The Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway
Encyclopedia
The Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway (GC&BR) is a gauge narrow gauge heritage railway
operating between the Giant's Causeway
and Bushmills
on the coast of County Antrim
, Northern Ireland
. The line is two miles (3.2 km) long.
, operated by the Giant's Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway & Tramway Company Ltd, was a pioneering gauge electric narrow gauge railway operating between Portrush
and the Giant's Causeway
. 9¼ miles (14.8 km) long, it was hailed at its opening as “the first long electric tramway in the world”. Promoted by W.A. Traill it was powered by hydroelectricity
from an elevated third rail
, although steam tram engine
s were also used in its earlier years, and the power supply was converted to overhead wire in 1899. It opened to Bushmills in 1883, the extension from there to the Causeway following on 1 July 1887. The line did not reopen after the end of the 1949 season on 20 September, and was subsequently dismantled.
for a tourist line at Shane's Castle
, Country Antrim, which closed in 1994. The idea of using this to revive part of the Tramway was largely conceived and promoted by David Laing. The Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway Company is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status. Clearance of the trackbed commenced at the end of 1999 and the railway carried its first passengers at Easter 2002.
On Saturday 10th July 2010 the Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Railway took delivery of a specially customised diesel powered locomotive together with three new passenger coaches capable of accommodating up to 90 passengers, all of which have been specially designed by the Company and by the manufacturers, Severn Lamb UK Ltd.
, to enhance the visitor experience to the North Antrim Coast. The Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Railway follows the breathtaking two mile extension of the original Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Hydro Electric Tram track. Both the new locomotive and passenger coaches have been designed to recreate, in so far as it be possible, the passenger experience of the original hydro electric tram providing a nostalgic journey linking the town of Bushmills to the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Giant’s Causeway.
Four Oliver Transport lorries had made their way from Alcester, Warwickshire on Friday 9th July 2010, overnight on the Norfolkline Birkenhead to Belfast ferry and then onward to Bushmills. At 8.56am on Saturday 10th July 2010 the four flat bed lorries carrying the new rolling stock appeared over Ballylinney hill en route to the Giant’s Causeway station. Castle Engineering had been at the station from 07.30 setting up the 50 tonne all terrain mobile crane to lift the drive unit and 3 coaches onto the rails.
PSNI had accompanied the convoy from Priestland to the Giant’s Causeway, through the town of Bushmills to ensure safe passage of the precious cargo. On arrival at the Giant’s Causeway station the four lorries circled the car park and allowed staff and friends of the railway to take photographs of these eagerly awaited items of rolling stock.
At 9.30am the crane swung into action and started the meticulous job of unloading onto the tracks at the railway. Two banksmen were on hand with the coaches lifted precariously to approximately 30 feet off the ground. Within 90 minutes all coaches and the drive unit were unloaded.
Train services were not disrupted with No 3 Shane (Andrew Barclay & Sons, 2265, 1969) taking the strain at 11am to take the first passengers of the day to Bushmills.
Commissioning of the new rolling stock by the manufacturers began on Monday 12th July with the inaugural journey expected on Thursday 15th July 2010.
The diesel locomotive is powered by a Kubota V3600-E3 engine and although the Company is intent on using this new rolling stock for most of the 2010 season and beyond, steam days will be operated occasionally throughout the season.
where a newly installed bridge carries the line across. Just before the bridge is a passing loop
, not normally used. Crossing Bushfoot Golf Course to meet Ballaghmore Road (which leads from Bushmills to Portballintrae
) the line turns bringing it parallel to that road, which it follows to the lower terminus situated at the junction of the Portrush to Bushmills road. The GC&BR Bushmills station is a single platform with no buildings. Alongside the line there is both a cycle track (National Cycle Network
93) and a footpath.
Notes:
The line has eight 4-wheel coaches
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
operating between the Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills...
and Bushmills
Bushmills
Bushmills is a village on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Bushmills had 1,319 inhabitants in the 2001 Census. It is located 95 km from Belfast, 10 km from Ballycastle and 15 km from Coleraine...
on the coast of 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...
. The line is two miles (3.2 km) long.
The original line
The Giant's Causeway TramwayGiant's Causeway Tramway
The Giant's Causeway Tramway, operated by the Giant's Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway & Tramway Company Ltd, was a pioneering gauge electric narrow gauge railway operating between Portrush and the Giant's Causeway on the coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
, operated by the Giant's Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway & Tramway Company Ltd, was a pioneering gauge electric narrow gauge railway operating between Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
and the Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills...
. 9¼ miles (14.8 km) long, it was hailed at its opening as “the first long electric tramway in the world”. Promoted by W.A. Traill it was powered by hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
from an elevated third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
, although steam tram engine
Tram engine
A tram engine is a locomotive specially built, or modified, to work on a street, or roadside, tramway.-Steam tram engines:In the steam locomotive era, tram engines had to comply with certain legal requirements, although these varied from country to country:* The engine must be governed to a maximum...
s were also used in its earlier years, and the power supply was converted to overhead wire in 1899. It opened to Bushmills in 1883, the extension from there to the Causeway following on 1 July 1887. The line did not reopen after the end of the 1949 season on 20 September, and was subsequently dismantled.
The new line
The new railway utilises equipment originally assembled by Lord O’NeillBaron O'Neill
Baron O'Neill, of Shane's Castle in the County of Antrim, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1868 for the musical composer The Rev...
for a tourist line at Shane's Castle
Shane's Castle
Shane's Castle is a ruined castle near Randalstown in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The castle is on the north-east shores of Lough Neagh. Built in 1345 by a member of the O'Neill dynasty, it was originally called Eden-duff-carrick...
, Country Antrim, which closed in 1994. The idea of using this to revive part of the Tramway was largely conceived and promoted by David Laing. The Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway Company is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status. Clearance of the trackbed commenced at the end of 1999 and the railway carried its first passengers at Easter 2002.
On Saturday 10th July 2010 the Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Railway took delivery of a specially customised diesel powered locomotive together with three new passenger coaches capable of accommodating up to 90 passengers, all of which have been specially designed by the Company and by the manufacturers, Severn Lamb UK Ltd.
Severn Lamb
Severn Lamb, sometimes known as Severn-Lamb, are a manufacturers of various forms of transport systems and equipment, principally aimed at the leisure market. They are based at Alcester in the English county of Warwickshire, but sell their products world-wide.The company was founded by Peter Severn...
, to enhance the visitor experience to the North Antrim Coast. The Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Railway follows the breathtaking two mile extension of the original Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Hydro Electric Tram track. Both the new locomotive and passenger coaches have been designed to recreate, in so far as it be possible, the passenger experience of the original hydro electric tram providing a nostalgic journey linking the town of Bushmills to the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Giant’s Causeway.
Four Oliver Transport lorries had made their way from Alcester, Warwickshire on Friday 9th July 2010, overnight on the Norfolkline Birkenhead to Belfast ferry and then onward to Bushmills. At 8.56am on Saturday 10th July 2010 the four flat bed lorries carrying the new rolling stock appeared over Ballylinney hill en route to the Giant’s Causeway station. Castle Engineering had been at the station from 07.30 setting up the 50 tonne all terrain mobile crane to lift the drive unit and 3 coaches onto the rails.
PSNI had accompanied the convoy from Priestland to the Giant’s Causeway, through the town of Bushmills to ensure safe passage of the precious cargo. On arrival at the Giant’s Causeway station the four lorries circled the car park and allowed staff and friends of the railway to take photographs of these eagerly awaited items of rolling stock.
At 9.30am the crane swung into action and started the meticulous job of unloading onto the tracks at the railway. Two banksmen were on hand with the coaches lifted precariously to approximately 30 feet off the ground. Within 90 minutes all coaches and the drive unit were unloaded.
Train services were not disrupted with No 3 Shane (Andrew Barclay & Sons, 2265, 1969) taking the strain at 11am to take the first passengers of the day to Bushmills.
Commissioning of the new rolling stock by the manufacturers began on Monday 12th July with the inaugural journey expected on Thursday 15th July 2010.
The diesel locomotive is powered by a Kubota V3600-E3 engine and although the Company is intent on using this new rolling stock for most of the 2010 season and beyond, steam days will be operated occasionally throughout the season.
The route
The upper station, just below the Causeway Hotel, has a single platform and passenger, locomotive and carriage facilities, all built in traditional style for the line, which departs towards Bushfoot Strand down a gradient which is sufficient to make the engines 'bark' on their return. It then follows the ancient sand dune system until it meets the River BushRiver Bush
The River Bush is a river in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The river's source is in the Antrim Hills at 480m. From there the river flows northwest, with a bend at the town of Armoy. It then flows west, passing through Stranocum, and then bends north, passing through Bushmills before reaching...
where a newly installed bridge carries the line across. Just before the bridge is a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
, not normally used. Crossing Bushfoot Golf Course to meet Ballaghmore Road (which leads from Bushmills to Portballintrae
Portballintrae
Portballintrae is a small seaside village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is four miles east of Portrush and two miles west of the Giant's Causeway. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 734 people, a decline of 10% compared to 1991...
) the line turns bringing it parallel to that road, which it follows to the lower terminus situated at the junction of the Portrush to Bushmills road. The GC&BR Bushmills station is a single platform with no buildings. Alongside the line there is both a cycle track (National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
93) and a footpath.
Locomotives and coaches
| No. | Name | Wheel Arr. | Cylinders | Builder | Works No. | Date Built | Notes. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyrone | 0-4-0T | 2, OC | Peckett and Sons Peckett and Sons Peckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use... |
1026 | 1904 | Ex-British Aluminium British Aluminium The aluminium producer British Aluminium Ltd was originally formed as the British Aluminium Company Ltd on 7 May 1894 and was subsequently known as British Alcan Aluminium Plc... Co., Larne, |
| 2 | Rory | 4w DH | Simplex Simplex In geometry, a simplex is a generalization of the notion of a triangle or tetrahedron to arbitrary dimension. Specifically, an n-simplex is an n-dimensional polytope which is the convex hull of its n + 1 vertices. For example, a 2-simplex is a triangle, a 3-simplex is a tetrahedron,... (a) |
102T016 | 1976 | Ex-Blue Circle Cement Blue Circle Industries Blue Circle Industries was a British public company manufacturing cement. It was founded in 1900, and was bought out by the French company Lafarge in 2001.-History:... |
|
| 3 | Shane | 0-4-0WT | 2, OC | Andrew Barclay & Sons Co. Andrew Barclay & Sons Co. Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. was a builder of steam and diesel locomotives, based in Kilmarnock, Scotland, that was founded in 1840 and is now owned by Wabtec Rail.- History :... |
2265 | 1949 | Ex-Bord na Móna Bord na Móna Bord na Móna , abbreviated BNM, is a semi-state company in Ireland, created in 1946 by the Turf Development Act 1946. The company is responsible for the mechanised harvesting of peat, primarily in the Midlands of Ireland... , Clonast, built as turf (peat)-burner |
Notes:
- (a) The Motor Rail & Tramcar Co.Motor RailMotor Rail was a British locomotive-building company, based in Bedford. Formed in 1911 as The Motor Rail & Tramcar Co Ltd, they built petrol and diesel engined locomotives, mainly narrow gauge. During World War I over 900 locos were supplied for use on temporary military supply railways...
- OC Steam Locomotive with cylinders outside the frames.
- WT "Well Tank", a steam locomotive with water capacity in a tank situated in the well between its frames.
- DH Diesel Locomotive with Hydraulic Transmission.
The line has eight 4-wheel coaches
See also
- List of narrow gauge railways in Ireland
- Rail transport in IrelandRail transport in IrelandRail services in Ireland are provided by Iarnród Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and by Northern Ireland Railways in Northern Ireland.Most routes in the Republic radiate from Dublin...