There will be eggs-travagant fun at the Downpatrick & County Down Railway with eggs galore on this year’s Easter Eggspress, running over the Easter weekend.
The bunnies are already hopping the rails at the local heritage railway, and the Easter Eggspress is a unique and special treat for kids and a great way to say ‘Happy Easter!’ for all the family.
The train will be used for excursions from the town centre from 2pm till 5pm on Saturday 26th March, Easter Sunday 27th March, & Easter Monday 28th March.
Railway Chairman Brian Goodfellow, said: “The young passengers will receive a treat from a special guest… the Easter Bunny has bounced into the station for this weekend and will be hopping with joy to give them their Easter Eggs.
“And this year, the Easter Bunny wants to play a game and is creating an Egg Trail Hunt for wannabe eggsperts”.
DCDR tour guide Frank Dick explained: “The Easter Bunny has brought down some of her friends, small teddies and bunnies, but they’re very shy and it’s the job of visitors to track them down. Families will receive a guide to their hunt with their tickets to help eggsplore the railway and gather up the info on the card.  Each teddy has a large letter which together make up a three word message.”
“Young children can spot the teddies, and if they get everything right this will lead them to the elusive Easter Bunny.
“And as well as fun for the children, mums and dads also get the chance to experience rail travel at its most traditional, as passengers will be able to taste the elegance of by-gone railway travel on fifty to one hundred year old carriages through the picturesque County Down countryside along nearly two miles of restored track.
“Warm teas and coffees, as well as lots of buns, at highly competitive rates, will be served all day on board a vintage buffet carriage parked at Inch Abbey station; if travelling in to the town from Inch Abbey the return journey can be made on any of the services.”
 Chairman Brian Goodfellow added: “A trip to the station museum and the Carriage Gallery visitor centre brings the golden age of the railway vividly to life and looks at the impact that the railways had on people’s lives, through artefacts from the smallest, such as a ticket in the upstairs exhibition, or the largest, such as lovingly restored railway carriages in the Carriage Gallery and the stark contrast of the wrecks these vehicles once were when rescued.
“For the younger train fans, children can enjoy their own Kids’ Station in the Gallery, and dress up as a train driver or guard for a family selfie using some of the victorian props and costumes provided in the dressing up area, in a carriage or beside the 1875 steam engine.
“On the station they can get to drive Thomas the Tank Engine on a model railway – or will they let the big kids get a go too?
“For those a little more adventurous, and perhaps to fulfil a childhood dream, you can buy a Footplate Pass for just £20 and get to travel up in the locomotive cab with the driver.”  A reasonable level of fitness is required to purchase these passes.
Tickets cost £6.00 adults, £6.00 children (including egg), £4.50 children aged below four years old (including egg), and £5.50 senior concession.
There’s no need to book and for further information on events – or if you are thinking about joining as a volunteer contact the Downpatrick Tourist Information Centre on 028 4461 2233 log on to the railway’s website at:
or find them on facebook at
or follow on Twitter @downrail
