Mayo's railways

[skinner75]

I came across this story on my phone, and thought it'd be interesting to people here:

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2025/12/07/unique-history-of-mayos-railway-network-from-times-past/

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, skinner75 said:

I came across this story on my phone, and thought it'd be interesting to people here:

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2025/12/07/unique-history-of-mayos-railway-network-from-times-past/

Interesting, though sadly absolutely littered with errors, including the oft-repeated and tiresome "legend" about the first and last trains bringing the dead to Achill*, and the old rural chestnut that "the British built our railways" surfacing here and there. Much journalism in today's rural newpapers ios of that ilk; it seems that journalists nowadays, just do a quick 40-second search of tiktok or twittergram before writing their articles; whither actual research?

(* The first one did, but the last one didn't - the 1937 coffin train was a full 12 days before closure - normal service resumed the next day. Plus, the prophesy said nothing about trains (they wouldn't be invented until a century later), nor a "first" or "last" of anything.

Exact words of prophecy were: "The day will come, when fire carriages with iron wheels will bring death". Nothing more, nothing less.....)

The Killala branch was a small but fascinating one. Having done a book on both Achill and Clifden, I always though Killala would make a fitting companion - but in reality, it only had one station beyoned Ballina, and nothing ever happened on the line! It would be a very small book.... and photos of the line in use, especially decent ones, are virtually non-existent.

Edited 17 hours ago by jhb171achill

[Mol_PMB]

27 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Interesting, though sadly absolutely littered with errors, including the oft-repeated and tiresome "legend" about the first and last trains bringing the dead to Achill*, and the old rural chestnut that "the British built our railways" surfacing here and there. Much journalism in today's rural newpapers ios of that ilk; it seems that journalists nowadays, just do a quick 40-second search of tiktok or twittergram before writing their articles; whither actual research?

(* The first one did, but the last one didn't - the 1937 coffin train was a full 12 days before closure - normal service resumed the next day. Plus, the prophesy said nothing about trains (they wouldn't be invented until a century later), nor a "first" or "last" of anything.

Exact words of prophecy were: "The day will come, when fire carriages with iron wheels will bring death". Nothing more, nothing less.....)

The Killala branch was a small but fascinating one. Having done a book on both Achill and Clifden, I always though Killala would make a fitting companion - but in reality, it only had one station beyoned Ballina, and nothing ever happened on the line! It would be a very small book.... and photos of the line in use, especially decent ones, are virtually non-existent.

Speaking of books, is Loughrea available yet? 

[jhb171achill]

4 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Speaking of books, is Loughrea available yet? 

Further delay, unfortunately. Publisher has been unwell.