Gerry Cochrane establishes a campaign to build a heritage railway in Downpatrick, with the initial meeting held in Denvir’s Hotel. Approval was obtained in principle from Down District Council.
Our famous ‘Yard of track’ campaign starts. With IDB assistance, 300 applications from Japanese TV viewers raise £7,500, a massive sum of money for the fledgling railway.
The Downpatrick & Ardglass Railway Company Ltd. (DAR) is established at a meeting on 2nd August. The first board was Robert Edwards, William Gillespie, Ciaran McAteer, P Forde, Jim Perry and Gerry Cochrane.
The ‘Tin shed’ is completed with help from Newcastle Tech students.
Ulster Railway carriage 33 body is acquired through generosity of Ken Beattie.
We receive approval from the South Eastern Education and Library Board for acquisition of the town’s gas manager’s house, which was to become our new railway station building.
A deputation visits Mullingar and Inchicore to arrange for purchase of ex-GSWR carriage 836 and GSWR ballast wagons.
The tracklaying project gets underway, with rails returning to Downpatrick for the first time in 35 years.
Railway purchases its first locomotive, diesel E421, from CIÉ, funded by our late President William Gillespie OBE, in November. E432 would arrive later, primarily as a source of spare parts.
Ex-Guinness steam locomotive No. 3 BG arrives from Whitehead, but would require lengthy restoration work before entering traffic.
Two ex-O&K steam locomotives, built originally for Cómhlucht Siúicre Eireann and abandoned in a field near Ballynahinch, are purchased by the railway and arrive at Downpatrick.
GSWR carriage 836, two ballast wagons plus salvaged E class spares are moved from Mullingar to Downpatrick.
The Royal Saloon carriage body is moved from RAF Bishopscourt to Downpatrick, and is mounted on an ex-GNR ‘P’ van underframe.
Deutz diesel locomotive G613 is hired from Westrail and arrives on-site.
The Guinness steam locomotive, No 3 BG, completes the bulk of its overhaul and steams for the first time following a full restoration at Downpatrick, led by Robert Edwards.