TheBelfast & County Down

RailwayMuseum Trust

‘Down’ Memory Line

A ProposedHeritage Steam Railway

(With a Difference)for

Northern Ireland

Saintfieldto

Ballynahinchand

Crossgar

The Proposal

To restore a portion of the former Belfast & County Down Railway

to something as close as possible to its original condition!

But with a twist in the tail!

The Proposal

• Phase 1 - Restoration of

Ballynahinch Junction Station.• Phase 2 – Ballynahinch Junction to

Ballynahinch.• Phase 3 – Ballynahinch Junction to

Rowallane Gardens.• Phase 4 – Ballynahinch Junction to Crossgar.

But not necessarily in that order

WhyThis portion of theBelfast & County Down Railway?

Approximately80% of the

population of Northern Ireland

live within 50 miles of

Ballynahinch

• The line will have centres of population at each terminus!

• It is proposed to link to Rowallane Gardens, the HQ of the National Trust!

• It is easily accessible from all directions.

• The route is all intact!

• It offers a portion of a main line, as well as a typical Irish branch line!

Phase 1

Restoration ofBallynahinch Junction

Station

Ballynahinch Junction in the 1930s

Ballynahinch Junction in the 1940s

Ballynahinch Junction in the 1970s

Ballynahinch Junction in the 1980s

Ballynahinch Junction today

Ballynahinch JunctionTrack layout in 1950

Ballynahinch Junction

Future Proposal

Ballynahinch JunctionProposed Layout

Phase 2

Ballynahinch Junctionto

Ballynahinch

Via Creevyargon Halt

The Ballynahinch Branch

Ballynahinch Station in the 1890s

Ballynahinch Station in the 1890s

Ballynahinch Station in the 1930s – with overall roof

Ballynahinch Station Exterior – c1900

Phase 3

Ballynahinch Junctionto

Saintfield (Rowallane)

This portion of the main line is approximately 1½ miles in length.

A new station is to be located adjoining Rowallane Gardens,

which is the Headquarters of the National Trust in Northern Ireland.

This will be the northern terminus of the line.

Phase 4

Ballynahinch Junctionto

Crossgar

The Main LineBallynahinch Junction to Crossgar

Aerial view of Crossgar – c1980

Crossgar Station

What

Is the twist in the tail?

The Trust has chosen to use the British and International

track gauge of 4’ 81/2” rather than the standard Irish track gauge of 5’ 3”.

What is the significance of that decision?

Locomotives and Rolling Stock.

• We will not have to compete with other Irish preservation groups.

• A wider variety of locomotives and rolling stock will be

available.

• This will be the only line in Ireland that will be able operate some of the

famous engines from the UK mainland!

• Can you imagine the tourism potential?

Former L.M.S. Class 3F 0-6-0TCould we bring one to the ‘Junction?

Two of these engines were brought to Belfast and re-gauged in 1944.

What is possible?

Great Western Railway ‘City of Truro’Held the world speed record for steam in its day.

Everyone knows ‘Flying Scotsman’Could it find its way to Ballynahinch Junction in a few years?

The Ballynahinch Branch Diesel Locomotive.

Could we build a replica in the long term?

Original B.& C.D.R. Carriage No. 18.Using chassis from the UK mainland it would be possible to

restore one or two former B. & C.D.R. carriages.

The same carriage – stored by the Trust for restoration.

Community Involvement

Is essential!

Saintfield

Ballynahinch

Crossgar

A Planning Applicationhas been lodged

for Phase 1.

The Development of

Ballynahinch Junction Station