Downpatrick & County Down Railway
@downrail.bsky.social
Ireland's only standard gauge heritage railway, north or south, running through Saint Patrick's Country.
For this #ThrowbackThursday we’re looking back fifteen years ago today, when our second “Big Diesel”, 146, took its first trundle under its own power at Downpatrick. We genuinely couldn’t imagine the place without the Irish Traction Group's 146.
December 11, 2025 at 6:56 PM
For this #ThrowbackThursday we’re looking back fifteen years ago today, when our second “Big Diesel”, 146, took its first trundle under its own power at Downpatrick. We genuinely couldn’t imagine the place without the Irish Traction Group's 146.
This Saturday 13 December, you have the chance to win £500; £300 or £150 with a consolation prize of a free 1-year family pass ticket to the railway, when we announce the winners of our 2025 grand draw.
There is still time to purchase tickets for our grand draw, email [email protected].
There is still time to purchase tickets for our grand draw, email [email protected].
December 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM
This Saturday 13 December, you have the chance to win £500; £300 or £150 with a consolation prize of a free 1-year family pass ticket to the railway, when we announce the winners of our 2025 grand draw.
There is still time to purchase tickets for our grand draw, email [email protected].
There is still time to purchase tickets for our grand draw, email [email protected].
Searching for a Christmas gift for the train fan in your life, young or old? We've been stocking up the station with a range of gifts, including these adorable railway teddies, 450 class mugs and brand new enamel badges depicting the our railway's crest.
All available here: downrail.myshopify.com
All available here: downrail.myshopify.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Searching for a Christmas gift for the train fan in your life, young or old? We've been stocking up the station with a range of gifts, including these adorable railway teddies, 450 class mugs and brand new enamel badges depicting the our railway's crest.
All available here: downrail.myshopify.com
All available here: downrail.myshopify.com
For this #ThrowbackThursday we have a PB Whitehouse photo of BCDR No. 15 at Newcastle shed, probably taken around 1910. A very proud driver and fireman can be seen standing on the footplate and next to the loco, as well as a signaller in the signal cabin window.
November 27, 2025 at 10:21 PM
For this #ThrowbackThursday we have a PB Whitehouse photo of BCDR No. 15 at Newcastle shed, probably taken around 1910. A very proud driver and fireman can be seen standing on the footplate and next to the loco, as well as a signaller in the signal cabin window.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....!
The centrepiece of our station display is once again a lovely real Christmas tree from Killyneeny Christmas Trees, expertly decorated by the wonderful Kathryn, our admin manager who keeps us all on the straight and narrow.
The centrepiece of our station display is once again a lovely real Christmas tree from Killyneeny Christmas Trees, expertly decorated by the wonderful Kathryn, our admin manager who keeps us all on the straight and narrow.
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....!
The centrepiece of our station display is once again a lovely real Christmas tree from Killyneeny Christmas Trees, expertly decorated by the wonderful Kathryn, our admin manager who keeps us all on the straight and narrow.
The centrepiece of our station display is once again a lovely real Christmas tree from Killyneeny Christmas Trees, expertly decorated by the wonderful Kathryn, our admin manager who keeps us all on the straight and narrow.
A lot of people have asked about enamel badges of our logo – you can buy them now on our online shop:
downrail.myshopify.com/products/dcd...
downrail.myshopify.com/products/dcd...
DCDR Enamel Badge
High-quality enamel badge depicting the DCDR logo. Each badge measures approximately 2.8cm x 3cm.
downrail.myshopify.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
A lot of people have asked about enamel badges of our logo – you can buy them now on our online shop:
downrail.myshopify.com/products/dcd...
downrail.myshopify.com/products/dcd...
Thankfully the water didn’t rise any further this time, and by Monday morning it was receding again - good news for us and the wider Downpatrick community, we got lucky this time.
November 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Thankfully the water didn’t rise any further this time, and by Monday morning it was receding again - good news for us and the wider Downpatrick community, we got lucky this time.
By the afternoon, still unsure of what was to come in the following days, we took the decision to move rolling stock that was at the lowest part of our yard up into the station, where it would be above 2023 peak flood levels. You just can’t take chances when faced with this sort of situation.
November 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
By the afternoon, still unsure of what was to come in the following days, we took the decision to move rolling stock that was at the lowest part of our yard up into the station, where it would be above 2023 peak flood levels. You just can’t take chances when faced with this sort of situation.
By Saturday morning there wasn’t much change, the weekend volunteers needed a bit of courage to get their cars in through the floodwater in the public car park.
November 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
By Saturday morning there wasn’t much change, the weekend volunteers needed a bit of courage to get their cars in through the floodwater in the public car park.
By Friday, we had water levels rising in the marshland behind the railway and rising in the yard behind the carriage gallery, with stepping stones needed to get into the ‘tarry’ carriage where the volunteers eat lunch and get changed. We watched CCTV anxiously to see how it looked at high tide.
November 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
By Friday, we had water levels rising in the marshland behind the railway and rising in the yard behind the carriage gallery, with stepping stones needed to get into the ‘tarry’ carriage where the volunteers eat lunch and get changed. We watched CCTV anxiously to see how it looked at high tide.
Following sustained heavy rain in the area, water was already starting to rise in the locomotive yard where our volunteers were replacing point timbers on Wednesday. They dug down to the bottom of the sleeper level and it was getting pretty damp.
November 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Following sustained heavy rain in the area, water was already starting to rise in the locomotive yard where our volunteers were replacing point timbers on Wednesday. They dug down to the bottom of the sleeper level and it was getting pretty damp.
It was a tense weekend for all of us at the railway, with rising floodwaters lapping at our tracks and seeping into our station yard again. Memories of 2023’s devastation are still raw, indeed we are still trying to build back from some aspects of that event just over two years ago.
November 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
It was a tense weekend for all of us at the railway, with rising floodwaters lapping at our tracks and seeping into our station yard again. Memories of 2023’s devastation are still raw, indeed we are still trying to build back from some aspects of that event just over two years ago.
ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT ON THE LAPLAND EXPRESS
With just two weeks to go, we have only a few places left on our Lapland Express trains. We expect these to sell out very soon so you haven't booked already, we strongly advise you to do so now to avoid disappointment.
www.downrail.co.uk/event/santa/
With just two weeks to go, we have only a few places left on our Lapland Express trains. We expect these to sell out very soon so you haven't booked already, we strongly advise you to do so now to avoid disappointment.
www.downrail.co.uk/event/santa/
November 15, 2025 at 11:37 AM
ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT ON THE LAPLAND EXPRESS
With just two weeks to go, we have only a few places left on our Lapland Express trains. We expect these to sell out very soon so you haven't booked already, we strongly advise you to do so now to avoid disappointment.
www.downrail.co.uk/event/santa/
With just two weeks to go, we have only a few places left on our Lapland Express trains. We expect these to sell out very soon so you haven't booked already, we strongly advise you to do so now to avoid disappointment.
www.downrail.co.uk/event/santa/
We are seeking expressions of interest for the replacement of the roof on our locomotive shed.
www.downrail.co.uk/2025/11/magh...
www.downrail.co.uk/2025/11/magh...
Maghera Shed Roof Replacement - Expression of Interest - Downpatrick and County Down Railway
The Downpatrick and County Down Railway Society seeks Expressions of Interest from suitable contractors for the replacement roof on our Maghera Engine Shed.
www.downrail.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 11:10 PM
We are seeking expressions of interest for the replacement of the roof on our locomotive shed.
www.downrail.co.uk/2025/11/magh...
www.downrail.co.uk/2025/11/magh...
Given how stiff the competition was this year, this is no mean feat.
Commiserations to Shea on missing out on Young Person of the Year, and Robert on Leader but those were seriously tough groups to be in.
Fantastic night by the Social Enterprise Northern Ireland team.
Commiserations to Shea on missing out on Young Person of the Year, and Robert on Leader but those were seriously tough groups to be in.
Fantastic night by the Social Enterprise Northern Ireland team.
November 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Given how stiff the competition was this year, this is no mean feat.
Commiserations to Shea on missing out on Young Person of the Year, and Robert on Leader but those were seriously tough groups to be in.
Fantastic night by the Social Enterprise Northern Ireland team.
Commiserations to Shea on missing out on Young Person of the Year, and Robert on Leader but those were seriously tough groups to be in.
Fantastic night by the Social Enterprise Northern Ireland team.
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM