Restored rail wagon unveiled
Belturbet Heritage Railway (BHR) have unveiled a newly restored addition to its ever growing collection of vintage rolling stock- a rare shawley wagon - believed to be among only a few left in Ireland.
Rescued by BHR stalwart George Morrissey from a builder’s site on the Ballinagh Road nearly 25 years ago, the narrow gauge wagon which dates circa the 1880s once carried goods and cattle and had a retractable roof.
“George found it at a site on the Ballinagh Road, a builder’s yard belonging to Peter Fay, and was being used by he men for their tea hut. Peter kindly donated it to Belturbet Railway,” explains BHR member Stephen Shannon who, with other volunteers, was heavily involved in its restoration.
Speaking to its rarity, Stephen tells the Celt: “It’s possible there is maybe only one more like it in the country, and possibly none restored to this standard that we know of.
“The shawley was a combined goods and cattle wagon. When it was used as a cattle wagon the shawl could be pulled back to give the animals fresh air.”
The wagon arrived from Fay’s yard in 1999 and kept in storage, with a plethora of enthusiasts adding to its rebuild down through the years.
“It lay here for quite a number of years, maybe 10 years or more, before the restoration was started by myself, Tony Prior, George, Gerry Corrigan, the late Mel Fitzpatrick, Sam O’Keefe, to name a few, before the likes of Paul Quail came in on a scheme after Covid and did Trojan work to finish it off.”
Railway historian Michael Kennedy in Dromod, Co Leitrim, donated the wheels, the axles and axle boxes.
The shawley wagon would have run from Belturbet to Dromod at one stage, and is one of several restoration projects the BHR is currently working on, along with the shell of a goods vans ready for renovation, and a very rare Royal Carriage.
Zaneta Michalska says the unveiling of the new wagon in time for Heritage Week is “very special”.
Last year Zaneta completed a regional tour guide course, and has also completed a culture and heritage course in Cavan Institute.
The Polish national, who has lived in Ireland for 18 years and has taken the Erneside town to her heart, praises the volunteer efforts that maintains and continues to be the driving force behind BHR, as well as the invaluable input of those engaging of Tus or Community Enterprise.
“The work being done here by the Belturbet Community Development Association and everyone who has been involved is incredible. Everything here today has been built and added to over the years through hard work. The railway is such a valuable part of Belturbet’s history and it is important to retain that and share this heritage with future generations.”
George Morrissey remembers discovering the wagon. It was an exciting moment. As exciting, he says, as seeing the shawley wagon fully restored and added out front for visitors to see.
“It’s a big step forward for the museum as a whole, to have something of that nature on display for visitors. It took a long time to get to this point, a lot of people put a lot of work into it to make that happen. It’s wonderful to see it now. All the staff here, all volunteers, keep the place going, keep the show on the road.”