Model of iconic Knockloughrim railway station offers a step back in time

A handmade model of the old railway station at Knockloughrim has been created and presented to the owners of the Station House, Magherafelt.

The model has been developed by self confessed ‘train nerd’ Patrick Davey. The lifelike railway model is a glimpse into days gone by. The detailed model took around six months to make.

Knockloughrim station will be familiar to anyone travelling along the busy A6 road which links Belfast and the North West.

The station is located a few miles to the North of the Castledawson roundabout. The property is now a beautifully maintained private residence owned by local man Aidan Conway.

Patrick always had a love of trains and modelling but this one has had a special place in his heart for a while.

ABOVE: Model of Knockloughrim station

One day Patrick decided to call the Station House at Knockloughrim where he met owner Aidan, they got chatting about the project and the rest became history. The pair even became great friends through shared interest in the project.

Mr Conway and his family moved into the Station House as it is now fondly known in 1999.

Aidan shared how special the Station House is in the area, saying: “Over the years of us living here there have been countless people calling to the house with their own stories of childhood, ancestors and emigration. It is amazing to see how much the house means to people. So many people from far and wide have their own connection and story to tell about the place.”

Knockloughrim station was exactly four miles from Magherafelt, and the station presented a compact arrangement where the main building and goods shed were placed close together along the single platform. A similar arrangement was also seen at nearby Upperlands.

ABOVE: Old picture of Knockloughrim station

The goods shed is still in fine condition at Knockloughrim, and is currently in commercial use. The adjacent road overbridge which once carried the Derganagh Road over the line also survives to the north of the station, although road improvements since the closure of the railway have diverted the road away from the bridge and across the trackbed.

Like other bridges along the line, many of which also thankfully survive, the Derganagh bridge was optimistically built to accommodate double track and there was also space at the station for a loop although there is no evidence of this ever having been provided.

The station layout was very simple, the platform was on the left for trains approaching from the north. Knockloughrim was the final stop for trains before they arrived in Magherafelt and tickets were checked here when passenger services were running. Historical mapping and photographs show a yard crane beside the siding, but this too had gone by the 1950’s.

ABOVE: Another old picture of Knockloughrim railway station

Speaking to the County Derry Post about the project and how it all came about creator of the model Patrick Davey said: “My last two projects were GNR-based and both were fictional, for I have been looking for a new challenge for a while, ideally featuring an actual location.

“I have a long term plan to commence a second build of the narrow gauge station at Capecastle, in a larger scale than the 4mm scale of my last attempt, but that won’t happen until I find a suitable model to act as a donor for a particular class of Ballycastle Railway locomotive.

Patrick Davey & Aidan Conway pictured with the model of Knockloughrim railway station

“So in the meantime I decided to build a model of Knockloughrim, and to present it as a ‘working’ diorama, meaning that it would have trains running but would be very compact, with the most basic of track plans, namely a single line track running through the station, devoid of turnouts.

“To me that removes any justification for calling the build a ‘layout’, but the track plan does reflect reality through because in the final years of the line the goods shed siding was removed, although I have left a portion if it in place on the diorama to add a bit of interest I also decided that the project would have a winter feel, hoping that a covering of snow would simplify the scenics a bit.

“Choosing Knockloughrim as a subject offered advantages, aside from the fact that the station building, goods shed and road bridge all survive, there is good photo coverage of the station from the railway days, which shows a lot of useful detail.”

ABOVE: View from tunnel on railway model

Belfast man Patrick continued saying: “After the track was laid, trees and vegetation were added along with fencing, and various winter scenes were applied. Three exquisite handmade ‘winter’ trees were obtained from Gabor Evenich.

“A suitable snowy backscene finished the diorama off, and through running of trains is made possible with the addition of short ‘fiddle yard’ extensions at either end of the diorama and the power is DC.

“This was such an enjoyable build, particularly as it represents such a familiar location, one which I will continue to admire as I pass by on the A6.

“I want to say a special thanks to the owners of Knockloughrim station, Aidan and Davina Conway, for their generous hospitality and to Siobhan Osgood for assistance with architectural terminology.”