Castlerea Railway Museum

The Castlerea Railway Museum displays signals, lamps, bells, tokens, warning plaques, posters, timetables, and station boards that document Irish railway history. A diesel locomotive called A55 sits at the center of the collection, representing the era when trains switched from steam power.

The museum was established to preserve and display the importance of railways in Ireland's development. The A55 locomotive arrived in 1994 and marks the moment when Irish railways switched from steam engines to diesel power.

The museum reflects how railways shaped Irish society through everyday objects that reveal the lives of railway workers and travelers. The collections show how trains connected communities and changed how people moved across the island.

The museum welcomes visitors daily and gives you time to explore the full collection at a relaxed pace. Plan for a few hours to see the large locomotive and all the smaller items, as the displays cover different periods of railway history.

The A55 locomotive was so heavy and large that the building itself had to be modified to fit it inside. This engine was among the first modern diesel locomotives to run on Irish railway lines.

Location: Castlerea

GPS coordinates: 53.76982,-8.49477

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:20