He’s the model railwayman

He’s the model railwayman

8 August 2012 - by David Telford

AN avid railway enthusiast has painstakingly created a mini masterpiece which has gone on permanent display at the Downpatrick and Co. Down Railway.

For Patrick Davey, his miniature recreation of the station at the former Ballynahinch Junction which formed part of the Belfast and Co. Down Railway (BCDR) line was a “rail” labour of love.

His initial attempt to recreate the junction in miniature form was abandoned after Patrick discovered he’d made some mistakes. But he didn’t give up and the brilliance of his work is now on public display in the recently completed Carriage Gallery at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway.

While the once familiar trains and buildings at the junction have long since gone, Patrick’s efforts have ensured people can take a step back to yesteryear when they view his fantastic work.

He explained his fascination with it started in 1988 while still at school when a classmate told him about a remote field in the area which contained two rusting steam locomotives, somewhere between Saintfield and Crossgar.

“I managed to find the field and indeed there were the two locomotives exactly as had been described, but of more interest to me were the substantial remains of a railway station, including a long and very narrow island platform and a main platform on which were the decaying remains of a station building and signal box, sadly all now demolished,” Patrick recalled.

“Soon I would learn that I had found the site of the former Ballynahinch Junction station on what was once the main line of the Belfast & County Down Railway which ran from Queen’s Quay station in Belfast to Newcastle, with a branch line to Ballynahinch, leaving the main line between Saintfield and Crossgar.”

Patrick revealed that sandwiched between his first two trips to the former junction was a visit to see his grandmother, Bridget Davey, who grew up in the Doran’s Rock area close to the former station.

“She knew the station well and I discovered her sister had married the son of one of the stationmasters at Ballynahinch Junction, the highly respected David Rice. My grandmother also astounded me by revealing that two of my older cousins, Davy and Jackie Rice, were the grandsons of Mr. Rice,” he revealed.

Patrick said he started thinking seriously about building the model in late 2005 and made an appeal for information and photographs.

“The most significant response came from Mr. Bill Gillespie, one of the founders of the Downpatrick and Co. Down Railway and the son of the late Joe Gillespie, a train driver on the Ballynahinch branch.

“As our communications developed into a firm friendship, it became clear that Bill and I shared the same passion for the BCDR and for Ballynahinch Junction in particular.

“Bill’s vivid memories of the junction and the Ballynahinch branch have been an invaluable source of information and inspiration to me and the generosity with which these have been given has been deeply appreciated.”

Patrick added: “All the station buildings and other structures were built from scratch, with the dimensions of the buildings largely decided through estimation following close examination of photographs and contemporary Ordnance Survey maps.

“Although not perfect, I am very happy with the results and the reaction from everyone in Downpatrick, especially visitors. It has been incredible.

“When I started the project I never thought it would become such a labour of love and I have to thank my wife Bronagh for her patience and not divorcing me.”

• Anyone who has any photos, memorabilia or memories from Ballynahinch Junction, or indeed any part of the old BCDR, is asked to contact the Downpatrick & County Down Railway at info@downrail.co.uk