04/09/2026
The Lives Behind the Midland Great Western Railway | Season 6 – Episode 76
The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) of Ireland Act 1845 authorised the raising of £1,000,000 to construct a railway linking Dublin with Mullingar and Longford. The Act received Royal Assent in July 1845, and the proposed line was designed to run broadly parallel with the Royal Canal.
Construction commenced in January 1846, beginning at Broadstone Station in Dublin and progressing westwards. By May 1847 the line had reached Enfield. Seven months later it extended to Hill of Down, and by October 1848 the railway had arrived in Mullingar.
During this period there was intense rivalry between the MGWR and the Great Southern & Western Railway (GS&WR). Both companies sought to secure the lucrative route to Galway, but each adopted a different strategy. While the MGWR concentrated on extending west through Mullingar, the GS&WR prioritised expansion towards Portarlington.
The MGWR eventually crossed the River Shannon at Athlone and reached Galway in August 1851, completing a route of 126½ miles from Dublin. The GS&WR did not reach Galway until eight years later and was required to use sections of the MGWR line, paying the company 65 per cent of passenger receipts and 55 per cent of goods receipts in tolls.
Expansion continued into the west of Ireland. In 1890 plans were approved to extend the railway to Clifden. The line reached Oughterard in January 1895 and opened to Clifden later that summer. Similarly, an extension from Westport to Achill progressed rapidly. The line reached Newport in February 1894, Mulranny four months later, and finally Achill in May 1895.
By the 1920s there were approximately 3,500 miles of railway track across the island of Ireland. At its peak, the MGWR operated 538 miles of railway, making it the third-largest railway network in the country.
The People Behind the Railway
From its incorporation in 1845 until its amalgamation in 1925, the MGWR employed thousands of people across Ireland. Following the establishment of Saorstát Éireann, the country's principal railway companies merged to form the Great Southern Railways (GSR) in 1925. The GSR later merged with the Dublin United Transport Company on 1 January 1945 to form Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ).
Although MGWR employees lived along the length of the railway network, the Arran Quay district of Dublin, close to Broadstone Station, became home to many railway workers who had relocated from counties throughout Ireland.
The 1911 Census provides a fascinating insight into the occupations that kept the railway operating efficiently. Many of these roles have disappeared entirely or have evolved considerably.
Plate Layer
Plate layers were responsible for inspecting and maintaining the permanent way. Their duties included examining rails, sleepers, fishplates and points, carrying out repairs, lubricating moving parts and ensuring that the line remained safe for traffic.
Martin McCormack, originally from County Kilkenny, lived in Arran Quay in 1911 with his wife and two young sons while working as a plate layer for the railway.
Railway Ganger
A railway ganger supervised teams of plate layers. They organised maintenance work, inspected sections of track, scheduled repairs and ensured that their teams completed work to the required standard before official inspection.
Michael Morrissey, a native of County Tipperary, lived in Arran Quay with his wife and young son and was employed as a railway ganger.
Shunter
Shunters played a vital logistical role within railway yards. They were responsible for moving wagons and carriages, assembling trains in the correct order and ensuring that each service departed with the appropriate rolling stock.
Brothers-in-law Patrick, James and Michael Rourke, all originally from Straffan, County Kildare, were employed as railway shunters and lived in Arran Quay in 1911.
Checker
Railway checkers inspected passengers' tickets before and during journeys and, where necessary, upon arrival at their destination. They also assisted with crowd management on platforms and trains, working alongside railway officials and the police when required.
Michael Hallion, who was born in King's County (now County Offaly), lived with his siblings Peter, Ellen and Mary Anne in Arran Quay. Michael worked as a railway checker, while his younger brother Peter was employed as a railway guard.
Fireman
Before the age of diesel locomotives, the railway fireman was responsible for maintaining the locomotive's firebox and boiler. This physically demanding role involved continuously shovelling coal into the firebox, maintaining steam pressure and ensuring the locomotive operated safely and efficiently throughout the journey.
Michael Tobin lived with his mother, sister and stepfather in Arran Quay and was employed as a railway engine fireman.
Railway Detective
Railway detectives investigated thefts of goods and equipment, prevented vandalism, protected railway property and ensured that railway staff complied with operational regulations. Their work combined elements of policing with railway administration.
Patrick O'Malley, originally from County Galway, was boarding in Arran Quay in 1911 while employed as a railway detective.
The history of the Midland Great Western Railway is not simply one of engineering achievement and commercial rivalry. It is also the story of thousands of ordinary men and women whose daily work kept Ireland's railways running. Census records allow us to move beyond the locomotives and railway companies to discover the people who maintained the tracks, organised the trains, fuelled the engines and protected the railway network. For genealogists, these occupations provide valuable insight into the lives, communities and careers of our railway ancestors, illustrating how the railways shaped both Ireland's landscape and its people.
The MGWR Class A Express Locomotives
The MGWR Class A locomotives were built between 1902 and 1905 for express passenger services. At the time of their introduction, they were among the largest and most powerful passenger locomotives operating in Ireland. Many remained in service until the 1950s before being withdrawn following the introduction of diesel traction.
There were six Class A 4-4-0 express locomotives:
MGWR No. Name Built Rebuilt Withdrawn
124 Mercuric 1905 1916 & 1924 1957
125 Britannic 1905 1917 1954
126 Atlantic 1904 1925 1955
127 Titanic 1903 1920 1955
128 Majestic 1902 1925 1931
129 Celtic 1902 1918 1959
When introduced on the Dublin–Galway limited mail service in 1902, these locomotives reduced the journey time by approximately 16 minutes—a significant achievement for the period.
The locomotives were originally painted royal blue with yellow lining and red-edged buffer beams. However, the blue finish proved difficult to maintain and they were later repainted green. From 1913 onwards, the entire class was finished in black.
Story by Frances Daly
Frances is a Dublin based genealogist and founder of The Irish Genie. She’s spent more than 18 years tracing Irish ancestors and uncovering the stories hidden in civil and church records, census substitutes, travel documents, newspapers, DNA results, and whatever other clues families leave behind. Her research often drifts into the world of transport history, exploring how railways, roads, and migration routes shaped the journeys—and the lives—of Irish families across generations.
If you have an idea for a story, please email Kevin Reid [email protected]
Sources of Information, Photo, Video & Music Credits:
All music and sound effects used in Ireland Made – Stories of Irish Transport are royalty free and are fully licensed through Epidemic Sound. Ireland Made – Stories of Irish Transport therefore holds the legal right to use this audio material within its productions under the terms of the Epidemic Sound licensing agreement.
Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Colourpoint Book. ISBN 9781906578268
By The Railway Yearbook for 1920. The Railway Publishing Company Limited, London., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143285593
1911 Irish Census Search the Census | The National Archives of Ireland
Irish Railway Record Society Promoting Ireland’s Railway heritage - Irish Railway Record Society
MGWR Green locomotive MGWR formations and livery's - General Chat - Irish Railway Modeller
Blackford Historical Society
Castlegregory website
Graces Guide
History of Rail – Railway 200
Irish Railwayana
Locomotive Magazine 1902 – Irish Railway Models – Maitland
Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) 19th Century Historical Maps - City of Dublin : sheet XVIII.56
Oughterard Heritage
Royal Canal Runner
Steam Index
The Irish Story
Wiki
Wikiwand
