Downpatrick Loop Platform railway station

The Downpatrick Loop Platform railway station is owned and operated by the Downpatrick and County Down Railway which is a heritage railway in Northern Ireland.

Downpatrick Loop Platform
LocationDownpatrick
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Coordinates54.323332°N 5.726624°W / 54.323332; -5.726624
Owned byBelfast and County Down Railway
Operated byBelfast and County Down Railway
Platforms2
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Key dates
1892Opened
1950Closed
1987Reopened by DCDR
Downpatrick and
County Down Railway
Inch Abbey
Downpatrick
Downpatrick Loop Platform
King Magnus' Halt
Ballydugan
(proposed)

The original Downpatrick railway station was constructed as part of the Belfast and County Down Railway (BCDR) mainline from Queens Quay, Belfast to Downpatrick. However, with growing railway expansion in the Victorian era and the connecting Downpatrick, Dundrum and Newcastle Railway being subsequently built with a junction north of Downpatrick for through trains between Queens Quay, Belfast and Newcastle railway station (County Down). The awkward permanent way with Downpatrick railway station being on a branch necessitated the construction of the triangle and Loop platform. Therefore, trains could call at Downpatrick or use the avoiding line with connections for passengers and goods at the Loop Platform, thereby making the railway operationally from a signalling point of view, more efficient using a railway triangle.

Downpatrick Loop Platform was opened on 24/09/1892 and closed on 16/01/1950.[1]

During the 1950s with the closure of the BCDR mainline from Queens Quay, Belfast to Newcastle railway station (County Down), the Loop Platform was not demolished as the station had no road access. Under the auspices of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway in 1993 with funding from the International Fund for Ireland the remains of the original ironwork was incorporated into the replica station canopy. The station is on the only operational railway triangle on a preserved railway.[2]

In Spring 2014, the 'Back Line' (The former mainline which avoided Downpatrick) was relaid and the platform refurbished. During 2015, relaying commenced on the 'South Line' (The direct line to Downpatrick).

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
King's Bridge Halt   Belfast and County Down Railway
Belfast-Newcastle
  Tullymurry
Downpatrick   Downpatrick, Killough and Ardglass Railway
Downpatrick-Ardglass
  Downpatrick Racecourse

References

  1. "Downpatrick Loop Platform" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  2. http://www.downrail.co.uk/build.htm
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