The Great Northern Railway (Ireland) - Norman Johnston

The Great Northern Railway was one of the best loved of Irish railways and is still fondly remembered by its staff and passengers. No doubt, this was partly to do with the way the GNR held on to its independence, even after most of the other railways in Ireland had been taken over by either CIE or the UTA. For British enthusiasts it preserved something of the character and charm of the 'pre-grouping railway scene (i.e. before 1923). Its independence officially ended in 1953 when it was bought out by the two governments in Ireland and administered by the Great Northern Railway Board - the first 'Cross-Border Body'. Even then this made little real difference to day-to-day running and it continued as the GNR until 1958 when the Northern Ireland Government forced its division between the UTA and CIE. Even after 1958 the gradual appearance of the liveries of the new companies did little to erode the culture and ethos of the old GNR. Men in UTA uniform at Strabane still regarded their CIE counterparts at nearby St Johnston as their real colleagues, rather than the UTA men on the ex-NCC lines. It was really only with the creation of NIR in 1967 that the old loyalties began to disappear.The last ex-GNR men retired in the 1990s. Many books have been written about the GNR, mostly illustrated in black and white and, although some colour pictures have appeared in general albums, this is the first attempt to produce a colour album exclusive to the GNR. Produced in the popular style of the 'Wee Donegal' series, this album is not intended to say a lot that is new, but rather to depict the GNR(I) in colour in its closing years, and thus evoke some of its marvellous 'pre-grouping' atmosphere, the thing that made it so attractive to visiting British enthusiasts. Steam engines, diesel railcars, carriages, signal cabins, and stations - all feature in these pages and will no doubt be pored over by modellers, always on the lookout for clues as to paint schemes and platform 'furniture'.