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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
CAVAN & LEITRIM RAILWAY
Incorporated: 3rd December 1883
Opened: 24st October 1887
Absorbed by GSR 1 January 1925
Closed 31st March 1959
In Cromwell's day no Irish Counties suffered more from the 'planting' of English landlords than Cavan and Leitrim. Peasants were dispossessed, evictions for non-payment of rent were commonplace, and from the resultant legacy of hatred and resentment the expressions 'boycott' and 'moonlighting' passed into the English language. Industry, of course, was never allowed to gain a foothold. Canals made some attempt to open up communications, and periodically the MGWR was 'tapped' to expand, but not until 1883 did any determined railway proposal emerge. Financially it could only come from landowners themselves; ambitions were duly laid before the public when the Cavan, Leitrim & Roscommon Light Railway & Tramway Co Ltd was registered under the newly passed Tramway's Act. The aim was to construct a 333/4-mile light railway from Belturbet, Co Cavan, to Dromod, Co Leitrim, and add a tramway, which would branch off at Ballinmore to join the MGWR at Boyle, Co Roscommon.
Hopes that all three Baronies would join in a
(Continued on page 9)
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