The
Trust’s Plans
The Trust’s plans are for the reinstatement of the
line between Rowallane Gardens, the headquarters of the National Trust just
outside Saintfield, and Ballynahinch, with an intermediate station at
Ballynahinch Junction, and possibly a replacement for the former Halt at
Creevyargon, on the Ballynahinch branch.
Whilst
other preservation projects have been developed using preserved equipment from
all over Ireland, much of which is totally out of keeping with the lines on
which it is operating, the Trust’s proposal is to recreate this portion of
line as closely to “Pure County Down Railway” as we possibly can.
Whilst there are only a few original ‘County Down
carriage bodies still available, and most of these are in various stages of
decay, it is proposed to restore what it is possible to restore, but, in the
longer term, to build replicas where necessary. The main objective is to recreate the image,
atmosphere, aura and character of the old ‘County Down Railway as closely as can
possibly be achieved. This
will be a museum that will aim to recreate the atmosphere of the original railway as
much as anything else, although in the initial stages it may be necessary to
use 'foreign' rolling stock until suitable vehicles are available.
Ballynahinch Junction will be the focal point of the
museum, being the intermediate station between Saintfield and Ballynahinch.
The original station is gone, so it is proposed to build a replica with
its single story building and high signal cabin, and to have banner signals
etc., just like the original. One
such banner signal has already been acquired, as has a B.& C.D.R. lever
frame for the signal cabin.
The
station building will have its waiting rooms with original coal fires, and its
ticket office, and it is hoped that preserved carriages, or replicas, placed
at the branch line platform, will house artifacts and photographs without
detracting from the overall atmosphere and character of the station.
Access to the original Ballynahinch station site is
now impossible because of a new housing development on the approach to the
station, that has only taken place within the last few years.
Such
has been the development that it will now be necessary to terminate just short
of Ballynahinch town, near Windmill Hill, but it is proposed to erect a
replica of the original Ballynahinch station building.
This will also be used to house a museum of artifacts relating to the
Belfast & County Down, and other Irish railways.
Photo:
H.C. Casserley Collection.
Ballynahinch
Junction in the 1930s with the branch line Diesel locomotive
preparing
to leave with its train.
This
is the image that the Trust proposes to recreate.
Photo:
D.G. Coakham Collection.
Ballynahinch
Junction on 21st April 1951, a year after closure.
Ballynahinch
Junction in the 1930s with Newcastle train to the right, and branch train to
the left.
The Route
Although all of the proposed route cannot yet be
considered to be available, as we will need to terminate at Rowallane Gardens
at the Saintfield end of the line, we will take a journey back in time to see
what the line was like between the old Saintfield Station and Ballynahinch
when the trains were operating.
Saintfield Station was provided with a ‘passing
loop’, and therefore had double track within the platforms.
The station building itself was a stone-built building with an integral
signal cabin. The buildings
were on the Up platform, and were designed by DeWitt Gray, whilst Sir John
McNeill was the Engineer for the construction of this portion of the line.
The Signal Cabin, although a later addition, was kept to the same style
as the rest of the building, and to this day retains its McKenzie &
Holland lever frame. The
Stationmasters house was a separate building, placed at right angles to the
station, and looking over the station forecourt.
Saintfield
Station around 1900 with the goods shed beyond.
On leaving the station the line crosses the
Killyleagh Road at Todd’s Hill on a level crossing, and immediately on the
right is Saintfield Goods Yard with its stone-built Goods Shed and cattle
pens. This is still intact,
and could possibly be made an important feature of the line, if sufficient
funds can be secured.
The line which was single beyond Comber, except for
passing loops, is on a slight embankment at this point, and just under a mile
further on passes over the main Saintfield – Crossgar road on a bridge.
To the right is Rowallane Gardens, now the Headquarters of the National
Trust in Northern Ireland.
For the next 1˝ miles the line passes through the
typical drumlin countryside of County Down to Ballynahinch Junction, and
enters the station through a shallow rock cutting, after passing over what is
known locally as ‘The Moss’. Here,
at the ‘Junction Station, the layout is quite unique with the single track
main line having a platform on each side of the track.
Ballynahinch
Junction in the late 1940s.
To the left, on the main platform, is the high Signal
Cabin, built in this way to allow the signalman to see his signals beyond the
bridge at the down end of the platforms, and just beyond the cabin is the
small single storey station building.
The building here was originally located at Comber, but was moved to
the ‘Junction when a new stone building was erected at Comber about the time
the line to Ballynahinch was opened.
To the right is the narrow island platform, on the
other side of which sits the branch train for Ballynahinch.
This platform is provided with facilities to allow the engine of the
branch service to run round its train without fouling the main line.
On leaving the station, and passing under the road
bridge, the main line swings slightly to the left towards Crossgar, whilst our
journey will take us along the branch line to the right towards Ballynahinch
town. Almost immediately we
enter a short deep cutting and soon afterwards find ourselves on a high
embankment. From this
embankment, and to our left we get a magnificent view of the distant Mourne
Mountains across the drumlin countryside of County Down, which the late Dr.
E.M. Patterson likened to a basket of eggs.
This is probably one of the most picturesque views on the entire line,
offering superb views over the countryside.
For the next 2˝ miles we pass through a series of
cuttings and over embankments as we again traverse the drumlin countryside of
County Down. Half way to Ballynahinch we pass Creevyargon Halt, a
single timber platform.
We approach Ballynahinch under a road bridge that
carries the Ballynahinch – Crossgar road over the railway.
This is followed by another bridge at Windmill Hill, beyond which we
enter a deep cutting in which is the small engine shed to house the branch
line engine overnight. To
our left is the site of the famous Battle of Ballynahinch, a major action
during the 1798 Rebellion. We
immediately enter the station at Ballynahinch with the single platform to our
right, with its main station building.
To our left are the goods sheds and the cattle dock.
Unfortunately we will not be able to get into the
original station at Ballynahinch due to housing development, so it is proposed
to terminate the line between these last two bridges.
Photo:
B.& C.D.R. Museum Trust Collection
Ballynahinch
Station about 1900.
Photo:
B.& C.D.R. Museum Trust Collection
Ballynahinch
Station about 1900.
Ballynahinch
Junction with Diesel locomotive No. 2 in 1949.
Ballynahinch
Junction in 1963.
The
building, which was the original 1848 building from Comber, was destroyed in a
malicious fire in 1983.
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