Portrush railway station
Encyclopedia
Portrush railway station is the terminus of the Northern Ireland Railways
Coleraine-Portrush line
serving the seaside town of Portrush
, County Antrim
, Northern Ireland
.
, under the direction of its engineer and architect Berkeley Deane Wise
, was completed in 1893. Three platforms were provided (only one is now in regular use) together with a train shed
(demolished) and a station building in a "half-timbered" Mock Tudor
style with a clock tower
, described by Currie as "certainly one of the most handsome railway buildings in Ireland"; it is now occupied by the Traks nightclub complex, with a small newer concrete block ticket office behind it serving as the current station building. Goods traffic to the station closed on 20 September 1954.
The large 1892 grandfather clock
from the station was returned to Portrush in 2007 and is displayed in Barry’s Amusements complex adjacent to the station. Other survivals from the past are some semaphore signals
(of the "somersault" type) and an early water tank.
Formerly the railway owned the Northern Counties Hotel, the principal such establishment in town. A line once continued beyond the station to serve the harbour, and the Giant's Causeway Tramway
began in Eglinton Street alongside the station.
. There are also some services which extend to Belfast Great Victora Street. On Sundays there is a two hourly service.
Northern Ireland Railways
NI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways and for a brief period of time, Ulster Transport Railways , is the railway operator in Northern Ireland...
Coleraine-Portrush line
Coleraine-Portrush railway line
The Coleraine-Portrush line is a short branch railway line in Northern Ireland between the town of Coleraine in County Londonderry and the seaside resort of Portrush in County Antrim...
serving the seaside town of Portrush
Portrush
Portrush is a small seaside resort town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the County Londonderry border. The main part of the old town, including the railway station as well as most hotels, restaurants and bars, is built on a mile–long peninsula, Ramore Head, pointing north-northwest....
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
History
The station, which is 67¾ miles from Belfast, was opened on 4 December 1855. To accommodate excursion and holiday traffic, extensive reconstruction by the Belfast and Northern Counties RailwayNorthern Counties Committee
The Northern Counties Committee was a railway that served the north-east of Ireland. It was built to Irish gauge but later acquired a number of narrow gauge lines...
, under the direction of its engineer and architect Berkeley Deane Wise
Berkeley Deane Wise
Berkeley Deane Wise was an Irish civil engineer who made a significant impact on the development of railways and tourism, particularly in Northern Ireland.-Early years:...
, was completed in 1893. Three platforms were provided (only one is now in regular use) together with a train shed
Train shed
A train shed is an adjacent building to a railway station where the tracks and platforms are covered by a roof. It is also known as an overall roof...
(demolished) and a station building in a "half-timbered" Mock Tudor
Tudorbethan architecture
The Tudor Revival architecture of the 20th century , first manifested itself in domestic architecture beginning in the United Kingdom in the mid to late 19th century based on a revival of aspects of Tudor style. It later became an influence in some other countries, especially the British colonies...
style with a clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
, described by Currie as "certainly one of the most handsome railway buildings in Ireland"; it is now occupied by the Traks nightclub complex, with a small newer concrete block ticket office behind it serving as the current station building. Goods traffic to the station closed on 20 September 1954.
The large 1892 grandfather clock
Longcase clock
A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, floor clock, or grandfather clock, is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the case. Clocks of this style are commonly 1.8–2.4 metres tall...
from the station was returned to Portrush in 2007 and is displayed in Barry’s Amusements complex adjacent to the station. Other survivals from the past are some semaphore signals
Railway signal
A signal is a mechanical or electrical device erected beside a railway line to pass information relating to the state of the line ahead to train/engine drivers. The driver interprets the signal's indication and acts accordingly...
(of the "somersault" type) and an early water tank.
Formerly the railway owned the Northern Counties Hotel, the principal such establishment in town. A line once continued beyond the station to serve the harbour, and the Giant's Causeway Tramway
Giant's Causeway Tramway
The Giant's Causeway Tramway, operated by the Giant's Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway & Tramway Company Ltd, was a pioneering gauge electric narrow gauge railway operating between Portrush and the Giant's Causeway on the coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
began in Eglinton Street alongside the station.
Service
Mondays to Saturdays there is an hourly service to Coleraine with extra services at peak times Operated by Northern Ireland RailwaysNorthern Ireland Railways
NI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways and for a brief period of time, Ulster Transport Railways , is the railway operator in Northern Ireland...
. There are also some services which extend to Belfast Great Victora Street. On Sundays there is a two hourly service.