Our trains on Saturday 23rd August are SOLD OUT. Do not travel to the railway unless you have booked train tickets.

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Timeline – 2000s

In this section:
An overview of the history of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway from our founding to the present day.
2000
June
Road vs Rail book launch
Mike Collins’ first book ‘Rail vs Road’ is launched at Downpatrick.
August
O&K No. 3 returns to steam

Our ‘sugarpuff’ steam locomotive, O&K No. 3, returns to service after overhaul.

August
First trains cross the River Quoile

The first trains cross the River Quoile since 1950 with the completion of the bridge and trackwork beyond it.

The railway has yet to get to Inch Abbey, so passengers for the first Magnus Barelegs Festival alight at a temporary platform beyond the bridge and travel by vintage bus to Inch Abbey.

December
Our first film contract

The railway gets its first proper filming contract, for railway scenes in the Spike Milligan film ‘Puckoon’.

2002
December
Station destroyed by fire

On Boxing Day, the railway station us gutted by an arson attack, which also destroyed a 1920s carriage.

2003
September
Station reopens

After extensive rebuilding work, the station is reopened following the fire.

2004
May
Twinning with the Lartigue Monorail and Museum
The first of a series of events are held to mark our twinning with the Listowel railway museum, with a Murder Mystery night!
September
Inch Abbey station opens
Inch Abbey station opens

Our North Line to Inch Abbey, along with Inch Abbey Station itself, opens after a lengthy construction project.

2005
April
The new Company is formed
The Downpatrick & Ardglass Railway and the Downpatrick Railway Society formally merge to form a new company, the Downpatrick & County Down Railway Society Ltd.
November
Carriage 1097 arrives

Ex-GSWR carriage No. 1097 arrives at Downpatrick. The carriage is used in passenger service for the first time on Christmas trains a few weeks later.

2006
June
Harvey arrives

Steam locomotive LP&HC, No. 3, is loaned to DCDR for six years of passenger service.

2007
January
Railmotor restoration starts
Railmotor restoration starts

The BCDR Railmotor carriage, No. 72, moves into the workshop for a long restoration process to start.

August
BCDR carriage restoration complete
BCDR carriage restoration complete
BCDR carriage No.148’s restoration is complete.
October
GSWR No. 90 arrives
GSWR No. 90 arrives

GSWR steam locomotive No. 90 arrives in Downpatrick, in a move facilitated by Irish Rail.

November
Museum accreditation

Downpatrick & County Down Railway becomes an accredited museum.

2008
January
Raising Steam is broadcast
Raising Steam is broadcast

BBC Northern Ireland broadcasts a 40 minute documentary about the restoration and running of our railway.

You can watch the programme here.

May
Tourism Heroes award
Tourism Heroes award
DCDR volunteer Ian Davis wins Down District Council’s Tourism Heroes award.
October
No. 90’s official launch

GSWR Steam locomotive No. 90 was officially launched at a ceremony at Downpatrick by Dick Fearn, the chief executive of Iarnród Éireann.

2009
March
150 years of railways in Downpatrick
We celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Belfast & County Down Railway reaching Downpatrick with a gala dinner in the Slieve Donard Hotel.
June
‘Back in Steam’ launched

Our founder, Gerry Cochrane, launches his book – the definitive story of the restoration of the railway – in a ceremony at our station in Downpatrick.

November
A39 arrives

The Irish Traction Group’s A39, our largest diesel loco to date, arrives at Downpatrick.