Historic Ballycastle Railway Tunnel Gains Special Recognition

A historic railway tunnel located at Islandarragh Road in Ballycastle has been officially added to the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest in Causeway Coast & Glens as of 10th June 2024.

The tunnel, constructed between 1879 and 1880, played a crucial role in the Ballycastle Railway Company's narrow gauge line connecting Ballycastle and Ballymoney.

The Ballycastle Railway line, spanning approximately 16 miles (26 km), was inaugurated in October 1880 and operated until July 1950. The concept of a railway link between Ballycastle and Ballymoney dates back to the late 1850s, shortly after the completion of the Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, and Portrush Junction Railway in 1855. Despite initial setbacks, including the rejection of a proposal by the House of Lords in 1868, the Ballycastle Railway Act was finally passed in July 1878, reviving the project.

Construction began in early 1879 under the guidance of Belfast-based architect and engineer James Francis MacKinnon, with Butler & Fry of Ballymena as the contractors. The line was built to a narrow (3ft) gauge to minimise costs, avoiding major earthworks. This resulted in a curving route, marked by small bridges and two significant engineering feats: a four-arch stone viaduct over the Glentow River near Ballycastle and the straight tunnel at Capecastle.

The railway service, though well-utilised, struggled financially. By the early 1920s, the line faced severe economic difficulties, leading to its closure in March 1924. However, it reopened later that year after being absorbed by the Northern Counties Committee (NCC), which managed much of the rail network in north-east Ireland. In 1948-49, the Government-owned Ulster Transport Authority took over Northern Ireland’s railways and implemented a rationalisation programme, resulting in the permanent closure of the Ballycastle line in July 1950.

Since then, many structures associated with the Ballycastle Railway have been dismantled, including the Capecastle halt. Recently, there have been proposals to convert the route into a greenway, but as of March 2024, the future of this initiative remains uncertain.

The inclusion of the Ballycastle Railway Tunnel in the list of buildings of special interest highlights its historical significance and the engineering prowess of the era. This recognition ensures that the legacy of the Ballycastle Railway continues to be remembered and celebrated.