Cavan and Leitrim Railway

Coat of arms, colours speculative

History: Summary

Originally the Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon Light Railway and Tramway Co. registered on 3/2/1883. First section from Dromod to Belturbet (34 miles) opened on 17/10/1887. The branch from Ballinamore to Arigna was opened on 2/5/1888. Became the Cavan and Leitrim in 1895. 48 1/2 route miles in 1911. In 1920 extended to coalmines at Arigna. Closed 31/3/1959, the second last narrow gauge system to go, the last being the WCR. A section of the line was reopened in 1994.

Rolling stock: 9 locos (Robert Stephenson Mks. Nos. 2612-9 of 1884 and 3136 of 1904), 12 passenger, 12 other passenger, 143 goods wagons in 1911. On closures of other lines much stock found its way to the CLR.
Works: Ballinamore. Subsequently Inchicore.
Livery: Locos green with red lining. Carriages brown.(Casserly, Fayle: red brown). [Fayle] Black with red and white lining, numerals of cast brass were attached to cabsides and nameplates to side tanks. Carriages reddish brown.
Staff: Secretaries: 1886-8 E.Lillis, -92 U.Broughton, -1901 P.McNulty, 1902 J.McNulty, 1902-24 R.R.Stewart, Loco Superintendants: 1887-95 E.Redshaw, -96 W.H.Tomkins, -1920 T.H.Shanks, 16/8/1920 Capt.C.V.Rodgers, 1920-22 J.H.Cronin, -24 vacant, 1924 J.Rudden (who remained well into GSR days)
Signalling: Staff and ticket - both main line and the tramway, which was usually worked as one section. Passing loops at Ballyconnell, Bawnboy Rd., Ballinamore, Mohill and Drumshambo. Original blocks were Dromod, Mohill, Ballinamore, Bawnboy Rd., Ballyconnell and Belturbet. Wise staff with two metal tickets. Incorporated in staffs where necessary were Annett's keys for the intermediate points. By closure all Wise staffs had disappeared, with printed card tickets replacing them. (In 1915 the loco superintendant was instructed to make some Wise staffs since the patent had expired).

Further reading: P.J.Flanagan The Cavan and Leitrim Railway, Cavan and Leitrim Guide and Stock List, 2nd Ed., H.Fayle Narrow Gauge Railways of Ireland, Anthony Burges, Smoke Amidst the Drumlins: The Cavan and Leitrim in the 1950s - Irish Railway Photographers.
Web: The Cavan and Leitrim site has lots of information on the new CLR. Another new site, with Cavan and Leitrim Railway history, has recently emerged online, from descendants of Isabel, from whom the loco gets its name, daughter of R.H. Johnstone the longest serving director of the line. The site is worth delving into for detailed material on that railway and its creator has provided several photos (source indicated below as RHJ). The Narrow Gauge Museum at Tywyn in Wales has a number of Irish narrow gauge items. Browse through their collection starting at here for CLR railwayana. Items illustrated are: Accommodation gate notice, a 'C.L.& R.Ry' axlebox cover, and 2 CLR letter stamps.

Coat of Arms

Rolling Stock railwayana

Locomotive nameplates:
Isabel nameplate. Source: RHJ, descendant of Isabel

Works & tenderplates:

Carriage and wagon plates:
CLRR axlebox covers
CLR 1912 axlebox cover
More axleboxes. Source: RHJ

Axlebox cover. Source: RAG30. full image 14K

Axlebox cover. Source: A. Cutcliffe. full image 28K

Axlebox cover. Source: RAG306. full image 56K

Axlebox cover. Source: GCR1009.

Lineside and station railwayana

Footbridge:

Bridge Restriction:

Bridge Numbers:

Trespass, etc.:

CLR accomodation crossing at Tywyn. Source: RAG43

Station:
CLR station direction sign. Source: SRA996
Small CLR 'To station'. Source: TRA104
'To railway' sign. Source: GCR410. full image 37K
CLR tickets. Source: RHJ

Mileposts:

Railchair:

Signalling:
CLR bronze Wise staff 36cm, Go on to Mohill/Go on to Dromod. Source: SRA493
Non-Irish Wise staff. Source: SRA1293

Cutlery, china, ashtrays etc.:

Miscellaneous:
CLR rule book. Source: RHJ

Return to index page, or go to Narrow Gauge page 5, Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway.

Return to auction price data on original pages

For genealogy, go to my Lennan genealogy pages

Page content posted 27/7/1997. Revised 17/1/12