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.
The official opening of our new station building – the original town gaswork’s manager’s house – is held on 7th May. In true railway style, a banquet is held (in the work shed!), with Lord Dunleath presiding over the ceremony.
The railway acquires the former King’s Bog signal cabin, near Ballyclare, from Northern Ireland Railways. It is dismantled brick by brick and transported to Downpatrick to be rebuilt.
We acquire withdrawn 70 class trailer 728 and driving trailer 713 from Northern Ireland Railways.
The former LMS NCC steam crane arrives from Northern Ireland Railways.
Diesel locomotive G617 arrives, the first Irish Traction Group loco to be loaned to Downpatrick.
Park Royal carriage 1944 and Travelling Post Office 2978 arrive from Iarnród Éireann.
The arrival of G class loco G611 from the Irish Traction Group brings the total number of G class locos to three!
Work to extend the South Line towards Ballydugan reaches the ‘cutting’.
The railway starts its first website – at the forefront of modern technology!
O&K steam locomotive No. 3 returns following overhaul at Whitehead.
Our North Line to Inch Abbey, along with Inch Abbey Station itself, opens after a lengthy construction project.
BBC Northern Ireland broadcasts a 40 minute documentary about the restoration and running of our railway.
BCDR Railmotor 72 successfully completes test runs, operating push/pull with O&K No.1.
A ceremony is held to mark the completion of the ex-Bundoran Jct signal cabin, now installed at the end of our Downpatrick station platform and officially named Downpatrick East Cabin.
The two 80 class railcars, 69+749 and 90+752, arrive at the railway.
BCDR railmotor 72 carries paying passengers for the first time when used as part of our vintage heritage rake of carriages for European Heritage Open Days.
The railway closes to the public due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with all events cancelled and volunteering severely restricted.