A Journey in Time

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A Journey in Time A Trip on the Belfast County
Down Railway (Picture will change after 12
seconds)
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Imagine that you are a child again..... It is
holiday time and the family are off for a day
trip to the seaside..... Join us on a journey
into the past..... A journey that you will never
be able to take again..... A Journey by train to
Newcastle 'Where the Mountains of Mourne
sweep down to the sea.'
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Before starting our journey we must check the
timetable for the times of the trains! This one
offers Cheap Daily Excursions For 1903
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Our journey begins at Donegall Place in the
centre of Belfast
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We travel to Castle Junction, where we turn right
into High Street.
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and travel along High Street towards the Albert
Clock
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Approaching the Queens Bridge over the River
Lagan the berth for the Bangor Boat can be seen
to the left
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Crossing the Queens Bridge we might see the
Bangor Boat leaving
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The train station at Queens Quay can be seen to
the extreme left beyond the Queens Bridge.
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The approach to Queens Quay Station to get the
train to Newcastle
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Queens Quay Station as it was about 1900 before
being extended
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Carriages wait to take passengers into the centre
of Belfast
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In later years the tram would have taken us right
into the station
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Inside - the station concourse
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Looking from the front of the station back across
the River Lagan
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Inside the station after it was rebuilt c1910
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The Ticket Office where we go to buy our ticket
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Lets get a newspaper or some cigarettes
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We are fortunate that the rebuilding has been
finished
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Leaving the station we pass the signal cabin to
our left
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With modern technology we can take a look inside
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Next we pass the workshops on the other side of
the tracks
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And the engine sheds to our left
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Next we approach Ballymacarrett Junction
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There was a serious accident at Ballymacarrett
Junction in 1871
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The second accident here occurred on 10th
January, 1945
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Our train takes the main line towards Newcastle
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We cross the Connswater River towards the
Holywood Arches
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And pass over the famous Holywood Arches
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Our train enters Bloomfield Station
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Stopping at Bloomfield Station to pick up
passengers
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At Bloomfield Station, on the Beersbridge Road,
the gates are closed to road traffic to let our
train through.
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Beyond Bloomfield we pass under the North Road
bridge
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and approach Neills Hill Station on the Sandown
Road
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Our next station is Knock
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The train crosses the Knock Road to enter the
station
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The Station Master at Knock waits for the next
train from Belfast
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And on we go to Dundonald
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0-6-0 No. 26 stops at Dundonald to pick up
passengers on the way to
Newcastle
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Where a train approaches the station from Comber
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Beyond Dundonald the weather takes a turn for the
worse, making life difficult for the track walker
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The next station is Comber where the line to
Donaghadee branches off, and the weather
has improved.
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Comber was a busy station during the TT motor
races in the 1920s
and 30s
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At Comber a Newcastle bound train passes the
Diesel loco No. D1 waiting to take its train back
to Ballynahinch in the early 1930s
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At Comber we meet a Special Troop train made up
of a Great Northern engine and carriages during
the Second World War.
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Destined to be the only B. C.D.R. engine to
survive, No. 30 rests at Comber during a Motor
Race day about 1930
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No. 21 takes its train onto the main line at
Comber en route to Newcastle
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2-4-0 No. 6 takes a train for Newcastle through
the Gullet cutting between Comber and Ballygowan
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The deepGullet cutting through the solid rock
between Comber and Ballygowan
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A Belfast bound train stops at Ballygowan, a
station that had only one
platform
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We move on speedily to Saintfield where the
station staff wait on the platform to greet us
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4-4-2T No. 18 calls at Saintfield en route to
Newcastle
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A couple of women are seen on the Up platform
waiting for a train to Belfast
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Beyond the station we pass the Goods Shed
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The engine of the branch train backs onto its
train at Ballynahinch Junction whilst 4-4-2T No.
18 stops on its way to Newcastle
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Ballynahinch Junction looking in the opposite
direction in 1948
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Diesel No. D1 at Ballynahinch Junction in 1933
when the engine was
new
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The Diesel (Renumbered 2) at Ballynahinch
Junction just before the line closed in
1950
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Soon we reach Downpatrick Loop Platform where
main line trains meet the branch train from
Ardglass (on the right)
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Sheep on their way to catch the train at
Downpatrick
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An early 0-4-2 leaves Downpatrick with a train to
Belfast between 1898 and 1902
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Our next station is Tullymurry, which has only a
single platform
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We pass onward to Dundrum where the tracks go
down onto the harbour
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One of the early 4-4-2Ts passes Murlough, just
beyond Dundrum, in the early 1900s
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Before long we arrive at Newcastle
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Newcastle Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep
down to the sea. The G.N.R. train is on the
left with the B. C.D.R. train at the far
platform.
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Outside Newcastle station jaunting cars await the
arrival of the next train.
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Camping Caravans were available at Newcastle from
about the 1920s. These ones were after the line
closed in the 1950s
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We could possibly stay at the B. C.D.Rs Slieve
Donard Hotel if we want to extend our stay in
Newcastle
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We have reached Newcastle, and have completed a
journey that we will never be able to make
again. THE LAST TICKETS HAVE BEEN ISSUED,
NEWCASTLE HAS SEEN THE LAST TRAIN OFF, AND THE
SHARP WHISTLE BLASTS THAT DAILY RENT THE MORNING
STILLNESS HAVE BEEN SILENCED AFTER EIGHTY
YEARS.   To those of us who remember its heyday,
its decline and fall in this age of automotive
transport on the highways and byways, the old
'County Down Railway will remain one of our most
cherished memories. From the BELFAST TELEGRAPH
at the closing of the main line of the
Belfast County Down Railway on 16th January,
1950. If you enjoyed your journey we would
invite you to join with us
in the restoration of part of the
line you have just travelled.