Flood-hit heritage railway seeks to get back on track

Northern Ireland's minister for infrastructure has pledged to explore avenues of support for Downpatrick and County Down Railway (DCDR) as it recovers after a devastating flood in November 2023.

John O’Dowd visited the railway, which is an Accredited museum that operates steam and diesel locomotives along three miles of rail track, to witness the reconstruction efforts and challenges facing the heritage railway as it seeks to reopen following the flooding, which left parts of the site submerged under six feet of water.

O'Dowd was given a tour of the flood-affected areas, culminating in a train journey to Inch Abbey on board the railway’s 450 Class ‘thumper’ diesel train, Antrim Castle, which featured in the final series of the Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls.

Railway chairman Robert Gardiner said: “We were keen to show the minister the most severely impacted sections of our railway, including where the tracks and buildings were submerged, to convey the extent of the devastation.

"The minister took the time to inspect these areas closely and engaged in detailed discussions with our team about the immediate and long-term challenges we face, especially regarding the River Quoile. We are pleased we will now be feeding into the flood review process.”

The Department for Infrastructure oversees heritage railways in terms of both licensing and the oversight of safety matters and other associated regulations.

Following the visit, O’Dowd said: “It was inspiring to see and hear how the volunteers and the local community responded to the autumn flooding events and to hear of the preparations that are being made to become operational again. A feasibility study looking to identify viable flood risk management and engineering solutions will include the railway facility. 

“My department, as the Rail Safety Authority, is working with Downpatrick and County Down Railway to ensure the reopening of the facility.”

Gardiner said: “We were pleased to welcome the minister for infrastructure, John O'Dowd, to the town and our historic railway for the first time since the floods to see for himself the impact of the recent floods in Downpatrick and our recovery efforts.

"The severe weather in November 2023 brought unprecedented rainfall, leading to significant flooding across the town centre and surrounding area, affecting many in our local community.

“The backbone of the DCDR’s success is our dedicated volunteers, who invest countless hours in maintaining and operating the railway. However, the destruction caused by the floods in November seriously affected everyone’s morale. The minister's visit to see our reconstruction efforts is a significant endorsement of our hard work and commitment.”

Gardiner added: “We were also very pleased that minister O'Dowd was receptive to our concerns and was open to exploring avenues for support and collaboration between the DfI and the DCDR, strengthening the relationship between the heritage railway and our regulator.

“We look forward to working closely with the Department for Infrastructure to ensure that our railway remains a treasured part of Downpatrick's history and a vibrant attraction for visitors.”

An analysis exploring the impact of flooding and extreme weather on museums will be in the September/October 2024 issue of Museums Journal