Ulster Railway
Encyclopedia
The Ulster Railway was a railway company operating in Ulster
, Ireland
. The company was incorporated in 1836 and merged with two other railway companies in 1876 to form the Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
.
in 1836 and construction began in March 1837.
The first 8 miles (12.9 km) of line, between and , County Antrim
, were completed in August 1839 at a cost of £107,000. The line was extended in stages, opening to in 1841, in 1842, and Armagh
in 1848.
In 1836 a Railway Commission recommended that railways in Ireland be built to broad gauge
.. The Ulster Railway complied with this recommendation but the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
did not. In order for Dublin and Belfast to be linked without a break of gauge, in 1846 the UK Parliament passed an Act adopting a compromise gauge of for Ireland, to which the Ulster Railway's track was then re-laid.
Extension of the Ulster Railway resumed, reaching Monaghan
in 1858, Smithborough
in 1862 and Clones
on the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway in 1863.
The Dublin and the Belfast Junction Railway (D&BJct) between and was completed in 1853. This connected the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
(D&D) with the Ulster Railway, thus completing the main line between Dublin
and Belfast.
The Ulster Railway operated three lines that remained in the ownership of separate companies: the Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway
(PD&O), Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Railway (BLBR) and Dublin and Antrim Junction Railway (D&AJR). The PD&O reached Dungannon
in 1858 and Omagh
in 1861, and the contrator William Dargan
sold the Ulster a 999 year lease on it in 1860. The BLBR opened between Knockmore Junction
and Banbridge
in 1863 and the D&AJR opened between Knockmore Junction and in 1871.
In 1876 the Ulster Railway merged with the Irish North Western Railway
(INW), and Northern Railway of Ireland
, forming the Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
(GNR(I), GNRI or just GNR).
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The company was incorporated in 1836 and merged with two other railway companies in 1876 to form the Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
.
History
The Ulster Railway was authorised by an Act of the UK ParliamentParliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
in 1836 and construction began in March 1837.
The first 8 miles (12.9 km) of line, between and , County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, were completed in August 1839 at a cost of £107,000. The line was extended in stages, opening to in 1841, in 1842, and Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
in 1848.
In 1836 a Railway Commission recommended that railways in Ireland be built to broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
.. The Ulster Railway complied with this recommendation but the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Dublin and Drogheda Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The D&D constructed the railway line between Dublin and Drogheda. The company presented the scheme to parliament in 1836 and received royal assent on 13 August 1836. John MacNeill was appointed as the line's engineer in...
did not. In order for Dublin and Belfast to be linked without a break of gauge, in 1846 the UK Parliament passed an Act adopting a compromise gauge of for Ireland, to which the Ulster Railway's track was then re-laid.
Extension of the Ulster Railway resumed, reaching Monaghan
Monaghan
Monaghan is the county town of County Monaghan in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 7,811 . The town is located on the main road, the N2 road, from Dublin north to both Derry and Letterkenny.-Toponym:...
in 1858, Smithborough
Smithborough
Smithborough or Smithboro is a village in County Monaghan, Ireland. It is within the townlands of Mullaghduff and Mullaghbrack. It is roughly mid-way between Monaghan Town and Clones on the N54. Nearby villages within 6-7 km are Threemilehouse, Scotstown, Ballinode, and Newbliss all within County...
in 1862 and Clones
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
on the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway in 1863.
The Dublin and the Belfast Junction Railway (D&BJct) between and was completed in 1853. This connected the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Dublin and Drogheda Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The D&D constructed the railway line between Dublin and Drogheda. The company presented the scheme to parliament in 1836 and received royal assent on 13 August 1836. John MacNeill was appointed as the line's engineer in...
(D&D) with the Ulster Railway, thus completing the main line between Dublin
Dublin Connolly railway station
Dublin Connolly, commonly called Connolly station , is one of the main railway stations in Dublin, Ireland, and is a focal point in the Irish route network. Opened in 1844 as Amiens Street Station, the ornate facade has a distinctive Italianate tower at its centre...
and Belfast.
The Ulster Railway operated three lines that remained in the ownership of separate companies: the Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway
Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway
The Portadown, Dungannon and Omagh Junction Railway was an Irish gauge railway in County Armagh and County Tyrone, Ulster, Ireland .-Early development:...
(PD&O), Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Railway (BLBR) and Dublin and Antrim Junction Railway (D&AJR). The PD&O reached Dungannon
Dungannon
Dungannon is a medium-sized town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the third-largest town in the county and a population of 11,139 people was recorded in the 2001 Census. In August 2006, Dungannon won Ulster In Bloom's Best Kept Town Award for the fifth time...
in 1858 and Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
in 1861, and the contrator William Dargan
William Dargan
William Dargan , an engineer, often seen as the father of Irish railways, came from Killeshin, County Laois, Ireland. Born in 1799, he constructed Ireland's first railway from Dublin to Dún Laoghaire in 1833. He constructed over of railway to important urban centres of Ireland...
sold the Ulster a 999 year lease on it in 1860. The BLBR opened between Knockmore Junction
Knockmore railway station
Knockmore railway station was a station on the Belfast–Newry railway line. The station served the suburb of Knockmore in Lisburn, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Great Northern Railway opened Knockmore station as a halt in 1932. Northern Ireland Railways closed the station on March 25th...
and Banbridge
Banbridge
Banbridge is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road. It was named after a bridge built over the Bann in 1712. The town grew as a coaching stop on the road from Belfast to Dublin and thrived from Irish linen manufacturing...
in 1863 and the D&AJR opened between Knockmore Junction and in 1871.
In 1876 the Ulster Railway merged with the Irish North Western Railway
Irish North Western Railway
Irish North Western Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.-Development:The company was founded as the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway and opened the first section of its line, from to , in 1849...
(INW), and Northern Railway of Ireland
Northern Railway of Ireland
Northern Railway of Ireland was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.It was formed by a merger of the Dublin and Drogheda Railway with the Dublin and the Belfast Junction Railway in 1875. In 1876 it merged with the Irish North Western Railway and Ulster Railway to form the Great Northern...
, forming the Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
Great Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
(GNR(I), GNRI or just GNR).
External links
- 1843 Timetable for Belfast and Portadown, from Bradshaw's Railway Monthly