Ballyshannon

Ballyshannon, Co.Donegal, was one of seven stations on the Great Northern Railway's Bundoran branch on the Irish Northwest line, opened in 1866. The GNR Irish North West lines were unfortunately closed in 1957. Ballyshannon actually had two separate stations, north of the town was the County Donegal Railway's narrow gauge station. Ballyshannon Station and goods shed survive although they have been extended, the platforms have been covered in but still visible. The stone road overbridge at the east end of station has been demolished since closure. The station served as a border post between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and a customs office was located on the down platform.
Great Northern Railway PP Class 4-4-0 No.50 arrives at Ballyshannon Station on a branch service from Bundoran in 1957. Note the bench and shelter on the left used for cross border custom examinations. ©Wilson Adams collection This is Ballyshannon Station fifty years later, looking west towards Bundoran. The main buildings, part of the platforms and goods shed remain, all extended since closure. A view from what was the overbridge at Ballyshannon Station, looking west towards Bundoran, with the edging of the up & down platforms just visible. A small plaque on the station building at Ballyshannon, proclaiming the station and the Great Northern Railway. The GNR was finally abolished in 1958.
The trackbed can clearly be seen from the elevated position of the former abutment of the road bridge. This view is towards Bundoran Junction, showing the modern bypass road cutting across the line