Belfast Central

Belfast Central Station, located in west Belfast City in Northern Ireland was opened in 1976 on the rebuilt trackbed of the former 1878 Belfast Central Railway line, which had been closed by the Ulster Transport Authority in 1965. Belfast Central served as a replacement for the more convenient ex Great Northern Railway terminus at Great Victoria Street station, which ironically was re-opened by Northern Ireland Railways some 19 years later in 1995.


Belfast Central has been extensively refurbished and the once ugly 1970s appearance is now thankfully history. The station really is the 'centre of nowhere' in comparison to the ex GNR Great Victoria Street station and requires a bus ride to the city centre. Belfast Central station was constructed on the site of the former GNR's Maysfield goods yard located on the former BCR line. North of the station the Derry/Larne and Bangor lines diverge at Lagan Junction.
The curve and sun at the north end of Belfast Central is tricky, where 201 Class loco No.229 is seen having arrived with an 'Enterprise' service from Dublin. Seen in recently repainted NIR Translink livery is 1985 built 450 Class railcar No.8459, seen standing at Belfast Central's platform number four. On a miserable day NIR's Spanish built 3000 Class railcar No.3013 arrives at Belfast Central with a service to Bangor, passing by the equally dull and gloomy liveried 'Enterprise' service train. Irish Rail's non liveried 'Enterprise' 201 Class locos frequently operated the Dublin and Belfast express trains, such as silver & green coloured No.221, named 'Abhainn na Feilge' or as in English 'River Fealge'.
Seen at the same location is NIR's owned 201 Class loco No.8208, displaying the newer and much bright 'Enterprise' livery. Presently this is the only loco to display the new colours. Although it appears to be missing its nameplates, 209 is named 'River Foyle' like the Great Northern Railway's VS Class 4-4-0 steam predecessor. 209 is still in its original dull 'Enterprise' livery dating from the late 1990s. The one time regular 'Enterprise' operated locos, the 111 Class, is represented by No.111 itself as it stands at Belfast Central prior to shunting the 'Blue Thunderer' railtour. 8113 takes the 'Blue Thunderer' railtour across the River Lagan on the 'Dargan Bridge' north of Belfast Central station. The Dargan Bridge which links Belfast Central with the former Northern Counties lines is the longest is Ireland, built in 1994.
Another 111 Class loco, this time No.8113, is seen at the south end of Belfast Central Station having arrived with Ian Walsh's 'Blue Thunderer' railtour. The three named NIR 111 Class locomotives were built between 1981 and 1983. 8113 is named 'Belfast & County Down'. 8113 is seen next to French built De Dietrich driving van trailer No.9001at Belfast Central. Up to 1997 all of the 'Enterprise' service trains were locomotive hauled which 8113 was frequently employed on. The River Lagan flows along the east side of Belfast Central Station, out of view behind the fence. One of NIR's 3000 Class railcars departs with a southbound train. Viewed through the road overbridge at Belfast Central, on which the station building stands on, a 3000 Class railcar No.3003 heads north on a stopping service.
Another railtour seen at Belfast Central, this time organisted by the Irish Traction Group and the Modern Railway Society of Ireland. The tour was hauled north from Dublin by 111 Class loco No.111, which is named appropiately 'Great Northern'. 80 Class railcar No.8089 stands at Belfast Central station prior to forming an ITG/MRSI tour to Ballymena. 8069 is seen at the rear of the ITG/MRSI 80 Class formed tour to Ballymena. These distinctive built diesel railcars were built by British Rail Engineering at Derby in 1974 and 1975. Side view of 80 Class No.8089, showing the engine compartment. Above the railcar can be seen the sloping covered walkway which leads from the platforms up to the modern and recently rebuilt station building.
3000 Class railcar No.3016 crosses the River Lagan by way of the 'Shakey Bridge', so named after its flimsy Belfast Central Railway's predecessor which was removed in 1965. East Bridge St Junction was once sited here where a line diverged west towards the former Northern Counties York Road Station. 'Enterprise' DVT No.9003 stands at the head of an evening Dublin bound service at the south end of Belfast Central. The platform width at this end of the station is particularly narrow due to the trackwork and lack of space.