The Flickr Cookstown Image Generatr

Arcturus

M 45

Polaris

NGC 7000

The October 1946 timetable booklet for the still independent Great Northern Railway of Ireland showing the company's rail, bus and tram services. The GNR(I) was formed by merger in 1876 and grew to run not only railway services on what was to become both sides of the Border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland but also feeder bus services. The latter included what were to become suburban bus services in the north of Dublin as well as the electric tramway service on the Hill of Howth.

In post-war years the GNR(I) struggled financially and was nationalised jointly by the Governments of both states in 1953; the 'new' Great Northern Railway Board lasted until 1958 when the undertaking was dissolved and the assets split between Coras Iompair Éireann and the Ulster Transport Authority. The latter, the UTA, was very anti-rail and had effectively forced the closure of most of the old GNR(I) railway routes by 1957 leaving really only the Dublin - Belfast main line and the Howth branch in Dublin as part of the Irish rail network.

This is the thin paper map folded into the back of the timetable booklet showing in dark black the GNR(I) lines and in red, the company's bus services. Also shown are 'connecting railways' and ferry lines; the latter even include New York, Montreal and Quebec via Londonderry!

Grassy Hill Lighthouse Cooktown,
waiting for sunset

View from Grassy Hill to Endeavour river and mountains with a wonderful names, as mount Surprise, mount Fantastic, mount Unbelievable

cemcor of cookstown m1

I was getting into my car in Cookstown Co. Tyrone and this old pub caught my eye.
Like many Irish bars Id say this place could tell a tale or two.
The pub was a great place for story telling, music and get togethers during holidays especially in Rural Ireland where went away to work in big towns or overseas. The local bar was the meeting place.

Northern Ireland's last water-powered linen beetling mill, found on the banks of the Ballinderry river. A bright day in County Tyrone where the roads were still full of workers clearing up after storm Eowyn. Thankfully the trees along the banks of the river and the mill-race seemed to have got off lightly.

Found on a glacial knoll in the grounds of Loughry Agricultural College near Cookstown in County Tyrone. Constructed of mainly limestone boulders, it’s about 7.5 meters long by 1.5 meters wide and is formed by eleven side-stones with a single backstone at this end. There are two large roof stones supported by two pairs of side stones. Although it is fenced off, it was sad to see that a sapling has been allowed to grow in the structure.

In the grounds of the Loughrey Agricultural College, just outside Cookstown, County Tyrone. The receptionist at the college had no idea it was there.

Storm Eowyn did a lot of damage in this part of the world, thankfully this lovely specimen survived. Dolmen hunting in the grounds of Loughry College, Cookstown, County Tyrone

Reg - S5 LCC
Type - Scania S730
New - June 2019
Operator - Lissan Coal Company
Based - Cookstown, Northern Ireland
Pictured - M2 Motorway Citybound at Parkgate County Antrim

Reg - IRZ 4431
Type - Scania R730
New - October 2014
Operator - Lissan Coal Company
Based - Cookstown, Northern Ireland
Pictured - A12 Westlink, Belfast

Reg - S5 LCC
Type - Scania S730
New - June 2019
Operator - Lissan Coal Company
Based - Cookstown, Northern Ireland
Pictured - A6 Belfast to Londonderry Road at Castledawson Roundabout, Magherafelt County Londonderry

Reg - ONZ 9460
Type - Scania 94C
New - October 2003
Operator - Lissan Coal Company
Based - Cookstown, Northern Ireland
Pictured - Moneymore, County Londonderry

Reg - WNZ 3243
Type - MAN TGX
New - August 2016

Reg - IRZ 4431
Type - Scania R730
New - October 2014

Operator - Lissan Coal Company
Based - Cookstown, Northern Ireland
Pictured - Causeway Coast Truckfest, Portstewart County Londonderry

Reg - WNZ 3243
Type - MAN TGX
New - August 2016
Operator - Lissan Coal Company
Based - Cookstown, Northern Ireland
Pictured - A12 Westlink, Belfast

Reg - YNZ 9523
Type - MAN TGX
New - January 2020
Operator - Lissan Coal Company
Based - Cookstown, Northern Ireland
Pictured - M2 Motorway Citybound at Parkgate, County Antrim