County Donegal Railways — The Complete Modeller's Guide

Why the CDR?

Among the many lost Irish narrow gauge railways, the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee (to give it its full name) stands apart for several reasons. First, scale: at 125 miles of operational route, it was the largest narrow gauge system in Ireland and one of the largest in the British Isles. Second, variety: the CDR operated steam locomotives, diesel railcars, diesel locos, and a remarkable mixed fleet of coaching and freight stock, all in a county of extraordinary scenic drama. Third, documentation: more photographs of the CDR survive than of almost any other Irish narrow gauge line, and several definitive histories have been written.

The CDR ran from 1893 until 1960. Its main hub was at Stranorlar (joined by a road bridge to Ballybofey), from which lines radiated to Strabane (connecting to the GNR(I)), to Glenties, to Killybegs, and to Ballyshannon. The scenery ranged from the Barnesmore Gap (a dramatic mountain pass through the Blue Stack Mountains) to the shores of Donegal Bay.

The Motive Power — What Ran on the CDR

Steam Locomotives

The CDR steam fleet was eclectic, built up from various manufacturers over several decades. The most significant classes for modellers are:

2-6-4T "Lydia" class: The CDR's largest steam locos, built by Nasmyth Wilson (1904) and later by Hudswell Clarke. These six-coupled tank engines handled the heavier goods and passenger turns. All-black livery, red buffer beams, brass dome and chimney cap.

4-6-4T "Erne" and "Foyle" class: The prestige CDR steam locos — powerful radial tank engines by Nasmyth Wilson. Used on express passenger turns until dieselisation. The "Erne" type has a distinctive high running plate and outside frames.

Various small tank engines: 2-4-0T, 0-6-0T types from various builders for branch and shunting work. Many were second-hand acquisitions from other lines.

All CDR steam locos ran in plain black with red buffer beams. Copper-capped chimneys on the better-kept locos; plain chimneys on working freight engines. Weathering is essential — these were hard-working machines in wet, demanding conditions.

Diesel Railcars — The CDR's Star Turn

The CDR's diesel railcars are the most photographed and most modelled subjects on the line. From 1931 the CDR invested in diesel multiple-unit railcars to combat bus competition — and in doing so created a fleet that was among the most advanced in the British Isles.

The early railcars (Nos. 1, 2, 3 — "Phoenix", "Drumboe", "Erne") were built by Walkers of Wigan on Ford and Gardner diesel engines. Their distinctive silver-and-red livery — streamlined for the era, with a rounded cab front — made them instantly recognisable and enormously popular with photographers.

Later railcars (No. 10 "Brian Boru", Nos. 11–19) were built by Walker Bros and AEC/Park Royal to refined designs. By the 1950s the CDR had 19 railcars operating over 125 miles of track — a diesel multiple unit density that many larger railways couldn't match.

Rolling Stock — Coaches and Wagons

Coaching Stock

CDR coaching stock went through several livery phases. The earliest vehicles were in varnished teak. By the interwar period, the company had standardised on a warm reddish-brown ("chocolate") with yellow lining and "County Donegal Railways" lettering in full on the side panels. This is the most photographed and most characteristic CDR coaching livery.

Bogie coaches were the CDR standard — unusual for a 3ft gauge line, where four-wheeled vehicles were more common on smaller railways. The CDR's bogie coaches ran smoothly at reasonable speed and offered good passenger capacity. Some coaches had clerestory roofs; the later-built vehicles had plain arc roofs.

Goods Wagons

CDR goods traffic included cattle (the most important freight), peat, fish from the Killybegs boats, and general merchandise. The wagon fleet was correspondingly varied: cattle wagons with slatted sides, open wagons for peat and coal, covered vans for general goods, and flat wagons for machinery.

Goods wagons were in grey or weathered wood, generally unliveried beyond a running number. Heavily weathered goods wagons in CDR grey are straightforward scratch-building projects — the simple four-wheel wooden wagons can be made from plasticard and brass strip.

Scenery and Infrastructure

A CDR layout is, above all, a Donegal landscape: quartzite mountains, brown bog, small stone-walled fields, whitewashed cottages, and the overwhelming Atlantic sky. The colours are distinctive — the bog runs from dark brown to tawny gold depending on season; the mountains are grey-blue; the fields a vivid green after rain.

Station architecture: CDR stations ranged from the substantial (Stranorlar, with its locomotive works and headquarters) to the minimal (rural request stops with a timber shelter and a nameplate). The typical CDR country station had a stone building with a simple slate roof, a short platform, a goods shed, and a cattle pen. No elaborate canopies or footbridges — this was a working country railway.

Track: CDR trackwork was generally light — narrow flat-bottomed rail on timber sleepers. In OO9, commercial flex-track from Peco (009 gauge) represents this well. The track in CDR photographs sits low in the landscape, embedded in the ground rather than raised on a substantial ballast bed.

Signals: The CDR used a mix of semaphore signals on the more important sections and staff-and-ticket working on quieter branches. A simple two-aspect semaphore is enough for most CDR station models.

Layout Ideas for the CDR

Stranorlar Station: The CDR's main hub — loco shed, works, multiple platforms, exchange with bus services. Ambitious but provides maximum operational interest. Suitable for a club layout project.

Barnesmore Gap: A scenic section layout — the CDR climbing through the dramatic mountain pass. Pure scenic modelling, less operational but stunning visually. A single-track line curving through heather-covered hills, with a distant glimpse of a railcar.

A country request stop: The smallest viable CDR layout — a single platform, a waiting shelter, a cattle pen. A railcar pauses to set down a passenger; a milk lorry is loading in the yard. All achievable in a 4×1ft layout for home or exhibition.

Killybegs: The fishing port terminus — CDR exchanging traffic with Donegal Bay fishing boats. Fish boxes stacked on the platform, a mixed goods waiting. A distinctive seaside setting unlike any other Irish prototype.

Research Resources

Books: "The County Donegal Railways" by Edward Patterson is the definitive history — thorough, well-illustrated, and available second-hand from specialist railway booksellers. "The Narrow Gauge Railways of Ireland" by Fayle is an older but useful overview of all Irish narrow gauge lines.

Photographs: An excellent collection of CDR photographs is held by the National Library of Ireland (free online access). The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society also holds significant CDR material. MRSI members have extensive collections.

Online: The 009 Society forum has active CDR modelling threads with technique advice and photographs of completed models. irishrailwaymodeller.com has archived discussion threads on CDR modelling going back many years.

Surviving hardware: The Foyle Valley Railway Museum in Derry holds CDR steam locos and railcars. The Ulster Folk & Transport Museum at Cultra has a full-size CDR replica railcar. Both are essential visits before starting a CDR project.