Downpatrick & County Down Railway
@downrail.bsky.social
Ireland's only standard gauge heritage railway, north or south, running through Saint Patrick's Country.
The loco combo you never knew you needed.
February 15, 2026 at 5:42 PM
The loco combo you never knew you needed.
What's coming out of the shed?
February 15, 2026 at 2:38 PM
What's coming out of the shed?
Who said you ever grow out of Tonka toys? Because sometimes the toys just get bigger… and come with rail wheels.
A huge thank you to the team at Railway Plant Services Ltd, especially Chris and John, who have come to our rescue with a brand new (to us) digger.
A huge thank you to the team at Railway Plant Services Ltd, especially Chris and John, who have come to our rescue with a brand new (to us) digger.
February 13, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Who said you ever grow out of Tonka toys? Because sometimes the toys just get bigger… and come with rail wheels.
A huge thank you to the team at Railway Plant Services Ltd, especially Chris and John, who have come to our rescue with a brand new (to us) digger.
A huge thank you to the team at Railway Plant Services Ltd, especially Chris and John, who have come to our rescue with a brand new (to us) digger.
Courtesy of George Walker, a #throwback to 10 years ago, showing one of our beloved 'Sugar Puff' locos, No.1, ready to haul the first trains of the 2016 season. Originally used to shunt wagons at the sugar factory in Thurles, No.1 was the mainstay of our services throughout most of the 2010s.
February 12, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Courtesy of George Walker, a #throwback to 10 years ago, showing one of our beloved 'Sugar Puff' locos, No.1, ready to haul the first trains of the 2016 season. Originally used to shunt wagons at the sugar factory in Thurles, No.1 was the mainstay of our services throughout most of the 2010s.
We’ve had an impressive influx of new volunteers over the past few months – and what better way to get them started than having them work on our 150-year-old steam loco No. 90?
February 11, 2026 at 8:15 PM
We’ve had an impressive influx of new volunteers over the past few months – and what better way to get them started than having them work on our 150-year-old steam loco No. 90?
On Saturday, we had no fewer than 27 volunteers working away across several different projects simultaneously. This is the most people - in a single place at the one time - we've had on a non-running day in decades.
February 8, 2026 at 7:45 PM
On Saturday, we had no fewer than 27 volunteers working away across several different projects simultaneously. This is the most people - in a single place at the one time - we've had on a non-running day in decades.
Time to get the hedge cutters out!
Over the last three days we’ve had SG Elite on our line tackling long-overdue lineside overgrowth, and they’ve made a huge difference, completely knocking the socks off our volunteer team.
Over the last three days we’ve had SG Elite on our line tackling long-overdue lineside overgrowth, and they’ve made a huge difference, completely knocking the socks off our volunteer team.
February 6, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Time to get the hedge cutters out!
Over the last three days we’ve had SG Elite on our line tackling long-overdue lineside overgrowth, and they’ve made a huge difference, completely knocking the socks off our volunteer team.
Over the last three days we’ve had SG Elite on our line tackling long-overdue lineside overgrowth, and they’ve made a huge difference, completely knocking the socks off our volunteer team.
Last Saturday our volunteers took our wandering wagons up to Inch Abbey for storage, and took a moment to admire our recently refurbished farm crossing near the station.
February 4, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Last Saturday our volunteers took our wandering wagons up to Inch Abbey for storage, and took a moment to admire our recently refurbished farm crossing near the station.
Some shunting fun to start our Saturday.
January 31, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Some shunting fun to start our Saturday.
For this week's #Throwback we have a rare colour photo of our own O&K No. 3 at Mallow sugar factory, sent in by our follower Billy Maher.
January 29, 2026 at 11:58 PM
For this week's #Throwback we have a rare colour photo of our own O&K No. 3 at Mallow sugar factory, sent in by our follower Billy Maher.
Starry starry night...
January 28, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Starry starry night...
It was back to school for our Permanent Way team yesterday. Several of our volunteers attended the RailSTAR-IOSH Safe Working on the Railway course which was held in Ballymena.
January 27, 2026 at 6:55 PM
It was back to school for our Permanent Way team yesterday. Several of our volunteers attended the RailSTAR-IOSH Safe Working on the Railway course which was held in Ballymena.
With the weather warming up (a little), Robert has taken the opportunity to recommence work on our 80 class power car 69. The lower temperatures over the Christmas break had precluded the use of paints and fillers.
January 26, 2026 at 7:56 PM
With the weather warming up (a little), Robert has taken the opportunity to recommence work on our 80 class power car 69. The lower temperatures over the Christmas break had precluded the use of paints and fillers.
Last Saturday saw our hardy volunteers continue preparing carriage 1918 for its restoration. Having dealt with the old bar area the previous week, this time our novice gang turned their attention to removing panelling from the guard’s compartment.
January 24, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Last Saturday saw our hardy volunteers continue preparing carriage 1918 for its restoration. Having dealt with the old bar area the previous week, this time our novice gang turned their attention to removing panelling from the guard’s compartment.
Our AGM took place last Saturday. www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/agm-...
All in an afternoon: AGMs, bananas and fast food - Downpatrick and County Down Railway
We held our Annual General Meeting in The Saint Patrick Centre on Saturday. This included all the usual business of reports.
www.downrail.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Our AGM took place last Saturday. www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/agm-...
Our next restoration project is 1950s-vintage CIÉ carriage 1918, built in Inchicore Works, #Dublin, and one of the first carriages to be preserved by our railway.
www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/new-...
www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/new-...
New Year, new project - Downpatrick and County Down Railway
Our volunteer carriage team has turned its attention to its next restoration project: CIÉ 'laminate' carriage 1918.
www.downrail.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Our next restoration project is 1950s-vintage CIÉ carriage 1918, built in Inchicore Works, #Dublin, and one of the first carriages to be preserved by our railway.
www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/new-...
www.downrail.co.uk/2026/01/new-...
It's #TrackTuesday time and boy have we got an update for you... We've been quietly working away in the background with our "Big Proper Rail Industry" supporters to help improve some of the infrastructure on our site.
January 20, 2026 at 11:19 AM
It's #TrackTuesday time and boy have we got an update for you... We've been quietly working away in the background with our "Big Proper Rail Industry" supporters to help improve some of the infrastructure on our site.
So today is #BlueMonday. Well, there's nothing like a bit of steam to beat the blues so here's an archive picture of 3BG "Guinness" in action at our railway in the early 1990s.
Photo from the late Mike Collins Collection.
Photo from the late Mike Collins Collection.
January 19, 2026 at 2:30 PM
So today is #BlueMonday. Well, there's nothing like a bit of steam to beat the blues so here's an archive picture of 3BG "Guinness" in action at our railway in the early 1990s.
Photo from the late Mike Collins Collection.
Photo from the late Mike Collins Collection.
Our volunteers continue to dismantle No. 90 in preparation for its boiler being removed. This week we’ve been trying to take apart its ashpan, but years of rust and awkward nut diameters have made this a very difficult process.
January 18, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Our volunteers continue to dismantle No. 90 in preparation for its boiler being removed. This week we’ve been trying to take apart its ashpan, but years of rust and awkward nut diameters have made this a very difficult process.
For this #ThrowbackThursday we’re heading to March, 1967 for a photo of B124 hauling an unfitted freight train at Dungarvan.
Many thanks to Ernie’s Railway Archive for allowing us to use this photo.
Many thanks to Ernie’s Railway Archive for allowing us to use this photo.
January 15, 2026 at 8:21 PM
For this #ThrowbackThursday we’re heading to March, 1967 for a photo of B124 hauling an unfitted freight train at Dungarvan.
Many thanks to Ernie’s Railway Archive for allowing us to use this photo.
Many thanks to Ernie’s Railway Archive for allowing us to use this photo.
