Donegal Railway Heritage Centre
Donegal Railway Heritage Centre
4
12:00 - 16:00
Monday
10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
10:00 - 17:00
Thursday
10:00 - 17:00
Friday
10:00 - 17:00
Saturday
10:00 - 17:00
Sunday
12:00 - 16:00
About
Our friendly staff offer a warm welcome to all visitors, individuals or in parties. Special discounts are available for pre-booked tours. Wheelchair friendly access to exhibits. What is there to see? restored coach 28 restored railcar trailer 5 restored goods van,Garden railway and working models, video and dvd room and much more memorabilia of the old railway.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- NextTripperWhidbey Island, Washington16 contributionsFun, easy, and informativeThis heritage centre is well worth the visit. Doesn't seem like much from the outside, but there's a lot of interesting artifacts and info packed into the space. And the optional video is a fun watch. The gentleman who greeted us and helped us get oriented was very knowledgeable and helpful. The old restored train cars are fun to walk through. Easy to find, easy to visit, a great tribute to the railroads that once served Donegal and surrounding areas.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 May 2024
- Patricia o2 contributionsGreat little child friendly museumGreat friendly museum, with lots of interesting exhibits. The ‘learn to drive a steam engine’ simulator is ideal for children to learn about steam engines and their workings. There’s a miniature Thomas the Tank ride on. Well worth a visit.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 26 May 2024
- SmoltmanCourtenay, Canada10,771 contributionsInteresting railway historyWe were told not to miss the railway museum and it was only a 400 metre walk from where we parked. Admission was reasonable and they had lots on display. Rail cars, freight cars and even running model trains in the main hall. The rail service did a great job in its day but unfortunately it was disbanded in the late fifties. The movie at the far end was well worth watching for it blended in everyday life along with what the trains did.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 June 2024
- Eaglet64Isle of Man, United Kingdom1,091 contributionsWebsite undersells this museum - well worth a visit!We went to this museum because our friend loves trains. Looking at the website we almost didn’t go because I wasn’t sure there would be much to see but how wrong I was. Yes it’s small, yes they don’t have any track to run a train on and yes they have no parking but it’s still worth a visit. We learned all about the old rail network and the people there were really passionate about the trains, they would love to get some track to run their train on.Visited July 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 8 July 2024
- MFIreland17 contributionsGreat!!Absolutely amazing heritage museum. The tour guide Kevin is brilliant, informative and funny. We really enjoyed our tour. It’s just a few minutes walk from Donegal castle. Would recommend to everybody who visits Donegal.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 11 July 2024
- dee p1 contributionSanta experience!This was the best santa experience we've had my daughter and her 86 year old nana came along and to say we had a ball would be an understatement! Nana loves a good laugh and santa delivered, my daughter laughed her little heart out at the antics of santa and her nana they were such a match in humour and personalitys! My 6 year old daughter said he was definitely the real deal along with Mrs clause and company we laughed all the way out the door and we will be back for more next year please God! Thanks for a great experience from Dee, Dot and little Kassie, ye made our Christmas 🎄 also the best gift from Santa kassie has the train half painted already! Happy Christmas 🎄Visited December 2024Travelled with familyWritten 20 December 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.0
92 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
28
Average
7
Poor
4
Terrible
5
Deirdre N
Dublin, Ireland70 contributions
May 2023
A small but very interesting museum with lovely and extremely knowledgeable staff. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. They have memorabilia and working layouts on display, with books for sale. Make sure to study the displays on the walls carefully, there are some gems. Some beautiful paintings on the wall by a George Hannon and interesting video of colour film from the 1950s of local railcar journeys. There is a fully restored class 5 engine 'Drumboe' which ran on the County Donegal Railways until 1959. You can climb into the cab and get a driver's eye view. There are also some fun and educational materials and games for kids in the two carriages there. They are currently trying to raise funds for rails so they can get the engine and some carriages up and running, and it would be lovely to see this happening. Costs €4 to go in. Not a bad price at all and any money you spend goes towards getting the rails set up.
Written 20 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2CAtravelers
Brattleboro, VT829 contributions
Sept 2022
This is a local rail museum run by some very devoted volunteers who are a wealth of knowledge. There's a vintage video you can watch which lasts around an hour if you watch it in entirety. There are a few rooms with some memorabilia and a large model train layout. Outside there are a few train cars and a food cart is out front. Parking is on-street. It's a short walk from the center of Donegal.
Written 13 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ally
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
We visited on a showery day in early August 2023 and wanted to leave this review because we had such a wonderful time at this hidden gem of a museum. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, they noticed my son was very keen on trains and a gentleman named Stephen, put on the Thomas ride on train for him more than once. He was also very helpful and knowledgeable about the local area, being a true local. The interpretation was clear and full of fascinating stories about the various local lines. My children were thrilled to be able to step onto the footplate of the old engine and we spent a long time playing games in the carriage devoted to children. All topped off with a lovely coffee next door at the Weighbridge. A must visit for anyone coming to Donegal Town.
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EGC89
Belfast, UK7 contributions
Jul 2021
5€ for 10 minutes of museum.
Literally it has 3 rooms with a few photographs and some stuff from trains, but we couldn't really understand why the museum was there (not much information about the history or anything like that).
I would not recommend anyone to go here, unless you want to waste 5€ (which is not a lot, but considering what you could find there, it's a fortune).
Also, we got there and the guy at the door said "5€", and that was it. No explanations or anything.
Very disapointing
Literally it has 3 rooms with a few photographs and some stuff from trains, but we couldn't really understand why the museum was there (not much information about the history or anything like that).
I would not recommend anyone to go here, unless you want to waste 5€ (which is not a lot, but considering what you could find there, it's a fortune).
Also, we got there and the guy at the door said "5€", and that was it. No explanations or anything.
Very disapointing
Written 13 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria K
92 contributions
Sept 2021
A fascinating insight into what was the country's largest rail network. The woman working there gave us a lot of additional info which was brilliant. I didn't catch her name but she should do proper guided tours of the museum, it would be a real bonus. The carriages on display are well done and soon they will be getting a restored engine which will be a great addition.
Written 14 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CWilliams
Bangor, UK1 contribution
Jul 2022 • Family
Such a lovely warm welcome. Great wee museum and we loved the interactive carriage, blowing the whistle on drumboe and the lovely storybook we bought. Model rail has lots of little details which our 5 and 8 year old enjoyed looking for the little fox.
Written 16 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
david balfe
4 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
Had a lovely experience at the railway and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable on all aspects of the Railway. The staff made the experience so enjoyable and we learned so much about the history and the possible future of the railway if the funding can be sourced to secure the venue adding to what it offers visitors going forward..we'll worth time visiting. Loved it
Written 9 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary M
4 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
A large family group who really enjoyed our visit to the museum. There was a fabulous model railway with such minute details. New additions were a small ride on train and an interactive engine area. The kids were very engrossed. Well done to all the staff and those who have contributed to this great local resource.
Written 16 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crawford D
3 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
Rainy day in Donegal with grandchild.Tourist office told us about museum. Great call for an hour of local history and interactive displays. Staff really friendly. Will definitely be back!
Written 20 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary W
Ballymena, UK16 contributions
Sept 2014 • Friends
We had to ask at Donegal castle where the railway museum was, not signposted. Exit the castle, turn left and walk straight for a few hundred metres and you will see the brightly coloured carriages at the entrance. Play area beside the station and children's small activities within one of the carriages etc
Written 13 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's only open from Monday to Friday.
Written 5 September 2017
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