Donegal Railway Museum

About the museum

The museum is housed in one of the few surviving original station houses of the County Donegal Railways, which opened in 1889 and sits about 300 metres from the centre of Donegal Town. County Donegal once had the largest narrow-gauge railway network in the British Isles, and it operated one of the first rail vehicles in the world with an internal combustion engine. The last passenger train left Donegal Town on 31 December 1959.

The project began in November 1990, when Joe Carroll, a Dubliner working in Donegal, began historical research into the County Donegal Railway and then looked into restoring a stretch of track for steam trains. A public meeting drew about sixty people, and the South Donegal Railway Restoration Society was formed in January 1991. The museum is supported by core funding from Pobal and is run by County Donegal Railway Restoration CLG.

The refurbished museum displays railway vehicles, including the 1907 steam engine Drumboe, which returned to the county in 2021, Coach 58, the body of Railcar 15 and two original vans, together with artefacts, audio and video presentations and working model layouts. Ireland’s first full-size interactive railway cab and a ride-on train for children make it popular with families, and a reference library on the railways of the north-west is open to visitors.

Highlights

• Steam engine Drumboe, built in 1907
• Ireland’s first full-size interactive railway cab
• Original coach, railcar body and two railway vans
• Working model railway layouts of Donegal stations
• Audio installations with recorded memories of rail travellers
• Ride-on train for children (weather permitting)

Permanent exhibitions

• Drumboe steam engine – The museum’s star exhibit is the steam engine Drumboe, built in 1907 and the last locomotive to carry passengers out of Donegal Town, on 31 December 1959.
• Interactive railway cab – Ireland’s first full-size interactive railway cab, housed in the body of Railcar 15, shows moving scenery and games about how steam engines work.
• Railway models – Working model layouts, including a large layout by George Hanna, recreate stations in County Donegal such as Donegal Town, Inver, Killybegs and Pettigo.

Operated by

County Donegal Railway Restoration CLG

Admission & discounts

Annual membership (individual €40, student or senior €30, family €75) includes free admission to the museum.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum describes its main galleries, the Drumboe display, the interactive cab, the audio and video exhibitions, the model railways and the shop as accessible, with staff available to help; the outdoor ride-on railway depends on the weather. Some historic railway vehicles have restricted internal access to protect them. Large-print signage and audio installations are provided, and the museum is pet-friendly.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Children can use the interactive railway cab and, weather permitting, the ride-on train along the old platform. Free downloadable educational booklets, a junior quiz and a maze are available on the website.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Old Station House about 300 metres from Donegal Town centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Weighbridge coffee hut serves coffee, tea and traybakes, and the museum shop sells mainly Donegal railway merchandise.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit