MINIATURE RAILWAY AND FIRE ENGINES
Thursday 3rd June 2010 was an eventful evening for the members of the Rotary Club of Donaghadee. The members and some guests visited Drumawhey Junction Railway. The Belfast & County Down Miniature Railway Society operates a 7 ¼ inc gauge railway called Drumawhey Junction, on a 7 acre site located at Four Road Ends on the Upper Gransha Road between Bangor, Donaghadee and Newtownards. It was established in 1991 with the aim of building a miniature railway complete with locomotives, carriages and buildings for the pleasure of the members and the general public. The BCDMRS is a cross-community organisation with a broad mix of people who help to develop the railway, build their own locomotives or just enjoy being part of a group of like-minded people. As one member puts it “From my point of view, being a member of the Society is all about camaraderie. The camaraderie of being part of a team. A team requiring many skills”. The railway has an interesting track plan incorporating a tunnel, lattice steel bridge, engine shed, station, signal box, car park, toilets and shop. The track gives a 12 minute run of 1.5km which will be extended to 3km. A signal box controls the turnouts, colour light and semaphore signals. The track is laid with steel rail with all turnouts built in-house. The railway has reached such a success that it attracts visitors form around the UK, many of whom bring their own engines. Many of these can be seen on the second weekend in August each year when the Society’s birthday is celebrated. The BCDMRS is a non-profit making organisation and fares charged are used solely to sustain and develop the railway. The Rotarians were shown round the complex by Ken Verner, Norman Adamson and Adrian Kempstone who then took them on an exciting journey on one of the miniature steam trains. The aforementioned Society members then displayed their fire fighting capabilities when a gorse fire broke out beside the track. This can be viewed on You Tube. The fire was extinguished before the arrival of the local fire engine from Donaghadee. It was certainly a night to be remembered by the Rotarians. President Mike Camlin thanked the three Society members for an eventful and enjoyable evening during the meal at Pier 36 after the visit.
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