The Train now Departing...

First railcar in Co Donegal

Black and white photo of a railcar at Strabane Railway Station in the 1930s. Photo shows wheeled vehicle like a tram sitting on railway track.

Donegal Co Archives

First railcar in Co Donegal
Donegal Co Archives

First railcar in Co Donegal

Black and white photo of a railcar at Strabane Railway Station in the 1930s. Photo shows wheeled vehicle like a tram sitting on railway track.

Donegal Co Archives

Enlarge image

Letter from Raphoe stationmaster 1926

1926 handwritten letter from the stationmaster at Raphoe, Mr M Boyle, asking Donegal Co Council for permission to cut down a tree for firewood

Copyright Donegal County Archives

Letter from Raphoe stationmaster 1926
Copyright Donegal County Archives

Letter from Raphoe stationmaster 1926

1926 handwritten letter from the stationmaster at Raphoe, Mr M Boyle, asking Donegal Co Council for permission to cut down a tree for firewood

Copyright Donegal County Archives

Enlarge image

In the nineteenth century, Raphoe was a very self-contained town and district, relying hardly at all on other areas for the supply of local needs. Roads were overall quite bad, and the only means of transport of goods was by horse and cart. Sheep's wool and locally grown flax were spun and woven into yarn; the cloth was sold to local tailors, who made up suits to order. Farmers killed their own pigs, sheep and cattle, and salted down nearly a year's supply for the household. The hides of cattle were tanned into leather. Several mills locally made oatmeal.

The first step towards modern transport was when the railway from Derry via St Johnston to Strabane was opened in 1847. Merchants were then able to have goods sent by rail from Derry to St Johnston where they were collected by carts and taken to Raphoe. By 1860 the railway from Derry via Coleraine to Belfast was completed and this expanded commerce over the whole area. The people of East Donegal soon wanted their own railway, and a company was formed to construct a line from St Johnston through Raphoe and Convoy to Glenties, but no financial backing could be found. The next idea was to have a rail link with Strabane and there were several public meetings to gain support but opposition came from the Duke of Abercorn and his tenants in Strabane, who feared the suggested railway would take trade away from their town. By 1852, Strabane was connected by rail to Omagh – and later to Belfast – and to Derry by rail and canal. The East Donegal community continued to press for a rail link with Strabane. At last, in 1903 sanction was given for a new railway – Strabane to Raphoe and Convoy, and subsequently on to Letterkenny.

This line was opened on January 1st, 1909, but the result for Raphoe was disastrous. Goods could, indeed, be brought in more cheaply, but the public could now easily shop in Strabane and Derry; Raphoe's trade stagnated. The population dwindled, and as a consequence, no houses were built in the town between 1910 and 1937. After the end of WW1, the use of motorcars and lorries greatly increased, and by the end of WW2, increased use of private and alternative public transport brought about the demise of the railway system in this area. The line to Strabane finally closed on 31st December 1959. Stories abound about the train, the station and the characters associated with them. The station at Raphoe is now the premises of the Raphoe hardware and Grain company.

Two items of correspondence between the Raphoe railway stationmaster, Donegal County Council, and the County Committee for Health over the stationmaster's desire to fell a tree on council (formerly railway-owned) lands for firewood in the winter of 1926.