Top hotelier Dr. Billy Hastings, was the special guest at Downpatrick Railway Museum last Saturday as he inaugurated into service the Museum's first ever vintage carriage. The 97-year-old coach Great Southern and Western Railway carriage has been out of action since 1966 and is now ready for passenger service after ten years of voluntary restoration work.

Dr. Hastings, who own the Slieve Donard Hotel, formerly owned by the Belfast and County Down Railway, was being awarded Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his generous donation towards the purchasing of an underframe for the Railway's "Royal Saloon" Coach, when the opportunity was taken for the inauguration.

The Royal Saloon was built in 1897, when the BCDR Board of Directors commissioned the construction of a coach of 'outstanding luxury' for use by the Duke and Duchess of York during their visit to Ireland in September 1897. Built by the Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Company, the Royal Saloon was described as the 'finest coach ever to run in Ireland'.

The coach was used again in 1903 by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra but was then placed in storage until 1923 when it was converted into the 'Golfers' Saloon'. It was used once a week on the Golfers' Express from Belfast to Newcastle each Saturday until the main line was closed in 1950. It was then used occasionally on the Bangor line and on the LMS (NCC) section until sold in 1953. It was used then as a poultry house (complete with its superb internal fixtures and fittings) until the DRM acquired it in 1984. It was stored on Bishopscourt airfield where structural restoration work began in 1986 and was later moved to Downpatrick.

It is hoped that this carriage will be restored to its former glory - detailed descriptions and photographs of the interior will make this possible. In October 1997 a generous donation by Dr. Billy Hastings of Hastings Hotel Group was made to the Museum towards the restoration of the royal coach. This donation allowed the Museum to purchase a suitable underframe for the Royal Saloon.

In recognition of his generosity, the Society Committee decided to offer Honorary Life Membership to Dr. Hastings, which he enthusiastically accepted. It is planned to hold the presentation on Saturday, 26th June. Dr. Hastings was presented with a framed membership certificate by Mr. WF Gillespie OBE, a founder member of the Downpatrick Railway Museum, and an autographed copy of "The Belfast and County Down Railway" by the author, Mr. Desmond Coakham.

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