The Ballycastle Railway was located in north County Antrim and connected the town of Ballymoney with the seaside town and resort of Ballycastle. It was always intended as a passenger line, particularly to bring tourists and day trippers to the town. Its regular three trains per day for many years connected with coaches for the Giants Causeway during the summer months. Ballycastle developed rapidly in the late nineteenth century with new hotels and a gold course.

The railway was never particularly profitable although it did in some years return a modest dividend. However, by the early 1920s its finances were in a very poor state, despite government assistance, and after a brief period of complete closure, it was taken over by the LMS (NCC) and re-opened in August 1924. Thereafter, it functioned as a branch of its parent company, providing a connecting service to the trains from Belfast, Derry and Coleraine.

Steam-hauled throughout its life, the line was almost exclusively operated as a passenger line and attracted few freight workings. It was closed along with other lines in 1950.

The standard account of the line can be found in The Ballycastle Railway by E M Patterson (Newton Abbot, 1968). Although out of print, copies do turn up from time to time and it is well worth purchasing.