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Evelyn Ellis - Feb '07
Tripping down memory lane. When I was a wee wane growing up in Derry, me Mum used to tell me as to how my Grandfather Philip Ellis had 'built' the Lough Swilly Railway. There was an old black and white picture of a VERY old gentleman who had a very long white beard hanging in the living room at 37 Garden City. I envisioned this old gentleman out there swinging a pick and a shovel. Research has confirmed that my Grandfather was instrumental in the development of the Lough Swilly Railway. I believe it was around 1862 that he was hired. His name is mentioned in several publications about the Lough Swilly. I also had this 'relative' whom we called Auntie Fafa. I believe she was my Grandfather's second wife, because I know that his first wife, Mary Inch, had passed away. Anyway, she lived at 8 Baronet Street which was actually on the quay in Derry. I used to love to go visit her because she was a wonderful cook and I recall seeing all the navy ships that used to come up the Foyle. Ah - the memories. I enjoyed your site very much. Thank you.

David Thrower - Nov '06
It was Lisahally - if I remember correctly. That was near Coolkeeragh, just east of the Strathfoyle estate that I moved to in 1959 (which was only two or three roads of houses at that time). Lisahally was a name we used in our address until Strathfoyle became better known. There was a station roughly where the River Foyle joined Lough Foyle at its western (upper) end, but I never used it, and it may have closed by 1959. Our postman at Strathfoyle had formerly been the signalman at Lisahally, and I think there was still a signal box there.

On the dock lines aspect at Derry, I think freight ceased to use the quayside tracks in 1962.

My maths master, Mr. Smith, who taught at Foyle College, took his Bedford CA caravanette across the lower (rail) deck in about 1962 or 1963, for a laugh, and hit a large protruding piece of ironwork!

Seamus - Oct '06
David, do you mean Liahally ????

Gordon Marshall (Isle of Man) - Aug '06
I was interested in David Thrower's comments as I was brought up in Londonderry as a child in the 1950's and also remember the tractors working the dock mixed gauge track. The two steam locos that formerly worked the lines both survive, one in the Ulster Transport Museum at Cultra and the other is preserved by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland and is still in regular use, recently having been used by contractors re-laying main line tracks on Northern Ireland Railways. Certainly by around 1960 the steam locos were out of use and locked up in their shed at the back of Strand Road and I do not remember the lines on the city side being used after the GNR closed in 1965. Several years later (by 1970?) the lines on the lower deck of the Craigavon Bridge were lifted and converted into a road. Narrow gauge traffic on the dock lines would have ceased when the Lough Swilly line closed in 1953 and the County Donegal from Victoria Road closed in 1955.

David - June '06
When I was a young lad in the '60's I used to walk out the Prehen road on an old line and play on the derry side of the GNR. I was brought up in Ivy Terrace but have lived in Yorkshire from 11yrs old.

Bernie Lowry - Feb 06
My great-grandfather was called Patrick Thornton. His wife was Margaret Josphine Donnelly and I believe her father was Richard Donnelly (senior) who when he was buried on 7 May 1862 his occupation was given as Engine Driver. My mother believes that he drove the first train on a new railway line into Derry. is this Correct.

Michael Bond - Dec '05
My Grandfather was Station master, Buncrana? Lough Swilly Railway, sometime around 1920? before running away to USA, surname Bond.

David Thrower - October '05
I was most interested to discover this piece on the Net, as I am trying to gather together an adequate amount of information on the railways of Derry, for a possible future magazine article. I am particularly interested in the dock lines at Derry, and when they were built, which locomotives worked them, and when their use ceased.

I lived in Derry 1959-64, and recall the dock tracks being used in the early part of that period, with wagons being shunted by tractors fitted with buffer plates - something that may have been unique to Derry. I am also interested in the railway replacement bus services that were provided by the County Donegal and the Swilly companies. Any information welcomed!

Ken Breslin - October '05
Does anyone remember John Breslin, (former train driver of the great northern railway)?

David McMenemy - June '05
Very good article, My Grandfathers, maternal and paternal, both worked on the railway at Lisahawley, I wonder if Hugh would know if there are any surviving employee records available for the middle to late 1800's?

Paul Simpson - April '05
Dear Hugh, I enjoyed the article.
I wondered if you could help me with some research I am doing on my great grandfather David Simpson. He worked as a guard on the railways around Derry in the early 1900's, he had some sort of accident and II believe this contributed to his death in 1906 aged 47. I wondered if you could suggest any books on the railway history around Derry,hopefully with photographs as i don't have one of him and am trying to track one down .Thanks for any help, regards, Paul Simpson.

Martin Baumann - June '04
The accident to which Mr O'Doherty refers took place at Omagh station, not in the late 50s but on November 24th 1950. Five track workers were killed by the 1030 Londonderry-Omagh train. The driver was unable to see them in time due to heavy fog and another engine near them muffled the sound of the approaching passenger train.

Aidan Lynch - 23 April '04
Your article has brought back fond memories of Derry trains. Many an excursion I went to Portrush and Buncrana in the 40s. The fun we had on those trains when the world was alot kinder. Our fun was more innocent then. Thank you for the memories.
P.S. I'm in Scotland

Patrick O' Doherty (Sydney Australia) - April '04
Dear Hugh,
I would be obliged if you could help me with a story that I've been trying to obtain information on. I'm sorry, what I have is not alot. However, during the mid to late fifties 5 men lost their lives, when a Londonderry train ran into them as they worked on the Derry to Belfast line.
I would like to know what happened as my father was the fireman on that train. My dad has now passed away and I'm having trouble tracking down the story.
Best Regards, Pat O' Doherty