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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 11 (March 1, 1928)

Searching for a Railway

Searching for a Railway.

The “generous” offer was refused by the Board, who remained in possession of the silent line as virtual bailiffs for five years, in the course of which they spent £1,230 on repairs and maintenance. In 1883, the Treasury, on the advice of the Board, decided to spend no more money on an undertaking which was neither productive nor ornamental, and forthwith “temporarily” abandoned the line, intending to re-open at some future date in circumstances calculated to make it self-supporting. Alas, for their simple faith in human nature! By degrees (by no means slow) the rails, the fittings, sleepers, gates and all other movable material, were abstracted until nothing was left but the earth foundation and the bridges. Stray cows and donkeys soon browsed in peace where once the locomotive roared its way to and from the Shannon.

Years passed and the Board bethought itself of the forgotten line. The time had come when it might, with some hope of success, be given another chance! Engineers were sent to ascertain “what repairs (if any) were necessary” to put the line into running condition. Fancy the feelings of these honest English gentlemen on finding considerable difficulty in ascertaining from the local people where exactly the Birr and portumna Railway had once been.