Ballinrobe Railway Station
Ballinrobe Railway Station
A common sight at railway stations throughout Ireland, including Ballinrobe, when a member of a family was emigrating. The first emigrant of a family often sent money home for the next family member to follow and so on. Parents often felt that they would never see a son or daughter again and departures must have been a heartbreaking event. This was where the title 'wake trains' evolved.
A short History.
By Averil Staunton
The Ballinrobe and Claremorris Light Railway Co. Ltd was formed in 1884. However, there had been a number of proposals and schemes from the 1840s, including one from the Connaught Junction Railway and the South Mayo Railway. The 1884 formation was with the aid of a Baronial Guarantee and had the backing of the contractor Robert Worthington.
Some of the founder members were Canon Ulick Burke P.P., Claremorris, Peter Bartley, Draper, Ballinrobe, Patrick J. Murphy, Merchant and Thomas McTigue, Shopkeeper.
The first meeting of the company took place in the offices of Patrick Daly, solicitor Ballinrobe in Dec. 1884. Later committee members were Canon Ronayne P.P. of Ballinrobe, Alex Martin of Curramore House and Hermon Fitzpatrick, Hollymount. Some years passed until an agreement was made with the Midland Great Western Railway to operate the line in 1890. The company was absorbed into the Great Southern Railways c 1925. During the war years fuel became scarce and the passenger service was suspended in Feb of 1947 with 'Goods' ceasing in March. Both services were restored a few months later.
Construction went ahead with the line opening in Nov 1892.
Building the Branch Line.
The contract to build was awarded to the "Worthington Company” with Ballinrobe railway station serving as a branch line from Claremorris and ran in a south-westerly direction to Ballinrobe. Hollymount was the only ther station on the line.
During construction the bog at Derrymore had to be drained and an Iron Bridge spanning the Robe River built. There was also a three arched bridge constructed at Caltra.
Goods Traffic
"The Bat" was the first train to Ballinrobe, driven by Owen Malone. Ballinrobe was to become the largest livestock forwarding station in the west which was a large source of revenue to the local area. Other sources of income came from passengers and goods like tyres, bicycles, Guinness, manure, cement, coal, pollard, flour, bran, masonry, agricultural machinery, beet pulp, timber, newspapers and fish traffic (particularly eels) and other goods.
With a large Army garrison in Ballinrobe the station was regularly used for the movement of troops and supplies, with specials trains running from the North Wall in Dublin bringing 300 tons of the fuel for their use on the last day of each month. Town deliveries to various wholesalers, businesses and shops were by a horse drawn, flat-bedded float with some of the drivers being Jim Monaghan, Davy Murphy, Stephen Burke and Michael Coyne.
Visitors and Travellers
Ballinrobe train service contributed to an increase in tourists in the area and one important guest was the Prince of Wales, later King George V of England in June 1912 who stayed at Ashford Castle in Cong, only six miles away (The prince was so enthralled with the area that he extended his stay from 2 days to 1 month). There were regular arrivals and departures of tourists, with many fishermen coming to fish on Lough Mask and Carra.
Employees.
This service played a major role in the economic and social development of Ballinrobe with a total of 16 employed on the branch at the time of its closure. One of the Station Masters was Bill Clinton, and there was a clerk Tom Maye, and railwaymen Michael Hughes, Stephen Burke and Tom Veldon. Other staff included P. O'Brien, ganger, Gerry Dwyer, Inspector, and Hugh & Pat Caulfield. The Station closed altogether on 1 January 1959. The last train was operated by drivers Jack Monaghan and fireman Hughie Dawson, with Michael Higgins as guard.
No. 02 on the BCDC Town Heritage Walk