Banbridge Junction Railway

Last updated
Banbridge Junction Railway
Banbridge, Newry, Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway
Old railway, Lenaderg - geograph.org.uk - 341276.jpg
A section of the former line, which closed in 1955, pictured near Lenaderg in 1969
Overview
Dates of operation1859–1955
Successor Great Northern Railway (Ireland) (GNRI)
Technical
Track gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Lengthapprox. 5 to 6 miles [1] [2]

The Banbridge Junction Railway was a railway line that operated between Banbridge, County Down and Scarva, County Armagh. Opened in 1859, it was absorbed into the Great Northern Railway of Ireland in 1887. The line closed in the 1950s.

Contents

History

The company that operated the railway line, initially named the Banbridge, Newry, Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway Company, was created by the Banbridge Junction Railway Act 1853. [3] [4] The initial shareholders of the company included several local mill owners and linen producers, such as Thomas Ferguson, John Smyth, Robert McClelland and William Waugh. [3] The company was renamed, to the Banbridge Junction Railway Company, under the Banbridge Junction Railway Act 1856. [5]

Development of the line took place in the mid- to late-1850s, and railway engineers associated with the survey, design and construction work included James Price [6] [7] and William Dargan. [8] The Banbridge Junction Railway (BJR) opened in 1859. [9]

The line, which was approximately 5 miles in length, connected the Banbridge Railway with the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway. [1] It served several mills, which were involved in producing Irish linen, along the River Bann near Banbridge. [10] [11]

The BJR was absorbed into the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) (GNRI) in 1877. [9] [2] [12] The line closed in 1955. [9]

Stations

Stations and halts on the line included: [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banbridge (district)</span> District of Northern Ireland (1973–2015)

Banbridge was a local government district in Northern Ireland. The district was one of 26 council areas formed on 1 October 1973, following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1972. The headquarters of the council were in the town of Banbridge. In April 2015, most of the Banbridge district was included in the merged Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon district. Some smaller areas in the east of the district became merged with the Newry, Mourne and Down District

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilford, County Down</span> Village in County Down, Northern Ireland

Gilford is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. The village sits on the River Bann between the towns of Banbridge, Tandragee and Portadown. It covers the townlands of Loughans, Ballymacanallen and Drumaran. It had a population of 1,933 people in the 2011 census. Gilford is within the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrencetown, County Down</span> Village in United Kingdom

Laurencetown or Lawrencetown is a small village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It sits on the River Bann, along the main road between the towns of Banbridge and Portadown. It is within the parish of Tullylish and covers the townlands of Knocknagore and Drumnascamph. In the 2011 census it had a population of 956 people. In Irish, it is known as Baile Labhráis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarva</span> Village in County Down, Northern Ireland

Scarva is a small village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is at the boundary with County Armagh, which is marked by the Newry Canal. In the 2001 census it had a population of 320.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belfast–Newry line</span> Railway line in Northern Ireland

The Belfast–Newry line operates from Belfast Grand Central in County Antrim to Newry in County Down, Northern Ireland. The manager for this line is based at Portadown railway station, although the line extends to the border to include the Scarva and Poyntzpass halts and Newry. Newry is on the fringe of the network, being the last stop before the border with the Republic of Ireland. The line follows the route of the northern half of the main Dublin–Belfast line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drogheda MacBride railway station</span> Station in County Louth, Ireland

Drogheda MacBride railway station is a railway station that serves Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenaderg</span> Village

Lenaderg is a small village and townland of 335 acres (136 ha) in County Down, Northern Ireland. It sits on the banks of the River Bann, about two miles from Banbridge and a half mile from the village of Lawrencetown. It is situated in the civil parish of Tullylish and the historic barony of Iveagh Lower, Upper Half. As of the 2001 census, it had a population of 261 people. Lenaderg is within the District of Banbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knockmore railway station</span> Station in Lisburn, Northern Ireland

Knockmore railway station was a station on the Belfast–Newry railway line. The station served the suburb of Knockmore in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Great Northern Railway (GNR) opened Knockmore station as a halt in 1932. Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) closed the station on 25 March 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarva railway station</span> Railway station in Northern Ireland

Scarva railway station serves Scarva in County Down, Northern Ireland. Despite serving the County Down village, the station itself is in County Armagh, the nearby Newry Canal being the boundary.

The Ulster Railway was a railway company operating in Ulster, Ireland. The company was incorporated in 1836 and merged with two other railway companies in 1876 to form the Great Northern Railway (Ireland).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banbridge</span> Town in County Down, Northern Ireland

Banbridge is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road and is named after a bridge built over the River Bann in 1712. It is situated in the civil parish of Seapatrick and the historic barony of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half. The town began as a coaching stop on the road from Belfast to Dublin and thrived from Irish linen manufacturing. The town was home to the headquarters of the former Banbridge District Council. Following a reform of local government in Northern Ireland in 2015, Banbridge became part of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. It had a population of 17,400 in the 2021 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaidy railway station</span> Former railway station in Scotland

Plaidy railway station was a railway station at Plaidy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on the rural branchline to Macduff. It was opened in 1860 by the Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Railway and closed in 1944. Plaidy was 22 miles (35 km) from the junction at Inveramsay and 245 feet (75 m) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardee railway station</span> Abandoned railway station in Ardee, County Louth, Ireland

Ardee railway station was a railway station which served Ardee in County Louth, Ireland. It was the terminus of a branch which diverged from the Belfast-Dublin line at Dromin Junction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dromore Railway Station</span> Railway station in County Down, Northern Ireland

Dromore railway station was on the Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Junction Railway which ran from Knockmore Junction to Banbridge in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mullafernaghan railway station</span> Former railway station in County Down, Northern Ireland

Mullafernaghan railway station was on the Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Railway which ran from Knockmore Junction to Banbridge in Northern Ireland. It served the village of Mullafernaghan, and the neighbouring villages of Blackskull and Donaghcloney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banbridge railway station (Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Railway)</span> Railway station in Northern Ireland

Banbridge railway station was on the Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Railway which ran from Knockmore Junction to Banbridge in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurencetown railway station</span> Railway station in County Down, Northern Ireland

Laurencetown railway station was on the Banbridge Junction Railway which ran from Scarva to Banbridge in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenaderg railway station</span> Railway station in County Down, Northern Ireland

Lenaderg railway station was on the Banbridge Junction Railway which ran from Scarva to Banbridge, via Lenaderg, in Northern Ireland.

Banbridge railway station was on the Banbridge Junction Railway which ran from Scarva to Banbridge in Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tillynaught railway station</span> Former railway station in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Tillynaught railway station or Tillynaught Junction was a junction railway station in what is now Aberdeenshire, Parish of Fordyce, 6 miles south-west of Banff. Tillynaught was opened in 1859 by the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway, and in 1867 was absorbed by the Great North of Scotland Railway(GNSR). This junction station was served by Aberdeen to Elgin trains as well as trains running to the branch terminus at Banff.

References

Sources

  • Butt, R.J.V. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Stephens. ISBN   9781852605087.
  • Ayres, Bob (2003). "Irish Railways" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2012-05-06.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Knox, Alexander (1875). A History of the County of Down. Hodges, Foster & Company. p. 99. The Banbridge Junction Railway forms a connection between the Banbridge Railway, and the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railroad, at Scarva. Its length is about five miles, with an intervening station at Laurencetown
  2. 1 2 "Banbridge Junction Railway Company". scripoworld.com. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Banbridge Junction Railway Act 1853". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "Banbridge Junction Railway (Lease) Act 1860". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "Banbridge Junction Railway Act 1856". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Jones, Stefanie P. (2009). "Price, James". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.007499.v1. Price [..] was appointed resident engineer in charge of surveying the Banbridge Junction railway line (1855–7), ultimately overseeing its construction (1858–9)
  7. ↑ "Price, James". Dictionary of Irish Architects. Irish Architectural Archive. Retrieved 7 October 2024. Price [..] was employed from 1855 to 1857 as resident engineer of the Banbridge Junction Railway
  8. ↑ Mulligan, Fergus. "Dargan, William". Dictionary of Irish Biography. doi:10.3318/dib.002407.v1. Back in Ireland Dargan came to dominate railway construction in the 1850s [..] After this came the [..] Banbridge Junction Railway. There were few railway projects in which he was not involved
  9. 1 2 3 "Banbridge Junction Railway". railscot.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Railway Stations in County Down". rosdavies.com. Retrieved 9 October 2024. The pressure from the linen industry saw the opening of the railway from Banbridge to Scarva in 1859
  11. ↑ Proudfoot, Lindsay J. (1997), Down: History & Society, Geography Publications, p. 620, ISBN   9780906602805, In its vicinity [Banbridge] were many large textile mills and associated housing. It was logical therefore, that once the D.B.J.R. established a main line between Newry and Portadown in 1852, they should build a connection to Banbridge. Accordingly, a spur was constructed off the main line at Scarva by the Banbridge Junction railway between 1852 and 1859 [..] It was of particular benefit to the mills, facilitating the import of coal, flax and yarn, and the export of cloth
  12. ↑ "1932 Great Northern Railway (Ireland)". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Northern Ireland Railways & Tramways - SL 19 1 - Passenger Lines - Stations & Stops" (PDF), branchline.uk, p. 2, retrieved 7 October 2024
  14. ↑ Railscot 2003, p. 53 "Smyth's Siding [Opened] ??.??.1903 [Pass[enger] Closure] ??.??.1937".
  15. ↑ Butt 1995, p.214 "Smyth's Siding GN(I) [..] OP[EN] by 1904; CL[OSED] after 1929 ".
  16. ↑ Railscot 2003, p. 39.
  17. ↑ Railscot 2003, p. 38.
  18. ↑ Butt 1995, p. 139.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.