steam Crane | NCC | 1994 | Not In Use | Consists of Crane, Water Wagon & Jib Wagon; built 1931. Originally self-propelled; now the largest in Ireland. | |
| 667 | Goods Van | NCC | 1987 | Not In Use | Brown Van | |
| 674 | Goods Van | NCC | 1987 | Not In Use | Brown Van | |
| 687 | Goods Van | NCC | 1987 | Not In Use | Brown Van | |
| 688 | Goods Van | NCC | 1987 | Not In Use | Brown Van | |
| Unknown | Underframe | BNM | 1999 | PW Use | Regauged 4w underframe. Named | |
| Unknown | Underframe | BNM | 1999 | In use | - | Carries the detached conveyor belt from NIR Ballast Regulator No. 315 |
| C32 | Open Wagon | UTA | 1985 | Not In Use | Pyramid ends | |
| 935 | Underframe | WLWR | In Use | Carries BCDR No. 154 | - | |
| Unknown | Underframe | GSWR | In Use | Carries BCDR No. 39 | - | |
| 1110 | Underframe | GSWR | 2000 | In Use | Carries BCDR No. 148 | |
| 13M | Underframe | MGWR | In Use | Carries GNR 6w | - |
| Number | Original Operator | Arrived At DCDR | Current Status | Photo | Notes |
| 7 | NIR | 2008 | Operational | Type 7 Tamper | |
| 315 | NIR | Operational | USP3000C Ballast Regulator | - |
| Number | Type | Arrived At DCDR | Left DCDR | Fate | Reason | Notes |
| 3BG | Steam Locomotive | 1989 | 2001 | Returned to Whitehead | Loan expired | Loaned to DCDR from RPSI |
| 3 | Steam Locomotive | 2005 | 2012 | Returned to Whitehead | Loan expired | Loaned to DCDR from RPSI |
| Daewoo | Road-Rail Excavator | 2008 | 2013 | Sold to Pakistan | Surplus to requirements | - |
| JCB | Backhoe Excavator | 1990 | 2009 | Sold | Life-Expired | - |
| 47M | Six-Wheeled Carriage | Unknown | 2007 | Scrapped | Roof collapse | - |
| 713 | 70 Class Driving Trailer | 1991 | 2002 | Destroyed | Arson | Underframe survives as a flat wagon- See above table |
| 448 | GNR Carriage | Unknown | 2006 | Scrapped | Beyond repair | Only half of the coach body |
| 2053 | GNR Brake Van | Unknown | 2002 | Destroyed | Arson | - |
| Unknown | Tank Wagon | Unknown | Unknown | Scrapped | Unknown | - |
| Unknown | GNR Goods Van | Unknown | 2015 | Destroyed | Destroyed by a storm | Grounded body |
| Unknown | Flat Wagon | Unknown | N/a | Cut into sections | Re-use of materials | Sections stored in Downpatrick yard |
Awards
- National Railway Heritage Awards: Ian Allan Railway Heritage Award : Received in 1992 in recognition of Downpatrick Station Building.
- Northern Ireland Tourist Board and British Airways Tourism Awards : Received for 'Best Project', December 1999.
- Heritage Railway Association Carriage and Wagon Award : Received in 1999 in recognition of GSWR carriage No. 836.
- Down District Council Tourism Heroes Award: Received in May 2008.
- Co-operation Ireland Pride Of Place Award: Received in November 2012.
- Heritage Railway Association Annual Small Groups Award: Received in 2014 in recognition of its involvement of young people and its excellent building and museum development.
- Heritage Railway Association Carriage and Wagon Award: Received in 2019 in recognition of the restoration of BCDR railmotor No. 72.
- Ulster Architectural Heritage Society Heritage Angel Awards : Received in October 2019 in recognition of the restoration of Bundoran Junction North signal cabin.
- National Railway Heritage Awards: Abellio Signalling Award : Received in December 2019 in recognition of the restoration of Bundoran Junction North signal cabin.
Television & Film Appearances
- Children in Need Quiet Man Spoof
- Puckoon
- Flight to Freedom
- Rain
- A Potted History of Armagh
- Raising Steam, a 40-minute documentary of which the DCDR was the subject
- Our Wee World
- Christopher and His Kind, starring Matt Smith
- Walk the Line
- The Lost City of Z, starring Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland
- The Woman in White
- The Last Letter
- Mrs Wilson
- Agatha and the Truth of Murder
- , starring Chris Tarrant