Carrickfergus and Larne Railway

Introduction

This railway is open. It extended the Carrickfergus line east and north to Larne Harbour.






Dates

  /  /1860Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Incorporated.
01/10/1862Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Opened through a new Carrickfergus to Larne Harbour [1st]. Carrickfergus [1st] was closed (its site was later on the Carrickfergus Harbour Junction Railway). A company owned connecting steamer operated to Stranraer Harbour.
  /  /1864Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Whitehead [2nd] opened at the east end of Whitehead Tunnel (Whitehead [1st] was at the west end).
01/01/1864Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Larne Harbour [1st] to Stranraer Harbour steamer withdrawn. Last portion of the Larne Harbour line falls out of use except for coal traffic and remains maintained.
01/07/1872Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Steamer service from Larne Harbour [1st] to Stranraer restarts. Line fully re-opened.
  /  /1877Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Whitehead (third) opened.
  /  /1878Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Larne Harbour [1st] adapted for the Ballymena and Larne Railway.
  /  /1890Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Absorbed by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1890Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Larne Harbour [1st] rebuilt.
  /  /1907Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Whitehead station expanded with the addition of Whitehead Excursion Platform.
  /  /1909Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Laharna Hotel, Whitehead, purchased by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. The railway also created a beach by transferring sand from Portrush, built a clifftop path on Black Head and a promenade and small pier.
  /  /1929Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Doubled from Carrickfergus to Kilroot. Doubled from Kilroot to Whitehead.
  /  /1934Portpatrick Railway Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Further consideration of the tunnel from Portpatrick, Scotland, to Whitehead, Northern Ireland.
  /  /1966Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Laharna Hotel, Whitehead, sold by Ulster Transport Authority.
  /  /1967Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Reconstruction of Larne Harbour [1st] begins. (Completed 1968.)
  /  /1974Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Railway realigned at Larne Town to accommodate new roads. The line is relocated to the east on reclaimed land.
  /  /1985Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Larne Harbour station replaced Larne Harbour [1st]. The line was slightly cut back.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.

Carrickfergus to Larne Harbour

The road approach to Carrickfergus station, from Victoria Street, looking north on 13 June 2017. The NIR station on the Belfast - Larne line dates ...
Andy Furnevel 13/06/2017
A Larne bound train leaves Carrickfergus with Kilroot Power Station on the right. ...
Ewan Crawford 27/05/2004
NIR Translink DMU 4012 arrives at Carrickfergus platform 2 on 13 June 2017 with the 0915 service from Belfast Great Victoria Street, ulimate ...
Andy Furnevel 13/06/2017
By contrast to the main entrance on the south side, the north entrance to Carrickfergus station is via a subway, seen here on 13 June 2017. The roof ...
Andy Furnevel 13/06/2017
Larne Harbour station and passenger terminal from the deck of the P&O Cairnryan ferry with an unidentified unit sitting in the station. These ...
Douglas Blades 02/08/2021
A lone passenger strolls along the platform at Larne Harbour before boarding a train for Belfast in 1988. ...
Bill Roberton //1988
Approach to Larne Harbour in 1988. ...
Bill Roberton //1988
The cab of a Class 80 at Larne. ...
Ewan Crawford 18/10/2004


Larne realignment

This realignment of 1974, moving the line closer to the water, had Larne Town station replaced with Larne.