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 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...
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...
November 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Wishing the best of luck to our very own Shea McKee, who is a finalist in the Young Person category in the Social Enterprise Northern Ireland Awards 2025 tonight. Shea has been volunteering with us for over three years now and has put in countless hours of hard work across a wide range of tasks.
November 7, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Wishing the best of luck to our very own Shea McKee, who is a finalist in the Young Person category in the Social Enterprise Northern Ireland Awards 2025 tonight. Shea has been volunteering with us for over three years now and has put in countless hours of hard work across a wide range of tasks.
For this #ThrowbackThursday we have a very rare photo of GSWR 99, fresh out of the box at Inchicore Works, Dublin. 99 was built in 1890 and worked on the on the Fermoy-Mitchelstown branch in Cork, before being scrapped in 1930. You can just about see that it has two whistles on top of the cab.
November 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM
For this #ThrowbackThursday we have a very rare photo of GSWR 99, fresh out of the box at Inchicore Works, Dublin. 99 was built in 1890 and worked on the on the Fermoy-Mitchelstown branch in Cork, before being scrapped in 1930. You can just about see that it has two whistles on top of the cab.
And that's a wrap for Day 1 of our Phantom Flyers. We're doing it all again on Sunday, trains depart Downpatrick at 15:00, 16:15 and 17:30. No need to book, tickets available at the station.
November 1, 2025 at 8:02 PM
And that's a wrap for Day 1 of our Phantom Flyers. We're doing it all again on Sunday, trains depart Downpatrick at 15:00, 16:15 and 17:30. No need to book, tickets available at the station.
Trains operating today and tomorrow 15:00-17:30. Pay on the day tickets available.
November 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Trains operating today and tomorrow 15:00-17:30. Pay on the day tickets available.
To celebrate Halloween, for this #FlashbackFriday we have a photo of O&K No. 1 in ghostly grey shortly after it arrived at Downpatrick in 2012.
October 31, 2025 at 6:32 PM
To celebrate Halloween, for this #FlashbackFriday we have a photo of O&K No. 1 in ghostly grey shortly after it arrived at Downpatrick in 2012.
What better way to celebrate Halloween than on a live ghost train? Ours is an interactive on-board show where passengers become part of the story.
The Phantom Flyer departs Downpatrick this Saturday and Sunday, 1st and 2nd November at 15:00, 16:15 and 17:30.
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
The Phantom Flyer departs Downpatrick this Saturday and Sunday, 1st and 2nd November at 15:00, 16:15 and 17:30.
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
October 30, 2025 at 8:00 PM
What better way to celebrate Halloween than on a live ghost train? Ours is an interactive on-board show where passengers become part of the story.
The Phantom Flyer departs Downpatrick this Saturday and Sunday, 1st and 2nd November at 15:00, 16:15 and 17:30.
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
The Phantom Flyer departs Downpatrick this Saturday and Sunday, 1st and 2nd November at 15:00, 16:15 and 17:30.
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
Only a few days left until the Phantom Flyer pulls into town. Don't worry though, our monsters are child-friendly monsters. That being said, they do enjoy spooking the grown-ups...
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
October 28, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Only a few days left until the Phantom Flyer pulls into town. Don't worry though, our monsters are child-friendly monsters. That being said, they do enjoy spooking the grown-ups...
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
www.downrail.co.uk/event/hallow...
We had a wonderful time at the South Dublin Model Railway Club's exhibition in Blackrock College over the past three days – it was a great opportunity to meet many of our supporters from the Dublin area. Thank you to everyone who supported our stall and for all the chats.
October 27, 2025 at 6:44 PM
We had a wonderful time at the South Dublin Model Railway Club's exhibition in Blackrock College over the past three days – it was a great opportunity to meet many of our supporters from the Dublin area. Thank you to everyone who supported our stall and for all the chats.
We're attending the South Dublin Model Railway Club Exhibition in Blackrock College this weekend, open 11-5 today and tomorrow.
October 26, 2025 at 11:11 AM
We're attending the South Dublin Model Railway Club Exhibition in Blackrock College this weekend, open 11-5 today and tomorrow.
As we mentioned a few weeks ago, we were delighted to assist Saintfield Community Association with their development of Windmill Park Saintfield by helping install a section of track. www.downrail.co.uk/2025/10/rail...
Rails return to Saintfield - Downpatrick and County Down Railway
After many years of rumours and false starts, rails have finally returned to Saintfield, seventy years after they were lifted by the old Ulster Transport Authority.
www.downrail.co.uk
October 8, 2025 at 10:32 PM
As we mentioned a few weeks ago, we were delighted to assist Saintfield Community Association with their development of Windmill Park Saintfield by helping install a section of track. www.downrail.co.uk/2025/10/rail...
If anyone missed out on the DCDR 40th Anniversary brochure, we have a limited supply available in our Shopify store.
Our popular 80 class posters are also back in stock.
downrail.myshopify.com/collections/...
Our popular 80 class posters are also back in stock.
downrail.myshopify.com/collections/...
October 8, 2025 at 5:19 PM
If anyone missed out on the DCDR 40th Anniversary brochure, we have a limited supply available in our Shopify store.
Our popular 80 class posters are also back in stock.
downrail.myshopify.com/collections/...
Our popular 80 class posters are also back in stock.
downrail.myshopify.com/collections/...
Bubble bubble, boil and trouble…
No, we’re not being seasonal now that it’s October… Say hello to our latest acquisition, the last surviving CIÉ ‘cement bubble’ wagon.
No, we’re not being seasonal now that it’s October… Say hello to our latest acquisition, the last surviving CIÉ ‘cement bubble’ wagon.
October 4, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Bubble bubble, boil and trouble…
No, we’re not being seasonal now that it’s October… Say hello to our latest acquisition, the last surviving CIÉ ‘cement bubble’ wagon.
No, we’re not being seasonal now that it’s October… Say hello to our latest acquisition, the last surviving CIÉ ‘cement bubble’ wagon.
If you want to travel on our Lapland Express trains but you have someone in your group who doesn’t respond well to crowds, music, and other loud noises, you can now book our Quiet Train on Sat 29th Nov at 4:30pm.
To book seats on the Quiet Lapland Express Train only, email [email protected].
To book seats on the Quiet Lapland Express Train only, email [email protected].
October 1, 2025 at 8:13 PM
If you want to travel on our Lapland Express trains but you have someone in your group who doesn’t respond well to crowds, music, and other loud noises, you can now book our Quiet Train on Sat 29th Nov at 4:30pm.
To book seats on the Quiet Lapland Express Train only, email [email protected].
To book seats on the Quiet Lapland Express Train only, email [email protected].