BCDR built the main line from Belfast Queen's Quay to Newtownards in 1850 with both passengers and goods being carried.

To make the bricks, he quarried the sand-hills around the railway line at Cadger's Loaney and had brick-fields in that area.

In June 1877, a siding consisting of a short loop was installed off the main line to cater for this trade.

In 1884, the wagons used for the Neill's Hill sand traffic were the only ones available for the BCDR Civil Engineer to use for ballast work on the permanent way.

Following the successful doubling of the track to Knock, a decision was made by the BCDR to build a small station on the up side of Neill's Hill crossing.

Neill's Hill station opened on 1 March 1890 with a gateman acting as stationmaster and assisted by a boy porter.

In 1922, BCDR considered using Baltic Class engines on the main line and a survey recommended that the platform walls would require to be rebuilt to improve the clearance at Bloomfield, Neill's Hill, Knock and one at Comber.

This status change also occurred at Knock, Dundonald, Craigavad, Ballynahinch Junction, Killough, Sydenham, Carnalea.

In his book, Coakham relates an incident when an up Sunday train came past Bloomfield when the engine uncoupled and ran ahead into the Neill's Hill sand siding.

Coakham also reports that BCDR engine number 6 achieved 60 mph through Neill's Hill in the latter war years.

The Comber Greenway is a 7-mile traffic-free section of the National Cycle Network, in development along the old Belfast-Comber railway line.

It confirmed EWAY as the preferred option which would serve the Newtownards corridor and its success would dictate the extent, if any, of further development of the rapid transit network.

[1] Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, former Head of the NI Civil Service quotes in his autobiography, "Stormont in Crisis, A Memoir" - "...

[2] Gerry Cochrane, a founder member of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway mentions Neill's Hill a few times in his book, "Back in Steam.

"It would let me off at Neill's Hill station with the ensuing pleasant half mile walk home alongside the railway."