Storm devastates heritage line
Northern Ireland’s Downpatrick and County Down Railway left with extensive and expensive damage.
By Hassard Stacpoole
THE Downpatrick and County Down Railway in Northern Ireland has had to suspend all operations until further notice because of flood damage caused by Storm Ciaran at the end of October, with water levels rising on the last day of the DCDR’s‘ Phantom Flyer Halloween ’trains on October 29.
The flooding devastated large parts of the town, with the DCDR’s station area, carriage gallery and workshops under 5ft of flood water at one point, damaging locomotives and rolling stock.
DCDR chairman Robert Gardner told The RM :“This is a devastating blow to the railway. We were all gearing up for a busy Christmas season with our popular‘Lapland Express’and our Winter Diesel Gala. However, we are now in a position where we don’t know when can start running trains again.