Fire risk means diesel stands in for steam!

Fire risk means diesel stands in for steam!

Like many heritage railway operators across the UK & Ireland, due to the continued fire risk caused by the very hot and dry weather, we have to run diesel trains instead of steam to reduce the risk of us starting fires.

The weather has been so dry and hot, there’s a high risk of any spark from a steam locomotive setting the grass alight and causing a serious fire, so we have swapped the steam engine for a diesel one this weekend again, for Sunday 8th July.

Remember to check our opening dates before you travel to Downpatrick – we aren’t open this Saturday, but we are open every Saturday and Sunday from the 14th of July through to the end of our summer season. You can see the dates here.

As well as the fun of a 1960s diesel locomotive at the front of your train, all the usual attractions will be open – you can read more about this here.  And a cab ride in the diesel loco is a great treat for the Big Kid in all of us. You can now book cab experiences online right now via our ticket office.