The very beginning
Gerry Cochrane, Bill Gillespie and Eddie McGrady meet to discuss gem of idea to rebuild the Downpatrick to Ardglass railway.
First Halloween trains
The railway runs its first ever Halloween ghost trains – long before other railway groups in Ireland did!
First G class arrives
Deutz diesel locomotive G613 is hired from Westrail and arrives on-site.
Royal Saloon arrives
The Royal Saloon carriage body is moved from RAF Bishopscourt to Downpatrick, and is mounted on an ex-GNR ‘P’ van underframe.
First signals arrive
Our first signals, a BCDR bracket starting signal from Bangor station, are acquired from Northern Ireland Railways following modernisation of the Bangor line.
First train arrives at the Loop Platform
The first train for 38 years runs from Downpatrick to the Loop Platform. It consisted of diesel locomotive E421, a 3-plank wagon and the NCC brake van.
More stock arrives
GSWR carriage 836, two ballast wagons plus salvaged E class spares are moved from Mullingar to Downpatrick.
First steam locomotive arrives
Ex-Guinness steam locomotive No. 3 BG arrives from Whitehead, but would require lengthy restoration work before entering traffic.
Tracklaying begins
The tracklaying project gets underway, with rails returning to Downpatrick for the first time in 35 years.
A busy month
The ‘Tin shed’ is completed with help from Newcastle Tech students. Ulster Railway carriage 33 body is acquired through generosity of Ken Beattie. We receive approval from the South Eastern Education and Library Board for acquisition of the town’s gas manager’s house, which was to become our new railway station building. A […]