Gerry Cochrane and fellow founder W.F. Gillespie OBE, flick through a copy of Gerry’s autobiography
The founder of the Downpatrick & County Down Railway celebrated the publishing of his, in effect, autobiography of his time building the DCDR.
This book is not an “official” history of the DCDR, but a personal recollection of the events and people that helped shaped Ireland’s only full-sized heritage line, and how Gerry’s determination succeeded when other schemes thoughout Northern Ireland came to nothing.
This is a book about a dream – a dream that started with one man in 1982. Between these covers, Gerry Cochrane describes how his idea of restoring the railways in the Downpatrick area was gradually turned into reality, with the hard work of the many volunteers who, over the years, caught the vision and, with the backing of Down District Council, now operate one of Downpatrick’s major tourist attractions.
It is a story of perseverance in the face of adversity, of disappointments and successes and, for the first time, it is detailed here and illustrated with over 130 pictures.The launch on Saturday consisted of short speeches from current railway Chairman, Michael Collins, followed by W.F. Gillespie, publisher Norman Johnston of Colourpoint books, and newly elected Down District Chairman, William Dick, as well as the author himself. After the formalities, the steam train was taken out to Inch Abbey for refreshments.