Ballywillan

Ballywillan Station, Co.Longford, is an excellently preserved station on the former Midland Great Western Railway line from Inny Junction to Cavan, which opened in 1856. The line lost its passenger service in 1947 but regular goods services survived until 1960. The station building, complete with its 1920s Great Southern Railway name board, survives, as well as the up & down platforms which are also in a very fine condition. The goods shed and typical MGWR cabin are also preserved, along with the water tower base. The only thing missing from Ballywillan's former glory is the wooden MGWR waiting room and footbridge.
This is Ballywillan Station on the Midland Great Western's line to Cavan, looking south towards Inny Junction, showing the station building and goods shed. Another view of the station building at Ballywillan, this time looking north towards Cavan from the down platform. The well preserved two storey stone built station building at Ballywillan, dating from 1856. Nearly all of the main Midland Great Western station buildings north of Mullingar were built to this design. The attractive station building Ballywillan, as viewed from the station forecourt. A gate entrance leading onto the up platform can be seen on the right.
The superb post-1925 Great Southern Railway bilingual name board also survives, as seen here mounted on the station building. Located at the south end of the up platform is the former water tower. Although the water tank is gone, the stone base of the structure remains. The stone goods shed also survives at Ballywillan Station, now used for storage. It is located at the south of the station on the up side. This is the road side of the goods shed at Ballywillan Station, showing the small goods office building. The shed also retains its wooden canopy and sliding door.
Ballywillan is an excellent station, another bonus is that the typical Midland Great Western signal cabin remains here, complete with original gable end boards. Ballywillan is an excellent station, another bonus is that the typical Midland Great Western signal cabin remains here, complete with original gable end boards. This is the Midland Great Western crossing keepers house located south of Ballywillan at Tonymore. It guarded a small country lane which led to the aforementioned Lough Kinale.