Drumshanbo

Drumshanbo was a well known location on the Cavan & Leitrim narrow gauge line to Arigna. The town was the only sizable village on the C&L branch from Ballinamore to Arigna, which was largely a road side tram, built in 1888. The line was primarily built to serve one of the few coal deposits found at Arigna, and this is what kept the line open until 1959 when CIE closed the C&L system completely. The station buildings at Drumshanbo all remain intact, this being the extended stone station building, water tower and goods shed. The only difference to that of railway days is the fact the main road to Arigna has been routed straight through the station on the former trackbed. Just west of the station the line passed over one of the infamous unguarded level crossings. I've also included pictures west of Drumshanbo town showing the former C&L Shannon bridge and Mahanagh LC.
Drumshanbo Station, on the Cavan & Leitrim line from Ballinamore to Arigna. The stone built station building as been extended, while a new road has been built on the trackbed in the foreground. Drumshanbo Station, looking east towards Ballimore. This view shows the water tower and station buildings with the new road sandwiched between them on the trackbed. Drumshanbo Station forecourt. The second storey section of the stucture was a later addition even in railway days. Part of the wooden waiting room survives at Drumshanbo Station, which still retains its typical large wooden Cavan & Leitrim Railway doors and windows, seen here behind the hedge.
Another view of Drumshanbo Station, showing all the station buildings. There was once an engine shed, later just an inspection pit where the trees and shrubs are. This is the stone built C&L goods shed and platform at Drumshanbo Station. The trackbed (now the road) curves off towards Arigna. A view looking from the goods shed and platform at Drumshanbo, looking towards Arigna. There were once three tracks on the right, the siding, loop and running line. A view just west of Drumshanbo was favourite location for photographers on the Cavan & Leitrim Railway, where the 3ft gauge line hugged the hedge on the left around from the station (out of view) before veering sharply across the road to the right.
This is Mahanagh level crossing beyond Drumshanbo in the direction of Argina prior to the River Shannon bridge. The stone keepers house is a typical C&L type. One of the concrete level crossing posts complete with metal lock, survives at Mahanagh crossing. The telegraph poles still follow the old Cavan & Leitrim trackbed. Beyond Mahanagh crossing, the C&L line crossed the River Shannon on a lattice girder bridge, now long since gone, but the stone abutments remain.