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Station
Timeline |
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Timeline |
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Spring 1845 |
Formation of the |
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Opening day for 12
miles of single track from Belfast Queen’s Quay to Newtownards Stations have
been built at: Belfast Queen’s
Quay, Knock, Dundonald, Comber and Newtownards On opening day
Dundonald Station has a single platform and a wooden station building
accessible from the Old Dundonald Road. The Ulster Banner
reported on 7th May 1850 “The carriages are comfortable, and set on
easy springs, and despite of the newness of the embankments and other works,
they moved along with great steadiness. There were two open lorries attached
to each train, from the corners of which flags of gaudy colours waved in the
breeze during its progress; and along the line, in various places, banners
were conspicuously visible. At Dundonald, retired though the locality be,
there were crowds assembled to witness the carriages advancing on each
occasion; while at Comber , as may be readily supposed, a much greater number
of persons came together with a similar view. The station at the former place
is a small wooden building, with platform; that in Comber is necessarily more
commodious and substantial in appearance. The Dundonald station is some short
distance from the village, a glance at which is obtained from the carriages
while approaching, at an angle that lends effect to a locality common-place
enough when closely viewed. … The number of
trips taken to Comber and Dundonald, as well as Belfast and back, by the
people of that neighbourhood, was very great, hundreds taking occasion to
drop down on their friends in these localities, now that they were, in their
own expressive dialect, able to perform the journey in a ‘wheen
‘o minutes’.“ |
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1879 |
New station built
at Bloomfield ( |
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1889 |
The platform at
Dundonald station is extended in length. The original platform could
accommodate 8 carriages and the new 12 carriages. The work is finished in Telegraph is
installed in Dundonald station. |
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1890 |
New station built
at Neill’s Hill ( |
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1891-1893 1893 |
The line from A new down platform
and wooden waiting shelter are constructed at Dundonald. Access to the
station buildings is given from the The platforms at
Knock and Dundonald are lengthened to accommodate double trains. The platforms
at Dundonald are now 646ft long Signalling is
introduced and Dundonald becomes a block post. |
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1894 |
A new larger
Station Master’s house is built. The contractor was Messr.
Wm Gordon who submitted a tender of £217/6/-. The design and builder are also
used for the Crossgar Station Master’s house. The old Station
Master’s house is used to house Porters. |
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1898 |
The old Station
Master’s house is converted for other station purposes. |
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1900 |
Crossovers are
built at the up end ( |
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1901 |
Although never
handling any large amounts of freight, a new goods siding is built behind the
up platform. This includes a roadway to allow carts to get along-side 6
wagons. The total cost of the work is £418/11s/10d. Improvements are made to utilising some vacant rooms in the
station buildings. The cost for new furniture is £50. A new booking office is
completed allowing the old one to be demolished and further alterations to be
completed. |
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1904 |
Permission is
granted to the Nation Telephone Company to erect a ‘Call Office’ at the
station. |
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1904 |
Local farmers and
cattle dealers apply to the company for provision of a cattle beaching to aid
the loading and unloading of cattle at the goods siding. A cattle beaching
accommodating 2 wagons is built in November 1904. This was located at the
furthest end of the goods siding (from the station). |
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1912 |
A bathroom and
bath are provided in the Station Master’s house at a cost of £10. |
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1915 |
A Post Office
wall letterbox is erected at the station. |
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1921 |
The bridge over
the |
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1926 |
The crossover is
removed. |
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1927 |
Signalling work
at Knock and Comber is carried out to permit Dundonald cabin to be closed.
The cabin continues to be switched in at |
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1931 |
Mains electricity
extended to Dundonald. Station connected to the new supply dispensing with
the small plant and battery that had been used to provide power for the
lights. |
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In an accident at
Dundonald station milesman Thomas Walker is killed
after being struck by a down train. |
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1941 |
Stationmaster’s
house is supplied with mains water. Until now both the house and the station
have been served by a pump supply at the side of the station. Shortly after
mains water is supplied a W.C. and wash basin are installed in the
stationmaster’s house. |
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1948 |
BCDR is
nationalised and becomes part of the Ulster Transport Authority |
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Mainline to
Comber closes Dundonald station
is closed. At this |
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Stormont
government authorises an abandonment order for most of the former BCDR now
run by the Ulster Transport Authority |
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1953-55 |
The track of the
former BCDR system is lifted in stages. The section from Quoile
Bridge Downpatrick to Ballymacarrett Junction
(including Dundonald) was lifted (in that direction) between January and
October 1955. |
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1957 1959 |
The bridge over
the Comber Road is removed. Locals complain that
the former station has become an eyesore and wish for it to be demolished. In July an advert
in the Belfast Telegraoh advertised for tenders to
demolish the station building. |
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Late 50s/ early 60s |
Some of the
embankment (including the easterly end of the platforms) is removed to
improve the junction of the Comber and Old Dundonald Roads. |
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Early 1970s |
Entrance to
station subway from |
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Feb 2003- March 2004 |
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2008 |
Comber greenway
officially opened on 8 November 2008. |
