A Ballymena & Larne Discovery

[Patrick Davey]

Yesterday, @Tullygrainey Alan and I enjoyed some explorations of the former narrow gauge routes in County Antrim - 'twas a fine sunny day for such an excursion!

We took in the delights of Doagh, Ballyclare paper mill, Ballynure, Ballyeaston, Ballynashee, Moorfields, Harryville, Martinstown, Cargan, Parkmore, Glenarriffe, Ballycastle and Capecastle, and along the way we were shown something interesting by a kind landowner - a very rare Ballymena & Larne Railway milepost.  The gentleman told us he restored it after researching the most likely colour scheme but he realised later that he painted it the 'wrong way round'   It is also mounted on a length of rail.

Anyway it's just great that it survives - 91 years after the last of the grandest narrow gauge trains in Ireland thundered past.  Another milepost survives at Moorfields - I wonder how many others are waiting to be discovered.

 

Edited August 15, 2024 by Patrick Davey

[minister_for_hardship]

Belfast & Northern Counties pattern milepost. Reasonably plentiful I would think.

[Patrick Davey]

Excellent - so probably not B&L unless the BNCR decided to copy this pattern more widely!

I’m interested to know how many of these survive on disused lines throughout Ireland.  Although, it’s probably not something to talk about publicly for obvious reasons.

[minister_for_hardship]

Just now, Patrick Davey said:

Excellent - so probably not B&L unless the BNCR decided to copy this pattern more widely!

I’m interested to know how many of these survive on disused lines throughout Ireland.  Although, it’s probably not something to talk about publicly for obvious reasons.

On small lines with not a lot of spending money, they stuck in painted timber mileposts at the outset to satify the Board of Trade inspection until taken over by a larger company which replaced them with something more permanent, usually in the larger company's standard design.

On closure, fixtures and fittings would be removed for reuse elsewhere, put up for auction or sold for scrap. You'd still find large stone GSWR and CBSCR and concrete DWWR mileposts along trackbeds as they were more trouble than they were worth to remove. 

[Galteemore]

Lovely find Patrick. NCC mileposts may not be especially rare in and of themselves but finding any solid remains of the NI narrow gauge lines is very unusual. Most of it has simply vaporised, with very few exceptions such as Moorfields signal cabin. One of my favourite spots was Headwood station, swept away just a few years ago in the A8 works. 

[Patrick Davey]

26 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

Lovely find Patrick. NCC mileposts may not be especially rare in and of themselves but finding any solid remains of the NI narrow gauge lines is very unusual. Most of it has simply vaporised, with very few exceptions such as Moorfields signal cabin. One of my favourite spots was Headwood station, swept away just a few years ago in the A8 works. 

David unfortunately each time I visit Moorfields, it seems that progressively less of the signal cabin remains.  It was but a shell yesterday although the elegant front finial was still hanging on for dear life.  Yes I know Headwood well and was sorry to see the building demolished.  The nearby Clements Wood offers a lovely walk along part of the line.

[Tullygrainey]

1 hour ago, Patrick Davey said:

Yesterday, @Tullygrainey Alan and I enjoyed some explorations of the former narrow gauge routes in County Antrim - 'twas a fine sunny day for such an excursion!

We took in the delights of Doagh, Ballyclare paper mill, Ballynure, Ballyeaston, Ballynashee, Moorfields, Harryville, Martinstown, Cargan, Parkmore, Glenarriffe, Ballycastle and Capecastle, and along the way we were shown something interesting by a kind landowner - a very rare Ballymena & Larne Railway milepost.  The gentleman told us he restored it after researching the most likely colour scheme but he realised later that he painted it the 'wrong way round'   It is also mounted on a length of rail.

Anyway it's just great that it survives - 91 years after the last of the grandest narrow gauge trains in Ireland thundered past.  Another milepost survives at Moorfields - I wonder how many others are waiting to be discovered.

 

A grand day out Patrick. We certainly packed plenty into it. Thanks again for a very enjoyable guided tour.

[Galteemore]

Ok I give up. Which one was Wallace and which one Gromit? 

Edited August 15, 2024 by Galteemore

[Tullygrainey]

1 hour ago, Galteemore said:

Ok I give up. Which one was Wallace and which one Gromit? 

He was

Edited August 15, 2024 by Tullygrainey

[jhb171achill]

7 hours ago, minister_for_hardship said:

You'd still find large stone GSWR and CBSCR and concrete DWWR mileposts along trackbeds as they were more trouble than they were worth to remove. 

Indeed - and worthless as scrap metal!

5 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Ok I give up. Which one was Wallace and which one Gromit? 

  Yes to both of them.