98-year-old emigrant seeks information about Lough Swilly Railway workers

A 98-year-old Inishowen man has issued an appeal to find anyone who might still be alive with whom he onced worked on the Lough Swilly Railway line.

Francis Campbell is originally from a large family in Burt and now lives in England. He worked on the Swilly Line until its closure in the late 1950s.

Mr Campbell wrote: “This is my story. My name is Francis Eugene Campbell. I am 98 years old and was employed with the Swilly Railway that closed down many years ago.

“I wonder if I am the oldest living employee still. I would like to know - yes or no.

“I am from Burt. I am still a Derry City fan.”

In an accompanying letter, his son Noel said Mr Campbell “would like to know if there is anyone else that lives on and also worked at the Railway. and if anyone has information about the railway at that time.

“He was born and raised in a large family in Burt, County Donegal on the main road between Letterkenny and Derry.”

If anyone would like to get in touch with any information, please contact Noel Campbell in writing to: Noel Campbell, 54 West Road, Bromsgrove, Worc, England, B60 2NQ.

Read more: Remembering the Owencarrow viaduct rail disaster from 100 years ago

Many local people many still have fond memories of the ‘Swilly Train’ which transported countless day trippers from its station in Derry to the seaside town of Buncrana and beyond.

While it is over 70 years since the popular service drew to a close, a book by rail historian Jim McBride was published in 2021 featuring old photographs and information about the service.

‘The Lough Swilly Remembered’ was published by County Donegal Railway Restoration with proceeds going towards the running of the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre, the only railway museum in Donegal dedicated to rescuing, restoring, celebrating and showcasing the unique railways that, for many years, operated across the county.

Jim McBride said at the time: “Unlike the County Donegal Railway, the Lough Swilly was operated only by steam engines until what was left of its system finally closed.

“However, the Lough Swilly survived until August 2014 as a bus company that was officially a railway company with no trains since 1953.”