1932 County Donegal Railways Joint Committee

Note: This is a sub-section of 1932 Railway Year Book and County Donegal Railways Joint Committee

Note: Parts are missing from original in the text below. Check the images or PDF for a full transcript

DIRECTORS.
Appointed by the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland): —
R. ASHHURST GRADWELL, Dowth, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
W. B. CARSON, Mevdon, Swords, Co. Dublin.
MAXWELL-SCOTT MOORE, H.M.L., Molenan, Londonderry.
Appointed by the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company :—
MAJOR J. A. W. O. TORRENS, D.L., Cleggan Lodge, Ballymena, Co. Antrim.
F. TATLOW, C.B.E., Duffield, Derby.
D. E. B. McCORKELL, D.L., Ballyarnet, Londonderry.

OFFICERS.
Secretary and Manager— HENRY FORBES.
Locomotive Engineer— G. T. GLOVER, M.INST.C.E. Civil Engineer—H. P. STEWART.
Accountant— PETER WHITELAW.
Head Offices— Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
(See L. M. S., N. C. C. & G. N. R. (I.) Maps.)
THE County Donegal Railways Joint Committee was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1906, that Act authorising the purchase of the section of the Donegal Railway Company west of Strabane, jointly by the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) and the Midland Railway of England, the section of the Donegal Railway from Strabane to Londonderry, along the east bank of the Foyle, passing wholly into the hands of the Midland (now L. M. S.) Railway.

The lines now controlled by the Donegal Joint Committee have had a chequered career. The parent line—the Finn Valley Railway, the first railway in County Donegal—was constructed as a broad gauge line, and opened for traffic on the 7th September, 1863 ; it ran from a junction with the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway (now part of the Great Northern system) at a point near Strabane, to Stranorlar 14 miles distant. The Finn Valley Railway had no rolling stock of its own, this being supplied by the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway, who worked the line for 35 per cent, of the traffic receipts, plus certain allowances for the user of Strabane Station, and the right of running into same. At a later period the Finn Valley Railway purchased carriages and wagons, the working company supplying engines and charging for same at a fixed rate per train mile. The line promised well, but its association with the West Donegal Railway—a narrow gauge extension running from Stranorlar to Donegal, 18 miles distant, in which undertaking the Finn Valley Line allowed itself to be financially involved—proved disastrous, and reduced the financial position of the Finn Valley Company to so low an ebb that in 1891 it was doubtful whether the interest on the Debenture Stock could be met.

In 1892 the Finn Valley and the West Donegal Railways were amalgamated under the name of the Donegal Railway Company. Under this combine the broad gauge line from Strabane to Stranorlar was converted into a narrow gauge, and obtained independent access to Strabane. The amalgamated lines were empowered to work the railways built by a free Government Grant, from Stranorlar to Glenties, 24 miles, opened in 1895, and from Donegal to Killybegs line, 19 miles, opened in 1893. The State equipped and handed the Killybegs and Glenties lines over to the Donegal Company to be worked by them in perpetuity, the surplus profits being divided equally between the Railway and the Treasury. In 1901 the railway was extended from Strabane to Londonderry along the east bank of the Foyle, 14 miles, and in 1903 a further extension was opened from Donegal to Ballyshannon, 16 miles. These amalgamations and extensions brought the total mileage up to 105 miles. On the 1st May, 1906, under the Great Northern (Ireland) and Midland Railways Act, the railway west of Strabane passed into the hands of the present owners, and the liability to the Treasury for half profits ceased. On the 1st January, 1909, a narrow gauge railway was opened from Strabane to Letterkenny, 19 miles ; this line is worked by the Joint Committee under agreement. The Joint Committee also work the trains over the L. Company’s narrow gauge line from Strabane to Londonderry, 14 miles.

Altogether the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee engines work of narrow gauge railway. It is therefore the longest narrow gauge system Kingdom. The line is administered by a Board of Directors, each of the owning companies appointing three representatives. The head offices are at Stranorlar, the Manager located there being responsible to the Joint Committee for the working of the system. The locomotive works and general repairing shops, in which about one hundred men are employed, are at Stranorlar. The profits are divided equally between the owning companies, capital outlay being met by the two companies in equal shares.

Mileage.—(County Donegal Joint Committee, 91 miles; Strabane and Letterkenny, 19 miles.) Double, 1 mile; single, 110 miles; total. 111 miles. Mileage worked by engines, 125 miles.

Locomotives and Rolling Stock.—17 tank locomotives (12 with superheaters), 3 (4-6-0), 2 (4-4-4), 4 (4-6-4), 8 (2-6-4) ; 43 passenger vehicles, 1 other vehicle used for passenger traffic, 327 goods wagons and other vehicles.

Diesel Rail Cars.—2. Petrol Rail Cars.—5. Rail Motor Trailer.—1. Containers.—8.

Summit Level.—Barnesmore Gap between Stranorlar and Donegal, 700 feet above sea level.

Steepest Gradients.—1 in 40 (1 mile), 1 in 51 (6 miles).

Colours of Locomotives and Rolling Stock.—Locomotives: black, red lines. Carriages : maroon. Goods Wagons: black. Rail Cars: crimson and white.
Single Line Control.—Electric Train staff throughout.

Brake.—Automatic Vacuum on all vehicles, including goods and mineral wagons. Driver’s Position on Foot Plate.—Right hand.

Lighting.—Acetylene gas.

Heating of Passenger Trains.—Laycock System (steam).

Dimensions of Vehicles.—Longest carriage, 36 ft.; largest goods wagon, 36 ft.

Permanent Way.—Flat-bottomed rails, 60 lbs. to yard ; sleepers, 6 ft. by 9 in.

Colours of Tickets.—Single: first, white ; third, buff. Return: first, white and yellow; third, buff and green. Second-class abolished 1st January, 1922.

Houses and Cottages.—67.

Level Crossings.—62.

Customs Stations.—Strabane, Lifford, Castlefinn.

Refreshment Rooms.—Strabane, Stranorlar and Rossnowlagh.

Principal Towns Served.—Londonderry, Strabane, Letterkenny,, Donegal, Ballyshannon.

Principal Bridges, Viaducts.—Finn Viaduct, Stranorlar, 220 span. Mourne Bridge, Strabane. Finn River Bridge, Clady.

See Also

Loading...