80 Class restoration update: windows and seats
September 2025 has seen another milestone reached in our 80 class restoration project, with substantial progress made on the fitting of the windows and their frames back into the power car (putting things back in feels so much rewarding than dismantling them). Not only that, but work has also commenced on reinstalling seating, with the […]
Help DCDR save the last cement ‘bubble’ wagon
Thanks to a generous preservationist, DCDR has been presented with the opportunity to preserve the last surviving CIÉ cement ‘bubble’ wagon, No.25199, but we need your help. As you can imagine, transporting a rail vehicle, even a small one, is not cheap, with £1700-1800 being the ballpark figure we need to raise for transport alone. […]
Carriage Restorers’ Convention 2025 takes place in Downpatrick
A wet and soggy Sunday brought our Summer Season to a close, with hundreds of visitors enjoying our final weekend as part of the European Heritage Open Days. But that wasn’t all – forget ComicCon, the DCDR hosted this year’s CarriageCon (the Carriage Restorers’ Convention), held outside Great Britain for the first time. Experts from […]
One day, three group visits
Last Saturday saw no less than three group visits to our heritage railway, along with a cavalcade of vintage vehicles, and a visiting researcher. Over the course of the day we hosted groups from the Chartered Institute of Railway Operators, the Ards Peninsula U3A, and the Ulster Vintage Commercial Vehicle Club (who even brought along […]
Whiskey Express success
Last week we ran out our very first whiskey tasting train, and we’re pleased to say that it was a raving success. We’re looking forward to hosting a similar event in the not-too-distant future, especially since so many of our volunteers are keen to try it out for themselves. Combining County Down’s distilling and railway […]
No.90 turns 150
On this day 150 years ago, 30th of August 1875, our preserved steam locomotive No. 90 entered service on the Castleisland & Gortatlea Railway in County Kerry. Since then, No. 90 has had an eventful life – from working on humble branchlines to hauling mainline steam railtours in the 1990s, the engine has become an […]
BCDR relics uncovered at Saintfield
We’re chuffed to have been asked by the Saintfield Community Association to assist in their restoration and redevelopment of Windmill Park. As part of this development the association has been uncovering relics of the old Belfast and County Down Railway, including this fantastic stone river bridge just outside Saintfield station. The association hit upon the […]
Diesel Day 2025 features a number of firsts
Our diesel gala day on Saturday 23rd August run in conjunction with the Irish Traction Group was a huge success, featuring cab rides up and down the station to start with, followed by lineside photography run-pasts and then train trips back and forth to Inch Abbey for the rest of the afternoon. The first run-past […]
80 Class restoration update: August 2025
Let there be light. There hasn’t been much progress on 80 Class 69, with preparations for our 40th Anniversary getting in the way, as well as other stuff – but what HAS happened is a bit of a milestone. For the first time since 69 came into the shed – its vestibule lights now work. […]
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 […]