J3979 : Train leaving Holywood station - 1985

taken 39 years ago, near to Holywood, Co Down, Northern Ireland

Train leaving Holywood station - 1985
Train leaving Holywood station - 1985
As the original 1848 terminus of the BCDR line from Belfast, Holywood was once an important station boasting a railmotor platform (for local services from Belfast), a central locomotive release road between the up and down lines, and extensive freight sidings. Most of this was removed by the UTA in 1965 and what remained, including buildings dating from the days of the BHBR, was demolished by Northern Ireland Railways in 1973. By 1985, when this UTA built 70-class set called with the 17.37 passenger service from Bangor to Belfast (Central), all that remained were the two platforms and a pair of crude waiting shelters.
The Belfast – Bangor railway line

The Belfast & County Down Railway (BCDR) opened its railway line from Belfast (Queen’s Quay) to Holywood on 2 August 1845. This line was extended to the seaside resort of Bangor by the Belfast Holywood & Bangor Railway (BHBR), which opened on 18 May 1865. The BCDR absorbed the BHBR in 1884.

While double-track throughout, the BCDR always regarded its Bangor line as a branch off the main line to Newcastle. However, creation of the nationalised Ulster Transport Authority (UTA) in 1948 changed matters somewhat as only the Belfast – Bangor line survived the mass closures implemented by the UTA in 1950. The old BCDR Bangor line received a further blow in 1965 when it was isolated from the rest of the Irish railway system by closure of the Belfast Central Railway line from Ballymacarrett Junction (east of Queen’s Quay station) to Central Junction, just west of the former GNR(I) Great Victoria Street station (see: LinkExternal link ). However, on a positive note, introduction of UTA built MED railcars gave Belfast – Bangor the distinction of being the first main railway line in the British Isles to be operated solely by diesel traction.

In 1976, the Belfast Central Railway reopened as part of a project to replace both the GNR(I) Great Victoria Street station and the BCDR Queen’s Quay with a “central” station situated in east Belfast. Today (2013), Belfast – Bangor is an important part of the Northern Ireland Railways’ system, with services to Bangor originating from Portadown or the reinstated Great Victoria Street station. While diesel locomotives may occasionally visit with engineer’s trains, all passenger services are in the hands of Spanish built 3000 or 4000 class railcars.

For photographs of the former line to Newcastle, please see: LinkExternal link . For photographs at Queen's Quay station and Central Services Depot, please go to: LinkExternal link

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright The Carlisle Kid and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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J3979, 343 images   (more nearby search)
Photographer
Date Taken
Monday, 3 June, 1985   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 19 November, 2013
Geographical Context
Historic sites and artefacts  Business, Retail, Services  Suburb, Urban fringe  Railways 
Subject Location
Irish: geotagged! J 394 790 [100m precision]
WGS84: 54:38.4089N 5:50.4502W
Camera Location
Irish: geotagged! J 394 789
View Direction
Northeast (about 45 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Geograph
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