Ry Station, Ardsollus, Doora, Clara: Old Railway Station ??

Yeah Yeah Yeah

Hi all, trying to find out if the old Railway Station or Signal Box listed in the 1901 Census as Ry (Railway) Station, Ardsollus, Doora, Clare, still exists?

Thanks

Clareman

The station where it is now wouldn't be too far from Doora, the "freight station" is even closer, that could be what it's referencing, a lot of boundaries of parishes/towns have changed a lot since 1901.

Yeah Yeah Yeah

Thanks Clareman. GGGFather was Station Master there as listed in 1901 Census.

I'm presuming the line and railway stations are now well modernised.

His son also worked got GS&WR a bit further up the line in Galway. The old signal box he would have manned is there still, but I'm sure a lot has chaged since then.

Carazy

I presume you have seen these photographs. It's very near the Clare Inn hotel

Station Picture

Station Picture 2

And this bit of wiki info, Wikipedia

The station is inbetween the old Ballycar (near Newmarket On Fergus) and old Clarecastle station. The station is now a house I think.

Yeah Yeah Yeah

I hadn't seen them Carazy, thanks!

Carazy

On Google Maps enter these co-ordinates 52.805375,-8.887532
On street view you will see the train track pass over the road and to the house with the tractor parked outside. This house I would be confident in it being the old Ardsollus Station.



Clare Library is a great site for this kind of thing 'Yeah Yeah Yeah' Stationmaster 1893

Carazy.

Yeah Yeah Yeah

Thanks again Carazy, there he is in Guys Directory 1893, GGGr F Station Master and his son GGrF Post master, later to be Station Master in Pollaturick Co Galway.

And that Google maps is awesome..thanks : )

Yeah Yeah Yeah

And just out of shot on google maps is an old Post Box encased in the stone wall by gates..

In 1893, GG G'Fs son was Post Master ...I'm guessing some connection...

Amazing...

Davyhal

That picture above from Google maps is the old station, and yes it is a residential property now. However, there is a house across the road from it, run down small cottage, which technically would also be in ardsolus, and I heard when I was younger that the station masters did not always live in the station, and that that cottage was sometimes used instead by the station master to live in. I don't know how much truth is in that to be honest though.

Yeah Yeah Yeah

Thanks Davy, thats great info, I had noticed that house earlier, and was guessing that it might well have been the other property...

Edit: Just checked, the dwelling house is listed as having "2 Waiting Rooms", so I'd be pretty sure the photo (Old Statio) is where he resided.

Still a bit of a conundrum, there are only 3 house listed in the Townland of Ardsollus census 1901 , all with "exactly 3 windows in the front of the house".

The abandoned stone cottage has 2 windows...wondering wether it wasnt lived in at the time 1901 (IMO unlikely) or whether it was technically in another district, which I doubt, or maybe it wasnt built? Or maybe a door was considered a window, which I doubt....head scratcher.... : )

Davyhal

Well I do know that when you pass under the bridge on the way towards the Clare Inn, heading away from Quin, that you enter Castlefergus as opposed to Ardsolus. Whether the small cottage technically falls into Castlefergus or Ardsolus, I am unsure I'm afraid.

Yeah Yeah Yeah

Davyhal wrote: »

Well I do know that when you pass under the bridge on the way towards the Clare Inn, heading away from Quin, that you enter Castlefergus as opposed to Ardsolus. Whether the small cottage technically falls into Castlefergus or Ardsolus, I am unsure I'm afraid.

Ah that might be it, and aagin great piece of local info. I'll do some digging into the Castlefergus area census.

Thanks Davy