New station building opens
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.
Bangor lever frame recovery
The original BCDR lever frame is recovered from Bangor signal cabin for installation at Downpatrick.
Guinness hauls first passenger train
Following fitment of a vacuum train brake, No. 3BG Guinness operates a passenger train for first time.
‘Modern’ carriage arrivals
We acquire withdrawn 70 class trailer 728 and driving trailer 713 from Northern Ireland Railways.
Railway joins major UK association
DAR joins the Association of Railway Preservation Societies, which would later become the Heritage Railway Association.
Steam in the Heart of Ulster
The railway was the focus of a BBC Radio Ulster documentary ‘Steam in the Heart of Ulster’.
Museum exhibition room named
The museum exhibition room, upstairs in the relocated station building, is named the ‘Dunleath Room’ in memory of the late Lord Henry Dunleath.
Loop Platform Canopy opened
Following a long restoration project, funded by the International Fund for Ireland, the Loop Platform canopy is officially launched – one of the few original BCDR structures surviving in the Downpatrick area.
Loop Platform receives new canopy
The Loop Platform has a new canopy installed, with assistance from the International Fund for Ireland.
Our first concrete sleepers laid
We used concrete sleepers for tracklaying for the first time. These were more difficult to handle than traditional timber sleepers, but they signal a move towards a more sustainable railway – concrete does not rot!
New loco shed is delivered
The former goods shed from Maghera on the former NCC network is dismantled carefully brick by brick and moved to Downpatrick, where it will be rebuilt as a permanent loco shed.
Two more carriages arrive
Park Royal carriage 1944 and Travelling Post Office 2978 arrive from Iarnród Éireann.
Council partnership agreement
The railway enters into a joint partnership agreement with Down District Council, in order to deliver the extensions to Ballydugan and Inch Abbey
Construction of loco shed starts
Reconstruction of the former Maghera goods shed begins. This was the former goods shed from Maghera on the former NCC network, dismantled carefully brick by brick and moved to Downpatrick, where it will become our main loco shed.
Railway enters the Internet age
The railway starts its first website – at the forefront of modern technology!
North Line tracklaying begins
The massive project to relay track on the former Belfast-bound mainline towards Inch Abbey begins.
Quoile Bridge constructed
The new Quoile Bridge is installed – with giant road cranes lifting huge girders into place.
First carriage restoration complete
Ex-GS&WR carriage 836 is launched as the first scrap-condition carriage restored at Downpatrick – it achieved runner up in the HRA carriage award category. Its first public appearance was on the Easter trains.
O&K loco restoration complete
O&K steam locomotive No. 3 returns following overhaul at Whitehead.
Inch Extension land acquired
Land for the Inch Abbey extension north of the River Quoile is acquired, the original trackbed as far as today’s Inch Curve and the land in towards Inch Abbey Road for our future railway track, station and car park.
New locomotive shed completed
Rebuilding of what we now call ‘the Maghera Shed’ is completed.
