Castlerock Railfest 23rd march

[colmflanagan]

There is an event with some railway "interest" being held in Castlerock, Co Londonderry on 23rd March, open 10.00 am to 5pm, which may be of interest to anyone from the North West of "the island"...

 

I understand it is to "celebrate" the imminent (by that date anyway!) re-opening of the Coleraine - Derry line.

 

There will be a few layouts there, including the Northern Counties Group "Killagan", which may be a last chance to see it this side of the water before it is retired.

 

I have no info on the precise venue but Castlerock isn't a big place..... If i get more, or if anyone knows more they can post it on thisi thread.

 

Colm

 

A pic of "Killagan" is attached.

 

[Broithe]

I wonder if it'll be in the Peter Thompson Hall? http://www.coastlinecastlerock.org/community/peter_thompson_hall.php

[Kirley]

Thanks Colm for the 'heads up' on this event. As you say the venue would not be hard to find in Castlerock.

[Kirley]

Found this information on another site

 

 

Castlerock Community Association

 

Castlerock Railfest –

 

 

 

This is the 160th anniversary of the first time a resident of Castlerock

 

was able to welcome the arrival of a train at Castlerock Station.

 

 

 

This advent of the railway gave the signal for the development of the village proper and on 23rd. March 2013 we are celebrating the return of the railway service with a commemoration and celebration of events and exhibitions in keeping with Castlerock’s origins as a railway village.

 

 

 

DISPLAY AND EXHIBITION AREA – PETER THOMPSON HALL

 

Throughout the Hall there will be a wide variety of Victorian period railway artefacts and photographs and posters on display from Derry Railway Museum, Causeway Museum Service, Translink and private lenders.

 

 

 

A. Main Hall

 

Several Railway Model layouts will be on display as follows:

 

1. North Down Model Railway Society will be exhibiting “BALLYCLARE” a large L-shaped layout (17.5’ wide x 11’ deep) set in the LMS(NCC) era together with their “hands-on” Shunting Layout” (8’ long x 2’ deep) which provides visitor participation.

 

2. IAN SINCLAIR will be exhibiting “KILLAGAN”, an “OO” gauge (4mm = 1Foot) layout (22’ wide x 6’ deep) based on the section of track at Killagan between Ballymoney & Ballymena in the 1950s – 1960s. Trains which ran through this station would also probably have run through Castlerock.

 

3. First Bangor Model Railway Club will be exhibiting two “N” gauge (2mm = 1Foot):

 

· “Santa Clara Valley” - a west coast USA U-shaped layout 8’ wide x 6’ deep; and

 

· “Charlie’s Ridge” - a very scenic layout with mountains, deep valley, trestle bridges, etc. It will have five trains running simultaneously! It is 13’ wide x 3’ deep.

 

4. The Damhead Railway (Coleraine) will be exhibiting an engine from their collection.

 

5. The “Historical Railway Display Boards” will tell the story of the railway and its impact in creating Castlerock. Boards will probably be on the following subjects:

 

· RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTH OF IRELAND

 

· THE LONDONDERRY & COLERAINE RAILWAY

 

· THE LONDON MIDLAND & SCOTTISH RAILWAY (NORTHERN COUNTIES COMMITTEE)

 

· CREATION & DEVELOPMENT OF CASTLEROCK VILLAGE & IMPACT & INFLUENCE OF THE RAILWAY IN THIS.

 

· CASTLEROCK RAILWAY STATION, ITS BRIDGE, SIGNAL BOX & SIGNALLING

 

B. Pavilion

 

This area will be the centre for The “THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE COMPETITION” and will have a display of characters from these stories (Ertl die-cast models) and children will be asked to name them on an entry form – a small per head charge of 50p. will be made for this and small prizes will be awarded to the winner(s). Entries will close at 4.00pm to allow for marking the entries and the Presentation of the prizes will be at 04.45 pm.

 

 

 

C. CHRISTCHURCH Church Hall

 

A continuously running film show celebrating the 'Golden Age of Steam in Ulster' by courtesy of Mrs Phyllis Ewing, who is kindly making her late husband's collection of films from the age of steam available for this event.

 

Also 'Railway Reminiscence ' sessions with Ex-railway employees will sit and yarn with the public about all aspects of railway travel, lore and working practice in 'The Heydays of Rail', including memories specific to the Derry/Londonderry to Coleraine line.

 

 

 

. STATION PLATFORM, STATION BUILDING AND ENVIRONS

 

The Temple Bar in the former station building will be fully open to the public for meals and refreshments throughout the day and will be the venue for a closed dinner event in the evening. The platform will be decorated 'en fete' with a rich provision of floral displays and railway artefacts to recreate the Glory Days of years gone by.

 

i. Throughout the day there will be a series of railway-themed, costume playlets recounting incidents from Castlerock's past railway heritage, performed by students from the Northern Regional College in Ballymoney, directed by Paul McMaster. A 'Railway Conductor' in costume will welcome visitors as they arrive onto the station.

 

ii. A Jazz band will perform at different times during the day.

 

iii. A specially erected 'Castlerock Ticket Office' will be selling the special souvenir tickets which will consist of on one side a facsimile of the original ticket from 1853 and on the reverse a commemoration of the 'Railfest' itself.