A RUSH TO PORTRUSH

 We arrive by ferry into the port of Larne, when Norther Ireland Railways diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) No. 76 awaits departure for Belfast in 1982.

Here's a view of Larne Harbour staton and its surrounding area in 1983.

Not far away is Larne Town station, where DEMU 456 calls in 1991.

Ulsterbus had a depot at Larne. Here's a few of the inhabitants.

Following the railway towards Belfast, we come to Whitehead station, where we see this LMS (NCC) 4-4-0 is departing in 1936.

Here's Whitehead station building in 1983. The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland has its main depot nearby.

Our next stop is Carrickfergus, a coastal town with lots of history.

The harour at Carrickfergus is still in use. A coaster calls in 1983.

Some suburban trains terminate at Carrickfergus. This DEMU is seen in Sealink livery.

Carrickfergus had some proper signalling in 1986.

We now turn away (for the moment) from the route to Belfast and head across country to Antrim. Here's the High Street a long time ago.

We now follow another NIR route north to Ballymena. Many years ago, we could have taken a more direct route. A Ballymena & Larne 3’ gauge 0-6-0T is seen leaving Ballymena for Larne.

In 1983, Ballymena was quite an important place on the NIR network. Here are a few photos, with lovely semaphore signalling.

On the same occasion, one of NIR's Hunslet shunters is seen in the permanent way yard at Ballymena.

Of course, there's more to Ballymena than the railway. Here's the graveyard!

Further along the line is Ballymoney, where NIR 102 "Falcon" was found in 1982.

Adjacent to the station was the Ulsterbus depot.

Between Ballymoney and Coleraine was a station called Macfin. It closed in 1954.

Away from the railway, we head up to the coast, to the famous Giant's Causeway. This is Aird's Snout.

Meanwhile, this part of Giant's Causeway is known as the Honeycomb.

Not far away is Bushmills Distillery.

A postcard view of the old Giant's Causeway Tramway passing Dunluce Castle.

Dunluce Castle in 1963.

The Giant's Causeway Tramway terminated at Station Square in Portrush.

Back in 1982, Portrush station had some marvellous somersault signals.

Now it's 1991 and NIR DEMU 85 is at Portrush, away from its suburban duties.

Portrush is a nice coastal town. This is the centre circa 1920.

A scene at Portrush harbour, 1986. 

Close by is the excellent Harbour Bar (Creative Commons License).

As the sun sets, it's time to say "Goodnight".

Thanks to the National Library of Ireland for making their photos available via Flickr.

The next post will see us venturing further around Northern Ireland. Follow the route here.

A SPARSELY POPULATED AREA

 Beyond Girvan the railway enters a little known area of Scotland with very little in the way of towns or villages. This is the view from the northbound boat train, south of Girvan.

Barrhill station, photographed by Ben Brooksbank in 1974, is some distance from the village of the same name.

The signal box was tiny!

Glenwhilly signal box wasn't much bigger and controlled a station in the middle of nowhere.

Another view from the boat train, arriving at Glenwhilly, 1983.

The next station south was New Luce.

We now go right across country towards Newton Stewart and the Bruce Stone in Glen Trool.

Once on the Dumfries to Straraer line, Newton Stewart station.

Castle Douglas is our next place to visit. Dumfries & Galloway Council operated some of the buses here.

Sulwath Brewery still makes beer in Castle Douglas.

Just a short distance to the east was the G&SWR station at Dalbeattie.

An about turn brings us near to the coast at Kirkcudbright. Here's the harbour in the 1960s.

Now for a 1970 view in colour.

Harbour Square - a postcard scene, with a local bus.

Here is St Mary Street in Kirkcudbright in 1972.

Another cross country trek now, enabling us to reach the west coast near Portpatrick, where we find an important radio station overlooking the sea.

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Portpatrick itself has a small harbour (Photographer unknown, scanned from a slide in my cllection).

Just to the north are the ruins of Dunskey Castle.

Soon we arrive at Stranraer (Creative Commons License).

Western SMT once ran most of the buses here.

27017 shunts its train at Stranraer Harbour station.

Here's a general view of the terminus.

We now board the Stena Caledonia (Photo by John McKintyre - Creative Commons License).

The last we see of Scotland, for a while, is Corswall Lighthouse. We will be back....

....but the next post will see us in Northern Ireland.

Follow the route here.