As John explained, this section of
line passes through an area with various historical
connections with aviation, but the most unusual is at
the former Ballykelly aerodrome where Alderman George
Robinson, MLA for East Londonderry worked over 40 years,
firstly for the RAF and then for the army.
Soon after passing Ballykelly, John’s train called
at Bellarena station and was soon running alongside
the Atlantic Ocean towards Downhill. It was here, in
1953, that the Royal Train which conveyed the Queen
and the Duke of Edinburgh from Lisburn to Lisahally
stopped for lunch so that the Royal party could enjoy
the magnificent views over Magilligan Strand. John was
joined for this stage of the journey by environmentalist
David Erwin.
A Derry-bound train emerges
from the tunnels at Downhill on Northern Ireland’s
scenic railway
Photo:Translink
After emerging from the tunnels at Downhill, John’s
train stopped at Castlerock where he met conservation
architect Colin Hatrick to find out about the station
buildings along the line, of which a few still survive.
And as he discovered, a well-known name in Ulster architecture
was responsible for their design.
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