IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Vernon Street, BELFAST, BT7 1EW

The railway, from Cameron Street, between Botanic and Central, as a train heads towards the latter. I have a vague memory, from the 1950’s, of looking over the wall, from Vernon Street (background), as a steam-hauled goods passed. Don’t know though whether it was the GNRB or the UTA.

Two trains close to Botanic Railway Station in Belfast. On the left is Northern Ireland Railways C4K set 4020 which has just left the station on a service from Belfast Great Victoria Street to Larne Harbour; approaching on the right is C3K set 3003 on a service from Derry/Londonderry to Belfast Great Victoria Street. See this related picture from April 2009 Image taken from the same location.

The 1327 service from Bangor to Portadown arrives into Botanic at 1401. A heavy snowfall a few hours earlier has not affected the journey.

The 16:10 Belfast-Dublin 'Enterprise' service passing though Botanic Railway Station.

Much to the consternation of many residents, inner-city streets in Belfast are used by commuters for all-day parking. There is a proposal to introduce residents-only parking legislation. This is McClure Street close to Botanic Avenue.

Northern Ireland Railways 1625 service from Belfast Great Victoria Street to Larne town, seen here just after departure from Botanic station http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=5875061 at 1630. The train is composed of NIR 80 Class trains 8093 + 8094 + 2 carriages (all about 35 years old). I had taken an earlier picture of 8093 in quite different circumstances on 31st July 2007 at Image I now understand that this train was shipped to England and overhauled at LH services in Staffordshire before being returned to NIR, resuming service on the 12th May 2008. NIR finally hopes to retire all of the remaining 80 class units by 2011/12 when their recently ordered Spanish-built Class 4000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIR_Class_4000 trains enter service.

See Image The view in the other direction (from Westminster Street Image) with Canterbury Street on the left. It developed, over a number of years, around 1875/80) and was home to the middle classes. Now very much houses of multiple occupation and bedsits.

Definitely in the vacant category. Slightly surprising given the constant demand in the area, for houses for renovation and conversion to multiple occupation.

As described in Image several daily 'Enterprise' services between Belfast and Dublin are currently using Irish Rail 22000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IE_22000_Class stock as the usual trains are being refurbished. This is the 1320 Dublin Connolly - Belfast Central service passing through Botanic Railway Station (a five car set with 22337 & 22137). See also Image

Vernon Street seems to have been built around 1870 as a street of standard Belfast terrace houses, one side of which backed onto the Belfast Central railway – then a goods line connecting the GNR(I) to the Belfast and County Down Railway and Belfast harbour. Now completely re-built and unrecognisable. The view is towards Donegall Pass.