The project was originally conceived of in the 1860's by the Dundalk and Enniskillen as a link between it and the LNWR (from whence the change of name of the DER to the INWR), via a sea route from Greenore to Holyhead. LNWR support was obtained and a nominally independent company was set up in 1863. Little progress was made due to a lack of funding and the collapse of the constituent company involved in the Newry-Greenore section in 1867. Subsequently the LNWR provided new capital and its control increased. In 1868 the LNWR Secretary assumed a similar role in the DNGR and its Head Office moved to Euston. Construction proceeded and a public service began on 1/5/1873. The company owned an hotel at Greenore, managements of which was taken over by the GNRI in 1932. Partition in 1922 adversely affected a company running 26 miles of railway in two jurisdictions. On 1/11/1932 the GNR and LMS assumed joint working of the DNGR. At Dundalk, Quay St. became a halt and most traffic was transferred to Barrack St., while at Newry, Bridge St. also became a halt and certain traffic was moved to Edward St.. On 1/7/1933 even closer working of the entire DNGR, including the hotel at Greenore, was taken on by the GNR. This led to the transfer of a considerable part of the DNGR stock to the NCC. During the war three of the surviving 5 locos were lent to the NCC. The last public service was on 31/12/1951, but a short stretch of line in Dundalk, connecting the GNR at Windmill Road Junction with Georges Quay, continued to be worked by the GNR. Final rolling stock comprised 5 saddle tank locos (only No.2 Greenore was in service to the end), a petrol railcar and 10 passenger carriages. It was considered preserving loco No.1 Macrory but only a 6 wheel composite coach was finally saved and is now in the UTFM. All loco nameplates were preserved. Despite the closure of the railway, the company continued to exist for more than five years.
Rolling stock: Rolling stock was provided by the
LNWR. The original rolling stock programme comprised 6
coaches, 2 passenger brake vans, 2 goods brake vans, 50
cattle trucks, 10 bolster timber wagons, 40 open and 100
closed wagons. The first three engines were built in Crewe
in 1873, while, for the extension of the line to Newry, two
similar locos were built in 1876 (Crewe Wks.No.3877). A
final loco was added in 1898. No.5 Carlingford was
withdrawn in 1928 and scrapped. Original carriage stock was
replaced between 1899 and 1908, by six wheel stock, except
for 3 bogie coaches used on the Belfast boat train.
Works: Repair facilities existed at Greenore. Men
were originally sent from Wolverton in the UK to overhaul
the carriage stock until 1933 when this task was taken on
by the GNR.
Livery: Livery of coaches was as the LNWR,
chocolate with off-white upper panels
Staff: Secretaries were S.Reay (LNWR Secretary)
1868-71, A.C.Tickle 1950-54. . From 1871 the General
Manager, Secretary, and chief officers at Euston functioned
ex officio in respect of the DNGR. H.G.Burgess
described as General Manager in 1898. J.C.Chambers (of BTC
legal service) was General Manager 1951 until
closure.
Signalling: The original signalling contract was
with Saxbury and Farmer in 1872. Signals were of LNWR
pattern. Originally Greenore-Dundalk (Barrack St.) formed
one long block and staff section. Electric block telegraph
was introduced in 1893 and Bush and Bellurgan became block
posts. In GNR days, the staff sections for staff and ticket
working were Greenore-Bush-Quay St. and, on the Newry line,
Greenore-Carlingford-Newry (Bridge St.) with Bellurgan and
Omeath being intermediate block posts without crossing
facilities.
Further reading: D.S.Barrie, The Dundalk Newry and Greenore Railway, W.Robb, "Recollections of the GNR" JIRRS 672.
DNGR
monogram
DNGR coa.
Source: SRA904
An earlier version of the crest, with a 2-2-2 loco and 4 wheeled coach (instead of a 4-4-0 tender loco and bogie coach), existed in the early days of the company.
DNGR monogram. Source:
© G. Hartley (scan RCJ)
Locomotive nameplates and numbers:
DNGR
'Macrory'cabside. Source: SRA 698
DNGR
'Greenore' cabside
DNGR
'Newry' cabside. Source: SRA312 (full image 60K)
DNGR
nameplate. Source: GCR411. (full
image 24K)
See supplementary DNGR rolling stock railwayana
page for additional material
MACRORYx2, NEWRY, GREENORE, DUNDALK - All at NRMY
No. 3 - P, No. 1 - P, No. 2 - UFTM.
Works & tenderplates:
Footbridge:
Bridge Restriction:
Bridge Numbers:
DNGR Bridge
(full image 38K)
No. 1 - NRMY
No. 2 - P
Trespass:
Gate:
DNGR Gate
Notice. Source: BRA295
Nuisance:
DNGR Nuisance Notice (See supplementary DNGR lineside railwayana
page)
NRMY
Station:
DNGR Notice Board (See supplementary DNGR lineside railwayana
page)
NRMY
Mileposts, etc.:
DNGR Boundary.
Source: BRA698
Boundary - P + several NRMY (see photo)
Railchair:
Signalling:
Greenore -
Carlingford staff. Source: SRA1299
Staff - P
Cutlery, china, ashtrays etc.:
Miscellaneous:
See supplementary DNGR lineside railwayana page for additional items
Return to index page, or go to DNGR
subpage, DNGR rolling stock
railwayana.
Return to auction
price data on original pages
For genealogy, go to my Lennan
genealogy pages
Page posted 27/7/1997. Revised 29/3/13
