The Belfast & County Down Railway Museum Trust

1. TheBelfast & County Down RailwayMuseum Trust ‘Down’ Memory Line

2. A Proposed Heritage Steam Railway (With a Difference) for Northern Ireland

3. Saintfield to Ballynahinch and Crossgar

4. 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!

5. 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

6. Why This portion of the Belfast & County Down Railway?

7. Approximately 80% of the population of Northern Ireland live within 50 miles of Ballynahinch

8. 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!

9. Phase 1 Restoration of Ballynahinch Junction Station

11. Ballynahinch Junction in the 1930s

12. Ballynahinch Junction in the 1940s

13. Ballynahinch Junction in the 1970s

14. Ballynahinch Junction in the 1980s

15. Ballynahinch Junction today

16. Ballynahinch Junction Track layout in 1950

17. Ballynahinch Junction Proposed Layout Ballynahinch Junction Future Proposal

18. Phase 2 Ballynahinch Junction to Ballynahinch Via Creevyargon Halt

19. The Ballynahinch Branch

20. Ballynahinch Station in the 1890s

21. Ballynahinch Station in the 1890s

22. Ballynahinch Station in the 1930s – with overall roof

23. Ballynahinch Station Exterior – c1900

24. Phase 3 Ballynahinch Junction to Saintfield (Rowallane)

25. 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.

26. Phase 4 Ballynahinch Junction to Crossgar

27. The Main Line Ballynahinch Junction to Crossgar

28. Aerial view of Crossgar – c1980

29. Crossgar Station

30. What Is the twist in the tail?

31. 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?

32. 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?

33. What is possible? Former L.M.S. Class 3F 0-6-0T Could we bring one to the ‘Junction? Two of these engines were brought to Belfast and re-gauged in 1944.

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

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

36. The Ballynahinch Branch Diesel Locomotive. Could we build a replica in the long term?

37. 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.

38. The same carriage – stored by the Trust for restoration.

39. Community Involvement Is essential! • Saintfield • Ballynahinch • Crossgar

40. A Planning Application has been lodged for Phase 1. The Development of Ballynahinch Junction Station