08/11/2024
The Award Winning Donegal Railway Heritage Museum located just 300 metres from Donegal Town centre commemorates the operations of the various railways that operated across County Donegal from 1863 until 1959.
The Museum is Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, and Sundays 12noon-4pm (May-Sep), no need to book!
Admission Fees: Adults €5, OAP/Students €4, Child €3, Family €13
The Railways in Donegal were the largest narrow-gauge railways in the British Isles, although it began its existence in the form of the Irish 5’3” broad gauge. The County had a number of firsts including one of the first combustion engines on tracks anywhere in the world, and also later, had one of the first diesel engines on tracks running to a timetable, anywhere in Europe. Donegal, leading the way, as always!
The first line to open was the Finn Valley Railway from Strabane to Stranorlar in September 1863 and extended in to Donegal Town in 1889. The next twenty years saw the peak of construction of the narrow-gauge lines, from Donegal Town to Killybegs in 1893, and from Stranorlar to Glenties in 1895.
The Donegal Railway Museum opened in 1995 and uniquely and fittingly, is housed in one of the few surviving railway stations in the County. We are a dedicated group of people committed to saving, restoring, developing, celebrating and developing a first-class visitor attraction. It plays a pivotal part in the cultural life of the area, and also in the economic regeneration of Donegal, and in tourism, as one of the main attractions in Donegal Town.
The visitor attraction comprises of a museum which has just been refurbished, an information centre, a retail element and a coffee shop. On display is rolling stock including original railway carriages and wagons, unique historical artefacts, working railway models, and various audio-visual presentations on the history of the railways. However, in October 2021, the famous original Donegal Steam Engine, “Drumboe”, built in 1907, returned to the museum after a major restoration, where it is showcased in a new presentation platform along with other original stock. This has become not only the centrepiece of the museum, but a must see for anyone interested in Donegal’s heritage; it is the only original Donegal engine in the County!
The museum itself is just 300 metres from the town centre, just below Donegal Castle, and has something for everyone. We have free fun worksheets for kids, amongst other things to keep them amused, but also have plenty to keep adults entertained, as well as an on-site coffee hut based in a 100 year old restored Weighbridge Hut.
For more information, or Tel: 074 972 2655 or check us out on Social Media or at www.donegalrailway.com
