Survey Data
Reg No
40909313
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Technical
Previous Name
Eddrim Railway Bridge
Original Use
Bridge
Date
1890 - 1900
Coordinates
189345, 378040
Date Recorded
01/11/2007
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Double-arch former railway bridge, built c. 1893, carrying former Donegal Town to Killybegs narrow gauge railway line over the Eddrim River. Railway lines no out of use with tracks removed (c. 1960); bridge now out of use. Segmental-headed arches with rock-faced ashlar voussoirs having dressed margins; skewed squared rubble stone masonry to arch barrels. Coursed rock-faced masonry construction to piers. Squared rock-faced stone construction to spandrels and to parapets with rock-faced coping over parapets. Deck now overgrown. Located to the west of Donegal Town and to the north-east of Mountcharles. Site of former Killymard railway station adjacent to the west (now demolished).
Appraisal
This impressive double-arched former railway bridge retains its original form and character despite the closure of the line in 1960. The good-quality rock-faced masonry used in its construction is typical of Victorian railway engineering and architecture in Ireland. It survives in good condition, which is testament to the quality of its original construction. This bridge crosses the Eddrim River at an angle to the alignment/flow of the river. To counter this feature the masons used skewed spiral-set cut stone masonry to construct the arch barrels, which is a feature that adds additional technical and engineering merit to this bridge. It was originally built by the Donegal Railway Company as part of the Donegal Town to Killybegs section of the Derry (Victoria Road) to Killybegs railway line, which opened in August 1893 and closed completely on January 1st 1960. This railway bridge forms part of a group of structures associated with this former narrow gauge railway line in the Mountcharles area, and is an important element of the built heritage and transport history of County Donegal.