All aboard for remembrance - Omagh marks 75 years since tragic rail crash with heritage revival

A POIGNANT yet uplifting tribute is on track in Omagh as the town prepares to mark the 75th anniversary of one of Northern Ireland’s most tragic railway accidents - with a celebration of history, craftsmanship, and community spirit.

A six-metre section of the famous Derry Road railway line, which once linked Portadown to Londonderry, has been re-laid this week thanks to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) at Whitehead.

The authentic stretch of track - complete with original Great Northern Railway (Ireland) sleepers and chairs - will form the centrepiece of a special exhibition commemorating the five men who lost their lives in the Omagh rail accident of November 24, 1950.

That fateful day, dense fog shrouded Omagh station as a Derry express train ploughed into a squad of unsuspecting track workers.

The tragedy shocked the community and remains one of the darkest chapters in local railway history.

Now, three quarters of a century later, the town is honouring those lost while rekindling its proud railway heritage.

The re-laid section of line was transported from Whitehead to Omagh last month, with RPSI volunteers preparing to complete the installation on site in time for the anniversary.

Dermot Mackie, RPSI site officer at Whitehead, said the Society was delighted to play a role in the project.

“We were able to source genuine GNR(I) track material to ensure the memorial’s authenticity,” he explained. “It’s our pleasure to assist the council with this valuable initiative, and we hope it helps raise awareness of Omagh’s rich railway past.”

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, which commissioned the display, hopes the memorial will serve both as a tribute and an educational piece for future generations.

As part of the commemorations, local railway historian Tony McGartland will give a special talk at Strule Arts Centre on November 20, showcasing rare and previously unseen photographs charting Omagh’s rail history.

However, not everyone is on board with all aspects of the council’s rail-related decisions.

The Omagh Heritage Forum has voiced disappointment over the proposed sale of the last remaining stretch of the town’s former railway line at Market Junction, calling it a “missed opportunity” to preserve a small but significant piece of Omagh’s transport heritage.

Forum spokesperson Eamonn Sharkey said the group would continue to urge the council to retain the land, suggesting it could form part of a scenic walking and cycling route linking the Dublin Road to King’s Bridge.

Despite the controversy, excitement is building ahead of the anniversary events, which promise to bring Omagh’s railway story vividly back to life.

While the Derry Road line itself closed in 1965, the recently published All-Ireland Strategic Railway Review has reignited hopes that one day the route might once again carry passengers through the heart of Tyrone - a fitting continuation of a legacy being so carefully remembered today.

From tragedy to tribute, Omagh’s railway spirit steams on - ensuring that the men who lost their lives in 1950 are remembered with dignity, authenticity, and pride.