Survey Data
Reg No
40907721
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Original Use
Bridge
In Use As
Bridge
Date
1880 - 1900
Coordinates
211966, 392523
Date Recorded
10/02/2007
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Single-arch former railway bridge, built c. 1882 or c. 1891, carrying road over the former Stranorlar to Druminin (Later Lough Eske Halt) section of the Derry (Victoria Road) to Killybegs railway line. Railway lines now out of use with tracks removed (c. 1960). Rubble limestone construction to spandrels and parapets, rock-faced stone coping over parapets. Coursed and squared mildly rock-faced terminating piers (on square-plan) to parapets having roughly dressed stone coping over. Segmental-headed arch having cement arch and cement lining to soffit; coursed rock-faced limestone construction to piers. Mildly rock-faced quoins to bases of piers. Tarmacadam deck with grass verges. Located adjacent to the site of the former Meenglass Railway Station\Halt (no remains), and in the rural countryside to the north-east of the Barnesmore Gap, and to the south-west of Ballybofey.
Appraisal
This former railway bridge retains its original form and character despite the closure of the line in 1960. It is well-built using local rubble stone masonry, and it illustrates the attention to detail afforded even the most modest of structures by the railway companies at the time of construction. The good-quality mildly rock-faced masonry used in the construction for the lining of the arch barrel, the quoins to the arch piers, and to the terminating piers of the parapets is typical of late-Victorian and Edwardian railway engineering and architecture in Ireland. The combination of rock-faced masonry and cast-concrete arch ring adds an interesting textural dimension to the structure. It survives in relatively good condition, which is testament to the quality of its original construction. It was originally built by the West Donegal Railway Company as part of the Stranorlar to Druminin (later Lough Eske Halt) section of the Derry (Victoria Road) to Killybegs narrow gauge railway line (3-foot), which opened in April 1882 and closed in January 1960. The line was built as far as Donegal Town in 1889. It is possible that this bridge was built slightly later as the former Meenglass Railway Station\Halt (no remains) that lay adjacent was only established in 1891. This railway bridge forms part of a group of structures associated with this former narrow gauge railway line in this part of the county and is an element of the built heritage and transport history of Donegal.