Irish North Western Railway
54°20′49″N 7°38′24″W / 54.347°N 7.640°W
| Industry | Railway |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway |
| Founded | 1862 |
| Defunct | 1876 |
| Fate | merged |
| Successor | Great Northern Railway |
| Headquarters | , |
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.
Development
| Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1845 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act for effecting a Railway Communication between Dundalk and Enniskillen. |
| Citation | 8 & 9 Vict. c. xcvi |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 21 July 1845 |
| Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1847 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act to alter and amend several of the Powers Provisions of the Act relating to the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway. |
| Citation | 10 & 11 Vict. c. lxv |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 25 June 1847 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway Act 1850 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An 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. |
| Citation | 13 & 14 Vict. c. lxxvi |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 29 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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |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 | |
| Long title | An Act to amend the Acts relating to the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway, and to extend the same from Ballybay to Enniskillen. |
| Citation | 15 & 16 Vict. c. xli |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 28 May 1852 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |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 (Quay Extension) Act 1863 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act to empower the Irish North-western Railway Company to extend their Railway along the Quays of Dundalk; and for other Purposes. |
| Citation | 26 & 27 Vict. c. ccxxxvi |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 28 July 1863 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Irish North Western Railway Act 1864 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An 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. |
| Citation | 27 & 28 Vict. c. ccliii |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 25 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 renamed itself the Irish North Western Railway.[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
- ^ Hajducki 1974, 15.
- ^ a b c Hajducki 1974, map 16
- ^ a b c d Hajducki 1974, map 7
- ^ FitzGerald 1995, p. 1
- ^ Hajducki 1974, map 14
- ^ a b c Hajducki 1974, p. xiii
- ^ Hajducki 1974, map 15
- ^ Hajducki 1974, map 6
- ^ Baker 1972, pp. 153, 207.
- ^ a b 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.