Maghera Shed Roof Replacement – Expression of Interest
The Downpatrick and County Down Railway Society seeks Expressions of Interest from suitable contractors for the replacement roof on our Maghera Engine Shed. To request the relevant project specification and tendering documentation please email: j.noble@downrail.co.uk. Closing date for Expressions of Interest is 5pm on Friday 21st November 2025. Registered office: The Railway Station, Market Street, […]
Saturday 23rd August – SOLD OUT!
Our summer diesel event on Saturday, 23rd August, is completely sold out. Please do not travel to the railway if you do not have tickets issued by the railway. We will be unable to take any additional passengers on the day – sorry! We are running diesel locomotive A39R and the heritage carriages again for […]
Scrapping of ex-CIÉ ‘BR Van’ No. 3189
The end finally came for our ex-CIÉ BR Steam Heating Van No. 3189 on the morning of 14th May 2025. After a long service with CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann, 3189 saw out its retirement at Downpatrick from 2007, seeing service as a guard’s van, stores area and generator facility, finally retiring from service at the […]
Successful ballast hoppers and plough van tests in Downpatrick
In a first for railway preservation anywhere in Ireland, we successfully operated an authentic ‘modern’ ballast train at Downpatrick in glorious weather on Saturday 10th May. While a bit shorter than a mainline ballast train, GM loco 146, two Irish Rail hoppers and a plough van are still a genuine combination for this sort of […]
Double win for Downpatrick at the HRA awards
[Title photo: © Jack Boskett Media Ltd.] It was a huge night for our volunteers at the Heritage Railway Association’s annual awards ceremony on the evening of Saturday 8th February. We were nominated in two categories, Team of the Year and Achievement of the Year, and we won both of them! Gathered with the […]
Lapland Express – Storm Darragh weather update
An update on train cancellations and new arrangements as Storm Darragh makes travel unsafe.
Lapland Express Quiet Train
We’re running a quiet train again this year for the Lapland Express.
Minister for Infrastructure visits the railway
Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister, John O’Dowd, had the opportunity to experience the rich railway heritage from across the island of Ireland during a visit to Downpatrick and County Down Railway.
Jonathan King wins prestigious HRA award
DCDR’s Jonathan King wins prestigious HRA Young Volunteer of the Year Award
Generous support from Gwilli Railway
A big thank you to Jonathan and Samuel Turner from the Gwili Steam Railway in Wales, who saw the devastation that the flooding had on the news and had a whip-round around their volunteers for our Flood Relief Appeal. Jonathan travelled over to Northern Ireland to personally present the cheque to vice-chairman Mike Beckett and […]