Downpatrick & County Down Railway
@downrail.bsky.social
Ireland's only standard gauge heritage railway, north or south, running through Saint Patrick's Country.
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 santa@downrail.co.uk.
To book seats on the Quiet Lapland Express Train only, email santa@downrail.co.uk.
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 santa@downrail.co.uk.
To book seats on the Quiet Lapland Express Train only, email santa@downrail.co.uk.
A bit of torrential rain didn’t stop our volunteers from coming to the railway today… or more importantly, getting chips at Ralph's.
September 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
A bit of torrential rain didn’t stop our volunteers from coming to the railway today… or more importantly, getting chips at Ralph's.
Our new volunteer Harrison has been getting stuck in on his first day at Downpatrick by carrying out welding repairs on 80 class power car 69. At almost 50 years of age, the ducts that carry air to cool the traction motors were in desperate need of some TLC.
September 23, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Our new volunteer Harrison has been getting stuck in on his first day at Downpatrick by carrying out welding repairs on 80 class power car 69. At almost 50 years of age, the ducts that carry air to cool the traction motors were in desperate need of some TLC.
Great to host the Irish Section of the Institute of Railway Signal Engineers last week. Some very informative talks indeed.
www.downrail.co.uk/2025/09/irse...
www.downrail.co.uk/2025/09/irse...
IRSE Irish Section visit Downpatrick - Downpatrick and County Down Railway
Last Thursday we played host to a visit from the IRSE (the Institute of Railway Signal Engineers), Irish Section. Our chairman, Robert Gardiner, gave an overview of our railway's story over the past 4...
www.downrail.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Great to host the Irish Section of the Institute of Railway Signal Engineers last week. Some very informative talks indeed.
www.downrail.co.uk/2025/09/irse...
www.downrail.co.uk/2025/09/irse...
Reposted by Downpatrick & County Down Railway
We're back at @downrail.bsky.social on 1st & 2nd Nov with our family-friendly Halloween show - The Curse of the Phantom Flyer.
Tickets on sale now
downrail.co.uk/event/halloween/
Tickets on sale now
downrail.co.uk/event/halloween/
September 18, 2025 at 12:21 PM
We're back at @downrail.bsky.social on 1st & 2nd Nov with our family-friendly Halloween show - The Curse of the Phantom Flyer.
Tickets on sale now
downrail.co.uk/event/halloween/
Tickets on sale now
downrail.co.uk/event/halloween/
Time for a Thumper Thursday update.
September 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).
September 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).
September 18, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Time for a Thumper Thursday update.
September 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).
September 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).