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The station

The coming of the railroad brought also the station to Iona. This building was of standard size for its type, larger by far than the flag stations like Surrey next door, but a shade smaller than those in busier areas where a full-time agent worked or where living accommodations were included. Ours was divided pretty evenly in two, the first half serving as waiting room with benches around three sides and a ticket office with wicket. Nearby in one corner was a crank telephone, a novelty in its own right when phones in rural areas were few or non existent. Through it, contact with other stations along the line was easy and indeed with the outside world if needed. In the centre of the room stood a pot-belly coal stove while oil lamps hung on the walls. The main door’s sturdy trip-latch handle with its uniquely echoing sound added pomp to this special space. The second half served as freight shed with sliding doors. Outside, a sturdy plank platform the full length of the building and extending to the very edge of the tracks gave the station a graceful backdrop and an appearance of rugged stability. During all the years of my recollection, Mike O’Brien served faithfully as the station’ S caretaker and ticket agent. Rather than taking the name of the community, the station was called “Fodhla”, the poetic name for Ireland. It was the pastor of the day, Irish missionary Father James Phelan, who gave it this special identity in 1905 AS might be expected, it was a difficult word to pronounce correctly and many generations of railway personnel and travellers alike habitually failed the test.