Belfast and County Down Railway
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The Belfast and County Down Railway (BCDR) was a railway in Northern Ireland linking Belfast south-eastwards into County Down. It was built in the 19th century, absorbed into the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948 and all but the line from Belfast to Bangor was closed in 1950.
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[edit] History
The Company was incorporated on 26 June 1846 with the first section of line from Belfast to Holywood opening for traffic on 2 August 1848. The line was further extended to Bangor by the Belfast, Holywood and Bangor Railway (BHBR), opening on 1 May 1865, and acquired by the BCDR in 1884. The line to Downpatrick was opened on 25 March 1859. The line from Downpatrick to Newcastle was built by the Downpatrick, Dundrum and Newcastle Railway, opening on 25 March 1869 and absorbed by BCDR on 14 July 1884.[1]
A branch to Ballynahinch was opened in 1858
A branch line from Downpatrick to Ardglass was opened in 1892, as was a loop line at Downpatrick. The branch from Newcastle to Castlewellan was opened on 24 March 1906.[1]
The company operated 80 miles of track (Belfast to Newcastle and five branches) exclusively in County Down, with its longest route being from Belfast to Castlewellan, a distance of 41 miles. All locomotives were constructed by Beyer-Peacock, except No. 2, which was from Harland and Wolff. By 1948 the company had 29 locomotives. Two steam railcars from Kitson & Co. were acquired in 1905. The locomotive works were at Belfast Queen's Quay railway station and closed in 1950. New carriage works had been opened in 1886, with the last carriage being built in 1923.[1]
[edit] Routes
- Belfast(Queen's Quay)-Ballymacarrett Halt-Victoria Park-Sydenham-Tillysburn-Holywood-Marino-Cultra Halt-Craigavad-Helen's Bay-Carnalea-Bangor West Halt-Bangor
- Belfast(Queen's Quay)-Bloomfield-Neill's Hill-Knock-Dundonald-Comber
- Comber-Ballygowan-Shepherd's Bridge Halt-Saintfield-Ballynahinch Junction-Crossgar-King's Bridge Halt-Downpatrick
- Comber-Ballygowan-Shepherd's Bridge Halt-Saintfield-Ballynahinch Junction-Creevyargon Halt-Ballynahinch
- Comber-Newtownards-Conlig-Ballygrainey-Millisle Halt-Donaghadee
- Downpatrick-Downpatrick Loop Platform-Tullymurry-Ballykinlar Halt-Dundrum-Newcastle-Castlewellan
- Downpatrick-Downpatrick Loop Platform-Racecourse Platform-Ballynoe-Bright Halt-Killough-Coney Island Halt-Ardglass[2]
[edit] Steamer operations
The Company also operated passenger sailings from 1893 between Belfast and Larne. The company ceased to own steamers in 1918. During that period it owned the following steamers:
- Bangor Castle (246 tons, built in 1866, purchased in 1893 and sold in 1894)
- Erin (259 tons, built in 1864, operated the Belfast-Larne route from 1864 to 1893 for other companies, purchased in 1893 and scrapped in 1894)
- Erin's Isle (633 tons, built in 1912, requisitioned as a minesweeper in 1915 and scrapped in 1918)
- Slieve Bearnagh (383 tons, built 1894, sold in 1912)
- Slieve Donard (341 tons, built 1893, sold in 1899)[3]
[edit] Ulster Transport Authority
In 1946 the Stormont Government announced it intended to bring all transport in Northern Ireland under one banner, and the Transport Act (NI) 1948 nationalised the railways. On 1 October 1948 the Ulster Transport Authority was created taking over the BCDR. With the exception of the line from Belfast to Bangor, the railway was closed in 1950.[1]
At the time of absorption into the UTA, it had 29 locomotives, 181 carriages and 25 other coaching vehicles, 629 wagons mostly covered vans and wagons but also including some 6-wheeled fish vans, and 54 service vehicles.[1]
[edit] Incidents and accidents
In the 1945 Ballymacarrett Accident, 23 passengers died.
[edit] Downpatrick & County Down Railway
The Downpatrick & County Down Railway operates the only Irish Standard Gauge heritage railway in Northern Ireland on the former BCDR main line, and has restored one BCDR carriage (148) back to operational condition, with another (72) under restoration with several more in storage.
