At the beginning of July, visitors to the Downpatrick and County Down Railway (DCDR) in Northern Ireland can travel back millions of years to the age of the dinosaurs.

On Saturday, 4th, and Sunday, 5th, the Jurassic Express will travel from Downpatrick to Inch Abbey, where families can immerse themselves in an interactive live show, and children can have close encounters with dinosaurs. They will be able to ask their handlers what life was like millions of years ago, and meet the undisputed star of the show, a full-size but harmless Tyrannosaurus Rex.

For this event, the Downpatrick and County Down Railway has again teamed up with the ‘Roar Roar Dinosaur Experience’, which specialises in bringing prehistoric creatures dramatically back to life. The event is sure to be completely different to anything else in Northern Ireland, a journey by train that ends sixty-five million years ago.

As well as being fun, and just a little frightening. the experience is also educational. During every encounter, Roar Roar’s handlers tell fascinating facts about prehistoric life as they try to stop the dinosaurs from looking at the passengers as a delicious meal. Rest assured, the dinosaurs are always very well behaved, and have never eaten anyone – yet.

On the return journey to Downpatrick. Passengers need to stay alert, as there are often some reptilian stowaways on board, although the railway cannot confirm or deny the reports. At Downpatrick, there is still much to explore, including the station itself, a carriage gallery housing historic locomotives and rolling stock, a working signal cabin, and a well-stocked gift shop.

The event is expected to be very popular, so advance booking is advised, with tickets and further information available online at www.downrail.co.uk.

Visitors to the railway had another frightening experience last autumn, when it ran “The Phantom Flyer” at Halloween.

The railway has experienced a remarkable turnaround since November 2024, when it was devastated by disastrous flooding. It recovered in time to host a car rally to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day last year.

“The event has become a highlight of the DCDR’s year. The Jurassic Express is all about bringing dinosaurs to life. Children aren’t just sitting and watching a show, they’re climbing aboard a real train, travelling to the age of dinosaurs and coming face-to-face with creatures they’ve only ever seen in books, films and on television. For many children, this is also their first time on a heritage railway, but then seeing the look on a child’s face when a full-size T-Rex appears is something special – that tends to stick in the memory for quite some time, even with our volunteers!”

Robert Gardiner, Chairman of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway, said