The duties of the office began on the 1st of July, 1917, and the two years prescribed have expired; but Mr. Hunt's management and my supervision have, by Privy Council Order, been extended for a further period. My story may not go beyond fifty years, but this I may say, that what Hunt and I were able to accomplish in the first six months of our novel _regime_ was an augury of what we have accomplished since, and that a grateful public throughout the district of North-West Donegal, which the Burtonport Railway serves, does not stint its praise. Trains are punctual now, engines do not break down, carriages are comfortable, goods traffic is well worked, and delays are exceptional. Much has been done, more would have been done but for difficulties due to the war, and a good deal still remains to be done. In North-West Donegal, some two years ago, the idea of writing this book was conceived, and with North-West Donegal its pages close. As I lay down my pen, some words which I used in my opening chapter recur to my mind. I then expressed the hope that, in spite of all its drawbacks, my story, if faithfully told, might not be entirely devoid of interest, and now that I have finished my task, I humbly trust that the hope then expressed has been attended with some measure of success, and that my purpose has not altogether failed. INDEX. Accidents Compensation Act, 1846 52 Accounts, form of railway 53, 193 Acts of Parliament, general railway 49 Acworth, W M 145, 166, 183 Advertisements on railway stations 66 Alcorn, J., Great Southern & Western Railway 137 Allerton, Lord 109 Allport Commission, 1887 91, 93, 107, 109 Allport, Sir James 15, 22, 35, 39, 76, 77 Analysis of railway accounts 59 Anderson, Alexander, surfaceman poet 79 Andrews, Thomas, and the _Titanic_ 101 Andrews, Thomas, Right Honorable 100, 109, 111 Apollo Belvidera 24 "Appeal unto Caesar" 22 Arbitration, my first case 99 Ardglass Light Railway 108 Aspinall, Sir John 181, 183 Athenry and Ennis Junction, railway rates and charges, Order Confirmation Act, 1892 138 Athenry and Ennis Railway 121, 134, 155 Atmospheric railways 195 Atock, Martin 119, 126, 127 Austria, Empress of 125