Railways of Roscommon

Railway Station (Fair Day), Roscommon

This image taken from the Galway road side shows a busy fair day at Roscommon Railway station. The goods train, possibly transporting cattle is to the left of the image, and there is a steam train on the central tracks. The two storey building to the left is the station master's house. This was built by the railway in c.1860.

Railway Station (Fair Day), Roscommon

Railway Station (Fair Day), Roscommon

This image taken from the Galway road side shows a busy fair day at Roscommon Railway station. The goods train, possibly transporting cattle is to the left of the image, and there is a steam train on the central tracks. The two storey building to the left is the station master's house. This was built by the railway in c.1860.

Enlarge image

The Great Northern & Western Railway opened the line between Athlone and Roscommon on the 13th February 1860, and the extension to Castlerea was completed on the 15th November 1860. In 1863 the Sligo and Ballaghaderreen Junction Railway was authorised to build a branch from Kilfree on the Sligo line. Traffic on these lines of the GNWR was mainly agricultural produce and the bussiness flourished.

The dawning of the railway age in Ireland, brought with it many and varied railway architectural styles. The stations themselves and the ancillary buildings were made to last. Wherever possible local materials were used by the companies. Many of the orginal structures are still in use today.