Ballycastle Railway
Encyclopedia
Ballycastle Railway was a narrow gauge railway line which ran from Ballycastle
to Ballymoney
, both in County Antrim
, Northern Ireland
.
Ballycastle Railway opened in October 1880 and ran 17 miles from Ballymoney, on the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR), later Northern Counties Committee
(NCC), main line to Derry
, to Ballycastle
. It was never a very profitable enterprise and closed down for a period in 1924, until rescued by the NCC, which took it over completely.
Services mainly consisted of three return journeys each day, taking between 50 minutes and an hour. At the start there were three Black Hawthorn
0-6-0ST engines and two Kitson
4-4-2T engines arrived in 1908. Initially carriages were of the compartment type painted two shades of brown, until largely displaced by LMS
-designed corridor carriages transferred from the Ballymena and Larne Railway
in 1933. The Ballycastle Railway closed in July 1950.
the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
, the NCC's parent company, was nationalised by the British Government on 1 January 1948. The NCC (and the Ballycastle Railway) was thus briefly owned by the British Transport Commission
. This was only a temporary measure and in 1949 the NCC was transferred to the Ulster Transport Authority
(UTA) – owned by the Government of Northern Ireland. The UTA soon embarked on a major programme of railway closures, notably including of much the Belfast and County Down Railway
. The Ballycastle Railway was one of the casualties; the UTA closed the line to all services on 3 July 1950.
Ballycastle, County Antrim
Ballycastle is a small town in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its population was 5,089 people in the 2001 Census. It is the seat and main settlement of Moyle District Council....
to Ballymoney
Ballymoney
Ballymoney is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,021 people in the 2001 Census. It is currently served by Ballymoney Borough Council....
, both in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
History
Northern Counties Committee
The Northern Counties Committee was a railway that served the north-east of Ireland. It was built to Irish gauge but later acquired a number of narrow gauge lines...
(NCC), main line to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, to Ballycastle
Ballycastle
Ballycastle can refer to:*Ballycastle, County Antrim, a small town in Northern Ireland*Ballycastle, County Mayo, a village in the Republic of Ireland...
. It was never a very profitable enterprise and closed down for a period in 1924, until rescued by the NCC, which took it over completely.
Services mainly consisted of three return journeys each day, taking between 50 minutes and an hour. At the start there were three Black Hawthorn
Black, Hawthorn & Co
Black, Hawthorn and Company was a steam locomotive manufacturer with a works situated in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK.-John Coulthard and Son:...
0-6-0ST engines and two Kitson
Kitson & Co.
Kitson and Company was a locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-Early history:The company started as James Kitson at the Airedale Foundry, off Pearson Street, Hunslet in 1835 with Charles Todd as a partner...
4-4-2T engines arrived in 1908. Initially carriages were of the compartment type painted two shades of brown, until largely displaced by LMS
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
-designed corridor carriages transferred from the Ballymena and Larne Railway
Ballymena and Larne Railway
The Ballymena and Larne Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The first part opened in July 1877 and regular passenger services began in August 1878, the first on the three foot Irish narrow gauge...
in 1933. The Ballycastle Railway closed in July 1950.
Nationalisation and closure
Under the terms of the Transport Act 1947Transport Act 1947
The Transport Act 1947 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Under it the railways, long-distance road haulage and various other types of transport were acquired by the state and handed over to a new British Transport Commission for operation...
the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
, the NCC's parent company, was nationalised by the British Government on 1 January 1948. The NCC (and the Ballycastle Railway) was thus briefly owned by the British Transport Commission
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
. This was only a temporary measure and in 1949 the NCC was transferred to the Ulster Transport Authority
Ulster Transport Authority
The Ulster Transport Authority ran rail and bus transport in Northern Ireland from 1948 until 1966.-Formation and consolidation:The UTA was formed by the Transport Act 1948, which merged the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board and the Belfast and County Down Railway...
(UTA) – owned by the Government of Northern Ireland. The UTA soon embarked on a major programme of railway closures, notably including of much the Belfast and County Down Railway
Belfast and County Down Railway
The Belfast and County Down Railway was an Irish gauge railway in Ireland linking Belfast with County Down. It was built in the 19th century and absorbed into the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948...
. The Ballycastle Railway was one of the casualties; the UTA closed the line to all services on 3 July 1950.
Route
- Ballymoney
- Dervock, 4½-miles
- Stranocum, 6¾-miles
- Gracehill, 8¼-miles, opened 01/12/1890
- Armoy, 10¼-miles
- Balleeny Siding, 11 miles (17.7 km)
- Capecastle, 13 miles (20.9 km), opened 01/02/1882
- Ballast Pit, 15 miles (24.1 km)
- Tow Viaduct, 16 miles (25.7 km)
- Ballycastle., 16¼-miles
Other narrow gauge railways in Ulster
- Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay RailwayBallymena, Cushendall and Red Bay RailwayThe Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway was a narrow gauge railway between Ballymena and Retreat, both in County Antrim, in what is now Northern Ireland. It operated from 1875 to 1940.-History:...
- Ballymena and Larne RailwayBallymena and Larne RailwayThe Ballymena and Larne Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The first part opened in July 1877 and regular passenger services began in August 1878, the first on the three foot Irish narrow gauge...
- Castlederg and Victoria Bridge TramwayCastlederg and Victoria Bridge TramwayThe Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway was a narrow gauge railway , operating in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland...
- Cavan and Leitrim RailwayCavan and Leitrim RailwayThe Cavan & Leitrim Railway was a narrow-gauge railway in the counties of Leitrim and Cavan in the north-west of Ireland, which ran from 1887 until 1959.Unusually for Ireland, this 914mm -gauge line survived on coal traffic, from the mine at Arigna...
- Clogher Valley RailwayClogher Valley RailwayThe Clogher Valley Railway was a 37 mile long narrow gauge railway in County Tyrone and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It opened in May 1887 and closed on 1 January 1942 .-Route:...
- County Donegal Railways Joint CommitteeCounty Donegal Railways Joint CommitteeThe County Donegal Railways Joint Committee operated an extensive 3 foot gauge railway system serving county Donegal, Ireland,from 1906 until 1960...
- Londonderry and Lough Swilly RailwayLondonderry and Lough Swilly RailwayThe Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company is an Irish public transport and freight company incorporated in June 1853. Despite its name it operates no railway services. It formerly operated 99 miles of railways but closed its last line in July 1953...