MEMORY LANE: Brid O'REILLY, Annagh, Ballyconnell, a native of Gorvagh, retired teacher from Greaghrahan NS and member of the Erne Writers Group, reminisced.... "One of the first sounds my childish ears learned to discern was the eerie, lonely whistle of the train as it travelled through the countryside near our home. Although his sound registered on tiny ears, it was some time later before I realised that if I ran quickly to an upstairs window on hearing the whistle, I would actually see this 'monster.' It huffed and puffed as it moved along laboriously like a great black dragon Then, the wheels ground painfully to a halt, there was one last huge puff of smoke and suddenly all was quiet. I knew that something was happening at the trainstop. Ghostly shapes (carrying lanterns after dark) could be seen moving back and forth in the near distance. One could only imagine what was going on and it was exciting to weave stories around these ghoulish figures. Later, on reading, 'The Railway Children', I could dream that perhaps many exciting adventures took place at our local railway station at Adoon also. After much shuffling back and forth! the 'dragon' would start hissing once again, smoke would start from his nostrils and with much groaning and moaning, off he would go again.... Left behind were shadowy figures who made their way to horse and trap or to the local hackney cars to be conveyed to their mysterious destinations. A slam of the waiting room door and then all was silent again. My journey to primary school took me past the railway station. Occasionally, when I, with my brother and sister, reached the railway gates, which opened across the road, they were closed against us. We knew that a 'special' was approaching bringing cattle to or from a fair, or perhaps wagon loads of coal from Arigna... As we grew older there were trips to Mohill on the train and these added to the excitement of the day's shopping. Sometimes, we went further afield to the great city of Dublin to savor the sights and sounds of the metropolis. By this time, of course, we realised that our local train was not as great as we had first thought. It was a 'poor first cousin' to the big train we had to board at Dromod for the ongoing journey to Dublin. My lasting memories are of the brave little 'narrow gauge' which proved a great amenity in its short reign, to the counties of Leitrim and Cavan. Travelling to boarding school in Monaghan by train bring back many unhappy memories. I dreaded to hear the sound of the whistle of that train as it neared our little station each September on the date I was due to go back to secondary school. As the tears flowed freely, I boarded the train and it set off towards Belturbet. There I had to change to the widegauge train to continue the journey. I had to make sure that my luggage was transferred from one train to another. Trunks and cases had to be watched over carefully as they contained bed linen and other necessities and a prevailing nightmare was that one would arrive in Monaghan station minus one's belongings... In later years I was once again to make use of the narrow-gauge train as I made my way home from Ballyconnell to visit my family at the weekends. I remember the kindness of John McCAFFREY and his family as I waited at their station house at Ballyheady... Until the line closed in the late 1950s, I must have travelled! on that train hundreds of times... I also remember the welcoming smile and good humour of Michael WISLEY who acted as Guard on the train for many years.... On one of my last trips on the narrow gauge, my only companions were one old lady and a box of day old chicks. So I can understand that the line was no longer profitable and its days were numbered. Contrasting the poem 'From a Railway Carriage' where the landscape flew past 'Faster than fairies, faster than witches' - our little train allowed us to enjoy the beauty of the countryside as we jogged along... The workers in the fields and meadows had time to wave and smile as the train passed. Gatehouse keepers became familiar faces as the railway line criss-crossed the numerous narrow roadways in the countryside. Many of the gatehouses and station houses are still in excellent condition and now house factories, etc. At Dromod the station house has been restored and houses a museum. Part of the old line has also been restored and work on the old Station at Belturbet is almost completed. So the history of the narrow-gauge will be kept alive for future generations." -- Excerpts, "Leitrim Guardian" periodical (2001)