Public Transport in Inishowen
By J.J. Brady

All Public Transport Services engaged throughout Inishowen are operated by the Londonderry & Swilly Railway Company. These embrace 17 miles of railway lines, and include 104 passenger omnibus route miles, while in addition a fleet of motor lorries distributed between Depots situate at Buncrana, Carndonagh and Moville, provide facilities for conveyance of merchandise traffic by road.

The L. & L. S. Railway Company was incorporated under Act of 1853 to construct a railway line from Londonderry Quay to Farland Point on Lough Swilly in the Townland of Carrowen and Parish of Burt, with steamers operating therefrom on Lough Swilly. It was not until 1859, however, when a further Act empowered an extension of the Railway to Buncrana, that the scheme assumed practicable form. The Section from Londonderry to Farland Point (8.5 miles) was opened on 31st December 1863, and the remaining Section from Tooban Junction to Buncrana (over 6 miles) on 10th December, 1864. At the outset the line was broad-gauge (5ft 3ins), but consequent upon the construction of a narrow-gauge line from Tooban Junction to Letterkenny (opened 30th July, 1883), the L. & L. S. Railway Company obtained powers to alter the gauge between Londonderry and Buncrana to the existing size (3ft). The alteration actually took place in the early part of 1885.

An extension of the Railway from Buncrana to Carndonagh via Clonmany was opened on 1st July 1901, but this was closed on 20th November, 1935, owing to loss in working, and road services substituted.

The L. & L. S. Railway Company commenced working passenger omnibus road vehicles on 1st December, 1929, and by the 21st May, 1931, had acquired all the privately owned passenger road services in the Peninsula of Inishowen.

Finally as from 8th July, 1935, all privately owned merchandise road services were acquired under the Free State Road Transport Act (1933).

In pre-war times it was for many years the proud boast of this Railway that it paid the highest dividends of any Railway Co. in Ireland (7%), but these halcyon days have gone, and like many other Railway, dividends of any sort are no longer possible.

The Company, however, in spite of may difficulties, makes the claim that it continues to serve the public with cheap, adequate and reliable transport and is anxious to assist in the development of its area by every means in its power.

Windmill used to charge Battery,
Fahan Railway Station 1885

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