A Summer of Steam
If you’ve ever taken a walk or a cycle along the Comber Greenway or Dundrum Coastal path, you might know it was a former railway line – but have you ever wondered where it went to? It was, in fact the main line from Belfast to Newcastle via Downpatrick. And over the last thirty years […]
Summer Steam and Diesel Trains
Downpatrick & County Down Railway’s summer season starts on Saturday 17th June this year, and runs every Saturday and Sunday through to September 10th. With a choice of steam or diesel trains depending on which date you visit, there’s something for everyone from the die-hard enthusiast to the family looking for a fun day out. […]
Signal Cabin opens to the public
An historic railway signal cabin that lay in an orchard for nearly 60 years has been restored to its former glory by the Downpatrick and County Down Railway (DCDR) with the help of a £9,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. In its working life, the cabin used to control the north end of the […]
Railway Memorabilia Returns Home
The volunteers of the Downpatrick & County Down Railway are celebrating after a little piece of local railway heritage comes home nearly 70 years after the original line closed. But what is that metal disc that our Chief Civil Engineer David Crone is holding? DCDR curator Neil Hamilton explained “We managed to win this original […]
Spring Bank Holiday Trains
We’re running steam trains on Monday, 29th May for the Late Spring Bank Holiday. If you’re looking for a great way to spend the afternoon, come rain or shine our steam train will be running and can give you and the kids the experience of train travel as it used to be. All our usual facilities will […]
Trains Back for May Day
For railway buffs of all ages looking for a day out, there’s another chance to catch the steam train at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway on this year’s May Days, Monday 1st May and 29th May. Coming straight after the popular ‘Easter Eggspress’ trains, railway chairman Robert Gardiner says the May Day bank holiday […]
Hop Aboard the Easter Eggspress!
There’ll be eggs-travagant fun at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway with eggs galore on this year’s Easter Eggspress, running over the Easter weekend. The bunnies are already hopping the rails at the local heritage railway, and the Easter Eggspress is a unique and special treat for kids and a great way to say ‘Happy […]
‘Festival Express’ Headboard Acquired for DCDR
We were delighted to be offered this gem recently – the original headboard carried on the named UTA Express Train “The Festival”, which ran between Belfast & Derry~Londonderry. The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition held throughout the United Kingdom in the summer of 1951, organised to give the post-war country a feeling of […]
Shamrock Steam on St Patrick’s Day
With car parking at a premium in the St. Patrick’s Carnival, the Downpatrick & County Down Railway will be offering a ‘rail’ alternative to carnival goers with some St. Patrick’s Day ‘Shamrock Steam.’ In conjunction with Newry, Mourne & Down District Council, the railway will be offering a Park’n’Ride service on the north side of the town […]
St Patrick’s Events 2017
Newry Mourne and Down District Council are pushing the boat out – literally – for St Patrick’s Day this year, with a whole series of exciting events that run from 3rd to 19th March. We are taking part in two of these events. St Patrick’s Landing, Sunday, 12th March: There is a host of interactive […]