The Lough Swilly Railway continued. … Letterkenny to Derry – Part 1

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Letterkenny once had two railway stations immediately adjacent to each other. One was the terminus of the County Donegal Railways Strabane to Letterkenny branch. The other was a through station on the Lough Swilly (when operation in the first half of the 20th century it’s formal title was the ‘Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway’).

The two railway stations in Letterkenny lay side by side. That to the North was the terminus if the County Donegal Railways branch which connected Letterkenny to Strabane. That to the South was the Lough Swilly station through which passed trains between Burtonport and Derry. OSi 6″ to 1 mile last series. [3]
The same area as shown on the railmaponline.com satellite imagery. Contrary to what appears on the image, both railway lines ran on the South side of Ramelton Road. That shown in Orange is the Lough Swilly line. [4]

In an East-Southeast direction, the two companies’ lines ran parallel for some distance, before the Co. Donegal line headed away to the South through Convoy and Raphoe before crossing the border at Lifford and meeting the other Co. Donegal lines at Strabane. The Loch Swilly found its way to Derry via Tooban Junction where a significant branch line to Buncrana and Cardonagh left the line to Derry.

To the West, the Lough Swilly’s Burtonport Extension Railway meandered across the moors and between small villages nearer the coast.

Three articles cover the Strabane to Letterkenny branch of the Co. Donegal Railways. They can be found on the following links. ….

Co. Donegal Railways, Ireland – Part 4 – Strabane to Letterkenny (Part A – Strabane to Raphoe)

Co. Donegal Railways, Ireland – Part 5 – Strabane to Letterkenny (Part B – Raphoe to Convoy)

Co. Donegal Railways, Ireland – Part 6 – Strabane to Letterkenny (Part C – Convoy to Letterkenny)

The Burtonport Extension of the Lough Swilly is covered in four other articles which can be found on these links. …

The Burtonport Extension of the ‘Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway’ – Part 1

The Burtonport Extension of the ‘Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway’ – Part 2

The Burtonport Extension of the L&LSR (Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway) – Part 3 – Cashelnagor Railway Station to Barnes Gap

The Burtonport Extension of the L&LSR (Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway) – Part 4 – Barnes Gap to Letterkenny. …

The Lough Swilly’s line between Derry and Letterkenny was built in stages and included a change of track gauge from 5ft 3in to 3ft.

“The railway was initially planned as the Derry and Lough Swilly Railway Company when an application for incorporation was filed in 1852,  … The company opened its first line, a 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) link between Derry and Farland Point, on 31st December 1863. A branch line between Tooban Junction and Buncrana was added in 1864 and much of the Farland Point line was closed in 1866.” [1][2: pxiv]

Wikipedia’s history of the railway company goes on to say that “in 1883, the 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Letterkenny Railway between Cuttymanhill and Letterkenny was opened and the L&LSR connected with it by reopening the Tooban Junction – Cuttymanhill section of its Farland Point line. The L&LSR worked the Letterkenny Railway, and in 1885 it converted its track from 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge to 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge to enable through running. In 1887, ownership of the Letterkenny Railway passed to the Irish Board of Works, which continued the agreement by which the L&LSR operated the line.” [1][2: pxiv & p3]

“Carndonagh was reached by an extension completed in 1901 and Burtonport by a one completed in 1903. Both lines were constructed as joint ventures with the UK Government, with ownership and liabilities shared between the two parties. During this period the company did not make a profit, and struggled to meet its debts.” [1][2: p2 & p3]

The Lough Swilly Railway between Letterkenny and Derry in 1926. © Public Domain. [1]

Letterkenny to Newtowncunningham

Letterkenny to Newtoncunningham. The L&LS railway is shown on this extract from OSi mapping of the mid-20th century. [3]

The first map extract from OSi mapping which appears close to the top of this article shows the Co. Donegal and the Lough Swilly stations in Letterkenny. The 6″to 1 mile series as digitised is not the clearest mapping. An earlier 25″ to 1 mile series shows only the Lough Swilly line but is of a higher quality.

These first two 25″ OSi map extracts show only the Lough Swilly Station and line. When the Co. Donegal branch was constructed the Ramilton Road had to be realigned northward.
Letterkenny & Burtonport Extension Railway (L&BER) No. 3 was a 3ft gauge 4-6-0T, built by Andrew Barclay & Sons Co. in 1902 for the Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway. The line was operated by the L&LSR. No.3 was scrapped in 1954. It is seen here heading from Burtonport to Letterkenny, © Courtesy of Trainiac on Flicker (Public Domain). [8]

Ernie’s Railway Archive on Flickr has a range of photographs of the L&LS Letterkenny Railway Station site from the 1950s, the links are embedded here below, click on each link to see the image in Ernie’s Railway Archive on Flickr:

https://flic.kr/p/2nMqBvu – The L&LSR Station site from the East in 1952. The carriage shed is closest to the camera on the right of the image. The locomotive shed and turntable are hidden behind the carriage shed. At the centre-top of the image, the Goods Shed can be seen.

https://flic.kr/p/2nM8xYs – The Goods Yard of the L&LSR in 1952. Beyond wagons L&LSR No. 124 and L&BER No. 73 the Goods Shed and the passenger station building can be seen.

https://flic.kr/p/2nWyB5y – The L&LSR Goods Yard in 1952. The side elevation of the Goods Shed is visible beyond the wagons in the yard. Prominent in the picture is L&LSR Wagon No. 71.

https://flic.kr/p/2nCR8dg – L&LSR No. 12 is featured in this image from 1952. No. 15 is just poking its nose into the shot on the left.

https://flic.kr/p/2kHNdD9 – L&LSR No. 8 is being turned on Letterkenny’s turntable on 27th June 1952.

https://flic.kr/p/JoWHRY – L&LSR No.15 sits in front of Letterkenny WaterTower in 1953.

https://flic.kr/p/BWoyiF – L&LSR No3 at Letterkenny. On the left, the image is framed by the wall of the Goods Shed. The crossing gates at the West end of the station are visible beyond No. 3’s train. The passenger facilities are on the right. Note the coach acting as a brake van for the train. (c) JW Armstrong/ARPT

https://flic.kr/p/BvajsP – L&LSR No. 12 in the Engine Shed at Letterkenny, (c) JW Armstrong/ARPT

https://flic.kr/p/2ma5Lo3 – The L&LSR Station at Letterkenny on 1st July 1959 after the rails had been lifted. The Goods Shed door is closed (on the left) and the station buildings are on the right.

https://flic.kr/p/2k1hGvQ – The L&LSR operated a daily goods service by lorry after the closure of the line. A company rail lorry bearing the number plate IB7024 is shown standing where trains would once have passed, adjacent to the station building at Letterkenny. The photograph was taken on 23rd August 1954.

Other photographs of Letterkenny’s L&LSR railway station can be found on Flickr or elsewhere on line:

The last engines to be built for the Swilly were a pair of extraordinary 4-8-4Ts, weighing 58 tons each. No 6, with LSR diamond on the tanks, is outside Letterkenny shed on 15 June 1948. This image was shared on eBay [5]
L&LSR No. 3 at the head of a train from Derry at Letterkenny Station, either heading for Burtonport or terminating at Letterkenny. The image was shared by Letterkenny History on their webpage. [6]
Plenty to see in this shot at Letterkenny. Locomotive No. 12 is facing the photographer and a CDR engine is in the background. Shared by Kerry Doherty on the L&LSR Facebook Group on 1st February 2021. [7]
A goods train has just arrived from Derry in June 1950, © John Edgington c/o Pendragon Collection and shared on the Donegal Railway Heritage Museum Facebook Page. [9]
The L&LSR’s Letterkenny Station, seen from the Northeast. Either this train has just arrived from Burtonport or is setting off for Derry. This image was shared by Gabe J. McTuile on the Letterkenny Community Heritage Facebook Group on 19th January 2017. [10]
The two Letterkenny Railway Stations. The terminus of the Strabane to Letterkenny Branch of the Co. Donegal Railways Joint Committee is on the left. The L&LSR station which sat on the line between Derry and Burtonport. This image was shared on the Donegal County Museum Facebook Page on 20th February 2013. [11]
Another view of the two station buildings in Letterkenny. This image was shared by Keiran Kelly on the Letterkenny Community Heritage Facebook Group on 13th October 2014. [12]

These next images show the railway station buildings in Letterkenny after the closure of both lines.

The remains of both station buildings can be seen at the centre of this aerial image. There  are quite a few of the Lough Swilly Bus Company’s fleet of buses visible. This image was shared by Gabe J. McTuile on the Letterkenny Community Heritage Facebook Group on 18th June 2016 . [13]
The Co. Donegal terminus in Letterkenny is now repurposed as the passenger facilities for the town’s bus station. My photograph, 29th April 2023.
The length of the two lines between the stations and Port Bridge, superimposed on Google Maps satellite imagery. [April 2023]
Leaving the Station site, the two railway lines ran parallel to each other. Both lines crossed the old Port Road by means of girder bridges with stone abutments. The lines then crossed the River Swilly by means of lattice girder bridges alongside the road bridge. After which, the Co. Donegal line rose above the L&LSR, turning South as it bridged the L&LSR line. [13]
The North abutment of one of the bridges which carried the two lines over the Port Road. © Kerry Doherty. [17, May 2020]
Looking ahead along the line of the two railways towards the River Swilly. The remaining abutment is alongside the camera. The plaque which can be seen in the foreground close to the abutment illustrates what the bridges would have looked like, © Kerry Doherty. [17, May 2020]
The plaque mentioned above, © Kerry Doherty. [17, May 2020]
Port Bridge, Letterkenny, seen from the South, presumably before the construction of the Co. Donegal Railway Structure.  [14]
An extract from the 1st edition 6″ OSi mapping which shows just the road bridge. [15]
The same location after the construction of the L&LSR line from Derry to Letterkenny as it appeared on the 25″ OSI mapping.. [15]
The same location once more. This is an extract from the last 6″ edition of the OSi mapping. [15]
A modern aerial view of Port Bridge (seen from the downstream side) and the Polestar roundabout. This image was shared by Gabe J. McTuile on the Letterkenny Community Heritage Facebook Group on 1st February 2017. [16]
Looking Northwest along the N56 towards the Polestar roundabout. The modern bridge sits directly over the location of the old railway bridges scanning the River Swilly. [Google Maps, April 2020]
This extract from the 25″ OSi mapping which predated the construction of the CDR branch. The old main road to Derry runs parallel to the railway line to the North. Another road rises on an embankment to cross the L&LSR. [15]
The same location on the last 6″ OSi survey. The embankment has been shifted to accommodate the CDR branch. [15]
Approximately the same area as covered by the 25″ extract above as shown on the railmaponline.com satellite imagery. The road alignment shown in the OSi extracts above remains. The bridge over the two lines has been partially infilled. [4]
The embankment highlighted above is to the right of this image. The area adjacent to the white van is the bridge location. The area under the bridge has been altered to act as garage space. This image is the view westward from the modern N56.  [Google Street view, April 2023]

Dave Bell and Steve Flanders describe the use of the bridge arches in the 1980s like this: “The present owner of the filling station has made good use of the … bridge by bricking up one side and building a garage against the other. In effect he now has a garage with three bays, the roof of which is actually the side road.” [18: p47] There are two pictures of the arched bays in Bell and Flanders book.

Kerry Doherty also very kindly supplied this photograph which shows the arches of the old bridge inside the garage facility, (c) Dave Bell. [17]

A short distance to the South East the CDR branch crossed the Lough Swilly and turned away to the South.

The next extract from the 25″ OSi survey. [15]
The immediate area of the bridge carrying the CDR over the Lough Swilly line as shown on the last 6″ OSi mapping.. [15]
Approximately the same area as covered by the 25″ extract above. [4]
As we have already noted, after crossing the River Swilly the two railway lines ran approximately parallel to each other. The Co. Donegal branch line climbed gradually until it was able to bridge the Lough Swilly line and head away to the South. By the time this picture was taken the Lough Swilly line had closed and had been lifted. This picture was kindly supplied by Kerry Doherty. It shows Co. Donegal Railway No. 5 Drumboe at the head of a goods train in 1959, © J.G. Dewing, Color-rail. [17]

A short distance to the East of the over bridge the Lough Swilly line crossed another road at a level crossing.

The site of the level-crossing as shown by Google Maps [May 2024]
At the site of the level-crossing, this view looks back towards Letterkenny along the line of the old railway. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Also at the level-crossing this view looks ahead to the Southeast along the line of the railway. [Google Streetview, August 2021]

A few hundred metres to the Southeast the line crossed Clanree Lane at the level.

The old railway ran approximately along the line of parked cars in the Clarence Hotel carpark in this Google Maps satellite image, across Clanree Lane and through the house which has been built over the old railway. [Google Maps, May 2024]
Looking back along the line of the Lough Swilly Railway from the location of the level-crossing on Clanree Lane. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Looking East from the lpcation of the level-crossing on Clanree Lane. The house has been built over the old formation. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The next length of the old railway as shown on the 25″ OSi survey. [15]
The same length of the Lough Swilly Railway as it appears on railmaponlin.com’s satellite imagery. The old railway formation is buried under the earthworks of the modern N13 road. [4]
This next extract from the OSi 25″ survey shows the old road to Derry passing under the Lough Swilly. [15]
The route of the Lough Swilly Railway continues to be located under the earthworks of the N13 dual-carriageway. [4]
This next OSi extract (from the 25″ survey shows the line meandering to the North. [15]
The N13 continues to follow the route of the old railway. [4]
The 25″ OSi survey again. … The line continues to follow the contours as it curves around higher land. [15]
Railmaponline.com continues to show the line of the Lough Swilly Railway in orange. [4]
This next extract from the OSi 25″ survey shows the Lough Swilly Railway crossing the old main Road by means of a bridge and continuing to cut e round towards a southerly alignment. [15]
For much of this extract from railmaponline.com the route of the old railway is followed by the N13. However close to the bottom-right of the extract the route of the Lough Swilly Railway turns South away from the modern N13. [4]
Travelling South toward Pluck, the line ran along the West side of the old road to Derry. [15]
Railmaponline.com’s satellite imagery shows that the route of the old line is still marked by hedge lines which mark the old boundaries of railway land. [4]
On the approach to Pluck Station the line bridged a narrow lane before curving round into the station.When the line was built the lane providing access to the station was diverted to allow it to bridge the line. The bridge is visible in the bottom-right of the extract. [15]
The modern satellite imagery shows that the road layout around Pluck Station is little changed. [4]
Looking East along the minor road shown in the top half of the map extract and satellite image above. The bridge abutments of the railway bridge crossing the road remains. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
An enlarged extract from the 25″ OSi survey showing Pluck Station. [15]
The same location as it appears on Google Maps. The original station building at Pluck is now in private hands and much extended/altered. [Google Maps May 2024]
Pluck Station building in 1901, seen from the North [19]
The much altered and extended building that was once Pluck Station building, seen from the North. [Google Streetview, April 2011]
Pluck Station railway bridge seen from the road to the West of the structure. The road looped round over the bridge and provided access to the Station from the South. [Google Streetview, April 2011]
To the Southeast of Pluck Station, after passing under the station bridge, the Lough Swilly Railway crossed a culverted stream and a narrow road. [15]
The same area as shown on the map extract above. The orange line represents the route of the Lough Swilly Railway. Field boundaries and hedgerows delineate the route on the ground. [4]
To the Southeast of Pluck Station the railway crossed a narrow lane by means of a stone-arched bridge. This image shows the bridge from the North. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
This next extract from the OSi 25″ survey shows the line continuing in a southeasterly direction and crossing over a further road by means of ankther stone-arched bridge. Two roads would have crossed the line in short succession had the most easterly of these not been diverted. [15]
The railmaponline.com satellite imagery shows the heavily wooded embankment which once carried the railway. [4]
Looking North though the bridge which carried the old railway over the minor road at the top left of the extracts above. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
Looking Southeast along the minor road which was diverted as part of the construction of the Lough Swilly Railway. The railway embankment is on the left of this image and the bridge in the photograph above is behind the camera to the left. [Google Streetview July 2021]
The line then curved round through East to a east-northeastly direction. A further road crossed the line in the bottom-right of this extract. [15]
The satellite image shows that the line has been ploughed back into the landscape over much of the length covered in these extracts. Towards the right of this extract, a farm track can be seen following the line of the old railway. [4]
Looking back along the line of the Lough Swilly Railway to the West. The farm track sits on the line of the old railway. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
The road mentioned in the satellite image and the map extract above is shown on the left side of this next extract from the OSi 25″ survey. A further road appears at the right of this extract. When the line was built that road was diverted so as to be able to bridge the line. [15]
From the road on the left of these extracts a further length of the old railway has been ploughed back into stable land. At the third point in this image the route of the old line is once again shrouded by trees. As can be seen here and below, the road diversion remains in place but the cutting appears to have been infilled and there is no longer any evidence of the bridge over the railway. [4]
Looking ahead from the road on the left of the two extracts above, facing East along the line of the old railway. The line ran to the right of the trees behind the black farm building. It crossed this minor road on the level. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
A Streetview image showing the road at the right of the map and satellite images above. The Lough Swilly Railway passed under the road at this location. As noted above there is no evidence except for the road alignment that the railway was present. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
The sinuous curving of the line continues on this next extract as the line continued to cross open farmland. The road at the left of this image is that at the right of the last map extract. [15]
Even without the orange line provided by railmaponline.com, the route of the old railway would be easy to pick out. [4]
The line then entered Manorcunningham Station. [15]
This is the same area as shown on the map extract above. The route of the old Letterkenny to Strabane road shows up as a grey line on the satellite imagery. The modern road was constructed long after the closure of the railway. [4]
This is the point at which the old main road leaves the modern road. Road traffic ran across the North side of the railway station and then turned sharply to the South to cross the line at the East end of the station. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
This enlarged extract from the 25″ OSi survey focusses on Manorcunningham Railway Station. [15]
This satellite image shows the same area as that covered by the map extract above. [4]
Manorcunningham Railway Station in the first half of the 20th century. [20]
A similar view of the Railway Station as it appeared in the 1980s. This image was included in Dave Bell and Steve Flanders book: The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway: A Visitor’s Guide and used by kind pe
The old station forecourt as seen from the modern N14. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
An enlarged view of the old Manorcunningham station building in the 21st century. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
A better view of the station building. This image was shared on the Donegal Railway Heritage Museum Facebook Page on 25th December 2021. [21]
A modern view of the platform side of Manorcunningham Station. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
The old main road ran on the North side of the station and railway line and at the end of Manorcunningham station site, turned sharply to the South passing under the railway. The abutments of the bridge carrying the railway over the road can still be found by following the old main road where it diverts from the modern N14. [My photograph, 10th May 2024]
A further road crossed the line close to Drumoghill. [15]
This extract from railmaponline.com satellite imagery covers a similar area to the map extract above. The Lough Swilly Railway’s route now runs Northeast in a straight line. There is no sign of the short viaduct which spanned both river and road as can be seen in the enlarged map extract below. [4]
This enlarged extract from the OSi 25″ survey shows the erstwhile viaduct close to Drumoghill. [15]
Looking Southeast along the line of the minor road approaching Drumoghill through the location of the old railway viaduct. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
Remains of the viaduct which crosses the stream. The section over the road has been removed. This and the following three photographs were shared on the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Facebook Group by Willie Rodgers on 13th December 2021. [23]
Three photos taken in sequence looking and walking Northeast along the L&LSR from the location of the old viaduct shown on the enlarged map extract above. These pictures were all shared on the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Facebook Group by Willie Rodgers on 13th December 2021. [23]
After Drumoghill, the Lough Swilly Railway continues Northeast over open farmland. [15]
Approximately the same area as shown on the map extract above. A green lane marks the line of the old railway. Hedges mark the extent of railway land. [4]
Turning further towards the North, the line ran to the East of Tullybogly. [15]
The Lough Swilly Railway passed beneath a minor road as it travelled North. [4]
Looking East along the lane which bridged the Lough Swilly Railway to the South of Tullybogly. The road can bee seen to rise and then fall away quickly after crossing the old line. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
The line continued Northeast passing close to Monclink where there was a single siding. [15]
A similar area as covered in the map extract above. A racetrack has been built over the line of the old railway at Monclink (Manor Race Track). [4]
This next extract from the OSi 25″ survey shows the line curing round towards the East and entering Sallybrook Station. [15]
The same length of the Lough Swilly Railway as shown on the railmaponline.com satellite imagery. [4]
An enlarged extract from the 25″ OSi mapping showing the Sallybrook Station site and the adjacent creamery. The road crossing ran through the heart of the station site at level, with the goods shed to the East of the road and passenger facilities to the West of the road. [15]
Approximately the same location as the enlarged extract from the OSi mapping showing the station location. [4]
Sallybrook Station House, seen from the North in July 2021. The brick out building was built on the platform after closure of the line. [Google Streetview July 2021]
Sallybrook Station as illustrated in Dave Bell and Steve Flanders book: The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway: A Visitor’s Guide; County Donegal Railway Restoration Society and used by kind permission of Steve Flanders and the Donegal Railway Heritage Museum. The two images on the right show the station as it was in 1953, © H.V. Casserley. Those on the left show the s[18: p41]

Anticipating that the Sallybrook Station House would’ve been fully renovated, we drove down the access road and discovered that no further work had been undertaken since the July 2031 photo was taken. Two pictures of the building are included here.

The station forecourt side of Sallybrook Station building, [My photograph, 10th May 2024]
Looking West along the line of the Lough Swilly Railway along the platform side of the Station building. [My photograph, 10th May 2024]
Looking Northwest from the minor road across the level-crossing at Sallybrook Station. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
Looking ahead, East, at Sallybrook Station, towards Newtoncunningham. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
The next extract from the 25″ OSi survey shows the length of the line immediately yo the East of Sallybrook Station. Land levels are such that the Lough Swilly Railway [passed over the next road. [15]
Google Maps shows the same location in the 21st century. [Google Maps, 15th May 2024]
Looking North along the minor road which appears in the map extract and the image above. The trees to the right and left of the road mask the embankment which carried the old railway. The bridge at this location has been removed. [Google Streetview, October 2021]

This next series of extracts from the 25″ OSi survey shows the Lough Swilly Railway crossing opens country between Sallybrook Station and Newtoncunningham Station.

The seven map extract above show the Lough Swilly Railway traversing open country/farmland in a generally Northeasterly direction. [15]
This satellite image from Google Maps shows that same length of the line as covered by the seven extracts immediately above. Field boundaries remain as they were at the time of the 25″ OSi survey. Over parts of this length of the line, hedgerows which used to flank the old railway have disappeared. [Google Maps, 16th May 2024]
This next extract from the 25″ OSi survey shows the point at which Castleblaugh crossed the line. [15]
A similar area to that shown on the map extract immediately above as it is shown on Google Maps satellite imagery in the 21st century. [Google Maps, 16th May 2024]
Looking East along Castleblaugh, the only indication of the old railway at this point is the crest in the road alignment at the point where the road bridged the line. [Google Streetview, July 2021]

From Castlebaugh heading North to Milltown much of the old railway formation has been ploughed back into the landscape. The next few 25″ OSI survey extracts show the line as it was.

The eight extracts from the 25″ OSi survey show the length of the railway between the road bridge carrying Castleblaugh and that at Milltown. [15]
The length of the Lough Swilly Railway from Castleblaugh to Milltown as shown on railmaponline.com’s satellite imagery. Much of the formation of the old railway has been ploughed back into farmland. [4]
The Flax Mill at Milltown and the road bridge over the Lough Swilly Railway. [15]
Railmaponline.com’s satellite imagery shows the same area close to the old flax mill, as it appears in the 21st century. [4]
The bridge at Milltown as it appears in the 21st century. This view looks from the East over the bridge towards the location of the flax mill. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
Looking South from Monad Road along the line of the old railway. The curtting at this location has been infilled and only the bridge parapet remains visible. [Google Strettview, July 2021]
Looking North from Monad Road along the line of the Lough Swilly Railway towards Newtoncunningham. More of the cutting of te old railway can be seen in this direction. [Google Streetview, July 2021]

The next 4 extracts from the 25″ OSi survey cover the length of the line as far as Mason Lodge and the overbridge at that location.

Four extracts from the OSi 25″ survey take us as far as Mason Lodge and the bridge over the line at that location. [15]
The length of the line covered by the four map extracts above as it is shown on railmaponl;ine.com’s satellite imagery. [4]
An enlarged extract from railmaponline.com’s satellite imagery focussed on the location of the bridge over the line adjacent to Mason Lodge. [4]
Looking West across the old bridge over the Lough Swilly Railway adjacent to Mason Lodge. This 21st century image shows the bridge parapets still in place. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
Looking South along the old railway the cutting is heavily overgrown in the 21st century. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
Looking North over the bridge parapet in 2021a private property straddles the old formation with the line running close to the hedge in the foreground and through the out-building ahead. {Google Streetview, July 2021]
From a point a little further to the North on the minor road which ran parallel to the old railway, it is possible to make out the stone arch which carried the road over the line. It is masked by the landscaping of the private garden. [Google Streetview, July 2021]
The line continued Northward in cutting. [15]
As this next extract from the 25″ OSi survey shows, where the cutting came to an end and before the line ran North onto embankment there was a further road crossing, this time at level. [15]
This extract from railmaponline.com’s satellite imagery covers the same length of the old railway as the two map extracts immediately above. The bridge close to Mason Lodge appears at the southern edge of the extract, the level crossing noted above appears at the top of this image. [4]
This photograph shows the view looking West across the line of the old railway at the location of the lvel-crossing. [Google Streetview, March 2011]
Looking South along the line of the Lough Swilly Railway from the levle-crossing noted above, the formation continues to be defined by boundary hedges although, in the 21st century, it is in private hands. [Google Streetview, March 2011]
Looking North from the location of the level crossing. The approximate route of the old railway is shown by the orange line. [Google Streetview, March 2011]
This next extract shows that the line North of the level crossing was on a relatively significant embankment. [15]
Continuing to the North, this next extract from the 25″ OSi survey shows a significant viaduct which carried the line over a stream. [15]
The line then crossed a more significant road by means of another bridge. This road was to become the N13 linking Letterkenny to Derry. [15]
The location of the level-crossing appears at the bottom of this next extract from railmaponline’s satellite imagery, the N13 at the top and the viaduct location just above the centre of the image. [4]
Looking Northeast along the N13 through the location of the bridge which carried the Lough Swilly Railway over the road. [Google Streetview, November 2022]
Looking South from the N13 the rail embankment has been removed for some distance from the modern road, but the embankment can be seen in the distance. Railway land at this location was wide enought o accommodate the full width of the embankment and remains delineated by the modern hedges seen in this image. [Google Streetview, November 2022]
Looking Northwest from the N13, the embankment has not been removed. The stonework of the bridge abutment and the springing at the base of the arch which spanned the old road before its widening can clearly be seen. [Google Streetview, November 2022]
The two extracts from the 25″ )Si survey show the southern approach to the station at Newtowncunningham. [15]
Newtowncunnigham Railway Station as shown on the 25″ OSi survey. The station was sited in the area known as Moyle. [15]
The site of Newtowncunningham Railway Station as shown on railmaponline.com’s satellite imagery. The bridge at the North end of the station has been removed and the road realigned. The Station House and the Water Tower remain. The Station House in private hands. [4]

(c) National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (@niah_ireland [Instagram], @NIAH_Ireland [Twitter])

Two views of Newtowncunninham Railway Station House, now in private ownership, (c) National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (@niah_ireland [Instagram], @NIAH_Ireland [Twitter]). [22]

Newtowncunningham Station Water Tower. The National Inventory of Architectural heritage describes this as a “freestanding single-bay two-storey former railway water tower associated with Newtowncunningham Railway Station, built c. 1883, having rendered platform over surmounted by timber-clad metal water tank.” (c) National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (@niah_ireland [Instagram], @NIAH_Ireland [Twitter]). [22]

The Station House seen from the road. [My photograph, 9th May 2024]

We complete this article here at Newtowncunningham Railway Station. The next article in this series will look at the line from Newtowncunningham to Derry.

References

  1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonderry_and_Lough_Swilly_Railway, a cessed on 30th April 2024.
  2. S. Maxwell Hajducki; A Railway Atlas of Ireland; David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1974.
  3. https://osi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bc56a1cf08844a2aa2609aa92e89497e, accessed on 30th April 2024.
  4. https://railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php, accessed on 1st May 2024.
  5. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293669517301?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=vFhrxofnRnO&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=afQhrar7TGK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY, accessed on 13th July 2023.
  6. https://www.letterkennyhistory.com/the-railways, accessed on 13th July 2023.
  7. https://m.facebook.com/groups/788818974978955/permalink/1011585592702291, accessed on 13th July 2023.
  8. https://www.flickr.com/photos/29903115@N06/48627305973, accessed on 3rd May 2024.
  9. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wdwkAfVanbCPbvmT, accessed on 3rd May 2024.
  10. https://www.facebook.com/share/AEut2yYnGpVF5Bdu, accessed on 3rd May 2024.
  11. https://www.facebook.com/share/LY7arTwvoZJ3iVTs, accessed on 3rd May 2024.
  12. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qUSZXS8nL2jjKiYG, accessed on 4th May 2024.
  13. http://geohive.maps.arcgis.com/apps/we2bappviewer/index.html?id=9def898f708b47f19a8d8b7088a100c4, accessed on 27th and 28th October 2020.
  14. https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000332873, accessed on 5th May 2024.
  15. https://osi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bc56a1cf08844a2aa2609aa92e89497e, accessed on 5th May 2024.
  16. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/8ZMXsiwAdUZFuj7X, accessed on 5th May 2024.
  17. In 2020, Kerry Doherty of Ballindrait very kindly sent me a series of pictures of the Co. Donegal Railways Strabane and Letterkenny Railway route. Each of these, in this article, bears the reference number [17].
  18. Dave Bell and Steve Flanders; The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway: A Visitor’s Guide; County Donegal Railway Restoration Society.
  19. http://donegalgenealogy.com/1901pluck.htm, accessed on 8th May 2024.
  20. https://www.donegaldaily.com/2024/03/19/plans-for-reinstatement-of-old-east-donegal-railway-line, accessed on 9th May 2024.
  21. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/WPFKVTW43vPdgCJY, accessed on 9th May 2024.
  22. https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/?query=&location_type=building&county=DG&town=Newtowncunningham&townland=&group=&type=&date_from=&date_to=, accessed on 16th May 2024.
  23. https://www.facebook.com/groups/788818974978955/permalink/1209152166278965/?app=fbl, accessed on 2nd June 2024.

2 thoughts on “The Lough Swilly Railway continued. … Letterkenny to Derry – Part 1”

  1. Jim McCarter

    Hi Roger. Thank you for such a fantastic piece of research. I really enjoyed reading your articles and seeing the maps and photographs of the sites. 

    div>I have a personal interest

    Reply ↓

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