Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway
Encyclopedia
The Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway (PD&O) was an Irish gauge
railway in County Armagh
and County Tyrone
, Ulster
, Ireland (now Northern Ireland
).
in 1855 and reached Dungannon
in 1858. This first section of line opened with temporary termini at both Portadown and Dungannon. At Dungannon the delay was in order to build a half-mile tunnel because Viscount Northland
objected to smoky locomotives traversing his land. In due course the PD&O succeeded in gaining access to the Ulster Railway
's Portadown station
and in 1861 opened for traffic not only Dungannon Tunnel but also the remainder of the route to Omagh
, where it formed a junction with the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway
. In so doing it completed the railway route between Portadown and Derry
that came to be informally known as the "Derry Road".
Besides Dungannon Tunnel, the PD&O's most significant engineering features were an iron lattice viaduct over the River Blackwater and the fact that west of the line reached a summit of 561 feet (171 m), the highest elevation of any Irish gauge railway in Ireland.
The contractor to build the PD&O was William Dargan
, who in 1860 sold a 999 year lease of the line to the Ulster Railway. In 1876 the Ulster merged with the Irish North Western Railway
and the Northern Railway of Ireland
to form the Great Northern Railway
(GNR).
in 1879. This turned out to be the only branch line that had a junction with the PD&O route.
The PD&O gave the GNR a direct route between and , competing with the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway's northerly route between and Londonderry Waterside
via . The B&NCR line was shorter, had better gradients and was faster, and so attracted the majority of passenger traffic between the two cities. However, the GNR route attracted more goods traffic between the two cities plus passenger and goods traffic from the market towns along the route.
Dargan had the PD&O line built as single track, but traffic became sufficient for the GNR to install double track between Portadown and in 1899–1902 and between Dungannon and in 1905–06. After the First World War, increasing road competition reversed this position and the GNR reverted the Dungannon — Donaghmore section to single track after 1932.
In order to reduce operating costs the GNR pioneered the development and use of railbus
es, and on lines including the PD&O it opened numerous wayside halts for them to serve. It also pioneered the development and use of railcar
s, and in the 1950s it introduced a fleet of BUT units whose work included "Derry Road" trains over the PD&O.
The GNR Board cut the Cookstown branch back to Coalisland
in 1956. In 1957 the Government of Northern Ireland
made the GNRB close almost all of its lines near the border including the Omagh — Enniskillen section of the D&ER, but the "Derry Road" was kept open. The PD&O gained a little traffic from these closures, as trains carrying pilgrims from Dublin Amiens Street
to St Patrick's Purgatory on Lough Derg
could no longer use the Irish North Western Railway
route via to Pettigo
but had to take the longer route via Portadown to Omagh. But the PD&O lost more trade than it gained, as traffic such as cattle exports from the west of the Republic switched to exporting through the Port of Dublin instead of using the GNR to reach north-eastern ports such as Belfast
.
. In 1959 the UTA closed the Dungannon — Coalisland section of the Cookstown branch and reduced the PD&O between Portadown and Trew and Moy to single track. In accordance with The Benson Report submitted to the Northern Ireland Government in 1963, the UTA closed the "Derry Road" including the PD&O on 15 February 1965.
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....
railway in County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
and County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, Ireland (now Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
).
Early development
Building of the PD&O line started from PortadownPortadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
in 1855 and reached Dungannon
Dungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
in 1858. This first section of line opened with temporary termini at both Portadown and Dungannon. At Dungannon the delay was in order to build a half-mile tunnel because Viscount Northland
Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly
Uchter John Mark Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly GCMG, PC was a British politician and colonial governor. He was Governor-General of New Zealand from 1897 to 1904.-Early life:...
objected to smoky locomotives traversing his land. In due course the PD&O succeeded in gaining access to the Ulster Railway
Ulster Railway
The Ulster Railway was a railway company operating in Ulster, Ireland. The company was incorporated in 1836 and merged with two other railway companies in 1876 to form the Great Northern Railway .-History:...
's Portadown station
Portadown railway station
Portadown railway station serves Portadown in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The original Portadown station was sited half a mile east of the present station and opened on 12 September 1842, replacing a temporary station at Seagow that had opened the preceding year. The Portadown station was...
and in 1861 opened for traffic not only Dungannon Tunnel but also the remainder of the route to Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
, where it formed a junction with the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway
Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway
The Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway was an Irish gauge railway in Ireland.-Construction and opening:The Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway was incorporated in 1845. Construction began at Derry and followed the west bank of the River Foyle southwards to Strabane, which was reached in 1847...
. In so doing it completed the railway route between Portadown and 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"...
that came to be informally known as the "Derry Road".
Besides Dungannon Tunnel, the PD&O's most significant engineering features were an iron lattice viaduct over the River Blackwater and the fact that west of the line reached a summit of 561 feet (171 m), the highest elevation of any Irish gauge railway in Ireland.
The contractor to build the PD&O was William Dargan
William Dargan
William Dargan , an engineer, often seen as the father of Irish railways, came from Killeshin, County Laois, Ireland. Born in 1799, he constructed Ireland's first railway from Dublin to Dún Laoghaire in 1833. He constructed over of railway to important urban centres of Ireland...
, who in 1860 sold a 999 year lease of the line to the Ulster Railway. In 1876 the Ulster merged with the Irish North Western Railway
Irish North Western Railway
Irish North Western Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.-Development:The company was founded as the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway and opened the first section of its line, from to , in 1849...
and the Northern Railway of Ireland
Northern Railway of Ireland
Northern Railway of Ireland was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.It was formed by a merger of the Dublin and Drogheda Railway with the Dublin and the Belfast Junction Railway in 1875. In 1876 it merged with the Irish North Western Railway and Ulster Railway to form the Great Northern...
to form the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
(GNR).
Heyday and decline
The GNR opened a branch line from to CookstownCookstown
Cookstown may refer to either of the following:*Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland*Cookstown, Ontario, Canada*Cookstown, New Jersey, United States...
in 1879. This turned out to be the only branch line that had a junction with the PD&O route.
The PD&O gave the GNR a direct route between and , competing with the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway's northerly route between and Londonderry Waterside
Londonderry railway station
Londonderry/Derry Railway Station, known commonly as Waterside Railway Station, serves the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. The station is also used by residents of the west of County Londonderry, much of west Tyrone and County Donegal. It is operated by Northern Ireland Railways...
via . The B&NCR line was shorter, had better gradients and was faster, and so attracted the majority of passenger traffic between the two cities. However, the GNR route attracted more goods traffic between the two cities plus passenger and goods traffic from the market towns along the route.
Dargan had the PD&O line built as single track, but traffic became sufficient for the GNR to install double track between Portadown and in 1899–1902 and between Dungannon and in 1905–06. After the First World War, increasing road competition reversed this position and the GNR reverted the Dungannon — Donaghmore section to single track after 1932.
In order to reduce operating costs the GNR pioneered the development and use of railbus
Railbus
A railbus is a very lightweight type passenger rail vehicle that shares many aspects of their construction with a bus, usually having a bus, or modified bus body, and having four wheels on a fixed base, instead of on bogies...
es, and on lines including the PD&O it opened numerous wayside halts for them to serve. It also pioneered the development and use of railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
s, and in the 1950s it introduced a fleet of BUT units whose work included "Derry Road" trains over the PD&O.
The GNR Board cut the Cookstown branch back to Coalisland
Coalisland
Coalisland is a small town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, with a population of 4,917 people . As its name suggests, it was formerly a centre for coal mining.-History:...
in 1956. In 1957 the Government of Northern Ireland
Government of Northern Ireland
The Government of Northern Ireland is, generally speaking, whatever political body exercises political authority over Northern Ireland. A number of separate systems of government exist or have existed in Northern Ireland....
made the GNRB close almost all of its lines near the border including the Omagh — Enniskillen section of the D&ER, but the "Derry Road" was kept open. The PD&O gained a little traffic from these closures, as trains carrying pilgrims from Dublin Amiens Street
Dublin Connolly railway station
Dublin Connolly, commonly called Connolly station , is one of the main railway stations in Dublin, Ireland, and is a focal point in the Irish route network. Opened in 1844 as Amiens Street Station, the ornate facade has a distinctive Italianate tower at its centre...
to St Patrick's Purgatory on Lough Derg
Lough Derg (Donegal)
Lough Derg is a small lake in County Donegal, Ireland, about seven kilometres north of the border village of Pettigoe...
could no longer use the Irish North Western Railway
Irish North Western Railway
Irish North Western Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.-Development:The company was founded as the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway and opened the first section of its line, from to , in 1849...
route via to Pettigo
Pettigo
Pettigo is a small village on the border of County Donegal, Republic of Ireland and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is bisected by the Termon River which is part of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...
but had to take the longer route via Portadown to Omagh. But the PD&O lost more trade than it gained, as traffic such as cattle exports from the west of the Republic switched to exporting through the Port of Dublin instead of using the GNR to reach north-eastern ports such as Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
Final years and closure
In May 1958 the Northern Ireland Government initiated the GNR Board's dissolution and partition between the two states, and its remaining lines in Northern Ireland passed to the Ulster Transport AuthorityUlster Transport Authority
The Ulster Transport Authority ran rail and bus transport in Northern Ireland from 1948 until 1966.-Formation and consolidation:The UTA was formed by the Transport Act 1948, which merged the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board and the Belfast and County Down Railway...
. In 1959 the UTA closed the Dungannon — Coalisland section of the Cookstown branch and reduced the PD&O between Portadown and Trew and Moy to single track. In accordance with The Benson Report submitted to the Northern Ireland Government in 1963, the UTA closed the "Derry Road" including the PD&O on 15 February 1965.