Midland Great Western Railway
[4] Construction of the main line began from Dublin in January 1846[3] and proceeded westwards in stages, supervised by chief engineer G. W.[10] In 1890 the government granted the MGWR £264,000 to build a railway to Clifden[11] on the Atlantic coast of County Galway.[13] Due to its inland route it did not serve the bulk of the area's population,[citation needed] so the GSR closed it in 1935.A similar branch line was built at the same time from Westport to Achill on the Atlantic coast of County Mayo.Passenger coaches were finished in varnish or brown paint[citation needed] until the blue livery was introduced in 1901.[citation needed] From October 1918 coaches were painted a very dark Crimson[18] and after 1924 the GSR used a similar shade for some years.Rail Users Ireland proposed running some Galway — Dublin services via the MGWR station in Athlone and the disused route via Moate to Mullingar, reinstating the route of the first MGWR service via the former GS&WR line.
Great Southern RailwaysTrack gaugeIrish gaugeGreat Southern and Western RailwayGreat Northern Railway of IrelandLeinsterCounty CavanUlsterConnachtIrish Free StateParliament of the United KingdomLong titleCitation8 & 9 Vict.Royal assentMullingarLongfordRoyal CanalG. W. HemansDublin BroadstoneEnfieldGalwayPortarlingtonAthlonerail trailDublin-Galway GreenwayClifdenCounty GalwayOughterardWestportAchillCounty MayoMulrannyNewportbranch linesClonsilla to NavanKingscourtAthboyEdenderryAttymon Junction to Loughrealight railwayGalway to ClifdenCavan TownKilfree Junction to BallaghaderreenKilleshandraClaremorrisBallinrobeManulla to Ballina, County MayoKillalaOireachtas of the Irish Free StateCork, Bandon and South Coast RailwayDublin and South Eastern RailwayBroadstone worksDublinDownpatrick and County Down RailwayUlster Folk and Transport MuseumWilliam DarganRailway Preservation Society of IrelandIarnród ÉireannBallaghaderreen branch lineRail Users IrelandDublin HeustonGreat Western Greenwaygreenwayninth Earl of WestmeathJohn DewranceMartin AtockEdward CusackW. H. MortonHistory of rail transport in IrelandRail transport in IrelandDTTAS.ieWayback MachineAthlone Advertiser