County Donegal Railways Joint Committee: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
[[File:Outside the Foyle Valley Railway Museum, Londonderry - geograph.org.uk - 335259.jpg|thumb|Former CDRJC locomotive at the [[Foyle Valley Railway]] Museum]]
{{Infobox rail
The '''County Donegal Railways Joint Committee''' operated an extensive {{RailGauge|3ft|lk=on}} [[Narrow gauge railway|narrow gauge]] railway system serving county Donegal, [[Ireland]], from 1906 until 1960. The committee was incorporated by an [[Act of Parliament]] in 1906, which authorised the joint purchase of the then [[Donegal Railway Company]] by the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)|Great Northern Railway of Ireland]] and the [[Midland Railway]] [[Northern Counties Committee]].
| name = County Donegal Railways Joint Committee
| logo = CDR Crest.jpg
| key_people = Henry Forbes, Bernard L. Curran
|predecessor=[[Donegal Railway Company]]|successor=[[CIÉ]]|headquarters=[[Stranorlar]]|start_year=1 May 1906|end_year=10 July 1971|system_map=File:CDRmap.png|gauge={{Track gauge|3 ft}}|map={{County Donegal Railways Joint Committee|inline=0}}|caption=Crest of the County Donegal Railway Joint Committee|map_caption=A map of the network of the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee.|length={{convert|124.5|mi}}}}


The '''County Donegal Railways Joint Committee''' operated an extensive {{RailGauge|3ft|lk=on}} [[narrow gauge railway]] system serving [[County Donegal]], [[Ireland]], from 1906 until 1960. The committee was incorporated by an [[Act of Parliament]] in 1906, which authorised the joint purchase of the then [[Donegal Railway Company]] by the [[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)|Great Northern Railway of Ireland]] and the [[Midland Railway]] [[Northern Counties Committee]].
==History of the Donegal Railways==


==History of the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee==
On 1 May 1906, the Joint Committee was set up. The lines inherited by the Joint Committee totalled {{convert|106|mi}} and were:
On 1 May 1906, the Joint Committee was set up. The lines inherited by the Joint Committee totalled {{convert|106|mi}} and were:
* [[Finn Valley Railway]] (FVR) from [[Strabane]] to [[Stranorlar]]
* [[Finn Valley Railway]] (FVR) from [[Strabane]] to [[Stranorlar]]
* [[West Donegal Railway]] line from [[Stranorlar]] to [[Donegal]]
* [[West Donegal Railway]] line from [[Stranorlar]] to [[Donegal (town)|Donegal]]
* The [[Donegal Railway Company]] lines between Stranorlar and [[Glenties]], [[Donegal|Donegal Town]] to [[Killybegs]], [[Strabane]] to [[Derry]], and [[Donegal|Donegal Town]] to [[Ballyshannon]]
* The [[Donegal Railway Company]] lines between Stranorlar and [[Glenties]], [[Donegal Town]] to [[Killybegs]], [[Strabane]] to [[Derry]], and [[Donegal Town]] to [[Ballyshannon]]


The Joint Committee opened the [[Strabane and Letterkenny Railway]] on 1 January 1909, bringing the total mileage to {{convert|121|mi}}. By 1912 the company owned the following assets:<ref>''Railway Year Book 1912'' Railway Publishing Company</ref>
By 1912 the company owned the following assets:<ref>''Railway Year Book 1912'' Railway Publishing Company</ref>
* Locomotives and rolling stock: 21 locomotives; 56 passenger vehicles; 304 goods vehicles
* Locomotives and rolling stock: 21 locomotives; 56 passenger vehicles; 304 goods vehicles
* Head offices and locomotive works at Stranorlar
* Head offices and locomotive works at Stranorlar


The [[Strabane]] to [[Derry]] line was completely owned by the [[Midland Railway]] [[Northern Counties Committee]] although it was operated by the CDJRC.<ref>The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland. William Alan McCutcheon, Northern Ireland. Dept. of the Environment, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1984</ref>
The [[Strabane]] to [[Derry]] line was completely owned by the [[Midland Railway]] [[Northern Counties Committee]], although it was operated by the CDRJC.<ref>The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland. William Alan McCutcheon, Northern Ireland. Dept. of the Environment, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1984</ref>

At its greatest extent, the County Donegal Railways Committee operated the largest narrow gauge railway system in the [[British Isles]]. The railway was affectionately known as the "Wee Donegal".<ref>{{cite book | author = Robert Robotham|display-authors=et al | title = The Last Years of 'The Wee Donegal': The County Donegal Railways in Colour 1950–59 | year = 1999 | publisher = Colourpoint Books | isbn = 978-1898392422}}</ref>

The Joint Committee opened the [[Strabane and Letterkenny Railway]] on 1 January 1909, bringing the total mileage operated by the company to {{convert|124.5|mi}}. Only {{convert|91|mi}} were directly owned by the Joint Committee, as the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway accounted for {{convert|19.25|mi}}, and {{convert|14.5|mi}} were property of the Northern Counties Committee.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Patterson |first=Edward M. |title=The County Donegal Railways |publisher=Pan Books |year=1962 |isbn=0-7153-4376-9 |edition=1972 |pages=58 |language=en}}</ref>


==Dieselisation==
==Dieselisation==
Under the management of Henry Forbes, traffic superintendent from 1910 to 1943, the County Donegal Railways became pioneers in the use of [[dieselisation|diesel traction]].<ref>''Britain Between the Wars: 1918–1940''. [[Charles Loch Mowat]], Taylor & Francis, 1968</ref> The first diesel railcar was built in 1930 (the first diesel railcar anywhere in the [[British Isles]]), although a petrol-engined railcar had been built in 1926 before standardisation on diesel traction in 1934. Eight articulated diesel railcars were constructed by [[Walker Brothers (Wigan)|Walker Brothers]] of [[Wigan]] between 1934 and 1951, by which time virtually all passenger services were operated by diesel railcar, being much cheaper to operate than conventional steam trains.
[[File:IMR-Loco-19-20.jpg|thumb|Surviving railcars on the [[Isle of Man Railway]]]]

Under the management of Henry Forbes, traffic superintendent from 1910 to 1943, the County Donegal Railways became pioneers in the use of [[Dieselisation|diesel traction]].<ref>Britain Between the Wars: 1918-1940. Charles Loch Mowat, Taylor & Francis, 1968</ref> The first diesel railcar was built in 1930 (the first diesel railcar anywhere in the [[British Isles]]), although two further petrol-engined railcars were built before standardisation on diesel traction in 1934. Eight articulated diesel railcars were constructed by Walker Brothers of [[Wigan]] between 1934 and 1951, by which time virtually all passenger services were operated by diesel railcar. The railcars were capable of hauling trailers or freight wagons. A diesel locomotive named ''Phoenix'' (converted from a steam locomotive) was also used.
The railcars could only be driven from one end and had to be turned on a turntable to make a return journey. As well, they could not be worked in multiple, so if two railcars were working back to back, both required a driver. The railcars were incapable of hauling most freight wagons, so steam traction continued to be used on freight and excursion trains. The railcars could haul specially constructed trailers, and some lightweight freight wagons, which were painted red to distinguish them from the heavier wagons, which were grey. A diesel locomotive named ''Phoenix'' (converted from a steam locomotive) was also used, but due to its noisy operation and slow speed (top speed of {{cvt|27|mph|disp=or}}), it spent most of its career shunting, travelling {{convert|204577|mi}} during its working life.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Patterson |first=Edward M. |title=The County Donegal Railways |publisher=Pan Books |year=1962 |edition=1972 |location=Great Britain |pages=143-154, 206-209 |language=en}}</ref>


==Closure==
==Closure==
[[File:A piece of track, Donegal Railway Station - geograph.org.uk - 2557699.jpg|thumb|A track panel at [[Donegal Railway Centre|Donegal Railway Heritage Centre]]]]The [[Glenties]] branch closed in 1947, the Strabane-Derry line closed in 1954 and the rest of the passenger services ended on 31 December 1959. Much of the railway was closed completely on 16 February 1960.
The [[Glenties]] branch closed in 1947, the Strabane-Derry line closed in 1954, and the remaining passenger services ended on 31 December 1959. Much of the railway was closed on that date. Goods trains ran between Strabane and Stranorlar until 6 February 1960.


During the 1930s the Joint Committee began operating a fleet of buses. After the closure of the railway, it continued to operate as a road freight and bus company until 10 July 1971 when it was taken over by [[CIÉ]].<ref>https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1971/act/14/enacted/en/html Transport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1971</ref>
In 1959, the two most modern diesel railcars were sold to the [[Isle of Man Railway]].

In 1961, the two most modern diesel railcars were sold to the [[Isle of Man Railway]].

===Future===
The reopening of the [[Western Rail Corridor]] and other bordering railway lines should bring back services.


==Tourist attraction==
==Tourist attraction==
[[File:Old Railway Station, Donegal Town - geograph.org.uk - 910976.jpg|thumb|[[Donegal Railway Centre|Donegal Railway Heritage Centre]] in the former station building]]
[[File:Old Railway Station, Donegal Town - geograph.org.uk - 910976.jpg|thumb|[[Donegal Railway Centre|Donegal Railway Heritage Centre]] in the former station building]]
Part of the line, which runs alongside Lough Finn near Fintown, has been re-laid as a tourist railway.<ref>[http://www.antraen.com/ Fintown Railway — An Mhuc Dhubh]</ref>


Part of the line, which runs alongside [[Lough Finn]] near [[Fintown railway station|Fintown]], has been re-laid as a tourist railway.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.antraen.com/ |title=Fintown Railway – An Mhuc Dhubh |access-date=21 April 2009 |archive-date=13 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413173307/http://www.antraen.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The [[Donegal Railway Centre|Donegal Railway Heritage Centre]] has been established and contains historic details and artefacts of the CDRJC.<ref>[http://www.donegalrailway.com/ Donegal Railway Heritage Centre]</ref>

The [[Donegal Railway Centre|Donegal Railway Heritage Centre]] has been established and contains historic details and artefacts of the CDRJC.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.donegalrailway.com/ |title=Donegal Railway Heritage Centre |access-date=11 May 2011 |archive-date=21 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321134832/http://www.donegalrailway.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

St. Connell's Museum, in [[Glenties]] has an extensive display of items from the railway.<ref>[http://www.glenties.ie/ws_business_details.aspx?Business_ID=539&Region=Glenties&Business_Name=St.+Connells+Cultural+and+Heritage+Museum&Section=Attractions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119043135/http://www.glenties.ie/ws_business_details.aspx?Business_ID=539&Region=Glenties&Business_Name=St.+Connells+Cultural+and+Heritage+Museum&Section=Attractions|date=19 November 2007}}</ref>

The [[Foyle Valley Railway]] in [[Derry]] houses numerous CDRJC artefacts. It used to operate a small heritage railway along the [[River Foyle|Foyle]] on the original route of the [[Derry]]-[[Portadown]] railway line, which has since fallen into disrepair during the museum's period of closure.

== In preservation ==
* '''Carriages:''' 1 (UFTM), 3 (UFTM), 5 (DRC) 14 (FVR), 28 (DRC), 30 (FVR)
* '''Goods wagons:''' 12 (DRC), 19 (FVR), 136 (UFTM), Unidentified horsebox (BHR), Unidentified Van (DRC)
UFTM = Ulster Folk & Transport Museum; FVR = Foyle Valley Railway; BHR = Belturbet Heritage Railway; FTR = Fintown Railway; DRC = Donegal Railway Centre; IOMR = Isle of Man Railway; C&L = Cavan and Leitrim Railway

==Rolling stock==

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Locomotives of the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Crombleholme |first=Roger |title=The County Donegal Railways Companion |publisher=Midland |year=2005 |isbn=1-85780-205-5 |location=England |pages=15-26 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! Number !! Name !! Built !! Manufacturer !! Configuration !! Notes !! Image
|-
! colspan="7" |Class 1
|-
| No. 1 || ''Alice''|| 1881 || [[Sharp, Stewart and Company]]|| [[2-4-0]]|| Loaned to [[Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway]] from 1918-1921. Scrapped 1926. ||
|-
| No. 2 || ''Blanche''|| 1881 || Sharp, Stewart and Company || 2-4-0 || Withdrawn in 1905.
Scrapped in 1909.
|[[File:2-4- No 2 Blanche.png|center|thumb|Builder's photo of No. 2 ''Blanche''.]]
|-
| No. 3 || ''Lydia''|| 1881 || Sharp, Stewart and Company || 2-4-0 || Withdrawn in 1905.
Scrapped in 1910.
|
|-
! colspan="7" |Class 2
|-
| No. 4 || ''Meenglas''|| 1893 || [[Neilson and Company]]|| [[4-6-0]]|| Scrapped in 1935.
|[[File:4-6-0 No 4 Meenglas.png|center|thumb|Builder's photo of No. 4 ''Meenglas''.]]
|-
| No. 5 || [[Drumboe Castle|''Drumboe'']]|| 1893 || Neilson and Company || 4-6-0 || Withdrawn in 1927.
Scrapped in 1931.
|
|-
| No. 6 || ''[[Inver]]''|| 1893 || Neilson and Company || 4-6-0 || Withdrawn in 1927.
Scrapped in 1931.
|
|-
| No. 7|| [[River Finn (Foyle tributary)|''Finn'']]|| 1893 || Neilson and Company || 4-6-0 || Withdrawn in 1927.
Scrapped in 1931.
|
|-
| No. 8 || [[River Foyle|''Foyle'']]|| 1893 || Neilson and Company || 4-6-0 || Scrapped in 1937.
|[[File:4-6-0 No 8 Foyle.png|center|thumb|No. 8 ''Foyle'' between Fintown and Glenties in July 1924.]]
|-
| No. 9 || [[Glencolmcille|''Columbkille'']]|| 1893 || Neilson and Company || 4-6-0 || Scrapped in 1937.
|
|-
! colspan="7" |Class 3
|-
| No. 10 || ''Sir James''|| 1902 || Neilson and Company || [[4-4-4]]|| Scrapped in 1935. ||[[File:4-4-4 No 10 Sir James.png|center|thumb|Builder's photo of No. 10 ''Sir James''.]]
|-
| No. 11 || [[Sir Samuel Hercules Hayes, 4th Baronet|''Hercules'']]|| 1902 || Neilson and Company || 4-4-4 || Scrapped in 1935. ||
|-
! colspan="7" | Class 4
|-
| No. 12
No. 9
| [[Lough Eske|''Eske'']]|| 1904 || [[Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company|Nasmyth, Wilson and Company]]|| [[4-6-4]]|| Renumbered No. 9 in 1937.
Scrapped in 1954.
|
|-
| No. 13
No. 10
| ''Owenea''|| 1904 || Nasmyth, Wilson and Company || 4-6-4 || Renumbered No. 10 in 1937.
Scrapped in 1952 after a collision with railcar No. 17 in 1949.
|[[File:4-6-4 No 10 Owenea.png|center|thumb|No. 10 ''Owenea'' at Strabane on 14 May 1937.]]
|-
| No. 14
No. 11
| [[Lough Erne|''Erne'']]|| 1904 || Nasmyth, Wilson and Company || 4-6-4 || Renumbered No. 11 in 1937.
Scrapped in 1967.
|[[File:4-6-4 No 14 Erne.png|center|thumb|No. 14 ''Erne''.]]
|-
| No. 15
No. 12
| [[Lough Mourne|''Mourne'']]|| 1904 || Nasmyth, Wilson and Company || 4-6-4 || Renumbered No. 12 in 1937.
Withdrawn in 1940, dismantled for spare parts.
|
|-
! colspan="7" |Class 5
|-
| No. 16
No. 4
| ''Donegal''
''Meenglas''
| 1907 || Nasmyth, Wilson and Company || [[4-6-2]]|| Renumbered No. 4 and renamed ''Meenglas'' in 1937.
Preserved at the [[Foyle Valley Railway|Foyle Valley Railway Museum]].
| [[File:Outside the Foyle Valley Railway Museum, Londonderry - geograph.org.uk - 335259.jpg|thumb|No. 4 ''Meenglas'' in preservation.|center]]
|-
| No. 17
No. 5
| ''Glenties''
''Drumboe''
| 1907 || Nasmyth, Wilson and Company || 4-6-2 || Renumbered No. 5 and renamed ''Drumboe'' in 1937.
Ran the last scheduled train of the CDRJC on 31 December 1959.
Preserved at the [[Donegal Railway Heritage Centre]].
|[[File:2-6-4 No 17 Glenties.png|center|thumb|No. 17 ''Glenties'' before renumbering and renaming at Stranorlar on 14 May 1937.]]
|-
| No. 18
No. 6
| ''Killybegs''
''Columbkille''
| 1907 || Nasmyth, Wilson and Company || 4-6-2 || Renumbered No. 6 and renamed ''Columbkille'' in 1937.
Preserved at the Foyle Valley Railway Museum.
|[[File:2-6-4 No. 6 Columbkille.jpg|center|thumb|No. 6 ''Columbkille'' in preservation.]]
|-
| No. 19 || ''Letterkenny''|| 1908 || Nasmyth, Wilson and Company || 4-6-2 || Dismantled in 1940 for spare parts. ||
|-
| No. 20
No. 8
| ''[[Raphoe]]''
''Foyle''
| 1908 || Nasmyth, Wilson and Company || 4-6-2 || Renumbered No. 8 and renamed ''Foyle'' in 1937.
Scrapped in 1955.
|
|-
! colspan="7" |Class 5A
|-
|No. 1
|''Alice''
|1912
|Nasmyth, Wilson and Company
|4-6-2
|Sold at a scrap auction in 1960.
|[[File:2-6-4 No 1 Alice.png|center|thumb|No. 1 ''Alice'' at Londonderry Victoria Road on 20 August 1950.]]
|-
|No. 2A
No. 2
|''Blanche''
|1912
|Nasmyth, Wilson and Company
|4-6-2
|Renumbered No. 2 shortly after arrival.
Preserved in the [[Ulster Folk and Transport Museums]] in [[Cultra]].
|[[File:Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra, Railway Gallery 04.jpg|thumb|No. 2 ''Blanche'' in preservation.|center|222x222px]]
|-
|No. 3A
No. 3
|''Lydia''
|1912
|Nasmyth, Wilson and Company
|4-6-2
|Renumbered No. 3 shortly after arrival.
Sold at a scrap auction in 1960.
|[[File:2-6-4 No 3 Lydia.png|center|thumb|No. 3 ''Lydia'' at Stranorlar on 14 May 1937.]]
|-
! colspan="7" |Atkinson-Walker rail tractor
|-
|No. 11
|''Phœnix''
|1928
|Atkinson-Walker
|[[0-4-0]]
|Sold by the [[Clogher Valley Railway]] to the CDRJC in December 1931.
No. 11 ''Phœnix'' was converted from steam power to diesel power and operated as a shunter.


Preserved at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums.
St. Connell's Museum, in [[Glenties]] has an extensive display of items from the railway.<ref>[http://www.glenties.ie/ws_business_details.aspx?Business_ID=539&Region=Glenties&Business_Name=St.+Connells+Cultural+and+Heritage+Museum&Section=Attractions]{{dead link|date=October 2011}}</ref>
|[[File:Cultra a8.jpg|thumb|No. 11 ''Phœnix'' in preservation.|center]]
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Railcars of the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee<ref>{{Cite book |last=Patterson |first=Edward M. |title=The County Donegal Railways |publisher=Pan Books |year=1962 |isbn=0-7153-4376-9 |edition=1972 |pages=155-177, 210-211 |language=en}}</ref>
!Number
!Start of Operation
!Source or Manufacturer
!Power
!Notes
!Image
|-
|No. 1
|1906
|[[Alldays & Onions|Allday & Onions]]
|Petrol
|Preserved in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums in Cultra.
|[[File:Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra, County Donega Railways Joint Committee Railcar No 1 (03).jpg|center|thumb|Railcar No. 1 in preservation.]]
|-
|No. 2
|1926
|ex-[[Derwent Valley Light Railway]]
|Petrol
|Scrapped in 1934.
|[[File:Railcar No 2.png|center|thumb|Railcar No. 2 at Stranorlar with Henry Forbes (left) and Ross Parks (right).]]
|-
|No. 2
|1934
|ex-[[Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway]]
|Petrol
|Rebuilt as a trailer in 1944.
Sold in 1961 and removed to [[Mountcharles]].
|
|-
|No. 3
|1926
|ex-Derwent Valley Light Railway
|Petrol
|Scrapped in 1934.
|
|-
|No. 3
|1934
|ex-[[Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway]]
|Petrol
|Rebuilt as a trailer in 1944.
Preserved at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums in Cultra.
|[[File:Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra, Red and White Car.jpg|center|thumb|ex-D&BST railcar-turned trailer in preservation.]]
|-
|No. 4
|1928
|O'Doherty
|Petrol
|Lent to the Clogher Valley Railway in 1932.
Scrapped in 1947.
|
|-
|No. 5
|1929
|O'Doherty/Knutsford
|Petrol
|Built as a trailer. Sold in 1960.
|
|-
|No. 6
|1930
|[[Great Northern Railway (Ireland)]] and O'Doherty
|Petrol
|Rebuilt as a trailer in 1945.
Sold in 1958 and removed to Inver.
|[[File:Railcar No 6.png|center|thumb|Railcar No. 6 and Railcar No. 7 at Ballintra.]]
|-
|No. 7
|1930
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and O'Doherty
|Diesel
|First diesel railcar in the [[British Isles]].
Scrapped in 1949.
|[[File:Railcar No 7.png|center|thumb|Railcar No. 7 at Stranorlar.]]
|-
|No. 8
|1931
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and O'Doherty
|Diesel
|Scrapped in 1949.
|
|-
|No. 9
|1933
|County Donegal Railways Joint Committee ex-Great Northern Railway (Ireland) bus
|Petrol
|Scrapped in 1949.
|
|-
|No. 10
|1933
|County Donegal Railways Joint Committee
|Petrol
|Destroyed by a fire in Ballyshannon in 1939.
|
|-
|No. 11
''Phœnix''
|1933
|ex-Clogher Valley Railway and Atkinson-Walker
|Diesel
|Preserved.
|[[File:Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra, County Donega Railways Joint Committee Locomotive No 11, Phoenix (05).jpg|thumb|No. 11 ''Phœnix'' in preservation.|center]]
|-
|No. 12
|1934
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and [[Walker Brothers (Wigan)|Walker Brothers]]
|Diesel
|Preserved at the Foyle Valley Railway.
|[[File:Donegal railcars, Shane's Castle, Antrim (3) - geograph.org.uk - 2337722.jpg|thumb|Railcar No. 12 & No. 18 at the [[Shane's Castle]] railway in Antrim.|center]]
|-
|No. 13
|1934
|ex-Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway
|Diesel
|Rebuilt as a trailer in 1934.
Scrapped in 1944.
|
|-
|No. 14
|1935
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers
|Diesel
|Scrapped in 1961.
|
|-
|No. 15
|1936
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers
|Diesel
|Scrapped in 1961.
|
|-
|No. 16
|1936
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers
|Diesel
|Preserved at the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre.
|
|-
|No. 17
|1938
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers
|Diesel
|Destroyed in collision with No. 10 ''Owenea'' in 1949.
|
|-
|No. 18
|1940
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers
|Diesel
|Damaged by fire in 1949. Preserved on the [[Fintown railway station|Fintown Railway]].
|[[File:CDR County Donegal Railways Railcar 18 (5951408236).jpg|center|thumb|Railcar No. 18 in preservation.]]
|-
|No. 10
|1942
|ex-Clogher Valley Railway and Walker Brothers
|Diesel
|Preserved at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums in Cultra.
|[[File:Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra, County Donega Railways Joint Committee Railcar No 10.jpg|center|thumb|Railcar No. 10 in preservation.]]
|-
|No. 19
|1950
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers
|Diesel
|Sold to and preserved on the [[Isle of Man Railway|Isle Of Man Railway]] in 1961.
|[[File:IMR-Loco-19-20.jpg|center|thumb|Railcar No. 19 & 20 in preservation on the IOMR.]]
|-
|No. 20
|1951
|Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers
|Diesel
|Sold to and preserved on the Isle Of Man Railway in 1961.
|[[File:Diesel railcars at Port Erin - geograph.org.uk - 1522407.jpg|center|thumb|220x220px]]
|}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of narrow gauge railways in Ireland]]
* [[List of narrow-gauge railways in Ireland]]
* [[Steam locomotives of Ireland#County Donegal Railway|County Donegal Railway locomotives]]
* [[Steam locomotives of Ireland#West Donegal Railway|County Donegal Railway locomotives]]
{{commons category|County Donegal Railways Joint Committee}}
{{commons category|County Donegal Railways Joint Committee}}


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==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*{{cite book |title=Architectural Heritage of the Narrow Gauge Railways of County Donegal |publisher=County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd. |year=2003}}
*{{cite book |title=Architectural Heritage of the Narrow Gauge Railways of County Donegal |publisher=County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd. |year=2003}}
*{{cite journal |date=1992–2005 |journal=The Phoenix |publisher=County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd. |volume=1-23}}
*{{cite journal |date=1992–2005 |title=North West of Ireland Railway Preservation Society|journal=The Phoenix |publisher=County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd. |volume=1–23}}
*{{cite book |last=Begley |first=Joe |title=The County Donegal Railway A Visitors Guide |isbn=1-874518-04-1}}
*{{cite book |last=Begley |first=Joe |title=The County Donegal Railway A Visitors Guide |isbn=1-874518-04-1|year=1995 }}
*{{cite book |last=Bell |first=Dave |title=County Donegal Railway Restoration Society 10 years |year=2001}}
*{{cite book |last=Bell |first=Dave |title=County Donegal Railway Restoration Society 10 years |year=2001}}
*{{cite book |last=Flanders |first=Steve |title=The County Donegal Railway An Irish Railway Pictorial |year=1996 |isbn=1-85780-054-0}}
*{{cite book |last=Flanders |first=Steve |title=The County Donegal Railway An Irish Railway Pictorial |year=1996 |isbn=1-85780-054-0}}
Line 49: Line 404:
*{{cite book |last=Patterson |first=Edward M. |title=The County Donegal Railways |year=1969 |isbn=0-7153-4376-9}}
*{{cite book |last=Patterson |first=Edward M. |title=The County Donegal Railways |year=1969 |isbn=0-7153-4376-9}}
*{{cite book |title=Donegal's Railway Heritage |publisher=South Donegal Railway Restoration Society |year=1994 |volume=1 (South Donegal) |isbn=1-874518-01-7}}
*{{cite book |title=Donegal's Railway Heritage |publisher=South Donegal Railway Restoration Society |year=1994 |volume=1 (South Donegal) |isbn=1-874518-01-7}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}


[[Category:3 ft gauge railways in Ireland]]
[[Category:Defunct railway companies of Ireland]]
[[Category:Defunct railway companies of Ireland]]
[[Category:Closed railways in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Closed railways in Northern Ireland]]
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[[Category:Transport in County Tyrone]]
[[Category:Transport in County Tyrone]]
[[Category:British joint railway companies]]
[[Category:British joint railway companies]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:1960 disestablishments in Ireland]]

Latest revision as of 20:08, 3 May 2024

County Donegal Railways Joint Committee
Crest of the County Donegal Railway Joint Committee
A map of the network of the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee.
Overview
HeadquartersStranorlar
Key peopleHenry Forbes, Bernard L. Curran
Dates of operation1 May 1906–10 July 1971
PredecessorDonegal Railway Company
SuccessorCIÉ
Technical
Track gauge3 ft (914 mm)
Length124.5 miles (200.4 km)
Route map

Legend
L&BER
to Burtonport
Letterkenny (CDR)
Letterkenny (LLSR)
L&LSR
to Londonderry Graving Dock
Glenmaquin
Londonderry Victoria Road
Cornagillagh Halt
New Buildings
Convoy
Desertone Halt
Raphoe
Cullion
Coolaghy Halt
Donemana
Ballindrait
Ballyheather Halt
Lifford Halt
Ballymagorry
Porthall
Strabane (CDR)
Strabane (GNRI)
Sion Mills
County Londonderry
County Donegal
Clady
Castlefinn
Liscooly
Killygordon
Cavan Halt
Town Bridge Halt
Stranorlar
Ballybofey
Glenmore
Cloghan
Elaghtagh Halt
Glassagh Halt
Meenglas Halt
Ballinamore
Derg Bridge Halt
Fintown
Barnesmore Halt
Lough Eske
Shallogan's Halt
Clarbridge Halt
Glenties
Donegal
Killymard Halt
Hospital Halt
Mountcharles
Drumbar Halt
Doorin Road
Laghey
Mullanboy Halt
Bridgetown
Inver
Ballintra
Port
Dromore Halt
Dunkineely
Dorrian's Bridge Halt
Spamount Halt
Rossnowlagh
Bruckless
Friary Halt
Ardara Road
Coolmore Halt
Killybegs
Creevy Halt
Ballyshannon (CDR)

The County Donegal Railways Joint Committee operated an extensive 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railway system serving County Donegal, Ireland, from 1906 until 1960. The committee was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1906, which authorised the joint purchase of the then Donegal Railway Company by the Great Northern Railway of Ireland and the Midland Railway Northern Counties Committee.

History of the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee[edit]

On 1 May 1906, the Joint Committee was set up. The lines inherited by the Joint Committee totalled 106 miles (171 km) and were:

By 1912 the company owned the following assets:[1]

  • Locomotives and rolling stock: 21 locomotives; 56 passenger vehicles; 304 goods vehicles
  • Head offices and locomotive works at Stranorlar

The Strabane to Derry line was completely owned by the Midland Railway Northern Counties Committee, although it was operated by the CDRJC.[2]

At its greatest extent, the County Donegal Railways Committee operated the largest narrow gauge railway system in the British Isles. The railway was affectionately known as the "Wee Donegal".[3]

The Joint Committee opened the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway on 1 January 1909, bringing the total mileage operated by the company to 124.5 miles (200.4 km). Only 91 miles (146 km) were directly owned by the Joint Committee, as the Strabane and Letterkenny Railway accounted for 19.25 miles (30.98 km), and 14.5 miles (23.3 km) were property of the Northern Counties Committee.[4]

Dieselisation[edit]

Under the management of Henry Forbes, traffic superintendent from 1910 to 1943, the County Donegal Railways became pioneers in the use of diesel traction.[5] The first diesel railcar was built in 1930 (the first diesel railcar anywhere in the British Isles), although a petrol-engined railcar had been built in 1926 before standardisation on diesel traction in 1934. Eight articulated diesel railcars were constructed by Walker Brothers of Wigan between 1934 and 1951, by which time virtually all passenger services were operated by diesel railcar, being much cheaper to operate than conventional steam trains.

The railcars could only be driven from one end and had to be turned on a turntable to make a return journey. As well, they could not be worked in multiple, so if two railcars were working back to back, both required a driver. The railcars were incapable of hauling most freight wagons, so steam traction continued to be used on freight and excursion trains. The railcars could haul specially constructed trailers, and some lightweight freight wagons, which were painted red to distinguish them from the heavier wagons, which were grey. A diesel locomotive named Phoenix (converted from a steam locomotive) was also used, but due to its noisy operation and slow speed (top speed of 27 mph or 43 km/h), it spent most of its career shunting, travelling 204,577 miles (329,235 km) during its working life.[6]

Closure[edit]

The Glenties branch closed in 1947, the Strabane-Derry line closed in 1954, and the remaining passenger services ended on 31 December 1959. Much of the railway was closed on that date. Goods trains ran between Strabane and Stranorlar until 6 February 1960.

During the 1930s the Joint Committee began operating a fleet of buses. After the closure of the railway, it continued to operate as a road freight and bus company until 10 July 1971 when it was taken over by CIÉ.[7]

In 1961, the two most modern diesel railcars were sold to the Isle of Man Railway.

Future[edit]

The reopening of the Western Rail Corridor and other bordering railway lines should bring back services.

Tourist attraction[edit]

Donegal Railway Heritage Centre in the former station building

Part of the line, which runs alongside Lough Finn near Fintown, has been re-laid as a tourist railway.[8]

The Donegal Railway Heritage Centre has been established and contains historic details and artefacts of the CDRJC.[9]

St. Connell's Museum, in Glenties has an extensive display of items from the railway.[10]

The Foyle Valley Railway in Derry houses numerous CDRJC artefacts. It used to operate a small heritage railway along the Foyle on the original route of the Derry-Portadown railway line, which has since fallen into disrepair during the museum's period of closure.

In preservation[edit]

  • Carriages: 1 (UFTM), 3 (UFTM), 5 (DRC) 14 (FVR), 28 (DRC), 30 (FVR)
  • Goods wagons: 12 (DRC), 19 (FVR), 136 (UFTM), Unidentified horsebox (BHR), Unidentified Van (DRC)

UFTM = Ulster Folk & Transport Museum; FVR = Foyle Valley Railway; BHR = Belturbet Heritage Railway; FTR = Fintown Railway; DRC = Donegal Railway Centre; IOMR = Isle of Man Railway; C&L = Cavan and Leitrim Railway

Rolling stock[edit]

Locomotives of the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee[6][11]
Number Name Built Manufacturer Configuration Notes Image
Class 1
No. 1 Alice 1881 Sharp, Stewart and Company 2-4-0 Loaned to Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway from 1918-1921. Scrapped 1926.
No. 2 Blanche 1881 Sharp, Stewart and Company 2-4-0 Withdrawn in 1905.

Scrapped in 1909.

Builder's photo of No. 2 Blanche.
No. 3 Lydia 1881 Sharp, Stewart and Company 2-4-0 Withdrawn in 1905.

Scrapped in 1910.

Class 2
No. 4 Meenglas 1893 Neilson and Company 4-6-0 Scrapped in 1935.
Builder's photo of No. 4 Meenglas.
No. 5 Drumboe 1893 Neilson and Company 4-6-0 Withdrawn in 1927.

Scrapped in 1931.

No. 6 Inver 1893 Neilson and Company 4-6-0 Withdrawn in 1927.

Scrapped in 1931.

No. 7 Finn 1893 Neilson and Company 4-6-0 Withdrawn in 1927.

Scrapped in 1931.

No. 8 Foyle 1893 Neilson and Company 4-6-0 Scrapped in 1937.
No. 8 Foyle between Fintown and Glenties in July 1924.
No. 9 Columbkille 1893 Neilson and Company 4-6-0 Scrapped in 1937.
Class 3
No. 10 Sir James 1902 Neilson and Company 4-4-4 Scrapped in 1935.
Builder's photo of No. 10 Sir James.
No. 11 Hercules 1902 Neilson and Company 4-4-4 Scrapped in 1935.
Class 4
No. 12

No. 9

Eske 1904 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-4 Renumbered No. 9 in 1937.

Scrapped in 1954.

No. 13

No. 10

Owenea 1904 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-4 Renumbered No. 10 in 1937.

Scrapped in 1952 after a collision with railcar No. 17 in 1949.

No. 10 Owenea at Strabane on 14 May 1937.
No. 14

No. 11

Erne 1904 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-4 Renumbered No. 11 in 1937.

Scrapped in 1967.

No. 14 Erne.
No. 15

No. 12

Mourne 1904 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-4 Renumbered No. 12 in 1937.

Withdrawn in 1940, dismantled for spare parts.

Class 5
No. 16

No. 4

Donegal

Meenglas

1907 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-2 Renumbered No. 4 and renamed Meenglas in 1937.

Preserved at the Foyle Valley Railway Museum.

No. 4 Meenglas in preservation.
No. 17

No. 5

Glenties

Drumboe

1907 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-2 Renumbered No. 5 and renamed Drumboe in 1937.

Ran the last scheduled train of the CDRJC on 31 December 1959. Preserved at the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre.

No. 17 Glenties before renumbering and renaming at Stranorlar on 14 May 1937.
No. 18

No. 6

Killybegs

Columbkille

1907 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-2 Renumbered No. 6 and renamed Columbkille in 1937.

Preserved at the Foyle Valley Railway Museum.

No. 6 Columbkille in preservation.
No. 19 Letterkenny 1908 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-2 Dismantled in 1940 for spare parts.
No. 20

No. 8

Raphoe

Foyle

1908 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-2 Renumbered No. 8 and renamed Foyle in 1937.

Scrapped in 1955.

Class 5A
No. 1 Alice 1912 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-2 Sold at a scrap auction in 1960.
No. 1 Alice at Londonderry Victoria Road on 20 August 1950.
No. 2A

No. 2

Blanche 1912 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-2 Renumbered No. 2 shortly after arrival.

Preserved in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums in Cultra.

No. 2 Blanche in preservation.
No. 3A

No. 3

Lydia 1912 Nasmyth, Wilson and Company 4-6-2 Renumbered No. 3 shortly after arrival.

Sold at a scrap auction in 1960.

No. 3 Lydia at Stranorlar on 14 May 1937.
Atkinson-Walker rail tractor
No. 11 Phœnix 1928 Atkinson-Walker 0-4-0 Sold by the Clogher Valley Railway to the CDRJC in December 1931.

No. 11 Phœnix was converted from steam power to diesel power and operated as a shunter.

Preserved at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums.

No. 11 Phœnix in preservation.
Railcars of the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee[12]
Number Start of Operation Source or Manufacturer Power Notes Image
No. 1 1906 Allday & Onions Petrol Preserved in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums in Cultra.
Railcar No. 1 in preservation.
No. 2 1926 ex-Derwent Valley Light Railway Petrol Scrapped in 1934.
Railcar No. 2 at Stranorlar with Henry Forbes (left) and Ross Parks (right).
No. 2 1934 ex-Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway Petrol Rebuilt as a trailer in 1944.

Sold in 1961 and removed to Mountcharles.

No. 3 1926 ex-Derwent Valley Light Railway Petrol Scrapped in 1934.
No. 3 1934 ex-Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway Petrol Rebuilt as a trailer in 1944.

Preserved at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums in Cultra.

ex-D&BST railcar-turned trailer in preservation.
No. 4 1928 O'Doherty Petrol Lent to the Clogher Valley Railway in 1932.

Scrapped in 1947.

No. 5 1929 O'Doherty/Knutsford Petrol Built as a trailer. Sold in 1960.
No. 6 1930 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and O'Doherty Petrol Rebuilt as a trailer in 1945.

Sold in 1958 and removed to Inver.

Railcar No. 6 and Railcar No. 7 at Ballintra.
No. 7 1930 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and O'Doherty Diesel First diesel railcar in the British Isles.

Scrapped in 1949.

Railcar No. 7 at Stranorlar.
No. 8 1931 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and O'Doherty Diesel Scrapped in 1949.
No. 9 1933 County Donegal Railways Joint Committee ex-Great Northern Railway (Ireland) bus Petrol Scrapped in 1949.
No. 10 1933 County Donegal Railways Joint Committee Petrol Destroyed by a fire in Ballyshannon in 1939.
No. 11

Phœnix

1933 ex-Clogher Valley Railway and Atkinson-Walker Diesel Preserved.
No. 11 Phœnix in preservation.
No. 12 1934 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers Diesel Preserved at the Foyle Valley Railway.
Railcar No. 12 & No. 18 at the Shane's Castle railway in Antrim.
No. 13 1934 ex-Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway Diesel Rebuilt as a trailer in 1934.

Scrapped in 1944.

No. 14 1935 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers Diesel Scrapped in 1961.
No. 15 1936 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers Diesel Scrapped in 1961.
No. 16 1936 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers Diesel Preserved at the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre.
No. 17 1938 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers Diesel Destroyed in collision with No. 10 Owenea in 1949.
No. 18 1940 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers Diesel Damaged by fire in 1949. Preserved on the Fintown Railway.
Railcar No. 18 in preservation.
No. 10 1942 ex-Clogher Valley Railway and Walker Brothers Diesel Preserved at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museums in Cultra.
Railcar No. 10 in preservation.
No. 19 1950 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers Diesel Sold to and preserved on the Isle Of Man Railway in 1961.
Railcar No. 19 & 20 in preservation on the IOMR.
No. 20 1951 Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and Walker Brothers Diesel Sold to and preserved on the Isle Of Man Railway in 1961.

See also[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to County Donegal Railways Joint Committee.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Railway Year Book 1912 Railway Publishing Company
  2. ^ The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland. William Alan McCutcheon, Northern Ireland. Dept. of the Environment, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1984
  3. ^ Robert Robotham; et al. (1999). The Last Years of 'The Wee Donegal': The County Donegal Railways in Colour 1950–59. Colourpoint Books. ISBN 978-1898392422.
  4. ^ Patterson, Edward M. (1962). The County Donegal Railways (1972 ed.). Pan Books. p. 58. ISBN 0-7153-4376-9.
  5. ^ Britain Between the Wars: 1918–1940. Charles Loch Mowat, Taylor & Francis, 1968
  6. ^ a b Patterson, Edward M. (1962). The County Donegal Railways (1972 ed.). Great Britain: Pan Books. pp. 143–154, 206–209.
  7. ^ https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1971/act/14/enacted/en/html Transport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1971
  8. ^ "Fintown Railway – An Mhuc Dhubh". Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  9. ^ "Donegal Railway Heritage Centre". Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  10. ^ [1] Archived 19 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Crombleholme, Roger (2005). The County Donegal Railways Companion. England: Midland. pp. 15–26. ISBN 1-85780-205-5.
  12. ^ Patterson, Edward M. (1962). The County Donegal Railways (1972 ed.). Pan Books. pp. 155–177, 210–211. ISBN 0-7153-4376-9.

Further reading[edit]

  • Architectural Heritage of the Narrow Gauge Railways of County Donegal. County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd. 2003.
  • "North West of Ireland Railway Preservation Society". The Phoenix. 1–23. County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd. 1992–2005.
  • Begley, Joe (1995). The County Donegal Railway A Visitors Guide. ISBN 1-874518-04-1.
  • Bell, Dave (2001). County Donegal Railway Restoration Society 10 years.
  • Flanders, Steve (1996). The County Donegal Railway An Irish Railway Pictorial. ISBN 1-85780-054-0.
  • Crombleholme, Roger (2005). The County Donegal Railways Companion. ISBN 1-85780-205-5.
  • Patterson, Edward M. (1969). The County Donegal Railways. ISBN 0-7153-4376-9.
  • Donegal's Railway Heritage. Vol. 1 (South Donegal). South Donegal Railway Restoration Society. 1994. ISBN 1-874518-01-7.
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