On tracks broadand narrow at Co Galway’s Maam Cross
RAILWAYsounds arebeing heardagain in the Hills of Connemara, 85 years after the last train steameditsway fromGalway to Clifden, thanks to Irish Railtours founder andowner Jim Deegan, whois leadingabold plan to lay track and run trains, ontracks both broad and narrow, atMaamCross station.
Under the banner of the Connemara Railway, the not- for- profit MGWR ( 2017) DAC company has signed a 25- year lease on the station site, and has already laid 5ft 3in track as a first step to restoring most of the original track layout. A replacement replica signal cabin is on order, and both existing platforms will be restored, along with the goods shed and cattle pens, while a replica platformshelter will also be built. The £ 1 million- plus scheme has full planning permission and the support of local politicians and tourism interests.
Steam to return
Now, to markthe 125th anniversary of the opening of the Midland Great WesternRailway ( MGWR) line in 1895, Jim and his teamof volunteers, which includes serving and retired Irish Rail engineers, plan to laytemporary 3ftgauge track at the station with a ‘ popup’station and runasteamengine and carriages. This, they argue, will be positiveproof of the company’s intention to fully restoreMaamCross station to its old gloryasaheritage railway andtourist attraction.
“We plan to restore the site to working order, using authentic broad gauge locomotives and carriages, but felt that wewanted to bring steam back to Connemara this year to mark the 125th anniversary of the line’s opening and the 85th of its closure, so the easy option is to bring in a narrow gauge train temporarily, almost as a statement of intent,” said Jim. “I can’t reveal the identity of the locomotive at this stage, and althoughwe had originally planned the event for summer this year, we’re still confident of staging it later in 2020 as Covid- 19 restrictions are lifted.
“This line was built under the 1889 Light Railway ( Ireland) Act, the brainchild of Arthur Balfour, the Secretary of State for Ireland, and may originally have been planned as narrow gauge, being one of the fewbuilt under the act to be constructed to the 5ft 3in gauge, so bringing in the narrowgauge train is quite appropriate.”
Track laying
As pandemic restrictionswere eased, the revivalistswere able to access their MaamCross site inlateMaytocontinue voluntarywork. To date around, 1640ft of 3ftgauge track has been laid there.
The final broad gauge plan will include a second signal cabin replica to guard a level crossing gate and to operate full signalling, while track will be extended either side of the station, which sits at themiddle of a 2 ½ mile stretch of original, accessible track bed. Jim’s ultimate dream is to buildaworking replica ofaMartin Atock- designed MGWR 2- 4- 0, with its characteristic Atock‘ fly away’cab, to operate trains at the site, as no MGWR locomotives have survived into preservation.
The restored buildings will be used to tell the story of the station and the Clifden Railway, which played an early role in the development of tourism in Connemara and in June 1919, also witnessed transatlantic aviation pioneers, Alcock and Brown, pass through on their way toGalway by train from Clifden, after successfully landing near the town.
“Thousands of local people emigrated fromthe station on their way to England and America,” said Jim. “Part of the famous John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara film, TheQuiet Man, was filmed at Maam Cross, and the infamous Black and Tans came through the station on their way to Clifden in 1920 during theWar of Independence. We’ve a great story to tell and the idea is to present the public withaworking steam railway which has educational value and which tells the story of the people who travelled and worked on it. When complete, we’ll have the onlyworking broad gauge heritage railway in the Republic of Ireland and it will appeal to tourists and enthusiasts alike.”
➜ TheConnemaraRailway is inviting contributions atwww. connemararailway. ie wherea gofundmeappeal withatarget of € 300,000 has been set.