Camus old GRN Railway Bridge, 18 Feb 2024 DSC_1211
Camus or Camas from the Gaelic is a townland of the same name. Camus bridge is an old disused GNR railway bridge which crosses the River Mourne from its east to west bank. The old rusted iron oxide coloured bridge is visible from the main A5 (Melmount) Road between Sion Mills and Victoria Bridge or alternatively the Liskey Road between Strabane and Victoria Bridge. If planning to cross the bridge, great care should be taken as portions of the hand rail have rusted away, others are very weak with some missing. Additionally, the riveted steel structural members underfoot can cause a tripping hazard. The name “Camus” comes from the Gaelic word meaning bend or curve, of course referring to the bend in the river.
camus-juxta-bann.org/a-brief-history/
Camus GNI Railway Bridge is known locally as Cams Bridge, it and the old Breen GNI Railway Bridge, located further upstream were both constructed as part of the Londonderry & Enniskillen Railway Company (L&ER) route between Derry and Enniskillen and crossed the River Mourne at a number of locations.
Line construction began in 1845 at Derry and followed the west bank of the River Foyle southwards for 12 miles (19 km) to Strabane, which was reached in 1847. The L&ER's terminus in Derry was Londonderry Foyle Road Station on the West bank of the River Foyle.
Revenue from the line was substantially lower than initially projected and capital to extend the line further south was not raised until 1850. The line was continued up the Mourne Valley via Newtownstewart, where the river name changes to the Strule, then continued up stream to Omagh, both towns being reached in 1852. The line reached its summit at Fintona, County Tyrone, in 1853. Its final extension was from Fintona Junction (which was just north of Fintona town) descending South-westwards to its terminus at Enniskillen which was reached in 1854.
Between Newtownstewart and Strabane several of the earlier cast-iron girder trellis bridges, which in turn replaced the original timber bridges put up by the Londonderry & Enniskillen Railway Company (L&ER). Approximately 185 of them were replaced between 1910 to 1912 by enclosed troughs of riveted iron sheets, supported on massive steel girders, current examples include Camus Bridge Replaced 1911), Breen Bridge and Mulvin Bridge.
The Irish gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway (L&ER) reached Strabane in 1847, Omagh in 1852 and Enniskillen in 1854. The Great Northern Railway Ireland (GNI) took over the L&ER in 1883.
The Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway opened the station at Sion Mills on the 9 May 1852. It was taken over by GNI in 1883 and it closed on 15 February 1965.
Strabane (GNI) opened 19 April 1847 and closed 15 Feb 1965.
Victoria Bridge (GNI) opened 9 May 1852 and closed 15 Feb 1965.
Victoria Bridge to Castlederg Tramway was 3’ 0” gauge and ran from Victoria Bridge via Glen, Stonewalls, Fyfin, Crew, Spamount and then into Castlederg.
Sadly after 75 years of service the ‘Great Northern Railway (Ireland)’ shut down operations in 1966. Despite the ravages of time much evidence of a once-great enterprise still remains in the form of embankments, cuttings, bridges and station buildings.
Camus old GRN Railway Bridge, 18 Feb 2024 DSC_1211
Camus or Camas from the Gaelic is a townland of the same name. Camus bridge is an old disused GNR railway bridge which crosses the River Mourne from its east to west bank. The old rusted iron oxide coloured bridge is visible from the main A5 (Melmount) Road between Sion Mills and Victoria Bridge or alternatively the Liskey Road between Strabane and Victoria Bridge. If planning to cross the bridge, great care should be taken as portions of the hand rail have rusted away, others are very weak with some missing. Additionally, the riveted steel structural members underfoot can cause a tripping hazard. The name “Camus” comes from the Gaelic word meaning bend or curve, of course referring to the bend in the river.
camus-juxta-bann.org/a-brief-history/
Camus GNI Railway Bridge is known locally as Cams Bridge, it and the old Breen GNI Railway Bridge, located further upstream were both constructed as part of the Londonderry & Enniskillen Railway Company (L&ER) route between Derry and Enniskillen and crossed the River Mourne at a number of locations.
Line construction began in 1845 at Derry and followed the west bank of the River Foyle southwards for 12 miles (19 km) to Strabane, which was reached in 1847. The L&ER's terminus in Derry was Londonderry Foyle Road Station on the West bank of the River Foyle.
Revenue from the line was substantially lower than initially projected and capital to extend the line further south was not raised until 1850. The line was continued up the Mourne Valley via Newtownstewart, where the river name changes to the Strule, then continued up stream to Omagh, both towns being reached in 1852. The line reached its summit at Fintona, County Tyrone, in 1853. Its final extension was from Fintona Junction (which was just north of Fintona town) descending South-westwards to its terminus at Enniskillen which was reached in 1854.
Between Newtownstewart and Strabane several of the earlier cast-iron girder trellis bridges, which in turn replaced the original timber bridges put up by the Londonderry & Enniskillen Railway Company (L&ER). Approximately 185 of them were replaced between 1910 to 1912 by enclosed troughs of riveted iron sheets, supported on massive steel girders, current examples include Camus Bridge Replaced 1911), Breen Bridge and Mulvin Bridge.
The Irish gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway (L&ER) reached Strabane in 1847, Omagh in 1852 and Enniskillen in 1854. The Great Northern Railway Ireland (GNI) took over the L&ER in 1883.
The Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway opened the station at Sion Mills on the 9 May 1852. It was taken over by GNI in 1883 and it closed on 15 February 1965.
Strabane (GNI) opened 19 April 1847 and closed 15 Feb 1965.
Victoria Bridge (GNI) opened 9 May 1852 and closed 15 Feb 1965.
Victoria Bridge to Castlederg Tramway was 3’ 0” gauge and ran from Victoria Bridge via Glen, Stonewalls, Fyfin, Crew, Spamount and then into Castlederg.
Sadly after 75 years of service the ‘Great Northern Railway (Ireland)’ shut down operations in 1966. Despite the ravages of time much evidence of a once-great enterprise still remains in the form of embankments, cuttings, bridges and station buildings.