The Downpatrick and County Down Railway promises a frightening experience for visitors on the weekend following Halloween.

Although the railway has had its fair share of ghosts and ghouls in the past, nothing could prepare it for the arrival of Dr Frankenstein himself. In the build-up to Halloween, the doctor has been busy, but some of his creations have escaped, and he is appealing for the public to help round them up.

To help track them down, on Saturday, 1st and Sunday, 2nd November, the Downpatrick and County Down Railway’s Class 450 will be in disguise as “The Curse of the Phantom Flyer” to help the doctor in his quest.

The Doctor admits that some of his experiments may have wandered off during the Halloween night activities, and he needs help to track them down. However, he warned not to get too close to them, as they look a lot like us, and he thinks he might have left them a bit long before they were dug up. He thought he had made the perfect couple, if only they would do what they were told, but they got sentient, and he thought they were trying to set up home near the river.

This is the third year that Avalard Productions has staged a Halloween event at the railway. Based on Mary Shelley’s character Frankenstein, a new storyline and characters inspired by the book provide a child-friendly performance, suitable for all ages. It blends classic horror with comedy and audience participation as visitors are transported on a heritage train from Downpatrick into the dark County Down countryside.

There are three performances each day, at 3.00 pm, 4.15 pm, and 5.30 pm, with tickets costing £17 per person or £60 for a family; infants under 12 months travel free. Children’s tickets include the chance to have their face painted by Kaz-a-Doodle.

Further details about “The Curse of the Phantom Flyer” are online at www.downrail.co.uk.

This event is a remarkable turnaround for the railway, as 12months ago, disastrous flooding hit it, but it managed to resume operations in March this year when it hosted a car rally to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

“There are some who call me mad, but I’m not. I suppose I’m part biologist, part surgeon. I’m always trying to push the boundaries of what we can do with life. Death does not need to be the end.”

Doctor Frankenstein