BBC News
By Alan Haslam
image captionNature reclaims the overgrown Lissummon Tunnel
There was a time when almost everyone in Northern Ireland lived within five miles of a railway station.
More than 750 miles of track once linked towns and communities in every county, but most of this infrastructure was abandoned in the 1950s.
A new review into an all-Ireland rail network was announced in April to look at the possibility of reviving the golden age of rail travel.
But why did Northern Ireland s rail network disappear in the first place?
image copyrightDownpatrick & County Down Railway Archive
image captionThe creation of a border led to huge delays for passenger trains
The show also featured two new award categories. Most Innovative Fundraising Idea reflected the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact on heritage rail. Diesel Locomotion acknowledged the importance of diesel power in railway history.
The HRA Awards recognise a wide range of achievements and distinctions across the entire heritage railway industry, and the awards acknowledge individuals and institutions as well as railways, tramways and cliff railways. In spite of the overwhelming impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, several categories saw a record number of submissions and shortlisted entrants.
The Lord Faulkner Award for the Young Volunteer of the Year recognises the crucial importance of succession generations in securing the future of heritage rail, and acknowledges a distinguished contribution made by one or more young volunteers, under the age of 26. The winner was Oliver Edwards, of the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. Runners-up were the Severn
Shreddie before the restoration work took place
- Credit: Tony Goff
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway has picked up a prestigious award for its work on restoring a historic locomotive.
The Middy, as it is known, was awarded the Morgan Preservation award earlier this week at the Heritage Railway Association s awards for its restored Shredded Wheat diesel mechanical locomotive.
The 1934 0-4-0 locomotive was built for the Shredded Wheat Company’s Welwyn Garden City factory by Fowler of Leeds.
Years after falling out of use it was eventually bought at auction in a completely derelict state by Tony Goff.
Mr Goff offered it to the MSLR, but the locomotive was not in a good state; it was seized solid and immovable, so the Middy couldn’t take it straight away.
Shreddie before the restoration work took place
- Credit: Tony Goff
The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway has picked up a prestigious award for its work on restoring a historic locomotive.
The Middy, as it is known, was awarded the Morgan Preservation award earlier this week at the Heritage Railway Association s awards for its restored Shredded Wheat diesel mechanical locomotive.
The 1934 0-4-0 locomotive was built for the Shredded Wheat Company’s Welwyn Garden City factory by Fowler of Leeds.
Years after falling out of use it was eventually bought at auction in a completely derelict state by Tony Goff.
Mr Goff offered it to the MSLR, but the locomotive was not in a good state; it was seized solid and immovable, so the Middy couldn’t take it straight away.
Updated Thursday, 25 February by www.railstaff.co.ukUK
Having experienced passenger growth of 130% over 12 years, Northern Ireland’s stations needed urgent attention.
The Northern Ireland network carried 15 million passengers in 2018, with growth having hit 130 per cent over a 12-year period. Trains and stations were becoming increasingly crowded and investment was needed. Tim Casterton reports on how operator Translink has tackled the constraints on its stations.
During the five years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the world economy, the number of passengers using Translink’s Northern Ireland Railway (NIR) service had been increasing dramatically. This is down to several reasons, including increased traffic congestion in Belfast, new trains and improved rail timetables.