Irish North Western Railway

54°20′49″N 7°38′24″W / 54.347°N 7.640°W / 54.347; -7.640

Irish North Western Railway
IndustryRailway
PredecessorDundalk and Enniskillen Railway
Founded1862
Defunct1876
Fatemerged
SuccessorGreat Northern Railway
Headquarters
Dundalk
,
Ireland
Area served
Counties Cavan, Fermanagh, Londonderry, Donegal, Louth, Monaghan, Tyrone

Irish North Western Railway (INW) was an Irish gauge (5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)) railway company in Ireland.

The stub of the line toward Enniskillen veering right with a train straight from Bray heading for Dundalk Clarke

Development

Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1845
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act for effecting a Railway Communication between Dundalk and Enniskillen.
Citation8 & 9 Vict. c. xcvi
Dates
Royal assent21 July 1845
Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1847
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to alter and amend several of the Powers Provisions of the Act relating to the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway.
Citation10 & 11 Vict. c. lxv
Dates
Royal assent25 June 1847
Text of statute as originally enacted
Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1850
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to extend the Powers of the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Company for the Purchase of Lands and Completion of Works on Part of their Railway; and for other Purposes.
Citation13 & 14 Vict. c. lxxvi
Dates
Royal assent29 July 1850
Text of statute as originally enacted

The company was founded as the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway (D&ER) by the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1845 (8 & 9 Vict. c. xcvi), and opened the first section of its line, from Dundalk Quay Street to Castleblayney, in 1849.[1][2] In Dundalk the D&ER line crossed the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway main line, which was completed between Drogheda and its own separate Dundalk station in the same year.

Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1852
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to amend the Acts relating to the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway, and to extend the same from Ballybay to Enniskillen.
Citation15 & 16 Vict. c. xli
Dates
Royal assent28 May 1852
Text of statute as originally enacted
Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1857
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to enable the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Company to make certain Deviations and Alterations in their Line and Works; and for other Purposes connected with their Undertaking.
Citation20 & 21 Vict. c. civ
Dates
Royal assent27 July 1857
Text of statute as originally enacted

With further authority from the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1852 (15 & 16 Vict. c. xli), the D&ER extended westwards, reaching Ballybay in 1854,[2] Newbliss in 1855[2] and Lisbellaw in 1858.[3] In 1859 the D&ER reached Enniskillen where it connected with the Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway (L&ER).[3] The L&ER had been completed in 1854[3] but had been unprofitable, so in 1860 it leased its line in perpetuity to the D&ER.[4] This gave the D&ER a direct route between Dundalk and Londonderry Foyle Road.

Irish North-western Railway Act 1862
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act for changing the Name of the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Company to the Name "The Irish North-western Railway Company;" and for authorizing them to make and maintain an additional Line of Railway and other Works; and to make Arrangements with other Companies and Public Bodies; and to raise further Monies; and for other Purposes.
Citation25 & 26 Vict. c. cxxxix
Dates
Royal assent7 July 1862
Text of statute as originally enacted
Irish North Western Railway (Quay Extension) Act 1863
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to empower the Irish North-western Railway Company to extend their Railway along the Quays of Dundalk; and for other Purposes.
Citation26 & 27 Vict. c. ccxxxvi
Dates
Royal assent28 July 1863
Text of statute as originally enacted
Irish North-western Railway Act 1864
Act of Parliament
coat of arms
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act for the Discharge of Debts of the Irish North-western Railway Company; and for authorizing divers Arrangements between that Company and other Railway Companies; and for other Purposes.
Citation27 & 28 Vict. c. ccliii
Dates
Royal assent25 July 1864
Text of statute as originally enacted

In 1862 the INW opened a branch from Clones southwards to Cavan.[5] In the same year the company was renamed the Irish North Western Railway by the Irish North-western Railway Act 1862 (25 & 26 Vict. c. cxxxix).[6] In 1863 the Ulster Railway reached Clones where it made a junction with the INW.[7] In 1868 the Enniskillen and Bundoran Railway opened between Bundoran Junction and Bundoran,[3][8] and contracted the INW to operate its line.[6]

In 1876 the INW merged with the Northern Railway of Ireland and the Ulster Railway to form the Great Northern Railway.[6]

After merger

The GNR operated the line between Dundalk and Enniskillen until 1957, when the Government of Northern Ireland made the GNR Board close all cross-border lines except the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway mainline.[9][10] Córas Iompair Éireann continued a freight service between Dundalk and Clones for a few years, but withdrew this and closed the line in 1960.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Hajducki 1974, 15.
  2. 1 2 3 Hajducki 1974, map 16
  3. 1 2 3 4 Hajducki 1974, map 7
  4. ↑ FitzGerald 1995, p. 1
  5. ↑ Hajducki 1974, map 14
  6. 1 2 3 Hajducki 1974, p. xiii
  7. ↑ Hajducki 1974, map 15
  8. ↑ Hajducki 1974, map 6
  9. ↑ Baker 1972, pp. 153, 207.
  10. 1 2 Hajducki 1974, map 39

Sources

  • Baker, Michael H.C. (1972). Irish Railways since 1916. London: Ian Allan. pp. 153, 207. ISBN 0-7110-0282-7.
  • Dewick, Tony (2002). Complete Atlas of Railway Station Names. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. maps 57, 58, 60. ISBN 0-7110-2798-6.
  • FitzGerald, J.D. (1995). The Derry Road. Colourpoint Transport. Vol. 2. Gortrush: Colourpoint Press. ISBN 1-898392-09-9.
  • Hajducki, S. Maxwell (1974). A Railway Atlas of Ireland. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5167-2.
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