“On the Right Track” for New Rails!
Railway volunteers at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway were celebrating a major milestone this weekend in a large scale track renewal at the town’s heritage railway station, as they take advantage of the winter break to carry out some essential work. The entire length of track that runs along the station platform has been […]
No. 3’s restoration is under way!
It’s a big day for our steam fans today – as it’s not just Flying Scotsman that needed a big overhaul, its baby Irish cousin with German parentage also needs some TLC. Our locomotive O&K No. 3’s overhaul has taken a big step forward today – as its boiler has been shipped off for major […]
Bundoran Jct Progress
Work continues apace on the Bundoran Jct Signal Cabin – or Downpatrick East, as we should maybe call it! The barge boards have gone on recently, and don’t they look well? Look our for more updates on this soon. Thanks to our friends in Heritage Lottery Fund (NI) for funding this work.
Can You Help Find This Stolen BCDR Clock?
A new appeal has been launched to find an original booking office clock stolen from the railway museum in the 1990s. When reported to the police there were no photographs of it to circulate before, however old camcorder footage at the end of a tape has now emerged of the clock and a new appeal […]
Your railway needs YOU!
Made any New Years Resolutions for 2016? How about a resolution to pick up a new hobby? The Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway is maintained and operated entirely by volunteers and we’re always on the look-out for more help. You don’t even need to be a real ‘rail-buff’ either, but if you’ve a passion for […]
Classic Carriage is Welcomed Back on Track at Heritage Railway
St. Patrick’s Day not only saw the return of Ireland’s patron saint to the town, but also saw a welcome return of a classic carriage back into service at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway. A team of 10 volunteers of all ages have taken nearly two years and 10,000 hours of work to restore […]
Bright Future for Signal Box Found in Orchard
An historic railway signal cabin that lay in an orchard for nearly 60 years is to be restored to its former glory by the Downpatrick and County Down Railway (DCDR) after securing a grant of nearly £10,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The grant has been awarded as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s new […]
DCDR Founder Named in New Years Honours
The founder of Northern Ireland’s only full-size heritage railway, the Downpatrick & County Down Railway, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours for service to railway preservation and tourism in County Down. Gerry Cochrane was born in 1935 within sight and sound of the old Belfast & County Down Railway. Since […]
Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway Pays Tribute to McGrady
The Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway has expressed its “deep sadness” on learning of the passing of Eddie McGrady on Monday evening. As a prominent figure in the area, it was Eddie McGrady that the railway’s founder, Gerry Cochrane turned to for advice and support in regards the idea of establishing a heritage railway in […]
Rare Belfast & County Down Railway Wagon “Comes Home”
A rare link back to the days when farmers loaded their produce at the local railway station to be sent to Belfast and beyond has been saved by the Downpatrick & County Down Railway. A century-old wooden railway wagon built in 1911 for the old Belfast & County Down Railway, which is thought to be […]