The Viaduct Disaster
The viaduct was
built to carry the train over the broad valley of the Owencarrow river.
The worst accident in the history of the Lough Swilly Railway happened
on the viaduct near Creeslough on Friday 31st January, 1925.
The Lough Swilly Train left Derry as usual at 5:30 PM on this
fateful day with 13 passengers, 8 goods wagons and 2 bread vans.
The driver was Mr. Robert Mc Guinness, the fireman was John Hannigan
and the guard was Neily Boyle. It left Letterkenny at 7:05PM with
about 36 passengers on board.
As the Train approached the Owencarrow Viaduct a strong gale was blowing,
the train driver slowed down to 10m.p.h. but the gale was so strong
that it blew the carriage nearest to the engine off the rails.
The roof was ripped off and four passengers dropped forty feet to their
death. They were Philip and Sarah Boyle from Arranmore Inland,
Una Mulligan from Falcarragh, Neil Duggan from Meenbunowen Creeslough,
Duggan home was only a stones throw from the crash. The fireman John
Hannigan walked (ran) three miles to Creeslough to raise the alarm.
The local doctor Dr. Charley Coll and newly ordained priest Fr. Barney
Gallagher attended the dead and injured .Lots of local people
helped out. Six of the injured were taken to Letterkenny Hospital. At
the inquest the Jury recorded the bravery of two men James Mc Fadden
Kilfad and Pat Mc Fadden Terlin who rescued two women from a carriage
hanging by it's chains.
The last passenger train
journey from Letterkenny to Burtonport took place on June 1941.
