tlt!kl't.orated still further uutll eventually in JU:l5 it wa,; decided to . close the Buncrana-Carndonagh Exterision (18 miles) and "the Lett'erkenny-Burtonport Extension (50 miles) which. as alrea~y staled, had only been O["l€ned in .the early nineteen hundreds. This r:educ-ed tlte Railway to the position as in 1883. J.u;t before the 1939 war the Company's road services extended over almost :rno miles of routes-roughly three times the mileage of the Railway and the Company's business had incre:ised very considerably in consequence of the provision of this more; popular ty1pe of service, which was weJl sup:ported by the public for both passengers and goods. Conversion <>! the gauge to three' feet was accomplished in 1885, sho:"tly after the extension of the system to Letterkenny. From 1923 to 19;;s particularly heavy losses . were incu:rred by the Company-actually £1~1.153 and to meet this the two Irish. Gove:.nments· made grants totalling £112.9i30. By far the greater portion of the losses was incu::-- red o'n the operation of the Burtonpo'::t extension, which re.ii to P.owhere. Ma·ny of t:he towns and villaii:·es served by it we:·e. considerable :distances from th& stations-typical e:xamples :,eing Dunfanaghy (six miles); Carrigart· (.eight milP.s fmm CreesJougn); Dungloe (th:-ee miles). The most formidable competitors. at that tim.~ were · 1Vli-. John )Joherty and .\fr. Edwa::d Barr, enter1Prisine: Buncranamen, who were in rivalry on the DerryElum·ran~t - C.:amdoncwh rout~. For some' years ·· previously, a Derry firm of motor engineers, Messrs. Roberts of Foyle St., had been· pioneering with road services on the Derry-MovilleShrove route. There were also 1Mr. Joe ·Doherty of Moville, Mr. Dan Kearney of Carndonagh, McLau~l:Iin brothers of Carndonagh, the Ward brothers of Kerrykeel, and several ·Others, all in keenest rivalry. And then came a Belfast ·businessman, H. M. Catherwood, pione.er of long-distance 'hus travel in· Ireland> who was first really tci· give a door-to-door passenge!' road service. The acquisition by the Loug·h Swilly Company of these privately-own~ ed concerns nroved not an easy accomplishment. In some parts of Co. Donegal th-e road·s oroved. unsuitable for diuses. After an attempt to operate a b~s service to Dung!oe and Burtonport for a period of eight weci, ,, in the s;pring of 1931. the romoanY was· obliged to terminate the ~ervice at Gortahork, 20 mi.les short of the la,tter towri, brna use of bad road con:Uiions and becau~e the Donegal . County Council threaiened legal proceedings. This autho~·- ity eventually Claimed £710 from thP · comPanv for alleged damage to Uie roads in question. The claim was amkably settled but the -company ..,had to undertake that it wciuld not run services in'·the a~·ea ·in future without permission. This enforced change •in the policy hrought about the restoration Of paEsenger train services to tLe Burtoniport extension. Goods traffic on the railway also dwindlerl fu9.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQxNzU3