Chapter

2

Construction and Opening

It took just four years to construct the tramway from Portrush to Bushmills from the time of the first public meeting which was held in Bushmills Courthouse on 27th of October 1879. They really were very quick considering that they had to get permission from lots of different people as well as building the rails and rolling stocks.

Constructing the Rails

The Tram rail was built with a 3 foot gauge so that the tram trucks and carriages could continue on the Bushmills to Dervock railway, which Mr Traill intended to build. This railway to Dervock was to be 3 foot gauge as the Ballycastle to Ballymoney line was this gauge.