Fintown Railway
Heritage railway on the shore of Lough Finn in Donegal, running a restored 3-mile section of the County Donegal Railway, with a small history display.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Fintown Railway is the only operating railway in County Donegal. It runs for about three miles (5 km) along the shore of Lough Finn on a restored section of the former County Donegal Railway. At its peak the county had a narrow-gauge network of over 200 miles. The line from Stranorlar to Glenties, with a station at Fintown, opened in 1895, and the first steam engine to arrive was nicknamed An Mhuc Dhubh, the Black Pig, by local people.
Passenger services on the line ended in 1947, freight in 1952, and the County Donegal Railways closed completely on 31 December 1959. The tourist railway at Fintown was revived in 1995. It is run by a community company, Comhlacht Traenach na Gaeltachta Lair, whose name means the Central Gaeltacht Train Company, with the aim of supporting sustainable tourism in this Irish-speaking area.
Trains leave from Fintown station for a return trip of about 45 minutes. Passenger services use Railcar 18, an original County Donegal diesel railcar from 1940 that is on loan from the North West of Ireland Railway Society, together with a Simplex locomotive; an ex-Bord na Móna locomotive does track and shunting work. The station also has an indoor area with photographs and articles on the history of the railway, a gift shop and café, and a playground.
Highlights
- Return train journey along Lough Finn in an original County Donegal diesel railcar
- Indoor display of photographs and articles on the railway’s history
- Seasonal Halloween and Santa trains
- Playground, picnic area and café at the station
Permanent exhibitions
- History of the railway – An indoor display of photographs and articles on the history of the County Donegal Railway and the Fintown line.
- Railcar 18 and locomotives – The operating rolling stock includes Railcar 18, an original County Donegal diesel railcar of 1940 rebuilt in 1996, and the Simplex 102T locomotive.
- Founded
- 1995
- Operated by
- Comhlacht Traenach na Gaeltachta Lair (2000) Teo
Admission & discounts
| Halloween train – adult | €12Booking essential. |
|---|---|
| Halloween train – child | €8Children under 2 go free. |
Regular fares for the summer timetable are shown in the online booking system. Card payments are accepted.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The railcar is not wheelchair accessible because its doors are too narrow, but staff can help passengers who can bear weight to board and leave. A disabled toilet is available at the station. Only guide dogs are allowed on the train.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Playground / play area
A large playground beside the old goods shed and a children’s activity park are free for visitors, and the railway runs family-friendly Halloween and Santa trains.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
Ample free parking beside the station house; follow the signs from the R250 road.
Amenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Hot and cold drinks and light snacks are available from the gift shop at the station, where the toilets are also found. Food and drink may not be taken onto the train. There is a picnic area outdoors and an indoor area for picnics in bad weather.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The return journey takes about 45 minutes. Card payments are accepted, and bookings can also be made by telephone. |
|---|
