The Galway Vindicator of May 28th, 1851 reported on the impending opening of the new railway to Galway thus�.."Forthill has at last been cut through, and wagons are running across Lough Athalia bridge with building stuff for the space beyond. The terminus will soon be ready to receive the iron roof which is landed on our wharf, and every portion of the work is in such a state of forwardness that we may certainly calculate on the opening of the entire line against the 1st of August. This is glorious news for Galway".

The Vindicator of July 23rd, 1851 reported�."On Monday evening at 6 o'clock, the first passenger train arrived at our terminus direct from Dublin having made the journey from Athlone to Galway in 2 hours, and average of 30 miles per hour. �. In noticing the completion of the work, we would like to take this opportunity of directing attention to the magnificent cast iron bridge which spans the road at Lough Athalia. This splendid specimen of Irish workmanship was manufactured by Mr. Stephens at his foundry on Merchants Road, and reflects the highest credit upon the enterprise and skill of our respected townsman. The bridge is of 40' 10" span and 98 feet in width, consisting of 20 girders, 7.5 tons each and connected by three wrought iron tie bars. It is to be finished with a wrought iron cornice and cast iron pallisading at each end. It is also right to state that it was designed by C.W.Hemans, engineer in chief of the Midland Great Western Railway."

On August 1st, 1851, the railway was formally opened without any of the pomp one would expect at such an event. A large crowd watched the first traffic train start for Dublin at 7.30am. It was regarded as "The first indication of Galway's future greatness both as a mercantile and manufacturing city". A second train left at 9am, another at 4pm and the mail train at 12.30am.

The original Lough Athalia viaduct had to be a swivel bridge because of Admiralty regulations. The centre swivelling span was supplied by Fairbairns of Northumberland. The castings were a remarkable size. A plate on the Lough Athalia side at the road says "James Stephens Iron Works, Galway 1851. C.W.Hemans, engineer". Hemans mother was the poet who wrote "The boy stood on the burning deck" amongst others. Stephens foundry was where the Hynes car park is now.

The original bridge was replaced by the current one in 1936, when our photograph was taken by Father Browne. You can just about see the station in the distance. It is one of the images in the recently published "Father Browne's Galway", highly recommended, and available in good bookshops.

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