Belfast and Northern Counties Railway
On 15 May 1860 the Belfast and Ballymena Railway became known as the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway (BNCR), a title it would retain until amalgamation with the Midland Railway in 1903.
The following independent railways became part of the BNCR after its incorporation (opening date(s)/amalgamation date):
- Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway (November 1855/January 1861)
- Londonderry and Coleraine Railway (December 1852 and July 1853/July 1871)
- Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway (1875 & 1876/October 1884)
- Ballymena and Larne Railway (August 1877, June & August 1878/July 1889)
- Carrickfergus and Larne Railway (October 1862/July 1890)
- Draperstown Railway (July 1883/July 1895)
- Derry Central Railway (29 miles; 46 km) (February 1880/September 1901)
- Portstewart Tramway (June 1882/June 1897)
Edward John Cotton had succeeded Thomas H. Higgin as manager of the B&BR in 1857 and continued in this position with the BNCR. He would be instrumental in making it the most prosperous railway in Ireland. Berkeley Deane Wise was the Chief Civil Engineer of the BNCR from 1888 to 1906. During those 18 years Wise made an immense contribution to the BNCR, designing many of its grand stations and tourist attractions.
Read more about this topic: Northern Counties Committee
Famous quotes containing the words belfast, northern and/or railway:
“Is it true or false that Belfast is north of London? That the galaxy is the shape of a fried egg? That Beethoven was a drunkard? That Wellington won the battle of Waterloo? There are various degrees and dimensions of success in making statements: the statements fit the facts always more or less loosely, in different ways on different occasions for different intents and purposes.”
—J.L. (John Langshaw)
“Sophocles long ago
Heard it on the Aegaean, and it brought
Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow
Of human misery; we
Find also in the sound a thought,
Hearing it by this distant northern sea.”
—Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)
“Her personality had an architectonic quality; I think of her when I see some of the great London railway termini, especially St. Pancras, with its soot and turrets, and she overshadowed her own daughters, whom she did not understand—my mother, who liked things to be nice; my dotty aunt. But my mother had not the strength to put even some physical distance between them, let alone keep the old monster at emotional arm’s length.”
—Angela Carter (1940–1992)