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Niles

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  1. Niles
    Monday's trains are sold out. Some places left for Sunday but these are filling up too. https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/easter/
  2. Niles
    Many thanks to everyone who supported the tour on Saturday, great to put a few more names to faces. An extra highlight was the 'after party' after the tour. With the current restrictions on mainline charters we weren't entirely sure how a 'Bus Substitution' railtour would go down but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Hats off to @Westcorkrailway for his insights and bonus tidbits, I don't think many of us knew of the Churchill connection! @jhb171achill and I are already concocting more tours along these lines (well, different lines, you know what I mean ), so, watch this space...
  3. Niles
    All can now be revealed, filming took place last summer using the 450 set. https://www.downrail.co.uk/2026/03/dcdr-crookhaven/
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  4. Niles
    124 will be out again on Easter Sunday & Monday, advance booking recommended (people had to be turned away on St. Patrick's Day!). https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/easter/
  5. Niles
    Very enjoyable show tonight, some quite interesting train formations in there too (GSWR 351 + mkIId set anyone?)
  6. Niles
    Book online at https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/supertrain/ (advance booking essential) Type of train: Diesel (450 class) Join the superheroes on board the SuperTrain at Downpatrick on Saturday 2nd May – can your little heroes help save the Hulk? Hulk, the strongest hero alive has been brainwashed and his immense strength has turned against the very heroes he once fought beside. He wants to take over the railway, and there’s no telling what havoc he’ll unleash without help from your little heroes. Hop aboard the SuperTrain, team up with Spider-Man and friends for this action-packed family adventure full of teamwork, courage and heart, and help save the day. Costumes are encouraged, courage is required! Dates & times This event is running on Saturday 2nd May 2026. Trains depart from Downpatrick at: 11:00, 12:20, 13:40, 15:00
  7. Niles
    until
    Date: Sunday 5th and Monday 6th April Book online: https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/easter/ Type of train: 124 (diesel) +vintage carriages The Easter Bunny is visiting the Downpatrick & County Down Railway again Easter Sunday and Monday, and his goal is simple: make sure all the children have a great day with their trains and come away with a chocolate Easter Egg. There’s also a fun word hunt, and face painting in the station included in your ticket price. Your tickets entitle you to: Take part in our word hunt game Meet the Easter Bunny to collect your Easter Egg Visit the face painter to get a fun Easter look – all included in the charge Stay as long as you like to explore our award-winning carriage gallery and museum Stay over at the station at Inch Abbey for a while to visit the Abbey if you wish – you can catch the next train back, there’s no hurry Visit our museum in the station building Dates & times This event is running on Sunday 5th and Monday 6th April. Trains depart from Downpatrick at: 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00.
  8. Niles
    124 and the vintage carriage set will out and about at Downpatrick again for our Easter Eggspress trains on 5th and 6th April. Bookings now open, advance booking highly recommended (our Shamrock Express trains proved so popular people had to be turned away today). https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/easter/
  9. Niles
    We've a few spots left on the West Cork Wanderer, @jhb171achill and I are working away behind the scenes on what should a special day out indeed. If you're looking forward to IRM Park Royals (who isn't?) there's a chance to check out two of the real things, 1400 and 1424, at Clonakilty (1400 is actually one of the ones IRM are doing). https://www.tailtetours.com/event-details/the-west-cork-wanderer-a-bus-substitution-railtour
  10. Niles
    A quick update on this, @Mike Beckett has been busy making the bubble presentable. In fact, for once it looks close to the pristine condition the models come in. https://www.downrail.co.uk/2026/03/cleaning-cement-bubble-wagon/
  11. Niles
    until
    As part of the town’s St. Patrick’s celebrations, the Shamrock Express returns to Downpatrick this St Patrick’s Day. As a special treat, this year we’ll be using our vintage Edwardian era carriage set, which normally stays in our gallery. These trains will be hauled by heritage single cab diesel loco No.124, which has proved very popular since its arrival last summer. It will be hauling 100+ year old carriages, so you can travel in style. As is traditional for our St. Patrick’s Day trains, we’ll have musicians to create that festive atmosphere during most of the afternoon. Bookings now open at https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/stpatricksday/
  12. Niles
    so I hear...
  13. Niles
    If anyone fancies some 121 class haulage (and who wouldn't?) DCDR will be operating 124 on the Shamrock Express trains this St. Patrick's Day. Advance booking highly recommended, St. Patrick's Day is traditionally one of the busiest in the DCDR calendar. For the carriage fans, we'll have the vintage set (GSWR and BCDR) out to make it extra special. https://www.downrail.co.uk/event/stpatricksday/
  14. Niles
    https://www.downrail.co.uk/2026/02/90-restoration-ashpan-removal/
  15. Niles
    Of note, yesterday DCDR had no fewer than 27 volunteers working on various projects, including 90, across the site. Heartening to see. https://www.downrail.co.uk/2026/02/a-record-number-of-volunteers/
  16. Niles
    That's the one.
  17. Niles
    Throwback to 1964, when the Grand Steam Tour of Ireland visited Tragreany. 186 worked the tour up the branch. *Yes, yes, I know 186 wasn't carrying GSR numberplates at the time. The Hattons Genesis is a close match for the 6 wheeler used on it though.
  18. Niles
    Very generous and much appreciated :). DCDR hope to have something up on the website shortly, I'll keep you posted.
  19. Niles
    The latest update on this project: https://www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/80-class-restoration-update-january-2026/
  20. Niles
    A further update on this project: https://www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/cie-carriage-restoration-preparation-continues/
  21. Niles
    Sonstrand is the layout's English mode, a heritage line. At lunch time today, 66190 arrived on a clearance trial prior to a potential special visiting the line. Certainly the biggest, and heaviest, loco to have visited. The railway's Chief Civil Engineer was quite nervous! Smooth as a glove though.
  22. Niles
    Another update on recent work on 90: https://www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/removing-the-ashpan/
  23. Niles
    Work is now underway on the preparatory stage of this carriage's overhaul. When completed, it will be an ideal companion piece to our Park Royal and the various CIÉ diesel locomotives in the DCDR/ITG fleet. Full story at: https://www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/new-year-new-project/ Great fun and very rewarding, you don't have to be a professional coach builder or fitter to get involved (I'm neither). Feel free to drop me a DM if you're interested.
  24. Niles

    Lapland Express

    Niles replied to Niles's topic in What's On?

    The last Lapland Express of the day at Downpatrick yesterday evening. I believe driver @Mike Beckett is still thawing out his legs.
  25. Niles
    Last Saturday saw a trio of DCDR Munster-based members visit the railway for a day of volunteering (some of whom are on this site but I'll let them expose their secret identities if they wish ) Find out about what they got up to here: https://www.downrail.co.uk/2025/11/munster-members-visit/
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