Mary Court - July '08
Jimmy Scallon passed away in 2008 and Gertie Scallon passed away in 2009. The family had a few photos of jimmy on the horse tram at Fintona.
C Armstrong - July '08
I remember the Scallon family would love to hear from them again.
A Nixon - May '08
Does anyone remember a man called Jimmy Scallon who worked on railways in time
of horse and tram? The family lived in Rathcrane, Fintona. The family then
moved to station house in Beragh and then when line closed moved to Carrickfergus.
Wolf - Mar '08
Interesting to read this thread. I'm interested in
railways and have a copy of E M Patterson's book on
the Great Northern Railway of Ireland with a picture
of the Fintona tram. Also the Belfast Transport Museum
published a booklet with details of all tramways in
Northern Ireland which is really interesting.
Eliz. Jeane Hannigan
nee Sproule -
Jan '08
Hello from Canada. I was born in Fintona (on Mill
Street where the children's playground now stands).
Just looking at the names in this site is like a
trip down memory lane. Acheson's house up at the
top of the hill and another famous van in the town,
Marshall Martin's bread van, in which the children
used to get rides. What a lovely person Mr. Martin
was. I knew Mary Gorman. I wonder if she remembers
me. When I was growning up there were a couple of
forges in Fintona, one on King Street and one down "the
entry" off Mill Street between Gibsons and Sherry's.
I use to go and blow the bellows for Jim Donnelly
on Saturdays. (I was a tomboy, but I learned a lot
about shoeing horses and making wheels.)
Apparently my grandfather, John Stephenson, worked
on the railway before he was a soldier. When World
War I broke out, he volunteered to go and he was
killed on October 16 1914.
I remember the railway station and the junction
very well and the last ride of the Fintona horse
tram. I was only 7 but I remember buying a ticket
because I thought it would be valuable some day.
I still have that ticket and I must look to see what
class it was.
I remember Willie MacLean and the station master
and of course the porter because he was my cousin
Kenneth Donald. I also remember many happy days playing
around the railway yard and memories of free rides
between the station and the junction.
Does anyone else have memories of going to the junction
on th tram to catch the sugar train to Bundoran?
Last, but not least, Rosie McManus (nee Smyth) I
believe I know Bridget and Anthony Smyth. I think
they lived beside my parents Annie and Billy Sproule
on Mill Street, Fintona and I knew Bridget's mother
Mrs. Mullin who lived down by the pump on Mill Street.
(that pump with the lion's head is long gone I believe.)
It is a small world.
lemonpepperyatyahoodotcom
Angela Murray - Mar '07
I have photos of my father and horse & tram
Gerry Bradley -
Mar '07
My father Tom Bradley was the station master in Fintona
at the time of the tram. We lived in the station house
on main street for appx five years before he was transferred
to Warrenpoint after Fintona closed. He helped Norman
Johnston in his research for his book...the Fintona
horse tram...I remember riding on the tram many times
with my father and some photos still exist of myself
and my brother Dermot standing on the tram with my
father and Willie McLean. I was on it for its final
journey. There was so many people on the tram that
Dick’s legs gave way. Most of the people then
had to walk alongside the tram back to the town.
People were singing...last tram to Fintona junction...if
you miss this one you’ll never get another one...if
you remember the song ..last train to San Fernando...they
used the same tune.
My father died in 1998 aged 78. He was on the railway
for over 50 years and he always said that he enjoyed
his time in Fintona.
Rosie McManus (nee Smyth) -
Mar '07
Does anyone still live in Fintona remember the Smyth
family. Who lived at 35 King Street, Fintona. (Bridget
and Anthony Smyth).
Declan Sweeney - Mar
'07
I have a book about Fintona Tram with lots of photos
in it. If anyone would like a photo out of the booK
just send me an email and I would be happy to forward
them on to you.
Gerard Bradley - Feb '07
M
y father wasTom Bradley, station master in Fintona
when it closed. The family moved to Warrenpoint Co
.Down in 1958. He died in 1998 - aged 89. Iremember
my 5 years in Fintona well. I was on the tram on
the last day.Dick's front legs buckled under the
weight of so many passengers. A lot of people had
to get off and walk along side the tram.
P.s.David Bradley the photographer is no relation.
Ron Liss - Mar '07
Can anyone in Fintona tell me if they know
of a man in a photo that my father was in the army
with? The name and address from the 1930s-40s is on
the back, R.J. Johnston, Skelga House Fintona, Co,Tyrone.
N.Ireland. I have tried every where to find if he
or his wife may still be with us.
Lorraine McConnell
- Nov '06
All these comments are wonderful to read, my family
live in fintona, and my dad who is 81 comes from there,
he talks about the horse tram. We now live in scotland.
My father was telling me that in the days of "dick
& willie" there were 1st,2nd, 3rd class fares,
if you bought a 3rd class fare, you had to sit upstairs
in the open air, in all weathers.
Chris Starrs - Nov
'06
My great great grandfather Peter Joseph Starrs (and
g g grandmother Catherine Brady from Crosskeys in
County Cavan) left Fintona in about 1830 and lived
in Glasgow for some years before emigrating to Adelaide
South Australia. There is now a growing family of
Starrs in Adelaide ,very interested in our family
connections in first England then Tyrone and now in
Scotland, and Canada and the US (and probably also
New Zealand, I hope). They were not listed in the
1830 survey of Fintona, and neither were the horse
trams. Any one know of the Starrs diaspora!
p.s. Of course the female horses were also called
dick. The alternative is not to be contemplated!
Chloe - Oct' 06
My granda currently lives at the gate house in Fintona
but before that my great granda bought the junction
house just after it closed. My mum brother and sisters
remember playing on the platforms on the junction
itself. Still to this day when I go up to vist my
granda we can walk the railway line. I never honestly
knew myself that it was such a big part of history
and i would be more than happy to accept any pictures
of my grandas house on the Dromore Road. Thank-you
Gail Gallagher - Sep
'06
I have a photo of what I believe is the Fintona Trolley
from the 1940's, taken by my Dad when he was there
during WWII. I would be happy to forward it to anyone
who would want it.
Greetings from the US!
Elspeth Mackay - July
'06
I am very interested in all these comments about the
horse tram. I would really like to know if there are
any signs of the horse tram still visible today -
tram lines, remains of platform - anything like that
to be seen in Fintona. This is for a project i am
doing with primary aged children to encourage them
to follow up 'visual clues' they see in the streets
around them to find out about local history. I would
be very interested in hearing from anyone with any
further information about the horse tram, particularly
if there are any visible signs left.
Many thanks.
Cecil Irvine - May
'06
Reading these comments on the trams of Ulster reminds
me of the Newry to Bessbrook Tram. I travelled on
it during WW2 and I think it was electric powered.
I recall the level crossing on the Newry-Bessbrook
road at the pub called "The Pit" These memories
are of the war years but I don't know when the railway
and tram was shut down. This is another little bit
of Ulster history and when you think of it there was
quite a lot of little railways running in Ulster at
the turn of the century. Another one I recall was
from Portrush along the coast eastwards to Bushmills?
I think. Maybe this will jog someone's memory.
Patrick Carlin - Dec
'05
I bought an Original Photograph of the Fintona Horse-Tram
on Ebay last year, from a seller in Wales of all places.
It's one I've never seen before which is the reason
I wanted to buy it. The photograph is the only piece
of Fintona Horse-Tram memorablia I have, but I'm hoping
to add to it in the future. I don't remember the Horse-Tram,
but I have vivid memories of the old train yard and
some of the old wagons abandoned there, we used to
play around there as young children, I remember the
ramp in the old station yard, and I remember me and
the bicycle I was riding plunging off it, I still
get pain in that knee to this day!!!...
When Fintona lost the Horse-Tram it lost a piece of
it's heritage. The Tram itself is in the Ulster Museum
at Cultra, it's rightful place should be the town
of Fintona.
I wonder what the percentage is of Fintona residents
alive today who have actually seen the Fintona Horse-Tram,
I'd imagine it's a very low percentage, I'm forty
seven years old and I've only ever seen it in photographs.
The Tram returning to a purpose built centre in Fintona
would be a unique attraction, an asset to the Town
of Fintona.
Bringing The Horse-Tram Home is something that all
Fintona Residents should be focused on, Culturally
and Historically we've lost out for decades on a unique
piece of industrial history, a unique tourist attraction,
and something that would have established Fintona
firmily on the map. Thank you.
Bring The Horse-Tram Home
Bill Henderson - August '05
Fascinated by a note above from Brian Martin. As a
boy I spent a lot of time with my Grandfather in Fintona.
Many trips with Willie McClean on the Tram. I remember
spending many hours with a Brian Martin (and his brother
Alan). I last heard of Brian in Virginia, USA. I was
in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach areas myself for
several years in the 70's and 80's but never managed
to trace him.
Cuchulainn - June '05
Are you aware that the Horse tram is now part of the
collection at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum,
Cultra outside Belfast.
For years the name plate was missing, but the - now
not so young - ruffin who took it has returned it
to it's proper place.
Do any of you who lived in Fintona during the "Tran
Years" remember the funeral held when any of
the horses (and yes they were always called Dick)
died. I have been told the town came to a standstill,
the town "bigwigs" turned out in mourning
suits, etc. I have often wondered if this really did
happen, or is it just a legend?
Lucy Turner - July '05
I am an artist who has been commissioned by a charity
called Sustrans to creat outdoor furniture for the
Omagh area. I will be designing a bench for Fintona,
I am very keen to use text relating to dick the horse
in to the design. I would love more stories or memories
to be included in the design... please can you contact
me with info. Many Thanks, Lucy.
Mary Gorman - May 05
Recently I came across pictures of the Fintona horse
tram. They really brought back wonderful memories
for me. I lived for a number of years with my grandmother
on Fintona Main Street. She used to take me with her
to Omagh on the "van". I was about 10 years
old when the train line closed. I remember the day
that the "van" made its final trip. The
station master's name was Bradley. Is David Bradley
whose pictures I came across related to him? If so
I believe he went to King Street with us.
Vincent Donnelly - May 05
I think I have a video of Lesser
Spotted Ulster about the Clogher Valley Railway
and on the same video there are scenes of the Fintona
tram and Dick 1 and Dick 2. Also people that worked
on the tram.. Micky McCarron, ticket man, Dick
McLean family also Seamus Donnelly who was the
only blacksmith
around for miles so he shod the horses. I think
there are shoes off the horses in Wags Inn public
house Fintona belonging to Kevin Donnelly blacksmiths
son. If you were ever in Fintona call at the forge.
There might be photos there and if not they will
tell you where you will get some photos of the
Fintona tram.
Wesley Johnston, Colourpoint
Books - January '05
Hello - Just to let you know that the address given
for the West Tyrone Historical Society (see below
) is not right. The author of the book (Norman Johnston)
is my father and we lived at this address until 1997.
However it is now a private address and post for the
WTHS should not be directed to it. We haven't had
any contact with the society since then but my understanding
is that the book is out of print.
Also the previous comment by Michael Barratt mentions
"Irish Trams" which was published by ourselves
(Colourpoint Books, not Colourpoint Press as stated)
but this book is also now out of print.
John Stevens - January
'05
Not mentioned is the fact that the 'Fintona horse
tram' is preserved at the Ulster Folk and Transport
museum which housed its trams in a new building at
Holywood about ten year's ago. I saw it in l959 when
it was stored in downtown Belfast.
Cianna - October 2004
I would like to see photographs of old horse trams
as i have to do a project for school and i would love
to do Ireland with all the trams and railways.
Michael F. Barratt
- August 2004
There is an excellent book written by James Kilroy
entitled "Irish Trams" which provides details,
photos and maps of every tramway system in the island
of Ireland. Published by Colourpoint Press, Omagh,
it is a must for anyone with a serious interest in
trams in Ireland. It also contains an excellent bibliography
and systems' statistics. There are three excellent
colour pghotographs of the Fintona tram (381) with
Dick the horse pulling.
Brian Martin - July
2004
Harding,
I lived in Fintona from 1937 to 1955 and travelled
to The Academy Omagh every day by train, including
going and coming on the Horse Tram between Fintona
Junction and the town and like you I have many vivid
memories of the tram, Dick and Willie McLean the
driver.
The West Tyrone Historical Society has published
a book by Norman Johnston called "The Fintona Horse
Tram" containing many photos of the horse tram.
This is a must for Fintona horse tram lovers since
it is full of stories about Fintona people and their
connection to the "van" as it was called.
The book can be purchased, for 6.75pds by post, from:
West Tyrone Historical Society,
27 Knockgreenan Ave,
Omagh,
Co. Tyrone,
BT79 0EB
Harding Acheson - May 2004
The Fintona Horse Tram finished running on the 30th Sept 1957, the day the Omagh to Enniskillen Railway closed.
I have some photos on computer of the tram, one of them of its last journey on the above date.
I lived in Fintona from 1932 to 1952 and have vivid memories of the tram. The horse that pulled the
tram was I think always called Dick, whether male or female.
print version
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