Category Archives: Co. Donegal

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

3 Replies

This third article about the Burtonport Extension covers the length from Cashelnagor Station to Barnes Gap.

The first two articles in this series can be found on the following links:

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

and

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

The featured image above shows Cashelnagor Railway Station from the air, momentarily lit by sunlight © Proinsias Carr. The image is used by kind permission. His photography can be found here. [1]

Images of traffic on the line when it was still operating seem to be few and far between. I am continuing to look for images and may post an addendum if sufficient come to light in due course.

The 1940s 1″ OSi mapping below shows the length of the covered in this third article.

This first segment covers Cashelnagor Railway Station via Falcarragh Railway Station to Lough Agher. [2]
This next segment runs from Lough Agher via Dunfanaghy and Creeslough Railway Stations, across the Owencarrow Viaduct and through Barnes Gap. [2]
Our starting point for this part of the journey along the Burtonport Extension Railway is at Cashelnagor Railway Station. This is an extract from the 25″ OSi mapping of the early 20th century. [2]
A very similar area as covered in the map extract above. This is how the site of Cashelnagor Railway Station appears on the satellite imagery provided by Google Earth [May 2023]
Cashelnagor Railway Station viewed from the crossing location to the South of the Station in April 2023. As we noted in the lst article about the line, the station building has been refurbished and is in use as a holiday let. [3][My photograph, 24th April 2023]

The length of the line from Cashelnagor Railway Station to Falcarragh Railway Station is best seen on the 6″ OSi mapping of 1901 as one sheet of the 26″ mapping covering the route is not available on line. The quality of the reproduction of the map extracts below is not as good as it might be, but it is the best available at present. [2]

The 6″ OSi mapping shows the old railway heading almost due North away from Cashenagor Railway Station. [2]
A similar length of the old line as it appears on Google Earth in 2023. [Google Earth, 31st May 2023}
At Milepost 56 (56 miles from Derry) the line begins to curve round to the East. [2]
Another Google Earth satellite image which shows the route of the old line as it appears in 2023. [Google Earth, 31st May 2023]
Looking back Southwest from the minor road which appears on the Google Earth satellite image above. The route of the old railway is shown by the superimposed yellow line. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
At the same location, looking Northeast along the route of the old railway. The minor road on which we are standing was no more than a track in the days when the railway was operating. The map extract above shows it petering out after crossing the line. It linked in to another track to the North of the line. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The old railway crossed the Tullaghobegly River on embankment while running in a Northeasterly direction. We are on the next OSi 6″ map sheet from 1901 and the detail is a little easier to make out. In the bottom left of the extract there is a track crossing the old railway. [2]
This extract from the Google Maps satellite imagery shows the same length of the old railway as the map extract above. The Tullaghobegly River is easy to make out running across the image from South to North. The old railway route is still clearly visible as well running from the lower left of the image to the top-right. [Google Maps, 31st May 2023]
This enlarged extract from Google Maps satellite imagery shows the minor road crossing the line of the old railway which appeared in the bottom-eft of the image above. [Google Maps, 31st May 2023]
Looking back Southwest from the minor road shown on the Google Maps extract above. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
From the same location, looking Northeast towards Falcarragh Railway Station, with the line of the old railway superimposed. The house here is not recorded as a crossing keeper’s hose so the track will have crossed the line at an ungated crossing. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The railway bridge over the Tullaghobegly River still stands in 2023. We did not get a photograph of this bridge when we walked to Falcarragh Railway Station. [Google Maps, 31st May 2023]

“The Tullaghobegley River (also known as the Bawaan River) flows for some 9 miles, emptying into Ballyness Bay and thence to the sea. The source of the river is Lough Altan at the base of Mount Errigal in Glenveagh National Park. … The Tullaghobegley, though small, is a productive salmon and sea trout fishery recording around 300 salmon per season. The river fishes from June onwards. During spates there are some nice pools above the Main Road Bridge, above the old Railway Bridge and at Meendarragh.” [4]

The railway continued in a Northeasterly direction, running to the Northwest of Creenlougher and on past Milepost 54. [2]
A similar area on Google Maps satellite imagery to that shown in the extract above. Note the bridge over the old railway in the bottom-left of this image. [Google Maps, 31st May 2023]
Looking North from the road which bridged the old railway, at the bridge which still carries that road. AS can be seen, the arch has been infilled with concrete. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Looking back to the Southwest from the road bridge at Creenlougher. {Google Streetview, August 2021]
Looking Northeast from the bridge over the old railway at Creenlougher in 2023. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Curving a little to the East, the railway approached Falcarragh Station at Fiddler’s Bridge. [2]
A very similar area to that shown on the map extract above, as it appears on Google Maps in 2023. [Google Maps, 31st May 2023]
A closer view of Falcarragh Railway Station from above. The line of the old railway is superimposed. The station building was immediately adjacent to the road with the goods shed behind it (to the North), both are still in use in 2023. [Google Maps, 31st May 2023]
This station layout appears in Dave Bell and Steve Flanders book about the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway. The layout of the station is such that should it have been required to allow a train from the opposite direction to pass, laying back into the goods loop, or pulling into the goods loop would be possible. [5: p77]
The view Southwest along the old railway from just to the West of the R256. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The view East across the R256 into the site of Falcarragh Railway Station. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The view East along the line if the old railway from the location of the level crossing on what is now the R256. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
This photograph shows Falcarragh Railway Station after final closure of the line in 1947. It was shared by Joe Begley on the Memories of Falcarragh/Gortahork Facebook Group on 30th January 2018. [9]
Falcarragh Railway Station as seen in the early 2000s. This picture was included in E. M. Patterson, Joe Begley and Steve Flanders book about the line. [6: p167]
A similar view to the monochrome image and the early 2000s image above as the Station appears in 2023. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]

“Falcarragh railway station served the village of Falcarragh, 4 km (2.5 mi) away. … [It] opened on 9th March 1903 when the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway opened their Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway, from Letterkenny to Burtonport. It closed on 3rd June 1940 [to passenger traffic] when the LLSR closed the line from Tooban Junction to Burtonport in an effort to save money.” [7] Final closure to all traffic occurred on 6th January 1947. [8]

Two further views of Falcarragh Railway Station in April 2023. Notice the Station Nameplate now on the platform face of the building. [My photographs, 27th April 2023]
The house facing the Railway Station. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The Falcarragh Goods Shed/Store as shown in Patterson, Begley and Flanders book. This view is from the East. [6: p167]
The view of the old goods shed/store and the passenger station building from the R256 looking East. [Google Streetview, November 2022]
The approach to Falcarragh Railway Station from the East. The ford across the River Ray is to the left of the line. The station buildings were on the other side of the line facing the house visible in the distance. This photograph was shared on the Memories of Falcarragh/Gortahork Facebook Group on 30th January 2018 by Joe Begley. [9]
The same location as it appears on Google Maps/Google Streetview on 2nd June 2023 on my mobile. The top half of this image is the view at the location marked by the red flag and looking in the direction of the white on blue arrow indicates in the bottom half of the image. We are looking West across the bridge over the River Ray. The trees on the left camouflage the house opposite the Station, those immediately beyond the bridge hide the Station site.[Google Streetview, August 2021]
This is the only picture that I have been able to find which shows the old railway bridge from river level. It was shared by Carmel Boyle on the Memories of Falcarragh/Gortahork Facebook Group on 24th September 2021. [11]
The River Ray Bridge viewed from the South, on the old road where it forded the river, in 2023. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
Looking East from the throat of the ols railway station across the moderm road bridge which replaced the old railway bridge. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The OSi 6″ Map shows the old railway heading sinously East from Falcarragh. [2]
RailMapOnline shows the route of the old railway East of Falcarragh Railway Station. [10]
The view East from the bridge over the River Ray. Pedestrian access is permitted beyond the fence line ahead. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
Looking East along the old railway formation. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The old railway continues to run East. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
Two level crossings and a relatively significant structure appear on the next extract from the 6″ OSi mapping of 1901. As will be seen on the Google Maps extract below, the first of these, approximately at the centre of this image, seems to be of lesser importance in the 21st century than it was at the beginning of the 20th century. The second, more Easterly, of the two crossings seems to be on a slightly more used track in the image below. The building adjacent to the crossing is a B&B now. [2]
The old railway formation continues East. [10]
The fenceline marks the end of the permissive length of the route over private land. The building in the distance is the B&B marked on Google Maps to the right of the satellite image immediately above. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
Closer to the B&B the line crosses a moorland river. the low parapet walls belie the substantial nature of the structre. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The bridge carrying the old line across a moorland river, (The Lough Agher River). [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The line continues in an Easterly direction. [2]
The moorland river/stream (The Lough Agher River) crossed to the West of the B&B closely follows the old railway formation; passing under it once again through the bridge shown below. [10]
Two images of the bridge which we noted on the RailMapOnline.com image above. The first is taken looking East, the second looks from the South across the line of the old railway. [My photographs, 27th April 2023]
Looking Southeast from the line of the Burtonport Extension close to the right edge of the RailMapOnline.com image above. The ropad/track heading South appears both on the above satellite image and on the left side of the one below. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The old railway continues eastward. [2]
The old railway continued East as this next RailMapOnline.com satellite image shows. [10]
Looking East at the point where a track crosses the line of the old railway. This location appears at the right side of the satellite image above. [27th April 2023]
Walking these long straight sections of the old line takes time. The distant hills only gradually appear closer. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The view North from the track running on the South side of the old railway. The very shallow embankment carrying the line at this point can just be made out. This image comes from a point on the track at the right-hand edge of the RailMapOnline.com image above and the left-hand side of the satellite image below. [Google Streetview, October 2009]
The old railway turned to the Northeast just beyond the small bridge shown in images below. [2]
Another moorland stream is crossed on this next length of the route of the old railway, as shown on RailMapOnline.com, and the line turns to follow as East-Northeast alignment. [10]
This picture is taken looking East from the bridge over the moorland stream mentioned above. The line curves towards the North ahead taking an East-Northeast alignment. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The view from the Northwest of the culvert/bridge which takes the stream under the old railway formation. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The view from the Southeast of the same culvert/bridge. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
Further round the curve seen ahead on the view along the line across the stream culvert/bridge above. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
Now beyond the curve, the line ran straight towards Lough Agher ahead. a careful study of the phto will shw that the line is crossed by a fence line ahead. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
This next extract from the 6″ OSi mapping of 1901 shows a further straight length of the line crossing a moorland track at a shallow angle by means of an ungated crossing and then following the southern shoe of Lough Agher which appears in the top-right of the extract [2]
As this satellite image shows, alongside Lough Agher the line curved further to the Northeast and followed the shore of the lough. As we will see below the route of the old railway is metalled to the East of the moorland road shown here. [10]
Approaching a moorland lane which crosses the old railway route at a shallow angle we reached the length of the old line which had very recently been metalled. Lough Agher is just beyond the horizon at the left of the image. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
A similar view to that shown above looking along the line of the old railway. This time from 2009. Lough Agher can just be seen close to the horizon in the centre of this image. This and the following image are provided to give an indication of the dramatic change in the accessibility which has been achieved in recent years. [Google Streetview, October 2009]
Looking back West towards Falcarragh in 2009! [Google Streetview, October 2009]
The line followed the southern shore of the lough. [2]
A similar area as shown on the satellite imagery provided by RailMapOnline.com. [10]
The mettalled track follows the southern shore of Lough Agher. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The powers that be have provided some excellent amenities along the route. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
At the Northeast end of the Lough the railway curved round from its Northeasterly trajectory towards the Southeast. [2]
A similar area as shown on the modern satellite imagery with the route of the railway superimposed in yellow. [10]
These two images show the metalled footpath on the old railway line approaching the Northeast corner of Lough Agher. The line curves round between the two hills directly ahead of the camera in the second shot. [My photographs, 27th April 2023]
The line beginns to curve round to the Southeast. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The 6″ OSI survey of 1901 shows little in the way of features around the old railway as it ran first in a Southeasterly direction and then began to curve round to the Northeast again. [2]
The same area as shown by RailMapOnline.com with the route of the old railway shown in yellow on the Google satellite imagery. [10] The Foot of Muckish Trailhead provides a some parking and access to a number of local footpaths. [10] Examples of the walking available can be found here. [12]

The Foot of Muckish Trailhead provides a some parking and access to a number of local footpaths. Examples of the walking available can be found here. [12] The sequence of photographs immediately below follow the tarmacked trail to the car park at the Muckish Trailhead.

The sequence of photos above shows the route of the old railway as it appears in the 21st century, approaching the Muckish Trailhead and car park. [My photographs, 27th April 2023]
The information board at the Muckish Trailhead. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
A few metres beyond the information board stands a trail marker for the tarmacked length of the old railway formation. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The view ahead to the Northeast along the line of the old railway which runs on shallow embankment for much of the next kilometre. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
A panoramic view looking South from adjacent to the Muckish Trailhead Car Park with Muckish Mountain right-of-centre and the old railway embankment visible across the middle of the image. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The 6″ OSI survey of 1901 now shows the old railway meandering Northeast on embankment. [2]
This RailMapOnline.com extract shows the same area as it appears in 2023, as the map extract above. [10]
A view of the old railway embankment from the Muckish Miner’s Path Trailhead. The line of the embankment is below the horizon and just above the top of the signpost. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Still 49km from Derry, the line continued East-northeast.
The same area, once again, as in the map extract above. [10]

Before moving on, it is worth noting that Begley and Saunders [6] number the next two crossing-keeper’s cottages differently from Bell & Saunders [5]. In order to reflect both of these opinions the Bell & Saunders numbers are referred to in brackets below.

These two extracts from the OSi historic mapping show the next length of the old railway. The first is from the 6″ survey and shows Gatehouse No. 12 (14) just to the East of the join between two map sheets. The second covers a length eastwards from a point just to the West of Gatehouse No. 11 (13). It is taken from the 25″ survey. [2]
This satellite image from RailMapOnline.com shows the same length of the old railway as covered by the two images above. Gatehouse No. 12 (14) is just to the right of centre and guarded access across the line on the lane which meanders around to the South of the route of the old line. [10]
Gatehouse No. 12 (14) as shown on Google Maps with the old line superimposed. [Google Maps, June 2023]
Two images of Gatehouse No. 12 (14) as it appeared in 2021. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Gatehouse No. 12 (14) in 2023. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
Looking back to the West along the old railway formation with renovation being undertaken at Gatehouse No. 12 (14) which encroaches across the line if the railway. [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
Looking East along the old railway formation from the track outside Gatehouse No. 12 (14). [My photograph, 27th April 2023]
The 25″ OSi survey of 1901 shows the old line continuing first in an Easterly direction and then turning to the Northeast. [2]
RailMapOnline.com shows the same length of the old line as the two map extracts above. [10]
A much closer view of Gatehouse No. 11 (13) as seen on Google Maps satellite imagery. [Google Maps, June 2023]
Gatehouse No. 11 (13) at the turn of the 21st century. [6: p166]
Gatehouse No. 11 (13) in 2023. The site around the building was relatively rundown. [27th April 2023]
This sequence of three map extracts from the OSi 25″ mapping show the line maintaining its Northeasterly direction of travel. [2]
The same length of line is represented by this single extract from RailMapOnline.com’s satellite imagery. [10]
These two map extracts are both taken from the OSi 25″ 1901 Survey. They show the line curving round from an Northeasterly trajectory to a Southerly one. [2]
The last two map extracts from the 25″ 1901 OSi Survey are covered by the scope of this satellite image, the old railway route is shown again by the yellow line. [10]
The old line continued South. This extract from the 25″ OSi survey of 1901 shows both Dunfanaghy Road Station and Faymore Viaduct. [2]
The same location in 2023 as shown on RailMapOnlone.com’s satellite imagery with the route of the old railway superimposed. [10]
Dunfanaghy Road Railway Station as shown on the 25″ OSi mapping of the turn of the 20th century. The station had no passing loop, but did have a single goods siding which could be used to allow trains to pass. [2]
The view Southwest from the N56 into what was Dunfanaghy Road Railway Station. [Google Streetview, August 2021.
Faymore Viaduct seen in 1937 from a train which has just left Dunfanaghy Road Station heading for Letterkenny. [5: p70]
A little further South on the N56, we get a first view of what remains of Faymore Viaduct. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The two remains stone piers of Faymore Viaduct. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Two images of the remaining parts of Faymore Viaduct. [13]

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage records the structure as follows:

Faymore Viaduct is now a “series of freestanding piers formerly supporting multiple-arch railway viaduct, built c. 1903, formerly carrying the Letterkenny to Burtonport section of the Derry (Middle Quay) to Burtonport railway line over road and the Faymore River. Viaduct now out of use with railway deck now removed (closed 1947). Piers constructed squared and snecked stonework with drafted margins to corners, and with projecting stringcourse to girder level. Spans road (N56) and Faymore River in the rural landscape to the north\north-west of Creeslough.

This series of impressive piers that formerly supported a long railway viaduct that spanned the road and the Faymore River. The piers are well-built using good-quality mildly rock-faced and snecked stone masonry that is a feature of Victorian and Edwardian railway engineering and architecture in Ireland. The piers now stand almost like pieces of sculpture, and are interesting features of some historic merit in the scenic rural landscape to the north\north-west of Creeslough. The viaduct was originally built to serve the Letterkenny to Burtonport section of the Derry (Middle Quay) to Burtonport railway; this section was built by the Letterkenny to Burtonport Extension Railway Company and was opened in 1903. This railway line was built to the 3 foot narrow gauge, a feature of many of the former railway lines in Donegal. The railway line was closed from Gweedore to Burtonport in 1940 but the Letterkenny to Gweedore section remained in use until 1947. This former railway forms part of a group of structures associated with this railway line in the area, and is an integral element of the built heritage and transport history of County Donegal. It was probably built to designs by Taggart Aston of Belfast who was responsible for the design and construction of many of the bridges on the Letterkenny to Burtonport narrow gauge railway line.” [13]

To the South of the River Faymore the old railway line continued in a southerly direction towards Creeslough Railway Station just a short distance to the South.

This series of three map extracts, from the 25″ OSI mapping of 1901, show the length of the line from Faymore Viaduct (at the top of the first extract) to Creeslough Railway Station which just creeps onto the bottom-right corner of the third extract. [2]
This satellite image from RailmapOnlime.com shows the same length of the old railway as appears in the three map extracts above. [10]

At Massinass a side road leaves the N56 and would once have passed under the old railway. The bridge abutments still remain.

The abutment of the old bridge remain. This view is from the West. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The same bridge but from the East. [Google Streetview, August 2021]

The next side-road passed over the the old line.

The point at which the next minor road crossed the old railway. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
This photograph shows the point at which the next minor road crosses over the old railway. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Creeslough Railway Station as shown on the 25″ OSi survey of 1901. It is worth comparing this location with the station at Gweedore. The layout appears to be very much the same. [2]
The site of Creeslough Railway Station as it appears on Google Maps satellite imagery. The line of the railway has been superimposed. [Google Maps, June 2023] NB: RailMapOnline.com [10] shows the line curving in essentially the same way but a little to the West of the line shown here.
The road bridge over the old railway at Creeslough Railway Station as seen from the West in 2021. The old railway station site is beyond the tree on the right of this image. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Looking to the North from the road bridge. It and the rock cutting to the North of the road have been filled in. The old line curved round towards the top-left corner of this photograph. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The site of Creeslough Railway Station seen from the Road which crossed the line on the North side of the Station. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
A relatively low grade image which shows the old station building in 1995. That building has now been replaced by a larger domestic dwelling. [5: p68]
Creeslough Railway Station in 1937, looking North. The rock face of the cutting just North of the station can just be made out, © H C. Casserley. [5: p68]
JP Box 2-107
This picture of Creeslough Railway Station is embedded from Andrew Lance’s flickr stream. This is the view from the North end of the station some time after closure. [18]
The view South from the road bridge along the cutting that defined the throat of Creeslough Railway Station. The rock cutting is now filled with vegetation. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Creeslough Railway Station site, seen from the East, as it appeared in 2021. The old railway line curved round behind the house and garage seen here. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The good shed is still standing. This telephoto image was taken from the road to the North of the station site and is as a result not as sharp as it could be. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
The view South from Creeslough Railway Station taken from the train. The engine is No. 12 and it heads the 8.30am service from Burtonport to Letterkenny on 24th June 1937. [5: p68]

South of Creeslough Station the line curved round to the Southwest and then back towards the Southeast heading for the Owencarrow Viaduct which was the site of a notorious railway accident in the early 20th century. [14] The first three map extracts below are taken from the 25″ survey of 1901. The next map sheet at that scale is not available online at present. The subsequent map extracts come from the 6″ OSi survey of the early 20th century.

These two map extracts show the old railway heading Southwest and then running along the East shore of Lough Natooey South (named Creeslough on modern satellite imagery).
This RailMapOnline.com satellite image covers the same length of the old railway as covered by the map extracts above.
This Google Streetview image from 2009 shows the route of the old railway. The photo looks North from the point where the old railway line met the old mainroad, now the N56). The drive on the right of the picture follows the line of the old railway. In later images the vegetation has grown considerably to mean that this view is not available in the 2020s. [Google Streetview, August 2009]

For a short distance, the old railway and the old road ran alongside each other and then the railway crossed the old road at a level crossing with an adjacent crossing-keepers cottage (No. 10), which can be seen on the enlarged map extract, before then running along the shore of the Lough Natooey South (Creeslough).

Taken on the same day as the last photograph but a little further South on the N56, the route of the old railway can be seen running away from the road. Creeslough (or Lough Natooey South) can be seen on the right side of this image. [Google Streetview, August 2009]
A very similar view in 2022. The track which follows the old railway formation can still be seen beyond the galvanised steel gate. [Google Streetview, November 2022]
South of the Lough, the line crossed a minor road junction as shown on this extract from the OSi 25″ Survey of 1901. Crossing-keeper’s Cottage No. 9 can be seen to the South of the road junction. [2]
From this point southwards there is no 25″ OSi Survey Sheet. Only 6″ OSi survey mapping is available for the next section of the old railway. This 6″ extract shows the road and railway running close together. The track from the N56 to Terlin crosses the old line on the level at an ungated crossing. At the bottom of this extract, road and rail run immediately next to each other. [2]
This satellite image shows the same length of the line as covered on the two map extracts immediately above. [10]
A view North along the formation of the old railway from the minor road which has a junction with the N56 just off to the right of the image on the opposite side of the old railway. [Google Streetview, August 2021]

South of the junction mentioned above the line and the road ran immediately next to each other, as shown below.

This view looks South along the N56. The N56 runs alongside the old railway formation. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
These three map extracts take the line South to the Owencarrow Viaduct, after which the line turned to the East. [2]
This satellite image covers the same length of the line as the three map extracts above. [10]
Further to the South, the line of road and that of the old railway diverge and run parallel to each other. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Further South and looking Southwest from the N56 in 2023, this image shows the line of the Burtonport Extension from right to left the old line ran parallel t the road, across the picture in the middle distance immediately alongside the solitary tree in the centre of the image. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Looking North from the minor road which meets the N56 close to Creeslough Tyre & Battery centre, the line of the old railway passes through the vegetation at the centre of the image. The yellow line, far-left and centre-right gives an idea of its actual route. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Looking Southwest along the next minor road leaving the N56 which crossed the old railway on the bridge shown here. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Owencarrow Viaduct as it appears on Google Maps in 2023. [Google Maps, 20th June 2023]
A little to the Southwest of the railway alignment a new memorial has been set up to those who died in 1925. [14] This is the view of the remains of the viaduct from the memorial. [My photograph, 30th April 2023]
Owencarrow Viaduct again as it is seen in the 21st century. This photograph is taken looking Southeast, along the line heading towards Letterkenny, from the L1332 which runs along the North side of the Owencarrow river valley. The memorial to the accident features in the bottom-right of this picture. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Three close-up photographs taken of the memorial to those who died in the Owencarrow Viaduct accident in 1925. [14] [My photographs, 30th April 2023]
An enlarged photograph of the picture on the memorial which shows the aftermath of the accident at Owencarrow viaduct in 1925. [14]
Owencarrow Viaduct in better times, viewed from the North. [19]
A view of the viaduct from the South, looking towards Creeslough. This is a still from a ‘cinefilm’ or equivalent of a journey on the Burtonport Extension from Letterkenny to Burtonport. [15]
The 6″ OSi survey of 1901 shows the line approaching Barnes Gap. [2]
The same area as covered by the map extract above as it appears on RailMapOnline.com’s satellite imagery. [10]
This is Barnes Gap Viaduct as it appeared when in use. Two of the piers were removed to allow the N56 to have a full carriageway width. This image is a coloured black and white image. The colourised image appeared on the Old Donegal in Colour Facebook Page (@OldDonegalinColour) on 29th January 2020.
A similar view in 1966. The bridge decking has been removed by this time, © James P. O’Dea, 1910-1992. (LLSR Viaduct, Barnes Gap, Co. Donegal. 1966). [16]
Looking Southeast along the N56 in 2021. Barnes Gap Viaduct was at this location. Viewed from the North it appears that only the piers remain. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
This view from the South shows that the approach arches also remain. [Google Streetview, August 2021]

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage describes the structure as being a:

“Former railway viaduct taking former Letterkenny to Burtonport line over road, erected c.1903, comprising two rusticated arches to southeast and two freestanding rusticated stone piers to northwest, formerly carrying steel girders. Rusticated stone voussoirs forming round arches, with coursed rusticated masonry with drafted margins to spandrels and extending to low parapet having concrete copings with string course at springing level of arch to northwest. Coursed rusticated piers with drafted margins and ashlar rusticated copings. Set adjacent to, and crossing, N56 road to south of Creeslough.

This is an impressive structure of considerable architectural, social and technical significance to the region. The remains of the Barnes Gap Viaduct represent the latest expansion of transport networks in the late nineteenth/early twentieth centuries. It was built to carry the Letterkenny to Burtonport railway line, which opened in 1903 and closed in 1947. The viaduct exhibits high-quality stone masonry and the robust texture of the rusticated stonework enhances the visual aesthetics of the structure in the landscape.” [17]

This brings us to the end of this length of the old railway. In the next post we will continue on towards Letterkenny.

References

  1. https://www.facebook.com/AerialViewsDonegal, accessed on 5th May 2023.
  2. https://osi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bc56a1cf08844a2aa2609aa92e89497e, accessed on 5th May 2023.
  3. https://www.facebook.com/cashelnagore, accessed on 31st May 2023.
  4. https://fishinginireland.info/salmon/north/tullaghobegley-ray, accessed on 31st May 2023.
  5. Dave Bell & Steve Flanders; Donegal’s Railway Heritage Guide No. 2, The Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway: A Visitor’s Guide to the old railway and all the bits that can still be seen; County Donegal Restoration Society, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, 198….. The Donegal Railway Heritage Trust hold the copyright of this book and images are used here with the kind permission of Jim McBride, a director of the Museum Trust.
  6. Joe Begley, Steve Flanders & E.M. Patterson; The Lough Swilly Railway: Revised Edition; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, 2017.
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcarragh_railway_station, accessed on 31st May 2023.
  8. https://www.railscot.co.uk/Ireland/Irish_railways.pdf, accessed on 31st May 2023.
  9. https://m.facebook.com/groups/276950236132781/permalink/326226897871781, accessed on 1st June 2023.
  10. https://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php, accessed on 5th June 2023.
  11. https://m.facebook.com/groups/276950236132781/permalink/1163181957509600, accessed on 10th June 2023.
  12. https://pbmlkt.ie/easy-walks/12-creeslough-old-railway-loops, accessed on 11th June 2023.
  13. https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/40813002/faymore-viaduct-masiness-creeslough-donegal#gallery-1, accessed on 20th June 2023.
  14. The accident at the Owencarrow Viaduct is covered in a separate article: “The Owencarrow Viaduct Accident in 1925,” https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/05/30/the-owencarrow-viaduct-accident-in-1925.
  15. https://www.tiktok.com/@irishdailytimes/video/7198602746193251589, accessed on 21st June 2023.
  16. https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000306810/HoldingsILS, accessed on 21st June 2023.
  17. https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/40903502/barnes-gap-viaduct-stragraddy-co-donegal, accessed on 21st June 2023.
  18. https://www.flickr.com/photos/69692273@N03/49956131028, accessed on 21st June 2023.
  19. https://www.postcardsireland.com/postcard/owencarrow-railway-viaduct-cresslough-co-donegal, accessed on 21st June 2023.

The Donegal Railway Heritage Trail.

2 Replies

On 28th February 2022 the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre announced that, with funding provided through the “Creative Ireland” programme administered by Donegal County Council, they completed the production of a map of County Donegal showing some of the main Donegal railway heritage still to be seen across the County and into Northern Ireland.

Niall McCaughan, Manager of the railway Museum stated: “In recent years there has been an increased interest in railway heritage, locally, nationally and internationally. Here in Donegal is no different, but the uniqueness of the railways that operated across Donegal has a special place in the hearts of the local population, not to mention too the international interest it rightly deserves. Although much of our great railway heritage has disappeared over the decades, there still is surprising a lot about, hidden in plain sight and some of Donegal’s railway heritage is still in operation for different purposes, including as the Bus Éireann bus station in Letterkenny and their depot in Donegal town, both previously part of the Donegal railway network. This includes Station buildings, halts, Gatehouses, bridges, etc. With this in mind, we have produced a simple easy to read folded “Heritage Trail” guide for the county, as well as some locations just across the border.” [1]

I picked up one of these leaflets at the Heritage Centre in Donegal Town. It is a really well-prepared fold-out map with a significant number of important locations on both the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway (which served the Northern half of County Donegal from its station in Derry) and the Co. Donegal Railways network.

If you are planning a holiday in Co. Donegal then writing off for one of the leaflets would be worthwhile. They are supplied free, provided the buyer covers postage and packing costs. Alternatively, the leaflet is also available to download as a .pdf file, here. [2]

This is a low resolution copy of the map which forms part of the heritage trail leaflet. Each of the numbered locations has its own short note and photograph on the reverse side of the leaflet. [2]
Just a few of the locations highlighted in the leaflet. [2]

This is an excellent leaflet providing a great way to plan a trip round Co. Donegal to find railway heritage and to enjoy Donegal’s wonderful scenery. Don’t get so focussed on the railway history that you miss the superb beaches and the rugged moorland scenery.

The leaflet’s suggested stop-off points can supplemented by some excellent railway walking.

The first 6 km of the line from Burtonport (on the L&LSR [3]) is an easily accessible, well-maintained walk. Full details of the walk and associated historic photographs can be found on this link:

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

A further excellent walk, part metalled, runs between Falcarragh Railway Station and the Foot of Muckish Trailhead, also on the L&LSR, which can be found within this link:

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

An easy stroll is also available adjacent to Lough Connell which can be found within this link:

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

Lough Connell, Meenderrynasloe, Co. Donegal. The old railway ran along the North side of the lough. Parking is available at the West end of the lough. [Google Maps, 5th June 2023]

It is also possible to follow other lengths of the line which are part of other walking trails or which require a little more adventurous spirit. The full length of the Burtonport Extension of the L&LSR is covered by the series of of which the three above are a part.

References

  1. https://www.govisitdonegal.com/blog/february-2022/donegal-railway-heritage-trail-guide-launched, accessed on 28thbMay 2023.
  2. https://www.govisitdonegal.com/getmedia/840d4949-e1f3-4ea2-97b1-c2757fb3e3c2/Donegal-Railway-Heritage-Trail-FINAL.pdf.aspx
  3. The L&LSR served the northern area of Co. Donegal with a main terminus in Derry. The L&LSR was the ‘Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway’.

Glenties in OOn3

1 Reply

On Saturday 3rd June 2023, I attended the Craven Arms and District Model Railway Circle Annual Show at Ludlow Racecourse. The visit did not disappoint. …

One of the layouts on display was Glenties in 00n3 by Alastair Knox. A general view of the layout appears as the featured image above [My photograph, 3rd June 2023]

Having just been in Donegal for a few weeks, the presence of the Glenties layout at the Show was a pleasant surprise.

The track layout seems correct but the buildings appear to have been a little compressed to keep the layout within the available space. The stock seems to be mainly from Backwoods Miniatures. [4]

Railcar No. 12 approaches the station throat at Glenties. [2]
Railcar No. 12 crosses the stream on the approach to Glenties Railway Station. [My photograph, 3rd June 2023]
No. 3A, a 2-6-4T locomotive crosses the road on the way into Glenties Station. [3]
Phoenix shunting the goods yard at Glenties. [3]
Railcar No. 12 trundles into the platform at Glenties. [My photograph, 3rd June 2023]
Railcar N0. 12 brings its short train to a halt at Glenties Railway Station. The station buildings on the model have been condensed in the model form from their size in real life. This can be seen when comparing images of the model with the pictures at the end of this article. [My photograph, 3rd June 2023]
No. 12 is now being turned ready for departure for Stranorlar. The turntable at Glenties saw a lot of use as all of the railcars used on the Co. Donegal network only had a driving position at one end. [my photograph, 3rd June 2023]
No. 12 heads to the station throat before setting back onto its short train of wagons. [My photograph, 3rd June 2023]
No. 3A has just left its train in the goods yard to be marshalled by Phoenix and awaits clearance to run back past the train and to then be serviced and turned in the loco depot. [My photograph, 3rd June 2023]
No. 3A on the turntable at Glenties. [My photograph, 3rd June 2023]
Glenties Railway Station after closure, (c) Roger Joanes. This picture is included here under a Creative Commons Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). [5]

The main station building remains in use in Glenties as a B&B. Pictures from the booking.com website for the property appear below.

As can be seen here, the actual buildings at Gentlies were longer and wider than the model could accommodate. The passenger station on the model appears to have been compressed in length and width but not in height. [1]
A view along the station platform in the 21st century. [1]

The line from Stranorlar to Glenties is covered in the two articles below:

Co. Donegal Railways, Ireland – Part 1 – The Glenties Branch – Stranorlar to Ballinamore

Co. Donegal Railways, Ireland – Part 2 – The Glenties Branch – Ballinamore to Glenties

00n3 is “the description given to modelling 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railways in 4 mm scale with 12 mm (0.472 in) gauge track. 3 ft (914 mm) prototypes were common in Ireland and the Isle of Man, but the scale is not generally used outside the British Isles. 12 mm (0.472 in) gauge track is the same as that used in TT scale and HOm, so some components used for those scales can be used.” [6]

References

  1. https://www.booking.com/Share-gRs7xU, accessed on 9th June 2023.
  2. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ifOADJeCTPM/maxresdefault.jpg, accessed on 9th June 2023.
  3. These two images are stills from a video of the Glenties layout taken at the Liverpool Model Railway exhibition in 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZT3hYrtfiE, accessed on 9th June 2023.
  4. http://www.backwoodsminiatures.com/00n3kits.htm, accessed on 9th June 2023.
  5. https://www.flickr.com/photos/110691393@N07/14073602795/in/photolist-nrCTN4-nrmxoe-2fLCaHg-BreD5t-hP4yK, accessed on 22nd June 2020.
  6. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/00n3, accessed on 9th June 2023.

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

1 Reply

This second article about the Burtonport Extension covers the length from Kincasslagh Road Railway Station to Cashelnagor Railway Station.

The first of these articles can be found at:

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

Kincasslagh Road Railway Station as seen in Joe Begley’s article about the January 1921 ambush. [1]

The next four photographs come from Dave Bell and Steve Flanders book,’The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway: A Visitor’s Guide‘. [2: p82]

The passenger building at Kincasslagh Road Station as it appeared in the late 1980s. [2: p82]
The view Southwest through the site of the Station from what was once the level crossing. [2:p82]
Stepping beyond the pillars which supported the crossing gates, this view again looks Southwest through the site of the Station. [2:p82]
The old road and level crossing at the site. The road was diverted to the East of this location. The building on the left is the Crossing Keeper’s Cottage (No. 21). [2:p82]

The undergrowth at this location, (and possibly the garden planting too) has grown significantly in the last 30 years.

These pictures featured at the end of the first article about the Burtonport Extension. [My photographs, 23rd April 2023]

We start this part of the journey with a short time to reflect at Kincasslagh Road Railway Station. The station was the location of the first action in the War of Independence in 1918. The memorial shown below sits on the road at the Northeast end of Kincasslagh Road Station.

The English text on the memorial reads: TO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST ACTION IN THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, WHEN THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS RESCUED TWO COMRADES, JAMES WARD & JAMES DUFTY FROM BRITISH TROOPS THIS PLACE ON THE 4TH DAY OF JANUARY 1918.

Joe Begley has written an excellent piece on a later ambush which occurred on 12th January 1921 and the events that surrounded it. [1] That ambush took place in a cutting to the Northeast of Kincasslagh Road Railway Station, known locally as Paddy Ghráinne’s Cutting.

An extract from OSi mapping as shared by Joe Begley. The location of Kincasslagh Road Railway Station is marked in the bottom left of the image. The cutting where the 1921 action took place is marked top-right. [1]
The same area as shown on the map extract above but now on modern satellite imagery. [Google Maps, 30th April 2023]
The cutting where the January 1921 action took place, Paddy Ghráinne’s Cutting. [Google Streetview as shard be Joe Begley][1]

Joe Begley explains that the area close to Kincasslagh Road Railway Station was often in the news in the War of Independence and this latest episode brought a temporary end to services on the Burtonport Extension. [1]

Looking back through the site of Kincasslagh Road Railway Station. The garage sits on the line of the old railway. The old railway crossing is hidden behind the undergrowth beyond. The Crossing Keeper’s Cottage (or Station House) can be seen just above the vegetation to the left of the garage. [Google Streetview, April 2022]
The view Northeast along the old railway from the newer road crossing its route. A road ran parallel to the old railway on its South side. Much of the next length of the old line is overgrown. Google Streetview, April 2022]
Looking Northeast from a point to the East of Kincasslagh Road Railway Station. The old railway ran alongside the road on the left side of the picture. Its route has been reclaimed by nature. [Google Streetview, April 2022]

The satellite image above shows the route of the old railway in today’s landscape. Leaving Kincasslagh Road Railway Station in a Northeasterly direction the line passes through cuttings and over low embankments curving first towards the North and then back to the Northeast. Just before it reaches the cutting where the 1921 action took place it crosses a minor road at level.

This is the view looking Southwest along the old railway from its level crossing with the minor road. Little of value can be seen because of the density of the vegetation. [Google Streetview, April 2022]
The view Northeast from the same minor road. The vegetation disguises the fact that this is the same location as the monochrome Streetview image shared by Joe Begley above. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
A similar view in April 2022. The track follows the line of the old railway. [Google Streetview, April 2022]
The 6″ Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSi) of 1906 shows the next length of the old line. I was unable to access the 25″ mapping for this immediate area.  Paddy Ghráinne’s Cutting is at the left of the image. The first road to cross the line to the Northeast of the cutting does so still by means of an underbridge. The second did so by means of a gated level crossing with Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 20 immediately adjacent to it. [3]
This satellite image from Google Maps covers the same area as the OSi map extract above. The old railway can easily be picked out along the majority of this length, first running Northeast and then curving round to the Southeast. The roads referred to below are even easier to distinguish as Google Maps shows them as an overlay on the base imagery. At the right side of this image the line of the old railway runs adjacent to the road that paralleled it for a short time East of Kincasslagh Road Railway Station. [Google Maps, 30th April 2023]
The underbridge mentioned above is a stone arched structure with a relatively low headroom. This is the view of it from the Northwest on the road that it spans. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The same bridge viewed from the Southeast. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
At the location of Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 20, this is the view Southwest along the route of the old railway. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 20 as seen in 2017. The old railway ran to the left of the single storey building in the distance, © Joe Begley. [4: p171]
The same location in 2023, also viewed from the lane which crossed the railway at this location. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The next length of the old railway line as shown on the 1906 6″ OSi mapping. We can see the railway running alongside the highway from the left edge of the map extract to almost the centrepoint. The road turns away to the South with another road crossing the line over another bridge. The Burtonport Extension Railway then heads out into ope country travelling in a Northeasterly direction. [3]
This next satellite image covers the same area as the 6″ OSi map extract above. As in the map extract, the route of the old railway runs close alongside the highway from the left edge of the image to close to the bottom-centre of the image. The two roads shown on the map extract remain but a further narrow road now runs along the line of the old railway. It forms a junction with the older highway just to the North of the bridge over the railway formation. [Google Maps, 30th April 2023]
Looking East along the highway adjacent to the line. The old railway to the left of the road between the rock outcrop and the road. [Google Streetview, 30th April 2023]
The road junction at the bottom-centre of both the map extract and satellit image above. The old railway route is still to the left of the road, now in an overgrown cutting. [Google Streetview, 30th April 2023]
The road turns North and bridges the old railway on another stone-arched bridge. The view is taken looking East. [Google Streetview, April 2022]
The bridge. The stone arch appears to have been partially infilled. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The view East over the bridge parapets. The cutting is heavily overgrown. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
Looking South towards the road bridge over the old railway with the newer road turning off to the East. The white van is about to cross the bridge. [Google Streetview, April 2022]
The view West along the old railway in the late 1980s, © Steve Flanders. [2: p79]
Looking West along the line of the old railway. Its route runs directly ahead of the camera through the bushes which have filled the cutting as far as the bridge we have just crossed and beyond. The road curves round to the right to meet that crossing the overbridge. [Google Streetview, April 2022]
Looking East from approximately the same location with the overbridge behind the camera. For a distance ahead the road uses the old railway’s formation. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The route of the Burtonport Extension looking Northeast close to the edge of the map extract and satellite image above. [Google Streetview, April 2022]
The 1906 6″ OSi mapping showing the next length of the old railway line. The line curved slightly further to the Northeast before swing back towards the Southeast and then switching back towards the Northeast as it passed Lough Naglagory/Nagladary. [3]
The same area as covered in the map extract above. Google Maps shows the road which follows the old railway formation snaking across the satellite image and being crossed by two other roads. The first of the two roads appears on the map extract above, the second does not and can be presumed to have been constructed after 1906.
Looking Northeast along the line of the Burtonport Extension at the location of the first crossing point. This was an ungated crossing. [Google Streetview, April 2022]
Looking East along the line of the old railway at the location of the second (more Easterly) road crossing. While the last road crossing the line was tarmacked, this road has a gravel surface. The crossing was again ungated. [Google Streetview, April 2022]
Across this next extract from the 1906 6″ OSi mapping, the old line travelled in a Northeasterly direction. Only one main point of interest appears on the extract, that is a level crossing towards the top-right of the image. [3]
Approximately the same area as shown on the map extract above. The old railway formation continues to be followed by the single track road. There was a ungated crossing in the centre of the image where a track crossed the railway and a gated crossing, top-right, close to Loughanure School. [Google Maps, 30th April 2023]

I have searched a widely as I can and have only found a couple of images of rolling stock on this section of the line, both relate to the same incident in February 1923.

Joe Begley comments: “This accident occurred between Kincasslagh Road and Crolly stations near “milepost 68¾” – this is situated along what is now a narrow road built on the trackbed that runs from Loughanure Gate House (No 19 – just by the start of the Lough Connell railway walk) to near Kerrytown and is about 1½ miles from said gate house. The train, the 8.30 am from Burtonport with only three passengers, was on an 8 ft embankment above the surrounding rock and bog when a tremendous gust lifted three of the four vehicles and tipped them down the bank. Only the Guard’s brake van and engine were left on the rails. The passengers were badly shaken but had escaped serious injury and were assisted into the shelter of the van, while the driver went on light engine to Crolly to summon help. By the time he returned, another great gust had swept the guard’s van off the track, though fortunately by this time, the passengers had been given refuge in a nearby house. Though the railway had suffered numerous attacks during the troubled years of the early 1920’s, this incident was solely down to the hand of Nature.” This photograph was shared on the Lower Rosses/Gweedore History Discussion Forum Facebook Group on 3rd December 2023, and on the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Facebook Group by Peter Boyle on 4th December 2022. [9]
This photograph was taken by J.J. Brady on 7th February 1923. The figure on the right hand side is William Napier, locomotive superintendent of the railway. The other gentleman is the chairman Trew Colquhoun. This photograph was shared on the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Facebook Group on 10th February 2023 by Peter Napier, William Napier’s grandson. [10]
The road continues to follow the old railway formation. This is a view looking Northeast through the location of the ungated crossing at a point close to the centre of the map extract above. [Google Streetview, August 2010]
Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 19 in early 2017, © Joe Begley. Very little has changed in the 6 years between this image and the one below. [5]
Looking back to the Southwest, towards Burtonport, at the location of Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 19. It seems that a number of trees have been removed from the area to the left of and beyond the cottage [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The route of the old railway looking Northeast from the location of Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 19. Ahead the old railway ran along the North side of Lough Chonail (Connell). A railway walk begins from a car park just to the North of this location. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
The 1906 6″ OSi mapping shows the old railway running along the North shore of Loch Chonail (Connell). [3]
The modern OSi Discovery Series Map No.1 clearly shows the dismantled railway continuing Northeast from the location of Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 19 – the road junction at the bottom-left of this image.
A satellite image of the same area as in the two maps above. [Google Maps, 1st May 2023]
The old railway route looking Northeast from the beyond the cycle route sign above. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
The old railway route alongside Lough Chonail, © Rosses Historical Tours and shared on Facebook on 15th August 2020. Rosses Historical Tours kindly allowed me to share this image when I thought walking this part of the route would not be possible for me. [7]
The old railway route looking Northeast from approximately the same point as in the image above. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
Further to the Northeast. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
The old railway route on a ledge above the lough. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
The old railway route looking Northeast from beyond the end of the lough. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
About 500 metres beyond the end of the lough the old line crossed onto private land. The barrier across the line can be seen in the distance in this image. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
A physical barrier across the line of the old railway prevents access along the line towards Crolly Railway Station. This the view along the route taken from the position of the barrier. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
As it approached Crolly Railway Station, the line turned towards the North before heading Northeast again. This next extract from the 25″ OSi mapping shows it running alongside what became the N56. It was higher than the road over much of this length but almost at the same level by the top of this map extract. [3]
This satellite image from Google Maps shows a similar area, but extends through to Crolly Railway Station which can be seen top-right. The track leaving the N56 and crossing the route of the old railway appears relatively significant on the satellite image and warranted noting as an ungated crossing on the OSi map extract. [Google Maps, 1st May 2023]
The view North from the N56 where the lane to the level crossing had a junction with the N56. Although visible on the satellite image above, it is difficult to pick out the line of the lane in this image. The darker line of bushes which runs from the left of the image across 75% of the picture is probably the line of the old railway. [Google Streetview, September 2009]
This extract from the 25″ OSi mapping shows a level crossing to the Southwest of Crolly Railway Station, illustrates the track-plan and the siting of the Goods Shed immediately adjacent to the main road. It also, shows the level crossing to the Northeast of the station and the river bridge. [3]
Crolly Railway Station looking Northeast. This picture was shared on the Lower Rosses/Gweedore History Discussion Forum Facebook Group by Séimidh Ó Dubhthaigh on 1st July 2012. It is shared here under a general agreement with Jim McBride of the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre to allow use of Donegal Railway Heritage Centre’s archives in these articles about the Burtonport Extension Railway. [17]
It is very difficult to identify the location of the Goods Shed alongside the N56. The most likely location is some partial remains of a building to which this sign is fixed. The alignment of the building, its angle to the road, make it likely that it’s is all that remains of Crolly Railway Station Goods Shed. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
This satellite image focusses specifically on the site of the passenger railway station, level crossing and river bridge at Crolly. [Google Earth, 1st May 2023]
The location of the level crossing on the N56. The old railway crossed the road at this location and headed Northeast along the track to the right of the image. [Google Streetview, August 2021]
Crolly Station in the late 1980s, © Steve Flanders. [2: p79]
A view of Crolly Railway Station in August 2010, taken looking Southwest from the position of the level crossing on the N56. [Google Streetview, August 2010]
This is the first of a sequence of three photos taken of Crolly Railway Station in 2014. This photograph was taken looking into the station site from the N56, © Joe Begley. [5]
The station house at Crolly Railway Station in 2014, © Joe Begley. [5]
Looking Southwest along what was once the station platform of Crolly Railway Station in 2014, © Joe Begley. [5]

Crolly Railway Station building was gutted by fire in October 2015.

Fire damage to Crolly Railway Station buildings in 2015, © Irish Mirror. [8]
Crolly Railway Station in 2021. The picture is taken from almost exactly the same location as that taken in sunshine in 2010. [Google Streetview, August 2021].
Looking Northeast from the N56 adjacent to Crolly Railway Station. The bridge which carried the old railway over the river is roughly at the centre of this image.  [Google Streetview, September 2021]
The river bridge appears in the bottom-left of this extract from the 25″ OSi mapping. At the centre of the image the old railway crossed a culverted stream. In the top-right it bridged a minor road. [3]
A similar area to the map extract above is shown on this Google Maps satellite image. The minor road in the top-right now provides access to a ready-mix concrete plant among other things. The bridge carrying the railway constrained Headroom and had to be removed. In both the map extract and this image, the old railway route can be seen curving round to the North. The culvert and the road bridge are shown below on enlarged map extracts. [Google Maps, 1st May 2023]
The culverted stream. [3]
The road bridge.[3]
Looking Southwest along the old railway back towards Crolly Railway Station from the location of the demolished bridge. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The location of the demolished railway bridge. This photograph is taken facing Northeast. The lorry is sitting on the formation of the Burtonport Extension Railway which heads away to the left. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The bridge referred to above is shown at the bottom of this next extract from the 25″ OSi mapping. North of the bridge the line was on high embankment for a short distance before entering a deep cutting. [3]
The deep cutting continues on this 25″ OSi extract before giving way to high embankment. At the third point of the image following the line from the top of the image a bridge can be made out. It is shown in the next photograph below. [3]
This photograph, taken on an overcast day in 2014 shows a bridge carrying the old line high above the houses of Crolly, © Joe Begley. [4: p170]

It is difficult to make out the line of the old railway as it runs North on the East side of Crolly village. RailMapOnline.com can be a real help in these circumstances. An extract from their map base with the line shown in orange is provided below.

RailMapOnline.com is able to show the line of the old railway imposed onto Google Maps satellite imagery. The bridge which has been demolished was close to the concrete works at the bottom of the image. The bridge in the picture above is seen between houses across the N56 from the petrol station. [11]

Not every sheet of the 25″ OSi mapping is available through the OSi historic maps portal so for the next length of the Burtonport Extension Railway we need to rely on the 6″ OSi mapping.

The old railway ran high above the village of Crolly. The road rose as it travelled North and by the top of this map extract road and railway were at the same level. [3]
The same area is shown the base Google Map satellite imagery used by RailMapOnline.com. The route of the old railway is again shown by the orange line. [11]

On its way Northeast the old line crossed what would have been an unmetalled road aas shown on the satellite image above. That track is in the 21st century a metalled minor road as shown below.

What was once more than a track but in the ,21st century is a metalled single track road crosses the line of the old railway at an ungated crossing. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
The line running Northeast away from the minor road. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
This extract from the 1906 6″ OSi mapping shows the level crossing at the point where the Burtonport Extension Railway crossed what is now the N56. Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 18 is shown to the East side of the old railway. [3]
The same location in the 21st century. [Google Maps, September 2021] with the line of the old railway drawn on by me.
Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No.18 alongside the N56 in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The old railway ran to the right side of the cottage, © Steve Flanders. [2: p79]
Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No.18 alongside the N56 in September 2021. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
Seen from the N56 in 2021, this side elevation shows that the cottage has been extended. The car sits on the line of the old railway. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
This 1″ map from the 1940s shows the Burtonport Extension Railway taking a wise arc from travellin North to running East. We continue following it in the next few images. [3]
This extract from the 6″ OSi mapping of 1906 shows Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 18 near its bottom edge and No. 17 adjacent to its left edge as the old railway curves through North and begins its sweep to the East. [3]
Relatively open moorland means that the route of the old railway can easily be picked out in this Google Maps satellite image from Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No.18 alongside the N56 at the bottom of the image to the point where it crosses the modern R257 and continues curving round toward the East. [Google Maps, 2nd May 2023]
Looking South from the R257 the old railway can be seen to the left of Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 17. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
Looking North from the R257, the old railway can be seen curving away in a wide arc toward the East. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
This next extract from the 1906 6″ OSi survey shows the line completing its curve to the East. [3]
This satellite image from Google Maps covers much the same area as the map extract above. The route of the old railway curves in from the left, follows the line of a track noted by Google Maps and then crosses a minor road. It appears then to disappear into trees. North of the line if the old railway in this image is the Clady Canal which provides the water supply to the Clady Power Station.  [Google Maps, 2nd May 2023]
Looking back Southwest along the line of the old railway towards Crolly from the minor road mentioned above. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
Looking Northeast along the line of the old railway from the same minor road. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
Looking West along the Clady Canal. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
Looking East along the Clady Canal towards Gweedore. [Google Streetview, September 2021]

As we have already noted the Clady Canal feeds water to the Clady Power Station. The Clady Hydroelectric Station is a 4.2 MW power station situated in the Gweedore area of Co. Donegal.

“Construction started in 1954, with the station going into full operation in 1959, when it also synchronised to the Donegal 38 kV network.
Two lakes form the basis of this hydro scheme: Dunlewey Lough and Lough Nacung are situated in a valley 61m above sea level and are drained by the Clady River, which enters the sea at Bunbeg.” [18]

Both of the lakes were enlarged to create the storage capacity needed to run the station. Dunlewy Lough through the construction of the Cung Dam at the promontory between the two lakes. The Clady River has been partially diverted by Gweedore Weir into a 2.5 km canal which runs across country to the rim of a deep valley which forms the tidal estuary of the Gweedore River. This is the canal that we have noted. As we will see, its route conflicts with what was the route of the Burtonport Extension Railway.

“A 500m steel penstock carries the water from that canal down to the generating station at sea level. … Overall, the normal range of storage is from 60.96m OD (Ordnance Datum) to 63.70m OD. Gweedore Weir has also raised the level of Lough Nacung with a storage range from 60.96m OD to 61.57m OD. … The powerhouse is equipped with a horizontal Francis-type turbine, coupled to a generator with a capacity of 4.2 MW.” [18]

This next extract from the 1906 6″ OSi survey shows the old railway line reaching the Station at Gweedore. [3]
This satellite image covers approximately the same area as the map extract above. The Clady Canal runs adjacent to the N56 and from the left edge of the image to the access bridge at the centre of the image follows the line of the old railway. East of that point the line slips away in a Northeasterly direction,, heading for what was its bridge over the River Claddy to the North. [Google Maps, May 2023]
The minor road bridge over the Clady Canal. To the right of this bridge the route of the old railway slides away to the North. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
The view West along the Clady Canal from the North end of the bridge in the last photo. The old railway and the canal follow a similar line to this point. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
The view East from the North end of the same bridge. The old railway route and canal gradually separate from this point. The canal curves away to the right and is crossed by the N56. The railway heads towards its bridge over the River Clady. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
This enlarge extract from the 6″ mapping shows the bridge on the approach to the Station from the West. A level crossing took the line over what is now the R258 and the line ran through the station. The track layout shown on this OSi map extract is not correct. A passing loop was provided at the station and there were also goods facilities. [3]
A similar area on the modern satellite images provided by Google Maps. The immediate area of the station has been redeveloped but some signs of the old railway and it’s station remain.
The abutments of the railway bridge over the River Clady seen from the Northeast and looking along the side of the old bridge towards the Southwest. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
The Southwest abutment of the bridge over the River Clady seen from alongside the Northeast anutment. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
This photograph shows the station throat as seen from the lattice girder bridge over the River Claddy in the 1950s. A road (now the R258) crossed the line between the bridge and the station. The Goods Shed can be seen on the left of the image. A waiting shelter is the next building to the right. The dark structure to the right of centre is the water tower. This photograph was shared on the Burtonport Heritage Facebook Group by Joe Begley on 31st August 2020. [12]
Looking East through Gweedore Railway Station before the closure of the station and the lifting of the railway tracks. The waiting shelter can be seen on the left with the water tower beyond. This photograph was shared by Joe Begley on the Lower Rosses/Gweedore History Discussion Forum Facebook Group on 19th November 2016. [13]
The waiting shelter at Gweedore Railway Station survived the dereliction of the site through to the present day. This is an undated photograph. It was shared by Joe Begley on the Lower Rosses/Gweedore History Discussion Forum Facebook Group on 19th November 2016. [13] It also appears in the book about the line that Joe Begley co-authored with Steve Flanders and E.M. Patterson. 4: p169]
This modern photograph shows the station site in May 2023 as viewed from the West. The Goods Shed appears to have been replaced by houses, the western end of the station appears to be in the grounds of a newer property which can just be seen on the right side of the image. Carefully preserved in the grounds of that property is the waiting shelter noted in the three images above. The platform edge has been retained as a dwarf wall in front of the waiting shelter. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
This photo was shared on the Burtonport Old Railway Walk Facebook Page on 26th November 2011 with the following comment: “‘An Mhuc Dubh’, the Black Pig, at Gweedore Station – very very hard to imagine, when you look at the wild countryside, that big trains like this used to travel back and forth to Derry every day. We will never see their like again.” [21]
Looking West through Gweedore Railway Station before the closure of the station and the lifting of the railway tracks.bThe station name is carried by the building on the left. The wooden structure on the right probably houses a ground frame which controlled the points in the vicinity of the station. This photograph was shared by Joe Begley on the Lower Rosses/Gweedore History Discussion Forum Facebook Group on 19th November 2016. [13]
Looking West through Gweedore Station in the early 1970s. At that time the platforms remained, if grassed over. The two buildings noted below are present as is the watchtower, This photo was shared as a comment by Pete Leigh on a post on the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Facebook Group in April 2022. [16]
This picture shows the building of which a gable end fronted onto the platform on the South side of the railway station. In 2017, Joe Begley and Steve Flanders commented that this building was still present along with the waiting shelter shown above. [4: p169] As can be seen in the image below it has survived at least until 2023! This photograph was shared by Joe Begley on the Lower Rosses/Gweedore History Discussion Forum Facebook Group on 19th November 2016. [13]
A slightly wider angle view of the station site from the East. The building on the left in this image is on the left of the older image above. The platform has gone on both sides of what would have been the running lines where the articulated lorry trailer is standing. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]
The East end of Gweedore Railway Station with Errigal in the distance. This photograph was shared by Liam O Siadhail on the Lower Rosses/Gweedore History Discussion Forum Facebook Group on 18th November 2016. [14]
Leaving Gweedore Railway Station heading East. This photograph was shared on the Lower Rosses/Gweedore History Discussion Forum Facebook Group by Séimidh Ó Dubhthaigh on 15th October 2015. [15]
This photograph shows Locomotive No. 2 at the East end of Gweedore Railway Station. The loco is possibly running round a train or shunting at the station. This picture was shared as a comment about the picture immediately above, also by Séimidh Ó Dubhthaigh in October 2015. [15]
This photograph is my attempt to replicate the three monochrome images above in May 2023. The track ed of the old railway East of Gweedore Railway Station is overgrown with gorse bushes. [My photograph, 3rd May 2023]

Beyond Gweedore Railway Station, the line of the old railway has become overgrown. It runs along the North side of the N56 for some distance.

The next length of the Burtonport Extension Railway as shown on the 6″ OSi mapping of 1906. The Gweedore Hotel of 1906 is,in the 21st century, the An Chuirt Hotel. [3]
A similar area to that shown on the 6″ mapping above. [Google Maps, May 2023]
We know that this photo is taken close to Gweedore Railway Station. The exact location is not clear. It is at least possible that Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway 4-6-2T No. 14 had only just left Gweedore with a passenger train for Letterkenny in September 1938, © Gordon Tucker. This image was shared by Donegal Railway Heritage Centre on their Facebook Page on 25th April 2021. [19]
This view of the first road junction to the East of Gweedore Railway Station shows the proximity of the line of the old railway to the modern N56. The road centre-line shows that the first few metres of the side road climb steeply to meet the formation level of the old railway before leveling out at the point where the road crossed the old railway at an ungated crossing. Once across the old railway formation the road begins to rise again. [Google Streetview, 3rd May 2023]

It seems as though the An Chuirt Hotel has expanded and that its site now includes what was once railway land. The Errigal View Pet Zoo also straddles the line of the old railway.

The An Chuirt Hotel and the Errigal View Pet Zoo. The line of the old railway is illustrated by the orange line at either side of this Google Maps image. [Google Maps, 3rd May 2023]

Immediately to the East of the Errigal View Pet Zoo two larger properties straddle the route of the old railway.

This is an enlarge satellite view of the two properties mentioned above. The line of the Burtonport Extension Railway is marked by the two orange lines, one at each side of the satellite image. [Google Maps, 3rd May 2023]
This next length from the 1906 6″ OSi mapping takes us as far East as the Crowmore Burn. [3]
This satellite image covers approximately the same area as shown in the map extract above. The line of the old railway can easily be seen on the North side of the N56. [Google Maps, 3rd May 2023]
An enlarged extract from the 1906 6″ survey which shows the arch bridge which spanned Crowmore Burn. [3]
The bridge crossing Crowmore Burn which outfalls into Lough Nacung Upper is highlighted by the red circle in the top-right of the satellite image. This image focusses on the bridge and its immediate vicinity. [Google Maps, 3rd May 2023]
The bridge which carried the old railway over the Crowmore Burn still stands today, although it seems to have quite. growth of gorse above the spandrel walls and parapets. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
To the East of Crowmore Burn the old railway and the road gradually converged both in height and plan until the Burtonport Extension Railway crossed what is now the N56 at level. The crossing was gated and Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No.16 sat adjacent to it. [3]
Approximately the same area as shown in the map extract above. The route of the old railway can be seen north of the N56 until crossing it towards the left of the satellite image. [Google Maps, 3rd May 2023]
The view back towards Gweedore from the location of the level crossing close to Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 16. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
Joe Begley shared this photograph of Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 16 on the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Facebook Group on 10th March 2022. It was taken in 2017, © Joe Begley. [20]
These two images show Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No.16 after the relatively recent removal of surrounding trees and shrubs and a partial renovation. [My photographs, 24th April 2023]
The view along the line of the old railway looking East. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
The view along the line of the old railway from beyond the conifers on the line of the railway, looking East. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
To the East of Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 16, the main road and the old line separated quite quickly. The road turned a way to the North and the railway set an East by Northeast course as this extract from the 1906 6″ OSi mapping shows. [3]
Approximately the same area as shown in the map extract above as it appears on modern satellite imagery. [Google Maps, 4th May 2023]
This next extract from the 1906 6″OSi mapping shows that within a very short distance the old railway crossed a minor road at a gated crossing. Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No.15 sits to the North of the line. [3]
A similar area to that shown on the map extract above. The 21st century narrow roads are clearly marked and the route of the old railway can be made out running East-northeast across the image. [Google Maps, 4th May 2023]
Looking back along the route of the old railway towards Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 16. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
Looking forward along the route of the old railway towards Cashelnagore. The railway ran to the right of Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 15. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
As this next map extract shows, the old railway skirted the Eastern shore of Lough Trusk, curing round to travel in a Northeasterly direction. [3]
Lough Trusk sits at the bottom edge of this satellite image. The line of the Burtonport Extension Railway can be seen to the immediate right of the lake and the heading Northeast. [Google Maps, 4th May 2023]
Looking back along the line of the old railway towards Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 15 which can be seen just below the horizon. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
These two views (both from Google Streetview) of the old railway as it runs alongside Lough Trusk were taken a couple of hundred metres apart. I have included both because they emphasise that when the weather was good a ride on the Burtonport Extension Railway would have been quite a special way to experience the beauty of Co. Donegal. [Google Streetview, March 2010]
This next extract from the 1906 6″ OSi mapping shows the line to the Northeast of Lough Trusk passing through the gap between Edenbane and Truskmore. [3]
This satellite image covers the same area as the map extract above. The photographs below are taken from the minor road which can be seen running South to North through the centre of the image. The old railway runs alongside that road at a lower level before passing to the West of Lough Doo which can be seen at the top-right of the image. as can be seen in the photographs below this is a particularly beautiful length of the Burtonport Extension Railway. [Google Maps, 4th May 2023]
Looking Southwest through the gap between Truskmore, on the left, and Edenbane, on the right, towards Lough Trusk. The old railway can be seen on embankment running across the East face of Edenbane. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
Looking East toward Edenbane. The old railway can be made out beneath the rock face. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
Ahead is Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 14 which sits high above the route of the old line which ran across the bottom of the slope supporting the house and road. [Google Streetview, September 2021]
Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 14. [Google Streetview, September 2021]

It seems that there were two crossings close together at the bottom of the slope to the left of the road. These can be seen on the map extract to the left below, either or both may have been gated but I have not been able to establish whether either were.

It is possible to see the more northerly of the two crossings from the road close to the Crossing Keeper’s Cottage and I have provided a photo below which also shows the route of the old railway in orange.

The location and f one of the crossings adjacent to Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 14. [Google Streetview, September 2021]

North of the Cottage the minor road splits with one arm crossing the railway on a stone arch bridge and the other heading towards Cashelnagor Railway Station passing on the Southeast side of Lough Doo.

The stone arch of the bridge can be seen through the trees on the left of the road as one approaches by road from the South. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The bridge parapets seen from the East. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The South face of the structure seen from the Southwest corner. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
Looking South over the bridge parapets back towards Lough Trusk. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
Looking North over the bridge parapets. The railway cutting is overgrown. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
The railway continues North on the West side of Lough Doo. The 25″ OSi mapping is still unavailable for this length of the line on-line. This is the 6″ OSi mapping of 1906. When we reach Cashelnagor we will be able once again to view the 25″ mapping. [3]
This satellite image covers much the same area as the map extract above. Both the old railway route and the present day road can be seen either side of Lough Doo at the bottom of the image. [Google Maps, 4th May 2023]
Looking back Southwest along the old railway towards Lough Doo. [Google Streetview, March 2010] This length of the route is in private hands, despite this it seems as though the Google camera car covered the metalled track South from Cashelnagor twice in 2010.
At the end of the metalled length of private road, looking Northeast towards Cashelnagor. [Google Streetview, March 2010]
About 200 metres further Northeast. [Google Streetview, March 2010]
And again, a further 200 metres Northeast. [Google Streetview, March 2010]
Cashelnagor Railway Station comes into sight on the horizon. [Google Streetview, March 2021]
Cashelnagor Railway Station features towards the top of this 1906 6″ OSi map extract. [3]
Cashelnagor Railway Station as shown on the 25″ OSi mapping. It had reasonably substantial buildings, both passenger and goods, and stood in a remote position high in the moorland if Co. Donegal. [3]
The station site as it appears on Google Earth. In 2923, the passenger facilities have been restored and now provide a unique holiday rental property. The outline of the old goods shed is still marked [Google Earth, May 2023]
Looking back to the Southwest along the line of the old railway from the road outside Cashelnagor Railway Station. [My photograph, 24th April 2023]
Cashelnagor Railway Station as it appeared in 2010. [Google Streetview, March 2010]

The next few photographs show Cashelnagor Railway Station as it appeared in the late 1980s/early 1990s.

The four monochrome photos above are courtesy of Steve Flanders and Dave Bell and are used with the kind permission of Jim McBride acting on behalf of the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre. [2]

Joe Begley very kindly sent this next series of photos by email. They represent the condition of the buildings in 2004.

The four photos above are shared courtesy of Joe Begley and show Cashelnagor Railway Station in 2004, © Joe Begley. [5]

These next three photos show the Station buildings as they appear in 2023

The three photos above were taken at the end of a day following part the route of the Burtonport Extension Railway. [My photographs, 24th April 2023]

It is just possible that you might enjoy staying at this remote location, if so you could check out Cashelnagor Railway Station’s website:

https://cashelnagore-railway-station.business.site/

Alternatively you might want to finish reading this article by watching a video or two:

https://fb.watch/kkwHnqUIgT/

References

  1. https://donegalheritage.com/2021/01/12/train-ambush-1921, accessed on 30th April 2023.
  2. Dave Bell & Steve Flanders; Donegal’s Railway Heritage Guide No. 2, The Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway: A Visitor’s Guide to the old railway and all the bits that can still be seen; County Donegal Restoration Society, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, 198…
  3. https://osi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bc56a1cf08844a2aa2609aa92e89497e, accessed on 30th April 2023.
  4. Joe Begley, Steve Flanders & E.M. Patterson; The Lough Swilly Railway: Revised Edition; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, 2017.
  5. Joe Begley very kindly sent me a number of photographs as attachments to an email which were taken during the preparation of the book immediately above.
  6. https://watchingthedaisies.com/2019/04/10/52-weeks-of-thankfulness-week-30, accessed on 1st May 2023.
  7. https://m.facebook.com/RossesHistoricalTours/posts/1353976138126584/?force_faceweb=true#, accessed on 1st May 2023]
  8. https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/home-paedophile-john-barrow-gutted-6710075.amp, accessed on 1st May 2023.
  9. https://m.facebook.com/groups/788818974978955/permalink/1452142765313236, accessed on 1st May 2023.
  10. https://m.facebook.com/groups/788818974978955/permalink/1501615597032619, accessed on 1st May 2023.
  11. https://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php, accessed on 2nd May 2023.
  12. https://m.facebook.com/groups/burtonportheritage/permalink/2989672094470982, accessed on 2nd May 2023.
  13. https://m.facebook.com/groups/historyforum/permalink/1226599440735034, accessed on 2nd May 2023.
  14. https://m.facebook.com/groups/historyforum/permalink/1225392974189014, accessed on 2nd May 2023.
  15. https://m.facebook.com/groups/historyforum/permalink/960069370721377, accessed on 2nd May 2023.
  16. https://m.facebook.com/groups/788818974978955/permalink/1285672935293554, accessed on 30th April 2023.
  17. https://m.facebook.com/groups/historyforum/permalink/387912997937020, accessed on 2nd May 2023.
  18. http://wikimapia.org/31733160/Clady-Hydroelectric-Station, accessed on 3rd May 2023.
  19. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02NdK5qyv67AADMsuHxZXE3mZwiXw755zAaods3rqCEP3VJYqia5Ju79GZskYhagXel&id=1223882780981294, accessed on 3rd May 2023.
  20. https://m.facebook.com/groups/788818974978955/permalink/1264392730754908, accessed on 4th May 2023.
  21. https://m.facebook.com/burtonportrailway/photos/a.272196396164954/272196459498281/?type=3, accessed on 4th May 2023.
  22. https://fb.watch/kkwHnqUIgT, accessed on 5th May 2023.
  23. https://youtu.be/qTxN-T1_eNQ, accessed on 5th May 2023.

The Donegal Railway Heritage Centre

Leave a reply

On Saturday 22nd April 2023, I had the pleasure of dropping into the Railway Heritage Centre in Donegal Town. We had planned a holiday in Co. Donegal in 2020 but we were foiled by the COVID-19 lockdown. This visit was well overdue.

The Donegal Railway Heritage Centre records and celebrates “the operations of the County Donegal Railways Committee which operated two narrow-gauge railways in County Donegal from 1863 until 1959. The County Donegal Railway Restoration Society restored the centre, which opened in 1995 and is housed in the old station house in Donegal Town. Today, it operates as a visitor attraction comprising a museum, information centre and shop. On display are rolling stock, historical artefacts and an audio-visual presentation on the railways’ history.” [1]

Over the period of lockdown quite a lot happened at the Heritage Centre.

The most significant event was the home-coming of No. 5, ‘Drumboe’, the Co. Donegal Railway Joint Committee 2-6-4T Locomotive on 9th October 2021. This locomotive was originally built by Nasmyth, Wilson and Company [2] in 1907 and served on the railways of Co. Donegal until the end of 1959. Now cosmetically restored, ‘Drumboe’ has pride of place at the entrance to the Heritage Centre.

No. 5, ‘Drumboe’ in service at Barnesmore Gap in the late 1950s. [5] [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]
‘Drumboe’ underwent an extensive restoration job in Whitehead, Co. Antrim. The locomotive is shown here at the Works prior to being returned to Donegal. [3]
‘Drumboe’ on its way home. [4]
‘Drumboe‘ settled in its new home. It is undercover to protect it as much as possible from the elements! The text on the display board reads: Built in 1907,
Nasmyth Wilson/Manchester. Drumboe’s original name was No. 17 Glenties. She was renamed in 1937 to No. 5, Drumboe. In 1907/8 the CDRIC ordered 5 new modern steam locomotives to deal with the growing traffic as the CDR network expanded. They were called the Class 5 locomotives and numbered 16-20. All of them were 2-6-4Ts: the numbers stand for the wheel arrangement and the T for tank engine. On the evening of 31 December 1959 Drumboe hauled the very last train from Stranorlar to Strabane and back as the CDR finally closed as a railway.  [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]

Preparing for Drumboe’s arrival at the Heritage Centre required a significant re-organisation of the centre’s outside exhibits. All are now protected from the worst that the elements can throw at them by a series of different roof structures. Just a few photographs from 222nd April 2023.

The Red Van in its new location: the text on its display board reads: Built in 1887, Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Company for the Clogher Valley Railway. Red Vans only transported goods. They were for lighter use, up to the capacity of 2 tons.
The Clogher Valley Railway (1887-1941) was a 37 Mike long narrow-gauge railway in County Tyrone and County Fermanagh. After the closure of the Clogher Valley Railway in 1942 the County Donegal Railway (CDR) bought all the red vans. These covered vans were converted to run behind the CDR Railcars. Our red van retains its original wooden chassis from 1887 and all original metalwork. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]
The Grey Van (No. 84) in its new display position: the text on its display board reads: Built in 1893, the Oldbury Carriage & Wagon Company. The grey vans were used for heavy freight up to 7 or 8 tons this could be the transport of livestock or general goods. Grey vans were normally only used in steam hauled freight trains. Our grey van 84 was built as a sliding door van.It was withdrawn in 1960 and sold off before being rescued by the NWIRS (North West Irish Railway Society) in the early 1990s. Grey Van 84 was stored in Derry where it was set on fire in the early 2000s. After the closure of the Foyle Valley Railway it was moved to Donegal town. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]
Coach No. 58</strong>: the text on its display board reads: Built in 1928, Coach 58 was built on a second-hand frame 41 feet and 3 inches in length. The CDR bought this coach along with two others in January 1952 from the NCC numbering them 57-59. Formerly Coach 318 became CDR 58. Coach 58 was one of the three most modern on the whole of the Irish narrow gauge lines. It came to the County Donegal Railway on the closure of the NCC (Northern County Committee) lines near Larne in 1950. Though Coach 58 was built on an original chassis from 1879, it provided modern accommodation for Donegal excursions, and later on as a railcar trailer until the railway closed. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]: the text on its display board reads: Built in 1928, Coach 58 was built on a second-hand frame 41 feet and 3 inches in length. The CDR bought this coach along with two others in January 1952 from the NCC numbering them 57-59. Formerly Coach 318 became CDR 58. Coach 58 was one of the three most modern on the whole of the Irish narrow gauge lines. It came to the County Donegal Railway on the closure of the NCC (Northern County Committee) lines near Larne in 1950. Though Coach 58 was built on an original chassis from 1879, it provided modern accommodation for Donegal excursions, and later on as a railcar trailer until the railway closed. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]
Railcar No.15 passenger unit: the text on the railcar body’s display board reads: Built in 1936, Walker Brothers & the Dundalk Works (GNR). Railcar 15 was the first articulated Railcar. This means that the driver’s cab was separated from the railcar body. The railcar cost £2,275, seated 41 passengers and could transport a weight of 12 tons. The County Donegal Railway pioneered the use of diesel railcars introducing the first one in 1931. The passenger unit of railcar 15 survives here at the museum, restored after a period of dereliction following the railway’s closure in 1959. Railcar 15 was withdrawn in 1960 and was sold at auction in 1961.The body of Railcar 15 was acquired by the CDRRS in 1995 and moved to Donegal Town. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]

On entering the museum, which occupies the ground floor of the old passenger station building, one has the opportunity to look at an excellent model railway which depicts Donegal Town Railway Station and Inver Station. Inver Station was on the branch from Donegal Town to Killybegs. All six of the pictures immediately below were taken by me on 22nd April 2023.

As well as this working model a number of other models of railway vehicles are on static display. Just a couple of examples here. The first is a Walker Brothers Railbus, the second is Phoenix a unique diesel shunter. Both of the pictures below were taken by me on 22nd April 2023.

Phoenix was built by Atkinson-Walker Wagons Ltd of Preston in September 1928 as one of their Class A3 engines. After a short trial on the Clogher Valley Railway, it was found to be totally unsuitable. No buyer to be found and the engine lay idle at Aughnacloy coach and wagon shed until 1932. It was bought by Henry Forbes for the County Donegal Railway and converted at the Great Northern Railway’s Dundalk workshop to diesel power. It was fittingly named the “Phoenix” and worked on the County Donegal Railway till its closure in 1959. It can now be seen in the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.

The major part of the indoor space at the Heritage Centre is dedicated to a series of displays centring on the different stations on the network. Each includes a track plan and a series of photographs of the location. Carefully placed around the Centre are artifacts and railwayana from the Co. Donegal Railways.

Of particular interest to me were the track plans of the various stations on the network. Some of these are shown below. Much of the text attached to each station plan comes from the Heritage Centre’s displays …

Donegal Town Railway Station was opened in 1889 and closed in 1959 it was about 19 miles from Stranorlar. The West Donegal Railway was opened between Stranorlar and Lough Eske (Druminin) on the 25th April, 1882. From 1882 to 1889, the journey between Stranorlar and Lough Eske took some 40 minutes and then passengers transferred to horse-drawn road cars for the last four miles down into Donegal. The fare was 6 pence. The final section to Donegal town was inspected on the 9th of September 1889 and opened on the 16th of September 1889. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]
Killybegs Railway Station opened in 1893 and closed in 1959. The journey from Killybegs to Donegal was 19 miles. The line out to Killybegs from Donegal Town was the result of government intervention some forty years after the famine. For the promotion of the local food industries (agriculture, fishing and food processing) a good transport infrastructure was needed. Railway travellers were reminded of their arrival in Killybegs by the intense smell of the fishmeal factory when entering the town. The Killybegs line served the local communities it passed with regular passenger and freight. In summer it was often the destination for excursions from Derry and Strabane. There are many fond memories of steam-hauled specials cautiously winding their way along the Atlantic coast. There is very little evidence of the station in Killybegs in the 21st century. Killybegs is now a thriving port which has seen major redevelopment. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]
Stranorlar Railway Station was opened in 1863 and was due to close in 1959, however, it remained open to goods until 6th February 1960 because road improvements necessary for lorries had not been completed by 31st December 1959. It was 13 miles from Strabane. Stranorlar Station was first constructed as a branch from the GNR station at Strabane. With the construction and operation of the West Donegal Railway to Donegal Town the station became an important junction. Stranorlar was at the heart of the Co. Donegal Railway network. The extensive layout of Stranorlar reflected its key role in all of the operations of the railway and it was the headquarters for all administration and the running of the system. Skilled jobs specific to the railway were signalmen, drivers, guards and shunters. Stranorlar Station and the associated offices, depots and fitters’ shops was a major employer. Practical skills included engineering, joinery, coachbuilding, foundry work, smithies and clerical workers. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]
Glenties Railway Station opened in 1895 and closed in 1952. It closed to passengers in 1947 and all traffic 1952. Glenties is 24 miles from Stranorlar. I have covered the branch in two previous articles.

(https://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/05/27/co-donegal-railways-ireland-part-1-the-glenties-branch-stranorlar-to-ballinamore, and https://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/06/22/co-donegal-railways-ireland-part-2-the-glenties-branch-ballinamore-to-glenties)

The line never paid its way and services were lightly used at all times though there were occasional heavy workings associated with market days. Hugging the valley floor and in company with the river and road it continued north-westwards from Stranorlar. Proceeding on through the now bleak and windswept moorland the line continued alongside Lough Finn down into Glenties Station.

I have covered the branch to Glenties in two previous articles.

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/05/27/co-donegal-railways-ireland-part-1-the-glenties-branch-stranorlar-to-ballinamore, and

Co. Donegal Railways, Ireland – Part 2 – The Glenties Branch – Ballinamore to Glenties

Letterkenny Railway Station was opened in 1909 and closed in 1959. The Strabane and Letterkenny Railway began life to promote the prosperous farmland north-west of Strabane. Letterkenny to was 19 miles. It was intended to facilitate trade and agriculture in the area of south-east Donegal north of the Finn Valley. Letterkenny was also served by the Lough Swilly Railway to Derry and Burtonport. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]

I have covered the line between Strabane and Letterkenny in a series of three previous articles:

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

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/10/05/co-donegal-railways-ireland-part-5-strabane-to-letterkenny-part-b-raphoe-to-convoy, and

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

Strabane Railway Station opened in 1863 and was due to close in 1959, however, it remained open to goods until 6th February 1960 because road improvements necessary for lorries had not been completed by 31st December 1959. Strabane was approximately 13 miles from Stranorlar. Strabane to Stranorlar was the first stretch of line in Co. Donegal. The line was built by Finn Valley Railway as 5’3″ gauge. It was re-gauged to the narrow (3′) gauge in the summer of 1894 over only one weekend to match with the rest of the Donegal network! The partition of Ireland in 1922 led to serious delays and other complications for the Railway. All of its extensive freight traffic and all passengers had to clear through customs at Lifford (Republic of Ireland) and Strabane (Northern Ireland). [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]
Derry Railway Station was opened in 1900 and closed.in 1954. It was just under 15 miles from Strabane. The County Donegal Railway’s own line to Derry improved the handling of the substantial through goods traffic of imported coal from the Foyle quayside to the many customers throughout the system. This station was adjacent to the twin-deck Craigavon Bridge which, at its lower level, gave rail access to Derry’s three other railway stations and the Harbour Commissioners’ own lines. The Derry line was always steam worked for both passenger and freight services. This was to gain maximum benefit from cheaper coal in Northern Ireland and to save depleting stocks at the company’s depot at Strabane. [My photograph, 22nd April 2023]

References

  1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donegal_Railway_Heritage_Centre, accessed on 29th April 2023.
  2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasmyth,_Gaskell_and_Company, accessed on 29th April 2023.
  3. https://www.steamtrainsireland.com/members/galleries/56/whitehead-news-2021, accessed on 29th April 2023.
  4. https://www.donegaldaily.com/2021/10/09/train-coming-the-beautiful-drumboe-is-on-her-way-home, accessed on 29th April 2023.
  5. From a display board alongside the loco at the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre.

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

6 Replies

The featured image shows No. 14 on the turntable at Burtonport. The photograph was taken in April 1940 and was shared by Joe Begley on the Burtonport Heritage Facebook Group on 21st October 2020. [15]

In April 2023 we stayed close to Burtonport, adjacent to Loch Meela, in Co. Donegal. On the first full day of our stay, we walked the Burtonport Old Railway Walk. [1] A 6km length of the Burtonport extension of the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway has been made into an accessible path. The weather was great and the walk very enjoyable. We were impressed by the investment in the walk made by the local community and Donegal County Council.

After the closure of the line it seems that it remained undisturbed for many years. Apparently, in 2009, however, “there was a heavy snowfall, and some of the old railway line was cleared to access water mains that needed repairing. The remaining section was later cleared and gradually developed as a walkway with the support of the local community. A massive effort has gone into creating this beautiful and peaceful walk.” [1]

This first length of the old railway extends from Burtonport as far as Kincasslagh Road Station and, apart from a short length close to the latter, can be walked with relative ease.

The route of the old railway between Burtonport and Kincasslagh Road Station as shown on historic mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland dating from the early 1940s. The latter station was located to the East of Lough Waskel, to the top right of this map extract. [6]
The map displayed on the information board in Burtonport shows the length of the old railway covered in this first article. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]

The whole of the Burtonport Extension features in a guide written in the late 1980s by Dave Bell & Steve Flanders. [2] In that guide, they provide a series of relatively low resolution monochrome photographs of the railway in operation and as they found it in the 1980s. This article is the first in a series looking again at the line and what can be found along its route.

At Burtonport, Bell and Flanders provide a station plan and a number of photographs from before closure and at the time of their survey.

A schematic plan of Burtonport Railway Station. [2: p84]
Burtonport Railway Station Elevation, as shown by Begley, Flanders and Patterson. [10: p113]
The historic 6″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland shows that the station was not aligned North-South but a little more to a North-northwest-South-southeast axis. Immediately beyond the Station throat the line curved away to the East. [6]
The historic 25″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland shows the station layout more clearly. [6]
A first length of the Burtonport Old Railway Walk as it appears on Google Maps. [Google Maps, 27th April 2023]
Burtonport Railway Station viewed from the South in around 1960. At this date the station building, platform and goods shed all appear to be in reasonable condition. Two cars are parked on the former railway formation. This image is the last of a series of images in Jim McBride’s recent book, “The Lough Swilly Remembered,” © HMRS (Eric S. Russell, LNWR Society). [9: p64]
Burtonport Railway Station in July 1971 viewed from the South, © Peter Leigh and scanned by Roger Geach it was originally forwarded to Jim McBride (on behalf of the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre). The image was shared on the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway L&LSR Facebook Group by Colm McDaid on 25th October 2021. In 1971 much of the infrastructure, except the trackwork remained in reasonable condition. The turntable well is in the left foreground, the water tower and engine shed feature centre-stage and the station building and platform can be made out on the right side of the image. [3]

Bell and Flanders describe arriving at the station from the South in the 1980s by car, the old trackbed now being a narrow road: “You drive through a small cutting before entering the railway’s terminus at Burtonport. … Just before the station itself you drive through a fish processing plant then, suddenly, on the left, you can see the engine shed, recognisable by its characteristic round-top windows and door.” [2: p83]

They go on to describe the station as they found it on their visit: “In the middle distance is the terminus station itself with a length of platform still in existence on the right-hand side of the road. The station house and offices still stand but are now derelict. They and the [engine] shed are now the only railway structures left at Burtonport. … Originally a siding ran along the quayside so that fish vans could be loaded directly from the fishing boats. Burtonport is still an important centre for Ireland’s fishing industry but today refrigerated articulated lorries haul the catches to their markets. It’s also from here that the ferry service runs to Aran Island, known as Arainn Mhór, Big Aran.” [2: p84]

A view of Burtonport Railway Station from the North while still in use, although some tracks appear to have been removed, © H.C.A. Beaumont and shared on the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway L&LSR Facebook Group by Jonathan Beaumont on 17th November 2021. [4]
The old railway station platform edge is still visible beneath the palisade fencing in April 2023. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Locomotive No. 12 at Burtonport in 1937, readying its train for departure, © H.C. Casserley, shared on by the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre on their Facebook page on 9th June 2020. [5]
A low resolution copy of a print showing Loco No. 12 leaving Burtonport with the 8.30am to Derry sometime in 1937, heading South past the engine shed, © H.C. Casserley reproduced by Bell and Flanders. [2: p83]
A similar low resolution view of the water tower and engine shed. [2: p84]
A 1980s view of the engine shed with what look like palleted loads stored close to its end wall, © Dave Bell & Steve Flanders. [2: p83]
The engine shed viewed from the South in April 2023. The remnants of the station platform can be seen in the distance to the right of the engine shed. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
A view of the North end of the engine shed in the 1980s in a South-facing view, © Dave Bell & Steve Flanders. [2: p84]
The engine shed viewed from the North in April 2023. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]

A number of other photographs of Burtonport Railway Station site can be found on Flickr by following these links:

The road South of the engine shed follows the formation of the old railway line. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The route of the old railway is now very well signed for walkers. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The historic 6″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland shows the line curving first to the East and then towards the Southeast. [6]
As it ran South and East sway from Burtonport Railway Station, the line stayed close to the rocky shore, alternating between rock cuttings and embankments. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
At some locations embankments have become causeways with water on each side. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The old railway formation now covered in tarmac and running across another short causeway. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The historic 6″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland shows the line continuing in a Southeasterly direction, before beginning to curve to the East. Southeast of Mile Point 74 on the line we encounter the first gatekeeper’s cottage which can be made out on the South side of the crossing adjacent to the benchmark. [6]
A second length of the route as it appears on Google Maps. [Google Maps, 27th April 2023]
Crossing keeper’s cottage No. 24 is the first encountered after leaving Burtonport Railway Station. The original was damaged by fire but it was refurbished after the fire largely to match the original. [10: p172][My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
A short distance beyond Crossing No. 24 the modern footpath has to leave the old railway formation which, for a short distance is in private hands. The route of the old line runs through the flowering gorse ahead and to the left of the modern house beyond. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The view of the old line from the footpath diversion. It runs on shallow embankment which is now overgrown with gorse. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The old formation is quickly regained after the short diversion. This photograph looks back toward Burtonport across the land in private ownership. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Looking ahead along the footpath which follows the old railway. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The historic 6″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland shows the line curving through East and then East-northeast. [6]
Crossing points where access across the old railway could be expected were marked either by stone pillars or, as here, by large timber baulks. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The historic 6″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland again shows the line heading East-northeast and then East. To the left of the map extract is what is now the main road (R259) between Burtonport and Dungloe which crossed the line at level. [6]
A third length of the walk as it appears on Google Maps. The crossing at the R259 is at the centre of the satellite image. [Google Maps, 27th April 2023]
The first warning sign of the approach to the main road. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The approach to the R259. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Gatehouse No. 23 as it appears in the 21st century. When the railway was in operation this was not the main route between Dungloe and Burtonport. As we will see, the more important road at the beginning of the 20th century warranted the construction of a bridge over the railway adjacent to Dungloe Road Railway Station. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The route of the old line heading away from the R259. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
A minor track crosses the route of the old railway. This track appears on the early 6″ OSi map extract and on the satellite imagery below on the approach to Dungloe Road Station.
The historic 6″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland again shows the line heading East-northeast and shows Dungloe Road Station at its Eastern edge. Detail at the station site is rather lacking. [6]
The historic 25″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland again shows Dungloe Road Station and the bridge immediately to its East. There was no run-around facility for passenger trains but a reasonable provision was made for goods. The Goods Shed has its own siding with a short loop to aid shunting. [6]
The satellite imagery shows the route of the old railway line but at this scale it can at times be difficult to make out. The roads are highlighted on Google Maps and so are easier to make out than the route of the old railway. The route of the railway appears as a narrow beige line entering the Western edge of the image which increasingly is surrounded by trees as it travels East. The station is immediately to the left of the road shown towards the right side of the image. [Google Maps, 27th April 2023]
Dungloe Road Railway Station Elevation, as shown by Begley, Flanders and Patterson. [10: p113]
Approaching Dungloe Road Railway Station site along the old track bed in April 2023. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Dungloe Road Station as it appeared immediately after the lifting of the railway tracks in the early 1940s. Beyond the station building is the road overbridge and to the right of the image the goods shed can be seen. This image was shared by on the Burtonport Old Railway Walk Facebook page on 26th November 2011. [7]
An April 2023 view along the formation of the old railway at approximately the same location as shown in the monochrome image immediately above. The hedge follows the line of the platform edge. The station building is substantially the same as when it was in use as a public facility. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Dungloe Road Station building viewed from the South in the early 1940s after the track had been lifted. This image was shared by Patrick Boner on the Burtonport Heritage Facebook Group on 30th March 2015. [8]
An earlier view of the Dungloe Road Goods Shed, taken from the South. This image was shared by Patrick Boner on the Burtonport Heritage Facebook Group on 30th March 2015. [8]
Dungloe Road Railway Station: the view towards Burtonport in the last years of the 20th century. The Goods Shed is on the left, the passenger station building on the right. [2: p82]
Dungloe Road Railway Station Goods Shed as it appeared in June 1995, © Andy Cundick. The goods shed, looking rather dilapidated in this and the next image, is now a fine private dwelling as can be seen below. This image was shared on the Burtonport Heritage Facebook Group by Joe Begley on 4th July 2014. [11]
Dungloe Road Railway Station Goods Shed as it appeared in June 1995, © Andy Cundick. The goods shed, looking rather dilapidated in this and the previous image, is now a fine private dwelling as can be seen below. This image was shared on the Burtonport Heritage Facebook Group by Joe Begley on 4th July 2014. [11]
The same view in the 2020s as taken by the Google roving camera. The Goods Shed is much changed. [Google Streetview, April 2023]
Dungloe Road Railway Station: the view of what was the passenger station building from the road to the North of the overbridge in the last years of the 20th century. The subsequent growth of vegetation makes the image impossible to replicate in 2023 without significant trespass onto private land. [2: p82]
The road overbridge seen from the West in the late 20th century. [2: p83]
The road bridge again seen from the West on the footpath on the old railway formation in 2023. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Dungloe Road Railway Station site viewed from the South. The camera is on the road which crosses the old railway route on the overbridge noted above. The bridge parapets can be seen the right of the image. On the left of the image is the old goods shed which has been transformed into a modern home. To the right of the old goods shed, the passenger facilities can be made out among the trees. [Google Streetview, April 2023]
The same bridge viewed from the Southeast in theater years of the 20th century. [2: p83]
The view of the bridge from the East in April 2023, looking along the old trackbed. The Railway Station is just beyond the bridge. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The historic 25″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland again shows the line heading East-northeast and then turning towards the North. One crossing point is marked L.C. towards the right edge of the map extract. [6]
The historic 25″ mapping provided by the OSi again shows the line heading North-northeast. The crossing point noted on the last map extract appears again to the left of this image. A further crossing point is marked L.C. towards the centre of the extract. [6]
The historic 25″ mapping provided by the Ordnance Survey of Ireland again shows the line heading North. A more significant crossing point is marked ‘Level Crossing close to the bottom of this extract. [6]
This satellite image covers the same length as the three OSi map extracts above. At the very top of this image, crossing keeper’s cottage No. 22 can be made out alongside a very short diversion of the footpath from the line if the old railway. [Google Maps, 28th April 2023]
The approach from the South to the Level Crossing shown at the bottom of the map extract above. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
This photograph is taken looking North towards the top of the OSi map extract above. The crossing keeper’s cottage peeps out above the vegetation in the top left of the image. Trees have encroached onto the line of the old railway and the modern footpath has been diverted over a very short distance. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Looking South along the line of the old railway from close to the crossing keeper’s cottage. The diverted path is off to the right of the photo. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Crossing keeper’s cottage No. 22. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The old railway is shown curving round to the East as it travels on from crossing keeper’s cottage No.22. Lough Nacloghmore is Northwest of the line. This is another extract from the 25″ OSi mapping. The level on the Lough was taken on 25th August 1902. [6]
This satellite image covers the length of the old railway from Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 22 Northeast to the point where the modern footpath leaves the route of the old railway, just to the West of the crossroads shown in the top-right of the image. This includes the area cover by the map extract above and the next two map extracts below. [Google Maps, 28th April 2023]
Looking Northeast along the line of the old railway from a point adjacent to crossing keeper’s cottage No. 22. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The stone pillars shown in this photo are typical of those used along the line to mark crossing points. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Continuing Northeast this next extract from the 25″ OSi mapping shows another accommodation crossing (marked L.C.) and shows the line on high embankment from that point East. [6]
Further to the Northeast, this extract from the historic 25″OSi mapping shows the line running straight through three further crossing points.At the first of these the modern footpath leaves the line of the old railway and follows the road to its South side. [6]
The old railway continues Northeast but across private land the footpath route follows the road which runs bottom-left to middle-right of this satellite image. [Google Maps, 28th April 2023]
The topography changes again and the line runs on embankment over the length beyond the Level Crossing shown on this next map extract. From a point just inside the left edge of this extract, the route of the old line enters what, in the 21st century, is private land the footpath is diverted away from the line and follows the road running East in the bottom part of the map extract. [6]
Looking Northeast, this is the point at which the footpath leaves the line of the old railway. A modern home is built across the line ahead. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The footpath diversion from the display board adjacent to Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 21. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Looking ahead, Northeast, along the old railway, it’s route passes between the four stone bollards, which mark the crossing point shown on the map extract below, and then follows the line of gorse bushes toward the right edge of the photo. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Further to the Northeast, this extract from the historic 25″OSi mapping shows the line running straight through the landscape at the same level as the surrounding land. This length of the railway is in private hands in the 21st century. [6]
A further crossing point is shown on this next map extract, this length is also in private hands. [6]
A further level crossing is marked at the top-right of this next extract adjacent to Meenbannad School. At the time that this part of the 6″ and 25″ OSi mapping was surveyed there was only a crossing cottage (No. 21) at this location. It was ultimately chosen as the location of an additional railway station/halt which was built in 1913. [6][10: p113]

Kincasslagh Railway Station and Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No. 21 are now in private hands. This article finishes with some older pictures of the site and some taken in 2023.

Kincasslagh Railway Station looking Southwest along the line towards Burtonport The Goods Shed is to the left and the passenger facilities are towards the end of the platform on the right. The station was built in 1913 and closed with this length of the line in 1940. This image was shared on the Burtonport Heritage Facebook Group by Patrick Boner on 15th February 2013. [12]
The remains of the Goods Shed in the 21st century, seen from the public road to the South. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
A 1959 view through the site of Kincasslagh Railway Station from Southwest of the Goods Shed seen in the right foreground. The Crossing Keeper’s Cottage is partially masked by the Goods Shed and the passenger facilities are on the left. This photo was taken in May 1959 by Michael Davis and was shared by Patrick Boner on the Burtonport Heritage Facebook Group on 1st September 2018. [13]
A view looking Northeast through the site of the station from the location of the goods shed. The passenger building is on the left and crossing keeper’s cottage on the right. The photograph was taken in 1965 by Michael Davis and was shared by Patrick Boner on the Burtonport Heritage Facebook Group on 3rd September 2018. [14]
This satellite image is at a slightly larger scale than similar images above it shows the location of what was Kincasslagh Railway Station. [Google Maps, 28th April 2023]
The passenger station building and platform as they appear in the 21st century. The site is very well maintained. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Crossing Keeper’s Cottage No.21. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
The view from what used to be the Level Crossing, looking Southwest into the site of the station. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
Turning through 180°, this is the view Northeast from the old level crossing location. The modern road is ahead beyond the gorse bushes.
The view Southwest from the modern road. The Crossing Keeper’s Cottage is just visible above the gorse. The garage is on the line of the old railway. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]
This is a memorial adjacent to the line of the old railway to the first action in the War of Independence. [My photograph, 23rd April 2023]

The next article in this short series can be found on this link:

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

References

  1. https://emmafcownie.com/2019/12/15/the-burtonport-old-railway-walk-donegal-ireland, accessed on 23rd April 2023.
  2. Dave Bell & Steve Flanders; Donegal’s Raulway Heritage Guide No. 2, The Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway: A Visitor’s Guide to the old railway and all the bits that can still be seen; County Donegal Restoration Society, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, 198…
  3. https://m.facebook.com/groups/788818974978955/permalink/1178313109362871, accessed on 25th April 2023.
  4. https://m.facebook.com/groups/788818974978955/permalink/1193387747855407, accessed on 24th April 2023.
  5. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0KVungzAVHUePoRjDphqZ3topTijYW7y56LuREeDGJRBMWv2g7pEtfcMPQhGGW9UVl&id=1223882780981294, accessed on 24th April 2023.
  6. https://osi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bc56a1cf08844a2aa2609aa92e89497e, accessed on 25th April 2023.
  7. https://m.facebook.com/burtonportrailway/photos/a.272196396164954/272197266164867/?type=3, accessed on 25th April 2023.
  8. https://m.facebook.com/groups/burtonportheritage/permalink/683856108385937, accessed on 25th April 2023.
  9. Jim McBride; The Lough Swilly Remembered; County Donegal Railway Restoration CLG, 2021. Illustrations from this book are reproduced here with the kind permission of Jim McBride.
  10. Joe Begley, Steve Flanders & E.M. Patterson; The Lough Swilly Railway: Revised Edition; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, 2017.
  11. https://m.facebook.com/groups/burtonportheritage/permalink/548660425238840, accessed on 27th April 2023.
  12. https://m.facebook.com/groups/burtonportheritage/permalink/339803386124546, accessed on 28th April 2023.
  13. https://m.facebook.com/groups/burtonportheritage/permalink/1648247588613446, accessed on 28th April 2023.
  14. https://m.facebook.com/groups/burtonportheritage/permalink/339803386124546, accessed on 28th April 2023.
  15. https://m.facebook.com/groups/burtonportheritage/permalink/3138712962900227, accessed on 28th April 2023.

Teelin Bay, Teelin Pier and Co. Donegal Railways

Leave a reply
Teelin Pier, Co. Donegal. … [My photograph, 26th April 2023]

What happened to the proposed extension to the Killybegs branch of the Co. Donegal Railways to Teelin Pier?

The short answer is that it did not really get beyond the imaginations of a few folk in the Glean Cholm Cille (Glencolumbkille) and Carrick area of Co. Donegal.

There was a government scheme which provided support to fishermen in the area, first in the Congested Districts Board establishing Teelin as the principal fish-curing station and then in supplying fisherman with large fishing smacks (and associated gear). [1]

Local parties could not countenance this investment going to waste for the want of a short railway extension from Killybegs. Revd C. Cunningham of Glencolumbkille expressed the feeling of a meeting of the Glencolumbkille and Kilcar Industrial Committee, held at Carrick, Co Donegal when he said that “with such efforts being made to make Teelin a fishing centre of unequalled importance with a fleet of first class fishing vessels, it was sad to reflect that the rich harvest which would naturally be expected from the broad Atlantic shall be in a great measure fruitless through the want of this short extension.” [1].

He went on to argue at that meeting that should the extension from Killybegs to Teelin be made “not only would existing industries be re-invigorated but others would be developed, and thus the people instead of having, in case of failure of crop, to appeal for relief to the Government, would become self-supporting, happy and independent.” [1]

It seems that the authorities turned a deaf ear to the appeals of local people. The reason given in histories of the line, for the failure to extend the line beyond Killybegs is that the topography would have required serious civil engineering features making it too expensive to construct. [1]

However, some maps of the Co. Donegal Railways show a dotted line between Killybegs and Teelin Pier, following the coastline. A typical example is shown below. …

The Railways of County Donegal. This map of the lines in Co. Donegal includes those which were considered as possible extensions and shows them as dotted lines. The line between Killybegs and Teelin Pier is shown bottom-left of this image. [2]

But … What if? … What if it had been built soon after the completion of the line to Killybegs? I am given some encouragement in following this flight-of-fancy by the publication in 2022 of the Donegal Railway Heritage Trail by the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre which seems to show a line from Killybegs to Teelin Pier, not as a possible or proposed line but as a line which seemingly got built. [4]

Is my flight-of-fancy possible?

I guess that I want to be able to imagine a parallel universe in which every proposed railway line not only was built, but remains in operation today.

Is there anything else that might encourage my flight-of-fancy? … I think there might be! Here are a few things to contemplate ….

1. Have another look at the photograph at the top  of this article which shows Teelin Pier as it was in April 2023 when we visited. What might the substantial stone structure be which sits just in from the right edge of the image, if not the base of a long disused water tower? Might it not be good to imagine one of the Co. Donegal locomotives idling alongside the water tank while it’s crew refill it’s tanks for the long run through to Killybegs and on to Donegal?

2. And, just peeping into the same image is another building. The photograph below shows that building close to the “water tower” base. What might it be if not an engine shed?

Teelin Pier buildings in April 2023. [My photograph, 26th April 2023]
The same building before it was re-roofed recently. [3]

Yep, it does look very much like a typical small engine shed. Might the plastic panels in the corrugated iron roof have marked locations where steam and smoke were allowed to vent as an engine was being prepared, early in the morning, for its next duty on the line?

3. Close to the road to Killybegs (R263), to the East of Carrick there is an old stone bridge which clearly carried an earlier incarnation of the R263 but could so easily have carried a 3ft-gauge railway as well! The two images below are taken from Google Streetview …

Please understand, this is just a ‘what-might-have-been’ and understand too that even if it had been true, these little indications of a possible old railway would probably be all that remained in the 21st century.

What I do need to do to complete this short fairytale is to look again at the three possible indications of the presence of an old railway and clarify their actual use, and then to allow Dr. E.M. Paterson a final word …

1. The stone base for a water tank. That might just be what it was, although with no railway connotations. It is more likely that it was an ice house, needed to allow fish catches to be preserved for onward transport. [3]

2. The engine shed. Sadly, the origins of this building are well documented and have nothing to do with any old railway. It is a detached gable-fronted single-bay single-storey former coastguard boathouse, built in 1871, originally associated with Teelin Coastguard Station. Now in use as a private boathouse. When surveyed it was described as having a “pitched corrugated metal roof. Roughcast rendered finish over rubble stone construction with rock-faced ashlar sandstone block-and-start quoins to the corners of the front elevation (north) with dressed margins. Single segmental-headed window opening to the centre of each side elevation (east and west) having rock-faced ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds with dressed margins, cut stone sills; openings now blocked. Segmental-headed carriage-arch to the front elevation (north) having rock-faced ashlar sandstone block-and-start surrounds with dressed margins, and with replacement timber double-doors.” [3]

Obvious, really, when you see the same building from a different angle ….

The view, from Teelin Pier, of the two structures discussed above. The use of the building on the right as a boathouse is emphasised by the ramp which would have permitted the launch of a coastguard vessel and which makes the building ideal for its private use today.

3. The stone bridge did indeed carry a previous incarnation of the R263 but never saw use as a railway structure!

Dr E.M.Paterson tells us that Barton’s 1896 map of the Co. Donegal railway network, “drawn on a scale of 4 miles to 1 inch and measuring 30 in by 22 in, shows four probable Government Railways, none of which was built as shown. … [The fourth of these] was a westerly extension of the Killybegs branch … out to the coastal villages of Kilcar and Teelin, where there was a ‘government’ pier. … Had the Killybegs-Teelin extension been constructed, it would have been a spectacular one, reaching into some of Donegal’s wildest scenery and ending near the mighty sea cliffs of Slieve League, which rise 2,000 ft above the Atlantic. It would justifiably have rivalled the Valentia branch and the Mallaig extension of the West Highland Railway.” [5: p31-32]

References

  1. https://carrickonline.net/history?view=article&id=295:the-story-behind-the-proposed-rail-line-to-teelin-pier&catid=11, accessed on 26th April 2023.
  2. https://twitter.com/PMacoscair/status/1049570854030454784?t=at2TWDk8-c3LbDi5IUSUGA&s=19, accessed on 26th April 2023.
  3. https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/40909615/staisiun-garda-costa-an-teileann-rinnakill-donegal, accessed on 26th April 2023.
  4. https://www.govisitdonegal.com/blog/february-2022/donegal-railway-heritage-trail-guide-launched, 26th April 2023.
  5. Joe Begley, Steve Flanders, E.M. Patterson; The County Donegal Railways Revised Edition; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, 2014.

The Owencarrow Viaduct Accident in 1925. ….

Leave a reply

The featured image above shows the Viaduct in good condition. [7]

In the February 1963 edition of The Railway Magazine there was a letter from L. Hudlass which said: “The accident on the Owencarrow Viaduct, on the Letterkenny & Burtonport line, Ireland, of January 30, 1925, involved a westbound train running from Londonderry to Burtonport, on the Burtonport extension of the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway. The 380 yd.-long viaduct, sited between Kilmacrenan and Creeslough in County Tirconaill is in wild and open country and, on the day in question, a gale of 100mph caught the train broadside on and one carriage plunged through the parapet, pulling another with it. The couplings held and neither of the vehicles fell into the valley, but roof destruction caused several passengers to be thrown out, three people being killed outright, a fourth dying later in hospital. Being situated on a north-south section of the line, the 30ft.-high viaduct, across Glen Lough and over the Owencarrow River, caught the full force of the westerly gales. When the line was in operation a wind velocity of 60mph meant the exclusion of open wagons from the train, while a wind speed of 80mph caused the suspension of all traffic. The breach in the viaduct parapet was still visible in 1949. Other derailments due to gales gave been recorded on the west coast of Ireland.” [1]

One day, I will get round to covering the route of the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway (L&LSR) which ran from Derry to Burtonport through some of the wildest of Co. Donegal scenery.

This article is by way of a taster and focusses on an incident at Owencarrow Viaduct in the 1920s.

The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway ran from Derry to Burtonport via Letterkenny. [2]

The Owencarrow Viaduct was sited between Barnes Gap and Creeslough and was, other than earthworks, the major civil engineering structure on the L&LSR.

The Owencarrow Viaduct with a Burtonport train crossing. From an old postcard. The photographer is not known. [8]
 

The Google Maps satellite image and Google Street view images below show what remains of the structure in the 21st century.

The Owencarrow Viaduct in Co. Donegal. [Google Maps]
The remains of the Owencarrow Viaduct, seen from the Northwest on the L1332. [Google Streetview]
The remains of the Owencarrow Viaduct seen from the West on the L1332. [Google Streetview]

Wikipedia/Wikiwand covers the accident in a single paragraph: “Disaster occurred on the night of 30 January 1925 at around 8pm at the Owencarrow Viaduct, County Donegal. Winds of up to 120 mph derailed carriages of the train off the viaduct causing it to partially collapse. The roof of a carriage was ripped off throwing four people to their deaths. The four killed were: Philip Boyle and his wife Sarah from Arranmore Island, Una Mulligan from Falcarragh and Neil Duggan from Meenbunowen, Creeslough. Five people were seriously injured. The remains of the viaduct can today be seen from the road (N56) which carries on from the Barnes Gap on the road to Creeslough.” [2]

The scene of the accident. This picture was taken on 31st January 1925, the day after the disaster. The photographer is not known. [3]

There are a number of accounts of the accident available online which provide a bit more detail of the tragic events of 30th January 1925.

Walking Donegal looks at the event through the eyes of fireman John Hannigan who was on the footplate that day. [4] Long after that day Hannigan recalled “vividly the events of the night, the passing years ha[d] not erased the memory of the harrowing scenes or stilled the sound of the screams of agony. He still relive[d] the feeling of hopelessness he endured as he surveyed the scene of desolation in the fleeting moments, oblivious to his own danger, he scrambled over the wreck-strewn terrain to run the two odd miles to Creeslough to raise the alarm.” [4]

Hannigan was interviewed in 1984. [5] He was 85 when he gave that interview, a few years before he died in 1987 at the age of 88. Much of the text of the interview was reproduced in a Donegal Daily news item on 14th November 2019 and was extracted from a Christmas Annual published by Letterkenny Community Centre in the 1980s.

Hannigan spoke eloquently of his experience of working on the railway, first joining the staff of the L&LSR when he was just 15 years old, he was just 26 the night the train left the rails in the storm. After years of efficient service on the footplate, he realised his youthful ambition and was promoted to the position of driver the following year.

John Hannigan. [5]

Speaking of the first part of the journey from Derry, Hannigan said, “We left Derry that evening around 5.15pm, we had two wagons of bread next to the engine. They were sent out from Derry by Stevensons and Brewsters Bakeries. After that was three carriages, a first, a second and a third class, behind that were six wagons of general merchandise and the guards’ van at the end. Neilly Boyle was in charge as guardsmen who was from Burtonport, who later was a conductor on the buses.” [5]

When the train reached Letterkenny a bit of shunting was required to remove the six wagons and replace them with others. Hannigan remembered that they were using locomotive No. 14 which was a 4-6-2T and is shown below.

Locomotive 4-6-2T No 14 seen here at Pennyburn, Derry, 1931. Donegal Railway Heritage Centre (DRHC) Collection. [8]

By the time that they reached Kilmacrennan Station the wind was starting to blow hard and Hannigan and the train driver, Bob McGuinness, consulted about the state of the weather, wondering about whether it would be safe to go ahead.  Hannigan commented: “I had often gone over the viaduct in a smaller engine. We decided to proceed. Bob slowed down to a snails pace and as we crossed the bridge we did not think that the storm was all that bad.”

From Hannigan’s recollection of the evening it seems as though a freak gust of wind hit the train close to the end of the viaduct. He said:  “The carriage behind the two bread wagons was raised up on the line, it was like a hump on its back. It then fell against the parapet and the roof was smashed, two passengers were thrown out, Phil Boyle was killed, his wife was injured and died afterwards.” [5]

“A Mrs Mulligan also lost her life, they had fallen through the roof and into the river below. Another man, Andy Doogan, was found dead near the viaduct, he must have also been on the train.” [5]

As the minutes ticked by, the wind continued increasing in strength, the hostility of the gale made it hard for voices to be heard. Hannigan remembered managing to stumble across the bridge to the end of the train to free Neilly Boyle jammed against the bridge railing. He then trekked the two miles to Cresslough Station for help. “Between running, walking and falling I finally made it. On the way, I called at the homes of the two-level crossing men and brought them with me. We told John Gallagher the Station Master what had happened. Next we alerted the local guards and doctors. I got a lift back to the scene. It was about quarter to eight. A young priest, Fr. Gallagher was attending to the dead and injured.” [5]

The ‘Why Donegal?’ Facebook page carries a less personal account of events. [6] The train apparently left Letterkenny at 7:05PM. The journey to Kilmacrennan was uneventful, but “by the time they reached Barnes Gap, the driver remarked that the wind was bad. As the train approached the Owencarrow viaduct a strong gale was blowing. He slowed down to 10m.p.h. and was a few dozen yards from the Creeslough side of the viaduct and almost clear of it, when a sudden gust came so strong that it blew the carriage nearest to the engine off the rails. Two were derailed in all. One somersaulted and the roof was smashed. The four occupants of the coach were thrown through the roof into the rocky ravine forty feet below. The victims were Philip and Sarah Boyle from Arranmore Inland, Una Mulligan from Falcarragh and Neil Duggan from Meenbunowen, Creeslough. Duggan’s home was only a stones throw from the crash.” [6]

“Six of the injured were taken to Letterkenny General Hospital. Of the 14 passengers, just one was unhurt, a young woman who was flung from the upturned carriage and landed on the soft boggy soil.” [6]

The ‘Why Donegal’ Facebook page includes a few photographs of the viaduct as it remains today which were taken by Jacqui Reed.

The Owencarrow Viaduct in the 21st century (c) Jacqui Reed. [6]
The Owencarrow Viaduct in the 21st century (c) Jacqui Reed. [6]

References

  1. L. Hudlass; Owencarrow Viaduct Accident; a letter in The Railway Magazine, February 1963, p148-149.
  2. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Londonderry_and_Lough_Swilly_Railway, accessed on 30th May 2021.
  3. https://www.monreaghulsterscotscentre.com/owencarrow-viaduct, accessed on 30th May 2021.
  4. http://www.walkingdonegal.net/owencarrow-viaduct-disaster-by-john-hannigan
  5. https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/11/14/dd-motoring-brian-mcdaid-recalls-the-owencarrow-viaduct-disaster, accessed on 30th May 2021.
  6. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=416203555247099&id=358197231047732, accessed on 30th May 2021.
  7. https://twitter.com/Donegalcomuseum/status/956480040069488640?s=09, accessed on 30th May 2021.
  8. https://donegalheritage.wordpress.com/2020/01/31/the-owencarrow-viaduct-disaster, accessed on 30th May 2021.

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

7 Replies

As we noted at the start of the two previous articles about this line, Wikipedia gives us a very short history of the line from Strabane to Letterkenny and provides a single image – the Railway Clearing House map with stations in Strabane and Letterkenny:

The Railway Clearing House map with stations in Strabane and Letterkenny. [3]

This series of articles seeks to expand our understanding of the route of the various Co. Donegal Railways through combining old images and modern views. Satellite images also give us a good understanding of what remains of the infrastructure of these lines.

The previous articles about this line which cover the length from Strabane to Convoy can be found by following these 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)

A Journey Along the Line – Strabane to Letterkenny – Part C – Convoy to Letterkenny

We return to Convoy Railway Station which sits to the East of the Village. While we are waiting for our train, a railcar from Letterkenny stops at the station.

Convoy Railway Station in 1959 (c) Roger Joanes, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Railcar No. 20 from Letterkenny stops at Convoy. [14]

I have found two further pictures of Convoy Railway Station and its site in Anthony Burges’ book, ‘The Swilly and The Wee Donegal’. Both of these photos were taken in 1957 and were either taken by the author or are from his collection. [8: p34 and 35]

The second photograph [8: p35] shows the goods shed, water tower and a number of sidings, but only the goods shed was standing in 2010 when Google Streetview cameras visited the site.

Convoy Railway Station Goods Shed is shown to the right of center in this image taken in 2010 (Google Streetview).

The line out of Convoy Railway station travelling to the West crossed the R236 at a shallow angle protected by Crossing Gates. The Crossing keeper’s cottage (or Gatehouse) is still standing. It has been extended to better be used as a modern family home.

The Gatehouse and the road crossing to the West of Convoy Railway Station. The photograph looks from the Northeast, (Google Streetview).

The Gatehouse guards the route of the old railway which ran just to the right of it in this picture. The image looks from the West back along the old line. (Google Streetview).

The next image shows the centre of Convoy on a Google Maps satellite image. The approximate route of the old railway is shown as a red line running across the image.

The approximate route of the old line through Convoy (Google Maps) The location of the Gatehouse is marked close to the centre of the image. To the West, the line passed under the two bridges which I have numbered 1 and 2 in black type. Clicking on the image will enlarge it sufficiently to allow these locations to be identified easily.

Shortly after crossing the R236, trains passed under the first of two road-over-rail bridges in Convoy. This bridge carried the Letterkenny Road. The railway cutting has been filled-in and there is no evidence of the bridge in the early 21st century.

The old railway cutting has been infilled and to the West of the location of the bridge it is now used as a car park for one of the local churches. It is shown here in 2010, (Google Streetview).

This image is one taken by Kerry Doherty and kindly sent by him to me by email. It shows the same location in the years following the Google Streetview image. [6]

A short distance further along the line a bridge carried a lane heading Northwest from Convoy towards Falmore.

This first view shows the bridge parapet on the East side of the bridge in January 2010 (Google Streetview). The parapet is in a very poor condition.

This later view, a picture taken by Kerry Doherty, shows that some local pride has resulted, more recently in a cosmetic refurbishment of the old parapet. [6]

To the West of the old bridge the cutting is still infilled and no sign of a bridge parapet can be found.

Looking West along the line of the old railway from the road to Falmore in 2010, (Google Streetview).

Heading away from Convoy the line quickly turned to the North as shown on the next satellite image. It soon crossed the road to Falmore once again, this time at level. The Gatehouse for this road-crossing is indicated on the satellite image and can be seen in the Google Streetview image which follows.

The old line to the West of Convoy, (Google Maps).

Kelly’s Gatehouse on the road to Falmore. The line ran to the right of the cottage in this image, (Google Streetview).

The line now heads in a northerly direction as the satellite images show.

The first length to the North of the Gatehouse on the road between Convoy and Falmore, (Google Maps).

The second length north of the road, (Google Maps).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The line continued in a northerly direction passing over the Cloghcore to Cornagilagh road, (Google Maps).

 

Further North, the line crossed the road from Cloghcore to Cornagilagh. Either side of this road, the line was on an embankment which has now been removed but the bridge which carried it over the road is still in place – an elegant small stone arch bridge bears excellent testimony to the route of the old railway. The location of the old bridge is at the point where the line (red) crossed the road (light blue) in the bottom left of the adjacent satellite image.

Photographs of this bridge follow below. Two of which are taken from Google Streetview and one sent to me in an email by Kerry Doherty. The light in his photograph shows the bridge at its best.

Very soon after crossing this bridge, trains entered Cornagillagh Halt which was only a short distance from the hamlet/village which bears the same name.

The rail-over-road bridge on the …. road. This image shows the bridge from the Southwest in March 2011, (Google Streetview).

The same bridge also viewed in March 2011 from the Northeast (Google Streetview).

A much more recent picture taken of the same bridge by Kerry Doherty. [6] Kerry comments: ‘The over bridge just before Cornagillagh halt. The embankment at either side has been taken away but the bridge has been kept..’

The next length of the old line is featured in this satellite image which shows it passing in cutting under two road bridges marked ‘3’ and ‘4’ either side of and close to Cornagillagh Halt, (Google Maps).

The road-over-rail bridge close to Cornagillagh Halt is marked on the Google Maps image as No. ‘3’. The vertical alignment of the road gives away the bridge location. The image is a telephoto lens view because of a slight glitch in the Google Streetview image sequence close to the bridge location. This picture was taken from the Southeast in December 2009 in what looks like late afternoon sunshine, (Google Streetview). This image shows the same bridge (No. ‘3’) from the Northwest just a few weeks after the image which precedes it. The road alignment changes at the bridge and on this image it is easier to see the bridge parapets,(Google Streetview).

The next few photographs come from the location of the road-over-rail bridge that I have marked ‘4’ on the satellite image. All of them were taken as part of Google’s survey in March 2011.

Bridge numbered ‘4’ viewed looking North along the road, (Google Streetview)

Then same bridge but viewed from the North on the same day, (Google Streetview).

This picture shows the formation of the old railway between the bridge numbered ‘3’ by me and bridge ‘4’, (Google Streetview).

Looking to the Northeast, the formation of the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway has been overtaken by small trees and shrubs. (Google Streetview).

Kerry Doherty comments that this is a view of the bridge close to the site of Cornagillagh Halt (now impossible to photograph as its so overgrown). Pictured is former railcar driver Michael Gallen (recently dec’d, and one of the very last railcar drivers). The picture comes was taken by Dave Bell and comes from the CDR visitors guide book. [6][4]

The old railway route begins to turn North again soon after passing under the road-bridge and heads for Glenmaquin (Glerundorum) station.

Beyond the road-bridge the old formation turns to the North once again, (Google Maps).

The line South of Gerundoram Railway Station. The location of the station can still be picked out at the top of this satellite image, (Google Maps).

The adjacent satellite image shows the route of the old line to the South of Glenmaquin (Glerundorum) Station. The first location to note is the at-level crossing of a local road towards the bottom of the image. The gatehouse can be picked out just to the West of the route of the old line.

The Gatehouse (N0. 57) has been extended to make it suitable as a small modern dwelling. and pictures from Google Streetview show it in really good condition with well-tended gardens.

The line shows up as a tree-lined track crossing the road at this point. The third image below is the closest that Google Streetview gets to providing a view along the length of the line North of the Level-Crossing towards Glenmaquin Railway Station.

 

The old line passes to the East of the old crossing cottage (No. 57) which has been refurbished and extended, (Google Streetview). This view is taken looking from the Northwest across the line of the old railway which ran on the far side of the crossing cottage.This view shows the same location but from the road to the Southeast of the Railway Crossing. The line ran in front of the cottage in this view, (Google Streetview).Looking North along the old railway from the Crossing-keepers cottage, (Google Streetview).

A short distance further North trains entered Glenmaquin (Glerundorum) Station, shown here on the old GSGS mapping from the 1940s. …Glenmaquin (Glerundorum) Station was location close to a road junction and was framed by a road-over-rail bridge to its Northwest. [2]

Kerry Doherty has kindly provided a view across the old station site which was taken in the early 21st century.

The old station site taken from the fields to the Northwest, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6] The old platform is still clearly visible in this photograph.

Google Streetview shows that the space between the railway station and the road-over bridge is, in the 21st century, filled by a modern home. That property sits just out of view to the left of Kerry Doherty’s picture above.Glenmaquin Station, (Google Streetview).The road bridge just North of the Station, (Google Streetview).A much earlier view of Glenmaquin Railway Station which comes from the Dave Bell collection, taken from the CDR visitors guide book. Kerry Doherty’. [6]

The continues in cutting North of the road bridge at Glenmaquin Station.Cutting to the North of Glenmaquin Station. This photograph was taken from the road bridge, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6] Just out of sight the railway bridged a small river.

Beyond Glemaquin Station, the old line continued heading Northwest, (Google Maps).

After crossing another minor road the old track-bed curved round towards the Northeast, (Google Maps).

The road crossing visible at the bottom right of the satellite image immediately above was un-gated. A closer image o the crossing location is provided immediately below this text. The Google Streetview images here show an extended property based on a typical Gate-keeper’s Cottage. This location is not recorded in the Visitor’s Guide {4} as a Crossing with Gatehouse. Interestingly the cottage is sited out of alignment with the railway as the satellite image below shows.Un-gated Crossing Northwest of Glenmaquin Railway Station, (Google Maps)

These next few images are taken at the location above – all are from Google Streetview. This may well be the location of Gatehouse No. 58.

The distinctive form of a Gatehouse is visible in this photograph which is taken looking from the North, (Google Streetview).Still looking from the North, this view shows the line of the old railway. The garage to the left of the road is built over the old formation, (Google Streetview).This view shows the old formation beyond the road-crossing and is taken from close to the property in the earlier images above, (Google Streetview).

We noted in the satellite images above that, to the Northwest of the road crossing, the old line turn round to the Northeast.The next length of the line as shown on the GSGS mapping from the 1940s. [7]

We pick it up again in the next satellite image on the left. The track follows a sinuous course over the next kilometre or so, as can be seen on the next satellite image below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These two image show the line passing under the road from Listillion to Lyons Court and then crossing the road between Listillion and Drumerdagh at Gatehouse No. 59. Kerry Doherty comments that the first of these two locations is a “bridge now filled in and the road re-aligned.”

Doherty provides two photographs from that location:

At this location the old road has been realigned when the bridge over the railway cutting was filled in. Both photographs were taken by Kerry Doherty, (c) Kerry Doherty [6]

A close-up Satellite image shows the old road alignment across the bridge. ….

The next feature along the line is Gatehouse No. 59 which is shown on the second of the two adjacent satellite images above.

Another extract from the GSGS Maps of the 1940s shows the length of the old line to the South of Gatehouse 59. [9]

Gatehouse 59 is at the bottom of this enlarged extract from Google’s satellite imagery, (Google Maps).

Beyond the infilled road bridge, the formation of the old line snaked northwards before reaching Gatehouse 59. Both the GSGS map and the satellite image above show that route. Gatehouse 59. The adjacent enlarged satellite image shows the location of Gatehouse 59 just to the North of the road at the bottom of the image.

The first Streetview image below shows the Gatehouse from the South. It is followed by a short series of views mainly from Google Streetview of the same Gatehouse. One image was generously provided by Kerry Doherty.

As the adjacent satellite image shows the old railway continued North from the location of Gatehouse No. 59. A modern bungalow and farm building straddles the old line and before it runs at the back of the gardens of a further two properties.

The first satellite image below show the route of the old railway as it begins to approach Letterkenny. After continuing North for a short distance the line turned sharply to the West running to the South side of what is today the N13/N14 dual carriageway and the L1114 local road.

Gatehouse 59 seen from the road immediately to the South, (Google Streetview).Gatehouse 59 seen from the road junction to the East of the location in 2011, (Google Streetview).A telephoto view of the Gatehouse taken more recently from the same position, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]Gatehouse No. 59 seen from the Northeast, (Google Streetview).

The Strabane and Letterkenny Railway turned sharply to the left a short distance beyond Gatehouse No. 59, (Google Maps). The route is highlighted by a linear woodland which appears once the buildings close to the Gatehouse have been passed.

The old line was initially on a small embankment to the North of Gatehouse No. 59, but by the time it stared to curve to the West is was in cutting. Its route is now a linear woodland, as the satellite image above shows. I am really grateful to Kerry Doherty who visited this location on my behalf in October 2020. The next few images are taken by him.This picture is taken from the old track-bed looking towards the bridge, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6] The old formation can be seen curving to the left in this image. This is one of the more substantial structures along the length of the Strabane to Letterkenny Railway.Looking back to the South from the 3-arch Bridge, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]The substantial stone parapets belie the use of the over bridge which carries no more thana local track, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]Looking ahead towards Letterkenny from the track carried by the old bridge, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]Looking back towards the bridge from the old railway formation, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]The structure still retains its old number – 279! (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]

Beyond structure No. 279 the old railway continued to curve round to a westerly direction and still in cutting encountered another road over rail bridge. The location of that bridge is to the right of the satellite image below.The Eastern outskirts of Letterkenny with the route of the Strabane & Letterkenny Railway highlighted in red, (Google Maps). 

The cutting at the Eastern side of the satellite image above has been partially infilled but the old bridge still has a void underneath it. Although the bridge is clearly of an age commensurate with having been built at the same time as the line, it does not appear on the 1940s GSGS map below.GSGS 1940s Map of the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway on its early approaches to Letterkenny. At the western extremity of the map extract the point where the line begins to run immediately parallel to the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway can just be seen. [10]

Kerry Doherty commented that the filling of the cutting seems to have cut off drainage runs and as a result there is a small body of water in the cutting. This does not show up on the pictures below.

 

The old railway cutting with the bridge just visible in the distance (Google Streetview)The bridge. This Google image shows the void underneath the structure. It is taken from the road which runs alongside the cutting (on its North side) for a short distance, (Google Streetview)This is Kerry Doherty’s photo of the bridge taken from the South side of the railway cutting in October 2020, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]This view shows the overgrown cutting looking back towards Strabane from the bridge above, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]Finally at this location, another of Kerry Doherty’s photographs. This shows the route of the old railway taken from over the bridge parapet and looks towards Gatehouse 60 and Letterkenny, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]Looking back along the route of the old line towards the two bridges shown above, (Google Streetview).A View from the old main road South showing the route of the old line as it crossed the road and a much extended Gatehouse 60 which appears to make an excellent private home, (Google Streetview). There is little sign here of the main N13 road which runs behind the trees which are just beyond property.Google Maps shows how close the Gatehouse No. 60 is to the new N13 road,(Google Maps).This view is taken from the N13 looking back along the old railway alignment towards Strabane. Gatehouse No. 60 can just be made out among the trees, (Google Streetview).Looking across the N13 and on along the route of the old line towards Gatehouse 61 and Letterkenny, (Google Streetview).

Beyond Gatehouse No. 60, the railway curved round from a Southwesterly trajectory towards the North before crossing the modern day L1114. On the way it crossed a single track lane by means of a bridge.The locations of a bridge and Crossing No. 61, (Google Maps)

Reaching the L1114 (at Bonagee Lane) the old railway was now running roughly North/South. The picture below shows the approximate alignment of the old railway where it crossed the L1114. A bungalow has now been built over the line of the old railway. The line was still on embankment at this point and a bridge took it over the L1114.The approximate route of the old railway where it crossed the L1114. A bungalow has now been built on the route of the old line, (Google Streetview).The 6″ OS Map of the location of the bridges and Gatehouse No. 61. [16]

Gatehouse No. 61 sits some distance North of the Bridge which carried the old railway over the L1114, (Google Maps).

North of the L1114 the railway alignment is not obvious. It ran 50 metres or perhaps less to the East of Bonagee Lane. Travelling North along Bonagee Lane leads to the discovery of what was Gatehouse No. 61. An accommodation lane crossed the railway at this point.

Kerry Doherty very kindly pointed out the location of the Gatehouse, without that help, I doubt that I would have located it. The building has been much extended as the Google Streetview image below shows.

Kerry missed the location himself, despite driving along Bonagee Lane from the North a few days ago. The clue is in the property name on the gatepost which can only be seen from the South and which appears in the image below.

An extended and refurbished Gatehouse No. 61 seen from the South, (Google Streetview).Gatehouse No. 61 is much extended. This photo is a 2011 view from the West on Bonagee Lane, (Google Streetview).

Kerry Doherty provided this link to the location in the archives of the National Library of Ireland – http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000731777/MooviewerImg?mobileImage=vtls000731777_001 – on which at the top centre of the image Gatehouse No. 60 is visible. The two arched bridges mentioned above can also be picked out and, in the centre foreground, Gatehouse No. 61 can be seen in its original form. [17]

After Gatehouse No. 61 the old line continued North a short distance to the East of Bonagee Lane, until that lane turned from the North to the Northeast in Bonagee where Gatehouse No. 62 was sited. The crossing was known as Baird’s Crossing and the Keeper’s house can still be seen beyond the railway. It is heavily screened by trees and shrubs but can be seen from the Northeast, as the second image immediately below this text shows.The location of Gatehouse No. 62. the red line is a very approximate representation of the route of the old railway at this point, (Google Streetview).Baird’s Crossing Cottage (Gatehouse No. 62) seen from the Northeast in 2011. The original cottage has been extended at ground level. The railway ran behind the cottage in this view. Its route is over grown by trees and shrubs, (Google Streetview).

The Strabane and Letterkenny Railway crossed the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway by means of an over-bridge, (Google Maps).

Close to the final approach to Letterkenny, the Strabane and Letterkenny line ran parallel to the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway. The point where they meet is illustrated on this GSGS 1940s map extract in the bottom right corner. [11]The two lines are shown entering the sketch plan from the right. The lighter dashes represent the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway and the heavier dashes, the L&LSR. (the North Point is at the top of the sketch map) (c) John Baird, Dave Bell, Steve Flanders & Blanche Pay. [12]A later OS Ireland Map showing the routes of the two railways. [13]

The Strabane and Letterkenny Railway approached the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway from the South at a point which appears in the bottom right of the adjacent map extract from the 1940s. The scale of the map is such that it is impossible to distinguish any indication of the track arrangement at this location and beyond towards Letterkenny.

The Visitor’s Guide to the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway [12] shows the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway running for a short distance on the South side of the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway (L&LSR), the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway is then shown crossing the route of the Lough Swilly line by means of an over-bridge and then running parallel to it into Letterkenny on the North side of the L&LSR.

That route is illustrated on the adjacent sketch Map. [12]

Other mapping suggests that the point at which the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway crossed the Lough Swilly line was further to the East, close to the point where the former met the L&LSR . This is illustrated on the adjacent later OS Ireland Map. [13]

The location of the rail over rail bridge is shown on Google Maps Satellite imagery of 2020 in the next image below.

From this point on the two lines converged gradually in both vertical and horizontal directions.

The Strabane and Letterkenny Railway crossed the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway by means of an over-bridge, (Google Maps).

I have only been able to find a couple of pictorial records of the rail-over-rail bridge myself. both of these are of a relatively poor print quality. They both appear in the same publication: The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway: A Visitor’s Guide. [12: p46]. The first shows the bridge as it was in the 1980s, the second in the years when it was still in use.

Kerry Doherty very kindly sent me a colour copy of a photograph of a S&LR train crossing the bridge in May 1959 with No. 5 Drumboe in charge of a goods train.This picture kindly supplied for use in this article by Kerry Doherty. It shows No. 5 Drumboe crossing the rail-over-rail bridge in 1959. By this time the Swilly line was already closed, (c) J.G. Dewing, Color-rail. [6]

To the West of this point the two railways passed under an accommodation road. The next photo shows the remains of the bridges at that location. The Swilly railway bridge parapets are close to the camera. The S&LR parapets can be seen in the distance with the metal fencing on the top.

The old road-over bridges on the eastern approaches to the River Swilly, looking North, (Google Streetview).  Dave Bell and Steve Flanders describe the location in the 1980s: “There is a small side road behind the filling station which runs over two bridges, carrying the road over both railway lines. The Swilly used a single arch overbridge here while, conversely, the CDR used a three-arched bridge: two smaller arches either side of the main arch.” [12:p46] The filling station is long-gone, replaced by more modern buildings alongside the N56.The S&LR railway bridge parapets can still be seen. Concrete with metal fencing is on the East face of the old bridge, Google (Streetview)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 CDR 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.” [12: 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 S&LR bridge inside the garage facility, (c) Dave Bell. [6]

The two railways then encountered the River Swilly and the main road into Letterkenny from the East. Twin structures carried the two railways over the river and the main road. The modern N56 main road and a large roundabout have obliterated almost all of the railway infrastructure at this location. There are some clues as to what it was like in Bell and Flanders book which was written before much of the infrastructure here had been removed. [12:p47]The modern N56 bridge over the River Swilly sits on the line of the two old railways, (Google Streetview). The roundabout ahead has almost entirely obliterated the rail-over-road bridges which carried the two railway lines over the Port Road. The only remnant appears in the next image.The North abutment of the S&LR bridge over the old road is all that remains of the two railway bridges at this location, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]Looking back along the old railway with the remaining bridge abutment to our right, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6] 

The plaque which is visible in both these two photographs carries a drawing of what the old bridge(s) looked like.

The plaque in the images above, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]The historic OS Ireland Map extract show both of the two lines on the approach to the two Letterkenny Railway Stations which sat right next to each other at the Eastern edge of Letterkenny.. [13]The routes of the L&LSR and the S&LR shown on a 21st century satellite image, (Google Maps). The S&LR terminated in Letterkenny. The L&LSR continued further to the West and North.The Letterkenny Railway Stations. [13]

The two railway stations sat next to each other just to the East of the centre of Letterkenny. The two lines approached the stations on the South side of the R940. Their approximate route is highlighted on the Google Streetview image below.

Close to the junction between the R940 and Ashlawn the two railways ran very close to the road. Their route is now covered by the tarmac surface of the car parks of the Letterkenny Institute of Technology, (Google Streetview). The blue/mauve and red lines show the approximate alignment of the railways.

The location of the two railway stations includes the car parks of Letterkenny Shopping Centre and the bus station. Two building from the railway ear remain on the site. The old S&LR goods shed is one of these, it has been refurbished and is now called Railway House.The old S&LR goods shed has been refurbished and is now known as Railway House. This image was taken in 2017 from the R940, (Google Streetview).The same building as seen from the car park of the Letterkenny Shopping Centre, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]

The old passenger facilities at the station have been converted in recent years into the town’s Bus Station. This required an extension to the building on what was the track-facing side. Kerry Doherty has generously provided three photographs of the modern building. [6]The front facade of the old Station Building, looking from the Southwest in 2020, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]Inside the extension. The picture shows the old building’s Northeast facing aspect form roughly the position of the buffers stops on the old line. The platform canopy columns have been retained in the new building. The filigree detail has been retained, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]Looking along the line of the old platform towards the Passenger Station Building. This facade is modern, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]This final present-day image was again provided by Kerry Doherty and shows the station yard crane almost swamped by vegetation, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]

We finish this article with a series of pictures of the old S&LR facilities at Letterkenny.

This first image was provided by Kerry Doherty and shows the length of the station platform at Letterkenny in 1959, (c) B. Hilton, Colorrail. [6]This monochrome photograph was taken by Roger Joanes in 1959. The photo was taken from close to the Station building. The railcar is No. 14 and in the distance, under a plume of steam, No. 4 can be seen shunting the yard, (c) Roger Joanes (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). [14]Also by Roger Joanes, the inscription states: “The former CDR loco ‘Erne’ at Letterkenny, freshly painted for preservation but subsequently scrapped. 2.4.63.” (c) Roger Joanes (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). [14]The disused S&LR station at Letterkenny in 1963 seen from the location of ‘Erne’ (c) Roger Joanes (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). [14]An overall shot of the Station and Goods Yard in 1959. Loco No. 4, ‘Meenglas’ is preparing to set off for Strabane in charge of a goods train, (c) Roger Joanes (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). [14]

Donegal Railway Heritage Centre posted this next photograph on their Facebook page. In this series of articles about the Co. Donegal Railways, photographs from the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre’s Facebook page are ‘linked-to’ after discussion with and kind permission from Jim McBride.

References

  1. Edward M Patterson (original author), Joe Begley & Steve Flanders (authors of additional material in the Revised Edition); The County Donegal Railways; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, Co. Down 2014. As noted in my first article about the Co. Donegal Railways this was to have been my holiday reading while walking different parts of the network, but 2020 has been a strange year!
  2. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=54.91092&lon=-7.65886&layers=14&b=1, accessed on 11th October 2020.
  3. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Athlone,_Cavan_%26_Clara._LetterKenny_Strabane_RJD_113.jpg#/media/File:Athlone,_Cavan_&_Clara._LetterKenny_Strabane_RJD_113.jpg, accessed on 14th July 2020.
  4. The County Donegal Railways Visitor Guide to the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway is now out of print and i have not been able to find a copy.
  5. Edward M Patterson (original author), Joe Begley & Steve Flanders (authors of additional material in the Revised Edition); The Lough Swilly Railway; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, Co. Down 2017. This was also to have been part of my holiday reading, but 2020 has been a strange year!
  6. Kerry Doherty of Ballindrait very kindly sent me a series of pictures of the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway route. Each of these, in this article, bears the reference number [6]
  7. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=54.92484&lon=-7.66844&layers=14&b=1, accessed on 12th October 2020.
  8. Anthony Burges; The Swilly and the Wee Donegal; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, Co. Down, Second Impression, 2010.
  9. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=54.93626&lon=-7.67260&layers=14&b=1, accessed on 12th October 2020.
  10. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=54.94389&lon=-7.68287&layers=14&b=1, accessed on 14th October 2020.
  11. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=54.94758&lon=-7.70755&layers=14&b=1, accessed on 27th October 2020.
  12. Dave Bell and Steve Flanders; The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway: A Visitor’s Guide; County Donegal Railway Restoration Society; an small extract from the sketch plan on p42, rotated through 90 degrees.
  13. http://geohive.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9def898f708b47f19a8d8b7088a100c4, accessed on 27th and 28th October 2020.
  14. https://www.flickr.com/photos/110691393@N07, accessed on 27th October 2020.
  15. https://www.facebook.com/DonegalRailwayHeritageCentre/photos, accessed on 28th October 2020.
  16. http://geohive.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9def898f708b47f19a8d8b7088a100c4, accessed on 10th November 2020.
  17. http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000731777/MooviewerImg?mobileImage=vtls000731777_001, accessed on 10th November 2020 – a thumbnail is provided here , the full size image can be viewed by clicking on the link

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

2 Replies

As we noted at the start of the previous article about this line, Wikipedia gives us a very short history of the line from Strabane to Letterkenny and provides a single image – the Railway Clearing House map with stations in Strabane and Letterkenny:

The Railway Clearing House map with stations in Strabane and Letterkenny. [3]

This series of articles seeks to expand our understanding of the route of the various Co. Donegal Railways through combining old images and modern views. Satellite images also give us a good understanding of what remains of the infrastructure of these lines.

A Journey Along the Line – Strabane to Letterkenny – Part B – Raphoe to Convoy

A sketch plan of Raphoe Railway Station by Steve Flanders from the book ‘The County Donegal Railways’ [1: p43] This drawing is included by kind permission of Steve Flanders.


Railcar No. 20 at Raphoe Station, heading for Letterkenny in 1959 (c) Roger Joanes (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) The Crossing-keepers cottage at the level-crossing to the East of the Station can be picked out to the right of the railcar. By this time, the passing loop shown in Steve Flanders sketch plan above had been lifted. [7]

Having enjoyed a stopover in Raphoe, we start the next stage of this journey back at the Railway Station at Raphoe and pick up the last image (above) from the previous article about the line:

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

Before we climb aboard Railcar No. 20 as it sets off for Letterkenny we look at the condition of the station site in the 21st century. The two pictures immediately below were taken relatively recently by Kerry Doherty. The first shows the location of the old station platform, the second looks from the West through the station site.

All that remains of the platform of Raphoe station. You can clearly see this shed is built on top of it (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]


This picture appeared at the end of the last article about this line. It shows the site of Raphoe Station in 21st century taken from a similar position to the Roger Joanes image above. The Station Master’s House on the left is the only building remaining on the site. Kerry Doherty comments that ‘it was difficult to get a photo of the site as many lorries now occupy the yard’, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]

There are also two excellent photographs of Raphoe in Anthony Burges Album of the line. [8: p32-33]

Now we set off towards Convoy from Raphoe Railway Station. …….


GSGS 1940s Map of Raphoe and its Southwestern approaches. [2]


The site of Raphoe Railway Station in the 21st century. [4]


The route continues through Aughnakeeragh (Google Maps).
The three images immediately above show that the line began, gradually, to curve round to a Southwesterly direction as it left Raphoe Railway Station, before turning almost directly South at Aughnakeeragh.
At location ‘1’ on the map immediately above, the road turned sharply to the south so as to cross the railway on a bridge.


The narrow road crossed the old railway on a stone arch bridge. The railway cutting has now been infilled and the road alignment marginally improved (Google Streetview). This view shows the approach from Raphoe.


Crossing the bridge location and turning to look back towards Raphoe, this is the view (Google Streetview)

At location ‘4’, an accommodation bridge provided access across the old line.

The location of the old bridge is difficult to pick out on this image from Google Streetview.

This image, taken by Kerry Doherty from the top of the bridge at location ‘3’ above gives a better impression of the remains of the old bridge. The S&LR was in cutting at the bridge but the land drops away towards the foreground and at the point of the modern access road in the middle of the picture, the line went from being in cutting to being on an embankment, (c) Kerry Doherty [6]

As noted under the picture above, at location ‘2’, the old railway was almost at the same level as the surrounding land with cutting to the East and embankment developing to the West.


A modern farm access road crosses the old line at the approximate location when natural land levels and the formation of the S&LR matched (Google Streetview).

At location ‘3’, close to Aughnakeeragh, the railway was carried over a road on a stone arch bridge.


This Google Streetview image shows the bridge viewed from the Southeast.

\n Convoy Railway Station


The Google Streetview image of the bridge taken from the Northwest shows it heavily overgrown by ivy.


In this recent photograph, the bridge has been stripped of vegetation and is much more clearly visible, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]


This Google Streetview image is taken from the road on the North side of the line, immediately to the West of the above bridge and shows the Railway embankment disturbed to allow vehicles to access land to the South.


The next extract from the GSGS 1940s series of Maps shows the line to the West of Aughnakeeragh. [9]

After passing immediately to the West of Aughnakeeragh the line headed South for a Short distance before curving to the West once again.

There was an accommodation bridge which carried a lane across the S&LR at Tullyvinny. The location appears on the adjacent Google Maps extract to the Southwest of the road junction at the centre of the satellite image. The lane ran parallel to the S&LR for a short distance on the East side of the railway cutting before turning West across the line. The closest we can get on Google Streetview is shown in the first image below.

The next track to cross the line was that leading to Figart Upper Farm. The Lane appears in the bottom third, on the left-hand side of the next Google Maps satellite image below. The farm is on the left-hand side of the image close to the top.

From Figart Upper Farm to Kiltole the old line was alternately in cutting and at the same level as the surrounding land but on the hill above the road which ran parallel to it to the South. An accommodate bridge over the line is marked by the black circle on the above plan and appears to relate to another structure which can be seen on the Goggle Streetview photograph below and which is taken from the road a little to the West of the accommodation bridge.


A lime kiln adjacent to the accommodation bridge referred to above. It seems as though the bridge permitted access to the lime kiln. (Google Streetview).

Very kindly, when I first asked about this structure in very early October 2020, Kerry Doherty offered to investigate. He took his camera with him as he endeavoured to walk the line from the West. He gained access to the old line through a field adjacent to the Kiltole Quarry . His first photograph shows the formation to the East of the quarry.

The formation of the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway to the East of Kiltole Quarry, (c) Kerry Doherty [6]

Kerry’s trek along the line increasingly required him to struggle through bushes, small trees and thick under growth. The next picture is taken looking West from close to the lime-kiln and its bridge.

Looking West towards Convoy close to the Limekiln, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]


Kerry Doherty says: “It got almost impassable approaching the bridge beside the lime kiln. The bridge pillars can just be seen through the trees,” (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]


Kerry says: “I climbed the cutting to get a better shot of the bridge,” (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]


Some original boundary fencing adjacent to the bridge parapet, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]


Looking across the accommodation bridge and then across the Lime Kiln to the South, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]


Adjacent to the Lime Kiln the two approach walls to the bridge parapet railing can be seen. That to the East is curved in plan, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]

Three pictures of the Lime Kiln follow. All again taken by Kerry Doherty:


The Lime Kiln from the South, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]


The view from the Southwest, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]


A close-up shot of the mouth of the Kiln, (c) Kerry Doherty. [6]

Immediately to the west, the road and old railway ran close together. This can be seen in this next Google Streetview image.


In this picture the formation of the S&LR can be seen in the trees immediately at the back of the land belonging to this bungalow (Google Streetview).

The line ahead now approaches Convoy. Although the formation is completely lost as it crossed the site of the now defunct Kiltole Quarry. The railway station was in the part of Convoy referred to as Milltown (to the East of Convoy itself), sited just to the North of the old mills.


The Village/Town of Convoy (Milltown) on the GSGS 1940s Series of Maps. [10]

Convoy on the Header National Townland and Historical Map Viewer. The route of the old railway has been imposed on the map as a thin red line. [11]


The approximate route of the old line through Convoy (Google Maps). The locations of the Gatehouse and the two road over rail bridges are marked.

The closest view of the Railway Station site at Convey that is available on Google Streetview. The last remaining structure on the site is the goods shed.

Convoy Railway Station 1959 (c) Roger Joanes, (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

This second length of the Strabane to Letterkenny line finishes here at Convoy, the remainder of the line to Letterkenny will follow in another post.

References

  1. Edward M Patterson (original author), Joe Begley & Steve Flanders (authors of additional material in the Revised Edition); The County Donegal Railways; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, Co. Down 2014. As noted in my first article about the Co. Donegal Railways this was to have been my holiday reading while walking different parts of the network, but 2020 has been a strange year!
  2. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=54.87036&lon=-7.61772&layers=14&b=1, accessed on 25th July 2020.
  3. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Athlone,_Cavan_%26_Clara._LetterKenny_Strabane_RJD_113.jpg#/media/File:Athlone,_Cavan_&_Clara._LetterKenny_Strabane_RJD_113.jpg, accessed on 14th July 2020.
  4. http://geohive.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9def898f708b47f19a8d8b7088a100c4, accessed on 25th July 2020.
  5. Edward M Patterson (original author), Joe Begley & Steve Flanders (authors of additional material in the Revised Edition); The Lough Swilly Railway; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, Co. Down 2017. This was also to have been part of my holiday reading, but 2020 has been a strange year!
  6. Kerry Doherty of Ballindrait very kindly sent me a series of pictures of the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway route. Each of these, in this article, bears the reference number [6] Later, and also referenced [6] Kerry scrambled through the undergrowth along the old line to find evidence of the accommodation bridge and the rear of the lime kiln.
  7. https://www.flickr.com/photos/110691393@N07/11364546546/in/photolist-ijfgKG-ijfnbj, accessed on 22nd July 2020.
  8. Anthony Burges; The Swilly and the Wee Donegal; Colourpoint Books, Newtownards, Co. Down, Second Impression, 2010.
  9. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=54.86372&lon=-7.63776&layers=14&b=1, accessed on 8th August 2020.
  10. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=54.86396&lon=-7.65969&layers=14&b=1, accessed on 9th August 2020.
  11. https://www.flickr.com/photos/110691393@N07/11371005014/in/photolist-ijf23V-ijPnCA, accessed on 5th October 2020.