Photography
Castlebar Railway Station 150 year anniversary.
By Brían Hoban
16, Dec 2012 - 16:26

A large crowd of local dignitaries , staff from Iarnród Éireann and members of the public were on hand today to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of Castlebar Railway Station.

The Castlebar Station was opened on December 17th 1862.

The line over the years was known as "The Mayo Branch", but in the earlier years was known as "Lord Lucan's Railway".

George Charles Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan was a British soldier, remembered for his part in the Crimean War. George Charles resigned from the army in 1831 to develop his Mayo Estate. During the famine years there were mass evictions from his estate to make way farming of dairy cattle.

In 1854 England declared war on Russia and Lucan resumed his military career, playing a leading role in the battle of Balaclava.

He returned Castlebar in 1855 and concentrated on the development of the railway to Mayo, with a view of accessing the British markets with his produce. The line was more successful however in exporting people as emigrants than exporting cattle.

A replica steam engine by local artist Mr. Liam Ralph, Moneen, Castlebar was unveiled today by Deputy John O'Mahony, T.D. who deputized for An Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D. who was detained in Brussels on Government business, to mark the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the opening of Castlebar Railway Station.

Click on photos for enlargements.