Monday last, 13th August, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the running of the last pilgrim to Lough Derg, known as the Bundoran Express. This was worked by local men, the driver Davy Vennard and Kevin Love, the fireman on Engine Number 203.
The Bundoran Express title which was emblazoned on the front of the locomotive, ran daily during the pilgrimage season (1st June-15th August) between Dublin and Bundoran. The train crossed the border several times enroute, but although over a third of the journey was in Northern Ireland, no customs examination was necessary as there was no scheduled stop in the North. Pettigo was the railhead for a pilgrimage to Lough Derg, a few miles away, buses being used for the last part of the journey. St. Patrick's Purgatory is renowned to be one of the oldest religious sites in Ireland and the pilgrims who used the 'Bundoran Express' mostly came from the Republic of Ireland.
The Bundoran Express left Dublin at 8.45am reaching Pettigo at 1.04pm and Bundoran at 2.00pm. It departed Bundoran at 12.55pm and reached Dublin at 5.45pm. The route included Bundoran, Pettigo, Bundoran Junction, Enniskillen, Clones, Dundalk, Drogheda and finally Dublin.
In the years leading to 1957 the Bundoran Express carried an average of 22,000 pilgrims from Dublin and intermediate stations, which is the equivalent to 50 buses per day during the height of the pilgrimage season.
The Bundoran Express was the pride ad joy of railwaymen on the Great Northern and was frequently on of the Great Northern's famous blue engines with six to seven coaches.
The Great Northern Railway closed on the 30th September 1957. Many thought that due to the large number of pilgrims using the Bundoran line that this would ensure its survival. In September 1957, Leo McGovern from the Bundoran Urban Council outlined that a skeleton rail service should be continued on the GNR line to Lough Derg and Bundoran which was the most profitable part of the line. IF the GNR company was not prepared to run the service, he outlined, then they should be asked to allow another company t to it-to hire the rolling stock and equipment. He proposed that C.I.E. be asked to take over the line and run a service from Clones to Bundoran and Lough Derg. However these proposals were to prove unsuccessful and the line closed on the 30th September, 1957.
Further events are planned throughout the year to commemorate the 50th Anniversary including 'Steam around Fermanagh', an illustrated night of railway nostalgia by Charles Friel. It will take place at 8.00pm on Monday, 1st October in the Ardhowen Theatre. A few tickets remain for this event and early booking is advisable.
