Potting shed that’s going back to the future at station

Potting shed that’s going back to the future at station

21 October 2015

A RAILWAY signal cabin that was used as a potting house for nearly 60 years will soon be restored to its former glory at Downpatrick railway station.

The former Burdoran junction north signal box was craned into position at the Downpatrick station on Saturday having been carefully restored by volunteers at the local heritage railway.

In its working life the cabin used to control the north end of Bundoran junction in Kilskeery, Co Tyrone. From here, trains diverged to travel to Omagh, Enniskillen, Fintona 

Junction and Bundoran, before the entire line was closed on October 1, 1957.

The Downpatrick & Co. Down Railway acquired the signal cabin in 2011 “just in time”, according Downpatrick and County Down Railway (DCDR) chief civil engineer David Crone.

“While Bundoran junction station survives as a private dwelling, we didn’t think any of the small signal cabins still survived until a chance discussion with one of our members and a Fermanagh local on boat in the middle of Lough Erne,” explained David. 

“He told us that the former Bundoran junction north cabin had been saved to be used as a garden shed in Ballinamallard.

“The base was largely rotten, but the top two-thirds were sound, and we’ve spent the last year rebuilding the base and all the rotted timber has been replaced and repaired.”

He adds, “I’m absolutely delighted, it’s always a worry when we lift things, but this lift was relatively easy.”

Last year the cabin restoration project received a large boost with grant aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund NI, allowing its restoration.  A new brick base, using reclaimed bricks from the former Baptist Church on Great Victoria Street, was built by the students from the South Eastern Regional College.

“Many passengers will have seen the cabin gradually stripped and rebuilt over the last year, and after a lot of work by volunteer Jim Carson the cabin is now ready to be properly installed and finished, added David. “This meant moving it from one end of the yard where initial work had begun to the other end.”

“There’s still a bit more work to do; the main thing left to do is the fine woodwork like the window frames, plus a new door. A lot of the boards that are missing have been taken off deliberately to repair the main structure, they have to go back on. And of course painted.

Work is expected to continue for a number of months to complete the project. If anyone would like to get involved in a restoration project such as this, the Downpatrick & County Down Railway is currently offering a free four-week trail membership for anyone interested in volunteering.

David says: “We are still looking for volunteers who would like to help out, especially anyone with any experience in construction. Why not come down one Wednesday or Saturday and try it out? You could find yourself with a very different hobby.” 

Contact the Downpatrick Tourist Information Centre on 028 4461 2233 or log on to the railway’s website at www.downrail.co.uk,or www.facebook.com/downrail