Overbridge, Railway Station, Sea Road, Castlerock, Coleraine, BT51 4TL

Castlerock railway station comprises various structures set to the eastern side of the town, immediately west of Sea Road. The settlement of Castlerock developed around the station.

Station Building

The main station building dates to 1874 and was designed by John Lanyon. It is a much altered late nineteenth-century railway station of linear plan, extending along the platform line. The structure is partly single-storey and partly two-storey. The original waiting areas and ticket office are now in use as a public house. A flat-roofed extension of approximately 1970s-80s extends along most of the northern side. A modern glazed aluminium shelter and waiting area has been erected on the platform.

The south front façade faces the platform. To the right of centre is a small two-storey section with paired gables. To the left side are two doors giving access to WCs; to the far left is a further gable with a door accessing a store. To the right side is the long waiting area, and to the far right is a further gable. All window openings appear to have been altered and are now flat-headed with modern window frames, some uPVC and some timber. The wall to the former waiting area was glazed with glazing resting on low walls, but this section is now faced with strip timber. The roof overhangs this section and has a decorative pierced fascia. Door openings are segmental-headed with stopped chamfer reveals, and each is topped with a projecting brick drip moulding.

The western façade has a pair of segmental-headed window openings with drip moulding. Sills are cut stone. Frames are sash with margin panes. The northern side is largely obscured by the modern flat-roofed extension, which has wide flat-headed window openings, modern internally illuminated signs and a heritage-style timber classical door case. The eastern façade has a recent porch projection and modern signs, one of which is internally illuminated.

The walls of the south façade are constructed in red facing brick with string-courses and dressings in straw-coloured and engineering bricks. Walls rest on chamfered bases. Roofs are pitched and covered with natural slate. Eaves are overhanging with exposed rafter tails. Verges to the western section are overhanging with decorative barges resting on exposed faux outsized purlins.

Footbridge

The footbridge stands a short distance to the east of the station building. It is a structure of cast and wrought iron with a dog-leg stair rising at either side. Guard rails are formed with flat metal strips arranged in lattice fashion. Treads and walkways are in checker plate, possibly modern overlays. Risers are formed of metal plates with geometric piercings. Entrance to the stairs is flanked by metal newels topped with ball finials. Manufacturer's name plates read: "Walter McFarlane & Co., Architectural, Sanitary & Authentic, Ironfounders, Saracen Foundry, Glasgow".

Signals

One signal is set to the east of the station building, close to the west side of the footbridge. It is of the 'somersault' type of semaphore signal, consisting of the signalling apparatus attached to a tapering square timber post topped with a metal finial. A steel access ladder rises to the semaphore arm. Below the semaphore arm is a counterbalance 'safety feature' weight; in the event of any system failure the weight activates the stop command. The mechanism is controlled by a lever and a series of rods emanating from the signal box, engaged manually by the signalman. Three further signals of identical type and construction are positioned along the line into and out of the station, dating to approximately 1890-1900.

Signal Box

The station contains a signal box, which is a modern replacement although the original control levers have been re-installed.

Tokens, Staffs and Keys

Much of the railway line on the north coast is single track. Access into single track areas is controlled by unique tokens, staffs or keys issued by the signalman to the driver. By possession of the device he, and no other, has permission to enter the section in question. The key or token is issued from a locking mechanism; when the token is removed the signal cannot be changed, thus preventing unauthorised entry by a second train. The driver carries the device through the section and when he surrenders it to the next signalman, it is re-inserted into the locking mechanism, thus allowing the signal to be altered. The return driver then repeats the procedure in reverse. Sections of the north coast are still controlled by a token system. The age of these tokens is not certain but they appear to be late Victorian. Sections of the line have been modernised and are now controlled electronically; however the principle of keys, staffs and tokens continues with the issue of a virtual device that travels electronically with the particular train.