The Great Northern

Northern Ireland's railway network may not have had the dubious benefits of Richard Beeching's recommendations, but in common with Britain, Northern Ireland's network, (a rather grand term in the circumstances), has been severely pruned.

In the heyday of railways Londonderry had four lines running into the City. Of these all but what was the LMS line (London Midland & Scottish), have disappeared. Services on that line commenced as long ago as 1852.

I am not old enough to have seen all four lines in operation, but I do have quite vivid memories of the Great Northern Railway line at the City end of the Craigavon Bridge with its bustling Station. The Great Northern Railway Company Ireland was formed in 1876 with the merger of the Irish North Western Railway ; the Northern Railway of Ireland and the Ulster Railway. The Foyle Road station closed its doors in 1965. It did not therefore have to suffer the ignominy of welcoming diesel and electric trains.

In common with most if not all the myriad of railways which were established during the nineteenth century the, "GNR," raised funds by the issue of shares or stock. The photograph at the head of this post is of a certificate issued in 1899 in respect of a holding of its four percent preference stock.