Tracing the Belfast-Comber railway on Google satellite and street view

Рет қаралды 2,159

3 жыл бұрын

Today it takes 30 to 45 minutes to drive from Comber to the area around the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, depending on traffic. A century ago it was possible to make the same trip in 15 minutes on a steam train. Today the former Belfast & County Down Railway line between those points is mostly used as a greenway allowing cyclists to ride in safety. Is it possible to get trains running on this route again? The route is mostly clear, one challenge would be getting across the Upper Newtownards Road at Holywood Road, but it might not be impossible. Apparently I missed a large historical structure at that junction called the Holywood Arches, a pair of major bridges over the road, now long gone. Replacing them would be a project on a par with the William Dargan bridge that was built for the Luas system in Dublin.
The hard part is the homes that have been built on the old line between Medway St and Island St., plus the John Morgan facility would also have to be relocated. If that could be resolved, rather than reopen a large station at the site of the former Queen's Quay station, it would be possible to reconnect to the Bangor line and utilize the existing stations.
Part of the plan would need to include provision for cyclists, so that a safe route can be provided to replace anything that is lost by any reopening of the railway.
Queen's Quay station:
www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/...
Dundonald station:
www.dundonaldrail.co.uk
Comber station:
www.comberhistory.com/chs%20ra...

Пікірлер: 20

@daniellowden4239 2 жыл бұрын

Hello Eamon; greetings from a fellow railway enthusiast from Saintfield. It may interest you to know that remains of the platforms at the site of Knock Station are still visible; just on the opposite side of the main road from the police station. Other features already mentioned by the gentleman below- Hollywood arches, Neill's Hill platform etc. Also, remains of a turntable at Castlewellan are present in Corry Wood, where a circular walk has recently been created crossing the former line at two points where it made its' way through the wood towards Newcastle. A siding diverged from this line in the wood and ended at a turntable, the circular wall of which I found a few years ago.

@billhendry1251 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Eamon I remember this railway route from the queens quay (LMS station) up To dundonald that was our turf as wee lads in early 50,s that was our play pen jus like Stan by me movie gang during the time of dismantling,the trains drove over the holywood arches and thru wooden gates at kings road along large mounds which are no longer in situ great Times thank for the memory…….

@tomcarr1358 Ай бұрын

Excellent manipulation of available resources aided by your passing comments.My uncle lived in Newcastle for a while before returning to live in Belfast. To escape a family gathering one December I managed to have a good look at Newcastle Station before the railway co. released the land and buildings for other uses. As children his brothers used to write to him at school adding the accolade B&CDR after his name on the envelope.

@stephen-uv8zc 3 жыл бұрын

I enjoyed this video and also reading the comments. You have a series of videos on disused railway lines which I have watched and which are really interesting. Hopefully you will do a video on the line continuing from Comber to Newcastle Co. Down. That would be great to watch also. Thanks.

@danielhunter8498 2 ай бұрын

You should continue tracing the old line all the way to Donaghadee (via Newtownards) on google maps

@martinwalsh3228 2 жыл бұрын

The reopening of the line would cut down traffic jams, pollution, car accidents & road deaths.

@stuartmorton8111 Жыл бұрын

There was a railway bridge in both dee street and Hollywood arches (I.e arches) the train ran over

@ajcrichton81 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your work on this sir. Very enjoyable!

@BelfastMurf 4 ай бұрын

There’s the remains of a platform on the greenway. I can’t remember at what point it is.

@gavinbamford1095 3 жыл бұрын

3.39 You failed to mention one of the greatest structures on this line, the twin iron bridges of Holywood Arches over 2 major roads. Neill's Hill, a click on the photo point may have shown the work by volunteers to clear the former UP platform. Knock, you were on the wrong side of the road for the station. Knock Road is in front of the station building in your picture. You then showed a picture of a train that was actually taken from the King's Road bridge (house still extant. Dundonald, you showed the station master's house but didn't mention that. Comber, that was the Good's Shed not the station. The station platform with BCDR diagonal coping stones still exists behind the fire station. Comments from Gavin from 'Friends of Neill's Hill Railway Station' Facebook group.

@eamonnca1 3 жыл бұрын

I see. So would there have been large embankments leading up to the Holywood arches?

@gavinbamford1095 3 жыл бұрын

@@eamonnca1 yes, indeed, stretching back past Connswater bridge towards Dee Street. Google will pull up great photos of Holywood Arches or via Facebook. A replacement bridge over that junction would a huge project similar to one on the Dublin Luas line at Dundrum (William Dargan bridge).

@eamonnca1 3 жыл бұрын

@@gavinbamford1095 And it would explain why the greenway was such an easier option for this route than a reopened rail project, as impressive as it would be.

@ST-ur7oh 3 жыл бұрын

My word Gavin give the man some credit. He’s not from the area and whilst he may have glossed over some points k think he did a good job and I’m glad we have another author who is interested in the historic relevance and protection of the assets along the line.

@gavinbamford1095 3 жыл бұрын

@@ST-ur7oh Hi, you are right, I apologise to Eamon from being critical of this video. I have followed and greatly enjoyed all his video trips via Google Earth and usually head over to the app to explore further. My enthusiasm for the 4 stations on the Comber Greenway overcame me. Gavin