Railways Dundalk 1840-50s

[rubyrose]

Hi All

My great great grandfather was born in Manchester in 1823 and was a railway contractor. He lived some of his life in Ireland, in Dundalk, before going to India in about 1863.

What I am trying to find is any information on what he might have been doing in Dundalk that is connected to railways.

I have records for his marriage in Dundalk in 1848, birth of two of his children in 1850 and 1852 and a Thom's Directory entry for 1852 which says he is the proprietor of the Shakespeare Inn in Dundalk. In 1855 his third child is born in Guildford and in the 1861 census he is in Gravesend. He then went to India to work on the railway, remarried and had five more children before dying in 1881.

So he was in Ireland sometime before 1848 and left between 1852 and 1855.

Can anybody throw any light on what railway building was going on around Dundalk between 1848 and 1855 and who was doing it? Any suggestions as to whether employee records might still exist for this time would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

Ruby

[meles]

This might be of some help.

http://www.transportdiversions.com/publicationshow.asp?pubid=4029

meles

[meles]

...and this!

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Irish-Ireland-Railways-Lost-Rlys-Dundalk-North-East_W0QQitemZ300173614687QQihZ020QQcategoryZ274QQcmdZViewItem

It's interesting that this book says that Dundalk was "The Railway Town" and "is the natural focus for the book. Here the Great Northern Railway of Ireland had its workshops next to the main line railway from Dublin to Belfast, here the Irish North Western Railway snaked its way across the country to Londonderry."

So that begins to make some sense.

meles

[rubyrose]

Great find Meles - that little book on ebay looks like it might be just what I need.  Many thanks. Ruby

[meles]

I'll watch your bid with interest. Hope you win it!

meles