By Paul McElwee

ON Sunday, the Donegal Rail Museum will host a talk and presentation detailing the final months and eventual closure of the County Donegal Railway.

The presentation will be given by local rail historian and supporting member of the museum Joe Begley. A recognised authority on the subject, Joe has worked alongside Steve Flanders on revised editions of Dr. E.M. Patterson’s classic histories ‘The County Donegal Railways’ and ‘The Lough Swilly Railway’.

The final operations of the County Donegal Railways Join Committee came to an end in the late 1950s after a century of service which saw trains travel all across the island. With new of the closure spreading like wildfire, rail enthusiasts came from far and wide came to Donegal to travel the lines for a final time and make their own photographic record for posterity. One such ‘rail-fan’ was David Soggee, a prolific railway photographer who veered towards branch lines and minor railways. It’s his collection of colour photographs taken in July 1959 which will form the backbone of the presentation, providing a snapshot of the Donegal railway in its waning days.

Donegal Railway Museum Manager Marty Gilroy was delighted to welcome Joe back for the presentation, commenting: “This fascinating presentation will shine a light on a melancholic moment in the county’s history as its much-beloved railway network wound down towards closure. Joe’s talks are always interesting and informative, and the photographs he will be displaying as part of it are a rare and beautiful snapshot of the railway network in its final days.”

Admission to the event is free but booking is required.

Anyone wishing to attend this fascinating exploration of a bygone era can do so by booking online at https:donegalrailway.com or by calling +353 (0) 74 9722655