Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway
Encyclopedia
The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company (The L&LSR, the Swilly) is an Irish
public transport
and freight company incorporated in June 1853. Despite its name it operates no railway services. It formerly operated 99 miles of railways but closed its last line in July 1953. Its successor company, the Lough Swilly Bus Company, still operates bus services over much of its former railway routes between Derry
and northern County Donegal
, as well as some services in County Londonderry
.
Railway Company when an application for incorporation was filed in 1852 after spurning the construction of a canal
network to connect the two inlets, the company opened its first line, a 5 in 3 in (1,600.2 mm) gauge
link between Derry
and Farland Point on 31 December 1863. A branch line between Tooban Junction and Buncrana was added in 1864 and much of the Farland Point line was closed in 1866.
In 1883 the three foot (914 mm) gauge Letterkenny Railway between Cuttymanhill and Letterkenny
was opened and the L&LSR connected with it by reopening the Tooban Junction - Cuttymanhill section of its Farland Point line. The L&LSR worked the Letterkenny Railway and in 1885 it converted its track from 5' 3" gauge to three foot gauge to enable through running. In 1887 ownership of the Letterkenny Railway passed to the Irish Board of Works, which continued the agreement by which the L&LSR operated the line.
Carndonagh
was reached by an extension completed in 1901 and Burtonport
by an one completed in 1903. Both lines were constructed as joint ventures with the UK Government
, with ownership and liabilities shared between the two parties. During this period the company did not make a profit, and struggled to meet its debts.
Routes eventually included:
Foyle Road Station, Middle Quay and Graving Dock Stations to Pennyburn level crossing, all in Derry where the depot was. Then east into Inishowen
to Galliagh Road, Harrity's Road (approximate site of border between NI and the Republic), Bridge End, Burnfoot and Tooban
Junction. At Tooban Junction (as the name implies) the railway branched, north into Inishowen and south into County Donegal proper. Northwards it ran through Inch Road, Fahan
, Buncrana, Ballymagan, Kinnego, Drumfries, Meendoran, Clonmany
, Ballyliffin
, Rashenny, Carndoagh Halt, and Carndonagh
. Southwards it ran through Carrowen (near Farland Point), Newtowncunningham
, Sallybrook
, Manorcunningham
, Pluck, Letterkenny
, Oldtown
, New Mills
, Fox Hall, Churchill
, Kilmacrenan
, Barnes Halt, Creeslough
, Dunfanaghy
Road, Falcarragh
, Cashelnagore, Gweedore
, Crolly
, Kincasslagh
Road, Dungloe
and terminating in Burtonport
.
. Winds of up to 120mph 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.
assets throughout Donegal. Further expansion followed rapidly. It entered profitability in the early 1930s as a result of these ventures. Acquisition of freight operations followed, and this led to a reduction of rail services and eventual closure of lines. The Carndonagh branch was closed in about 1935 and the Burtonport line closing entirely in 1940, with a section temporarily re-opening in 1941 to Gweedore
, closing finally in 1947. The Buncrana section of the line lost its passenger service in 1948, with its freight service, and the remaining Letterkenny services all closing on 8 August 1953.
Following the cessation of all rail services, the company provided only road transport. Second hand vehicles were bought from a number of operators including Ulsterbus
, and vehicles were obtained on loan from CIE
. However, it failed to be profitable throughout the 1970s, and was purchased from bankruptcy by Patrick Doherty, a Buncrana businessman, in 1981.
The company exists to this day, operating passenger bus services, freight services, and holiday tour services; as well as providing the school bus services for many schools in Donegal. However, problems still exist for the company, with an attempt to withdraw bus services from Donegal in June 2003 met with resistance, and it is believed that the services are now being subsidised by the Irish Government
, as they are seen as crucial to the often elderly and rural population they serve in Donegal. The Swilly's Northern Irish domestic services are generally subsidised by the Rural Transport Fund.
The company has offices in Derry City at the Foyle Street Bus Depot. They also have offices in the Letterkenny Bus Depot. The company also has a large garage area in Derry and Letterkenny, where their fleet of buses is kept. The majority of their bus fleet, with the exception of those used for holiday touring, is more than 10 years old; mainly considering of 1994 registered Dennis Dart
vehicles. Their registered offices are in Letterkenny.
to Derry
on 8 August 1953. It included 14 wagons of cattle and arrived n 50 minutes late. Bob Turner was the driver with Paddy Clifford as fireman. The Derry Journal reported at the time "... the guard, Mr. Daniel McFeeley, or anyone else, did not call out 'Next Stop Derry'. Everyone knew that the next stop would be the last stop - the last ever."
short documentary series Small Railway Journeys was based on the L&LSR giving many first hand accounts of the railway, including the viaduct accident. It detailed alleged cross border contraband smuggling and some irregular payment methods using local produce. The railway apparently had a reputation of treating freight with greater priority than passengers, evidenced by the distance of some stations from their served populations, and the delays caused due to the shunting of goods trucks attached to the passenger trains. It detailed the difficulties of running a railway in such an impoverished and inaccessible part of the country, with the frequent use of peat
to fuel the trains, and the practice of handing down valued jobs on the railway from father to son.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
and freight company incorporated in June 1853. Despite its name it operates no railway services. It formerly operated 99 miles of railways but closed its last line in July 1953. Its successor company, the Lough Swilly Bus Company, still operates bus services over much of its former railway routes between Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
and northern County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, as well as some services in County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
.
History
Initially planned as the Londonderry and Lough SwillyLough Swilly
Lough Swilly in Ireland is a glacial fjord or sea inlet lying between the western side of the Inishowen Peninsula and the Fanad Peninsula, in County Donegal. Along with Carlingford Lough and Killary Harbour it is one of three known glacial fjords in Ireland....
Railway Company when an application for incorporation was filed in 1852 after spurning the construction of a canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
network to connect the two inlets, the company opened its first line, a 5 in 3 in (1,600.2 mm) gauge
Irish gauge
Irish gauge railways use a track gauge of . It is used in* Ireland * Australia where it is also known as Victorian Broad Gauge* Brazil where it is also known as Bitola larga no Brasil....
link between Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
and Farland Point on 31 December 1863. A branch line between Tooban Junction and Buncrana was added in 1864 and much of the Farland Point line was closed in 1866.
In 1883 the three foot (914 mm) gauge Letterkenny Railway between Cuttymanhill and Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
was opened and the L&LSR connected with it by reopening the Tooban Junction - Cuttymanhill section of its Farland Point line. The L&LSR worked the Letterkenny Railway and in 1885 it converted its track from 5' 3" gauge to three foot gauge to enable through running. In 1887 ownership of the Letterkenny Railway passed to the Irish Board of Works, which continued the agreement by which the L&LSR operated the line.
Carndonagh
Carndonagh
Carndonagh is a town on the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland and is home to the Irish Space Exploration Mission. The town is located near Malin Head, the most northerly point of Ireland and lies close to the shores of Trawbeaga Bay...
was reached by an extension completed in 1901 and Burtonport
Burtonport
Ailt an Chorráin or Ailt a' Chorráin is a Gaeltacht fishing village about 7 km northwest of Dungloe in County Donegal, Ireland....
by an one completed in 1903. Both lines were constructed as joint ventures with the UK Government
Government of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Government is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining Ministers...
, with ownership and liabilities shared between the two parties. During this period the company did not make a profit, and struggled to meet its debts.
Locomotives
| Number | Name | Built | Manufacturer | Configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L&LSR No. 1 | J T Macky | 1882 | Black, Hawthorn & Co | 0-6-2T | scrapped 1911 |
| L&LSR No. 2 | Londonderry | 1883 | Black, Hawthorn & Co | 0-6-2T | scrapped 1912 |
| L&LSR No. 3 | Donegal | 1883 | Black, Hawthorn & Co | 0-6-2T | scrapped 1913 |
| L&LSR No. 4 | Innishowen | 1885 | Black, Hawthorn & Co | 0-6-2T | scrapped 1940 |
| L&LSR No. 5(A) | 1873 | Robert Stephenson & Co Robert Stephenson and Company Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :... |
2-4-0T | former Glenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company Glenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company The Glenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company was a railway and harbour company in Glenariff, County Antrim, in what is now Northern Ireland. It operated Red Bay Pier on the Antrim coast and about of narrow gauge railway between the pier and Cloughcor Mines in Glenariff... locomotive bought 1884; scrapped 1899 |
|
| L&LSR No. 6(A) | 1873 | Robert Stephenson & Co Robert Stephenson and Company Robert Stephenson and Company was a locomotive manufacturing company founded in 1823. It was the first company set up specifically to build railway engines.- Foundation and early success :... |
2-4-0T | former Glenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company locomotive bought 1884; scrapped 1904 | |
| L&LSR No. 5 | 1899 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
4-6-2T | scrapped 1954 | |
| L&LSR No. 6 | 1899 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
4-6-2T | scrapped 1954 | |
| L&LSR No. 7 | Edward VII | 1901 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
4-6-2T | scrapped 1940 |
| L&LSR No. 8 | 1901 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
4-6-2T | scrapped 1954 | |
| L&BER No. 1 | 1902 | Andrew Barclay & Sons Co. | 4-6-0T | scrapped 1954 | |
| L&BER No. 2 | 1902 | Andrew Barclay & Sons Co. | 4-6-0T | scrapped 1940 | |
| L&BER No. 3 | 1902 | Andrew Barclay & Sons Co. | 4-6-0T | scrapped 1954 | |
| L&BER No. 4 | 1902 | Andrew Barclay & Sons Co. | 4-6-0T | scrapped 1953 | |
| L&LSR No. 9 | Aberfoyle | 1904 | Kerr Stuart Kerr Stuart Kerr, Stuart and Company Ltd was a locomotive manufacturer from Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:It was founded in 1881 by James Kerr as James Kerr & Company, and became Kerr, Stuart & Company from 1883 when John Stuart was taken on as a partner... |
4-6-2T | scrapped 1928 |
| L&LSR No. 10 | Richmond | 1904 | Kerr Stuart Kerr Stuart Kerr, Stuart and Company Ltd was a locomotive manufacturer from Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:It was founded in 1881 by James Kerr as James Kerr & Company, and became Kerr, Stuart & Company from 1883 when John Stuart was taken on as a partner... |
4-6-2T | scrapped 1954 |
| L&LSR No. 11 | 1905 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
4-8-0 | scrapped 1933 | |
| L&LSR No. 12 | 1905 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
4-8-0 | scrapped 1954 | |
| L&LSR No. 13 | 1910 | Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Hawthorn Leslie and Company R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Limited, usually referred to as Hawthorn Leslie, was a shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturer. The Company was founded on Tyneside in 1886 and ceased building ships in 1982.-History:... |
4-6-2T | scrapped 1940 | |
| L&LSR No. 14 | 1910 | Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Hawthorn Leslie and Company R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Limited, usually referred to as Hawthorn Leslie, was a shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturer. The Company was founded on Tyneside in 1886 and ceased building ships in 1982.-History:... |
4-6-2T | scrapped 1943 | |
| L&BER No. 5 | 1912 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
4-8-4T | scrapped 1954 | |
| L&BER No. 6 | 1912 | Hudswell Clarke Hudswell Clarke Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:... |
4-8-4T | scrapped 1954 | |
Routes
Foyle Road Station, Middle Quay and Graving Dock Stations to Pennyburn level crossing, all in Derry where the depot was. Then east into Inishowen
Inishowen
Inishowen is a peninsula in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. It is also the largest peninsula in all of Ireland. Inishowen is a picturesque location with a rich history...
to Galliagh Road, Harrity's Road (approximate site of border between NI and the Republic), Bridge End, Burnfoot and Tooban
Tooban
Tooban is a location in County Donegal in the north of Ireland....
Junction. At Tooban Junction (as the name implies) the railway branched, north into Inishowen and south into County Donegal proper. Northwards it ran through Inch Road, Fahan
Fahan
Fahan is a district of Inishowen, in County Donegal, located five kilometres south of Buncrana. In Irish, Fahan is named after its patron saint, St...
, Buncrana, Ballymagan, Kinnego, Drumfries, Meendoran, Clonmany
Clonmany
Clonmany is a village in north-west Inishowen, in County Donegal, Ireland. The area has many local beauty spots, and the Ballyliffin area is famous for its golf course. The Urris area to the west of Clonmany village was the last bastion of the Irish language in Inishowen...
, Ballyliffin
Ballyliffin
Ballyliffin is a small village located in the North Western tip of Inishowen, County Donegal, Ireland.The surrounding landscapes are picturesque, with the village being surrounded by Pollan Strand, Binion hill and Crockaughrim hill.-History:...
, Rashenny, Carndoagh Halt, and Carndonagh
Carndonagh
Carndonagh is a town on the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland and is home to the Irish Space Exploration Mission. The town is located near Malin Head, the most northerly point of Ireland and lies close to the shores of Trawbeaga Bay...
. Southwards it ran through Carrowen (near Farland Point), Newtowncunningham
Newtowncunningham
Newtown Cunningham , sometimes spelled Newtowncunningham or abbreviated to Newton , is a village in The Laggan district in the east of County Donegal, Ireland. Located on the N13 road 18 km east of Letterkenny and 16 km west of Derry, it is ideally located as a commuter village for both...
, Sallybrook
Sallybrook
Sallybrook is a small village on the outskirts of Cork City, Ireland. It is in the townland of Knocknahorgan on the River Glashaboy . The main village has twenty houses which date back over 150 years, and were originally part of the Smith Barry Estate situated on Fota Island near Cobh, in Cork...
, Manorcunningham
Manorcunningham
Manorcunningham, or Manor is a small village and townland in County Donegal, Ireland. It is located 7 kilometers from Letterkenny on the main road to Derry...
, Pluck, Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
, Oldtown
Oldtown, Letterkenny
Oldtown is a district located in the parish of Conwal and Leck in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. As its name suggests, it is the oldest part of the town and became the starting point of the town's development...
, New Mills
New Mills
New Mills is a town in Derbyshire, England approximately south-east of Stockport and from Manchester. It is sited at the confluence of the rivers Goyt and Sett, on the border of Cheshire. The town stands above the Torrs, a deep gorge, cut through Woodhead Hill Sandstone of the Carboniferous period...
, Fox Hall, Churchill
Churchill, County Donegal
Church Hill, historically known as Minalaban , is a small village located 8 miles from County Donegal's largest town of Letterkenny, Ireland. The village's name is derived from its location on a small hilltop....
, Kilmacrenan
Kilmacrenan
Kilmacrenan is a small village located in County Donegal on the north west coast of Ireland. The village had a population of 430 in the 2002 census, however the village's population has increased rapidily over the last decade as a result of people leaving Letterkenny and living in the countryside...
, Barnes Halt, Creeslough
Creeslough
Creeslough is a village in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. It lies 12 km south of Dunfanaghy on the N56 road, 54 m above sea level and overlooking an arm of Sheephaven Bay...
, Dunfanaghy
Dunfanaghy
Dunfanaghy is a small village, formerly a fishing port and commercial centre, in County Donegal, Ireland....
Road, Falcarragh
Falcarragh
An Fál Carrach , sometimes called Na Crois Bhealaí is a small Gaeltacht town and townland in northwest County Donegal, Ireland. The settlement is in the old parish of Cloughaneely.-Etymology:...
, Cashelnagore, Gweedore
Gweedore
Gweedore is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 16 miles from Meenaclady in the north to Crolly in the south and around 9 miles from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher in the west, and...
, Crolly
Crolly
Croithlí or Croichshlí is a village in the Gaeltacht parishes of Gweedore and the Rosses . The two parishes are separated by the picturesque Crolly River...
, Kincasslagh
Kincasslagh
Cionn Caslach or Ceann Caslach is a small Gaeltacht seaside village in the Rosses area of County Donegal, Ireland...
Road, Dungloe
Dungloe
Dungloe is a Gaeltacht town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in the Rosses and the largest in the Donegal Gaeltacht...
and terminating in Burtonport
Burtonport
Ailt an Chorráin or Ailt a' Chorráin is a Gaeltacht fishing village about 7 km northwest of Dungloe in County Donegal, Ireland....
.
Owencarrow Viaduct disaster
Disaster occurred on the night of 30 January 1925 at around 8pm at the Owencarrow Viaduct, DonegalDonegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
. Winds of up to 120mph 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
Arranmore
Árainn Mhór is the largest inhabited island of County Donegal, and the second largest in all of Ireland, with a population of 528 in 2006, down from 543 in 2002, and over 600 in 1996. The island is part of the Donegal Gaeltacht...
Island, Una Mulligan from Falcarragh
Falcarragh
An Fál Carrach , sometimes called Na Crois Bhealaí is a small Gaeltacht town and townland in northwest County Donegal, Ireland. The settlement is in the old parish of Cloughaneely.-Etymology:...
and Neil Duggan from Meenbunowen, Creeslough
Creeslough
Creeslough is a village in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. It lies 12 km south of Dunfanaghy on the N56 road, 54 m above sea level and overlooking an arm of Sheephaven Bay...
. 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.
Transfer to road operations
From 1929 the company began to acquire busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
assets throughout Donegal. Further expansion followed rapidly. It entered profitability in the early 1930s as a result of these ventures. Acquisition of freight operations followed, and this led to a reduction of rail services and eventual closure of lines. The Carndonagh branch was closed in about 1935 and the Burtonport line closing entirely in 1940, with a section temporarily re-opening in 1941 to Gweedore
Gweedore
Gweedore is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 16 miles from Meenaclady in the north to Crolly in the south and around 9 miles from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher in the west, and...
, closing finally in 1947. The Buncrana section of the line lost its passenger service in 1948, with its freight service, and the remaining Letterkenny services all closing on 8 August 1953.
Following the cessation of all rail services, the company provided only road transport. Second hand vehicles were bought from a number of operators including Ulsterbus
Ulsterbus
Ulsterbus is a public transport operator in Northern Ireland and operates bus services outside Belfast. It is part of Translink , which also includes Northern Ireland Railways, Metro Belfast and Flexibus.-Services:Ulsterbus is responsible for most of the province-wide bus...
, and vehicles were obtained on loan from CIE
Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann , or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Irish state, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport in the Republic of Ireland and, jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, between the...
. However, it failed to be profitable throughout the 1970s, and was purchased from bankruptcy by Patrick Doherty, a Buncrana businessman, in 1981.
The company exists to this day, operating passenger bus services, freight services, and holiday tour services; as well as providing the school bus services for many schools in Donegal. However, problems still exist for the company, with an attempt to withdraw bus services from Donegal in June 2003 met with resistance, and it is believed that the services are now being subsidised by the Irish Government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
, as they are seen as crucial to the often elderly and rural population they serve in Donegal. The Swilly's Northern Irish domestic services are generally subsidised by the Rural Transport Fund.
The company has offices in Derry City at the Foyle Street Bus Depot. They also have offices in the Letterkenny Bus Depot. The company also has a large garage area in Derry and Letterkenny, where their fleet of buses is kept. The majority of their bus fleet, with the exception of those used for holiday touring, is more than 10 years old; mainly considering of 1994 registered Dennis Dart
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
vehicles. Their registered offices are in Letterkenny.
The end of rail operations
The last train to run on the line was the 2.15 pm from LetterkennyLetterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
on 8 August 1953. It included 14 wagons of cattle and arrived n 50 minutes late. Bob Turner was the driver with Paddy Clifford as fireman. The Derry Journal reported at the time "... the guard, Mr. Daniel McFeeley, or anyone else, did not call out 'Next Stop Derry'. Everyone knew that the next stop would be the last stop - the last ever."
In the media
An episode of the Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
short documentary series Small Railway Journeys was based on the L&LSR giving many first hand accounts of the railway, including the viaduct accident. It detailed alleged cross border contraband smuggling and some irregular payment methods using local produce. The railway apparently had a reputation of treating freight with greater priority than passengers, evidenced by the distance of some stations from their served populations, and the delays caused due to the shunting of goods trucks attached to the passenger trains. It detailed the difficulties of running a railway in such an impoverished and inaccessible part of the country, with the frequent use of peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
to fuel the trains, and the practice of handing down valued jobs on the railway from father to son.
See also
- Worsley WorksWorsley WorksWorsley Works, is a manufacturer of kits for model railway carriages and locomotives, owned and run from Worsley, UK, by Allen Doherty.Worsley Works is well-known in the finescale modelling world, especially in less-popular scales, including British HO scale and 3mm-scale models along with...
produce model kits of Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway railway vehicles - Lists of rail accidents
- List of wind-related railway accidents
- List of narrow gauge railways in Ireland
- Irish railway accidentsIrish railway accidentsThis sortable table is intended to list railway accidents in the Republic of Ireland, and before its formation accidents in the provinces of Leinster, Munster and Connacht, plus the counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan. It is currently limited to accidents where at least one train occupant was...
- TermonTermonTermon is a village in the north of Donegal, in the north of Ireland.It is situated eight miles from Letterkenny, Donegal's main town and seven from Creeslough...
- CreesloughCreesloughCreeslough is a village in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. It lies 12 km south of Dunfanaghy on the N56 road, 54 m above sea level and overlooking an arm of Sheephaven Bay...
Other narrow gauge railways in Ulster
- Ballycastle RailwayBallycastle RailwayBallycastle Railway was a narrow gauge railway line which ran from Ballycastle to Ballymoney, both in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.-History:...
- Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay RailwayBallymena, Cushendall and Red Bay RailwayThe Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway was a narrow gauge railway between Ballymena and Retreat, both in County Antrim, in what is now Northern Ireland. It operated from 1875 to 1940.-History:...
- Ballymena and Larne RailwayBallymena and Larne RailwayThe Ballymena and Larne Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The first part opened in July 1877 and regular passenger services began in August 1878, the first on the three foot Irish narrow gauge...
- Castlederg and Victoria Bridge TramwayCastlederg and Victoria Bridge TramwayThe Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway was a narrow gauge railway , operating in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland...
- Cavan and Leitrim RailwayCavan and Leitrim RailwayThe Cavan & Leitrim Railway was a narrow-gauge railway in the counties of Leitrim and Cavan in the north-west of Ireland, which ran from 1887 until 1959.Unusually for Ireland, this 914mm -gauge line survived on coal traffic, from the mine at Arigna...
- Clogher Valley RailwayClogher Valley RailwayThe Clogher Valley Railway was a 37 mile long narrow gauge railway in County Tyrone and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It opened in May 1887 and closed on 1 January 1942 .-Route:...
- County Donegal Railways Joint CommitteeCounty Donegal Railways Joint CommitteeThe County Donegal Railways Joint Committee operated an extensive 3 foot gauge railway system serving county Donegal, Ireland,from 1906 until 1960...
External links
- Official Website
- County Donegal Railway Restoration Ltd L&LSR page
- September 2009 timetables, scanned (Irish Transport Trust)
- September 2007 timetables, scanned (Irish Transport Trust)
- September 2006 timetables, scanned (Paul Savage/Irish Transport Trust)
- 2005 timetables, scanned
- Route map
- February 2010 bus & coach fleet list (Irish Transport Trust)
- All-time bus & coach fleet list (The Classic Irish Buses website)
- That Old Sinner – Letterkenny and Burtonport Railwayby Frank Sweeney Ulster Herald
