The launch of "The Belfast and County Down Railway, An Irish Railway Pictorial" by Desmond Coakham and published by Midland Publishing, was held at the Downpatrick Railway Museum on Saturday 20th March. Author Desmond Coakham, a retired architect, was a regular commuter on the Bangor line of the old BCDR. as a young man. His book is based on detailed research as well as personal experience.

A wonderful evocation of the B.C.D.R. network, illustrated with over 250 photographs, the book covers not only the main line from Queen's Quay Station in Belfast to the seaside resort of Newcastle, but also the branches to Ballynahinch, Ardglass, Donaghadee and Bangor. The Bangor branch was the only part of the B.C.D.R. to escape closure and is still operated by N.I.R.

The Downpatrick Railway Museum, the base for Ireland's only preserved standard gauge railway and the only part of the former Belfast and County Down Railway main line from Belfast to Newcastle which still sees trains, the rest having closed in 1950, was surely the most appropriate venue for this book launch.

The day began with a talk given by author Desmond Coakham at 2.30 p.m. to an invited audience, consisting of members of the Downpatrick Railway Society, Down District Councillors, the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and other railway organisations from throughout Northern Ireland.

Mr. Coakham, introduced by Mr. WF Gillespie OBE, a founder member of the Railway Museum, then presented a talk entitled "Downpatrick and the BCDR" which examined the construction of the BCDR main line from Belfast to Downpatrick and the subsequent expansion to Newcastle and Ardglass. Several interesting points were noted, particularly the fact that while the station building in the town was under construction that a temporary terminus was erected on approximately the same site that the Railway Museum's station now occupies. Another interesting topic of the talk was a detailed description of the construction of the original Quoile Bridge in 1859 and its subsequent replacement in 1929. This was particularly apt in view of the recent reconstruction of the bridge this January by the Railway Museum.

Mr. Gillespie thanked Mr. Coakham on behalf of the Downpatrick Railway Museum for the highly enjoyable afternoon. With the talk concluded the party proceeded to the Loop Platform by train, where Mr. Coakham signed copies of his book in the appropriate setting of a railway carriage sitting on former BCDR tracks. Doors then opened to the public at 3.30 p.m. with free train rides out to the Loop Platform.

Midland Publishing's full range of books and videos on the railways of Ireland were on sale along with this book and Tom Ferris, the well known author and historian of Ireland's railways and a director of Midland Publishing also signed books and talked with those attending. The day concluded at 5.30 p.m. with everyone, from the dedicated railway enthusiast to those with just a passing interest having really enjoyable and successful day.

The book, priced £12.99, is available in the shop in the railway station in Downpatrick.. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy should contact Mr. Jim Perry, Commercial Manager.

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