Zerothebrake!
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The bare faced cheek of it!
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Shreds European Trips, Volume 2.
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shredder1
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shredder1
Established Member
Ireland (Day 3). Sunday 2nd August 2026.
I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
Sunday mornings are a little slow in Ireland and I was waiting for Connolly Street station to open from 06.00, it opened at 07.00, but I was in good company while I waited, I talk to anyone. I was heading south again, but this time to Rosslare. My train departed at 10.25, which was the first one out to Rosslare. It was new track for me beyond Bray also. It was a pleasant ride down the coast and was in the company of some lovely Brazilian young ladies, who insisted that I should eat some of their grapes, I met a few people from south America in Ireland including a Chilean and an Argentinian.
My train passed through Wexford, which looked like a nice place to visit, it then creeps at street level through the town and onto Rosslare Strand and then to the end of the line at Rosslare (Harbour), Europort arriving at 13.25, so a 3-hour journey. Although there is not much there in railway interests these days, the turntable at the end of the line is still in situ and I believe has been used for rail tours in the past. The only other point of interest for me, was the single tracked line, leading off to the west, presumably this would have been the long-closed line to Waterford, such a shame the line no longer exists, passengers wishing to continue in that direction now have to travel by bus.
I returned to Dublin on the same train, which departed at 14.05 and arrived back into Dublin Connolly for 17.04. I then wanted to do the branch to M3 Parkway, which was new track for me from Clonsilla, and has a spare platform for the service. I left Dublin Connolly at 17.47 arriving into Clonsilla for 18.13 and a quick platform change for the 18.18 to M3 Parkway arriving at 18.30.
M3 Parkway is a park and ride station opened in 2010, the line which ran from Clonsilla to Navan closed in 1963, but has now been reopened in phases, the next section to reopen will be the M3 Parkway back to Navan section, but it is not due to open until 2030 to 2035, so is part of a longer-term plan. I returned to Dublin Connolly on the same train via Clonsilla, the service normally runs into Docklands, except Sundays, when the Docklands line is close.
From Dublin Connolly I caught a Luas tram across the city to Dublin Heuston and spent the rest of the evening around the station photting. I later spent another night around Dublin, the hotel accommodation was ridiculous high priced and I didn’t fancy a night in a hostel, and even some of them were charging nearly £40 a night. I had however managed to secure accommodation for 4 nights from the Monday, which was in decent student accommodation behind the Guinness factory for less than £200, so I could survive another night roughing it and it was all good fun anyway, another great day out on the rails.
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I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
Sunday mornings are a little slow in Ireland and I was waiting for Connolly Street station to open from 06.00, it opened at 07.00, but I was in good company while I waited, I talk to anyone. I was heading south again, but this time to Rosslare. My train departed at 10.25, which was the first one out to Rosslare. It was new track for me beyond Bray also. It was a pleasant ride down the coast and was in the company of some lovely Brazilian young ladies, who insisted that I should eat some of their grapes, I met a few people from south America in Ireland including a Chilean and an Argentinian.
My train passed through Wexford, which looked like a nice place to visit, it then creeps at street level through the town and onto Rosslare Strand and then to the end of the line at Rosslare (Harbour), Europort arriving at 13.25, so a 3-hour journey. Although there is not much there in railway interests these days, the turntable at the end of the line is still in situ and I believe has been used for rail tours in the past. The only other point of interest for me, was the single tracked line, leading off to the west, presumably this would have been the long-closed line to Waterford, such a shame the line no longer exists, passengers wishing to continue in that direction now have to travel by bus.
I returned to Dublin on the same train, which departed at 14.05 and arrived back into Dublin Connolly for 17.04. I then wanted to do the branch to M3 Parkway, which was new track for me from Clonsilla, and has a spare platform for the service. I left Dublin Connolly at 17.47 arriving into Clonsilla for 18.13 and a quick platform change for the 18.18 to M3 Parkway arriving at 18.30.
M3 Parkway is a park and ride station opened in 2010, the line which ran from Clonsilla to Navan closed in 1963, but has now been reopened in phases, the next section to reopen will be the M3 Parkway back to Navan section, but it is not due to open until 2030 to 2035, so is part of a longer-term plan. I returned to Dublin Connolly on the same train via Clonsilla, the service normally runs into Docklands, except Sundays, when the Docklands line is close.
From Dublin Connolly I caught a Luas tram across the city to Dublin Heuston and spent the rest of the evening around the station photting. I later spent another night around Dublin, the hotel accommodation was ridiculous high priced and I didn’t fancy a night in a hostel, and even some of them were charging nearly £40 a night. I had however managed to secure accommodation for 4 nights from the Monday, which was in decent student accommodation behind the Guinness factory for less than £200, so I could survive another night roughing it and it was all good fun anyway, another great day out on the rails.
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shredder1
Established Member
Ireland (Day 4). Monday 3rd August 2026.
I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
I was back in front of Dublin Heuston railway station waiting for the doors to open for 05.00, but they didn’t open until 06.00, I had forgotten it was a bank holiday in Ireland and they move much slower over there. However, once inside the station it was breakfast in one of the station cafes and I was soon boarding the 07.35 to Galway, arriving for 10.12. Nice to see Galway station renovation all but completed since I visited last year. I was on a tight schedule though and needed to change for the 10.25 to Limerick via Ennis, which was new track for me. We arrived into Limerick at 12.22. It was nice to see Limerick still has a traction maintenance depot; in fact, the original steam locomotive depot is still in use. The station building is dated and has a very dark interior, it is however due to be refurbished, so I’m pleased I managed a few photographs before it changes.
I next boarded a train up to Limerick Junction at 12.55, arriving by 13.23, again this section was also new track for me. The old steam depot is still standing and the yard is now in use as a civil engineering depot, I was fortunate in that GM Class 071, the first of the class in CIE orange and black livery, was in the yard, along with another locomotive parked at the back of the depot, number 079 in the grey livery.
I departed from Limerick Junction on the 14.21 to Dublin Heuston, arriving at 15.59, so an earlier finish for me as I had my accommodation booked, my first bed in 4 nights. I was staying in student accommodation for the next 4 nights and at just under £200, which at Dublin prices was the cheapest I could find. The complex was only a 10 minutes’ walk from Heuston station, so the location was good also. I was soon in my room, showered and in bed, the bed was comfy and no sooner had my head hit the pillow than I was out for the world and slept right through until 04.00 next morning, which gave me around 10 hours sleep, as I had an early start the next morning.
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I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
I was back in front of Dublin Heuston railway station waiting for the doors to open for 05.00, but they didn’t open until 06.00, I had forgotten it was a bank holiday in Ireland and they move much slower over there. However, once inside the station it was breakfast in one of the station cafes and I was soon boarding the 07.35 to Galway, arriving for 10.12. Nice to see Galway station renovation all but completed since I visited last year. I was on a tight schedule though and needed to change for the 10.25 to Limerick via Ennis, which was new track for me. We arrived into Limerick at 12.22. It was nice to see Limerick still has a traction maintenance depot; in fact, the original steam locomotive depot is still in use. The station building is dated and has a very dark interior, it is however due to be refurbished, so I’m pleased I managed a few photographs before it changes.
I next boarded a train up to Limerick Junction at 12.55, arriving by 13.23, again this section was also new track for me. The old steam depot is still standing and the yard is now in use as a civil engineering depot, I was fortunate in that GM Class 071, the first of the class in CIE orange and black livery, was in the yard, along with another locomotive parked at the back of the depot, number 079 in the grey livery.
I departed from Limerick Junction on the 14.21 to Dublin Heuston, arriving at 15.59, so an earlier finish for me as I had my accommodation booked, my first bed in 4 nights. I was staying in student accommodation for the next 4 nights and at just under £200, which at Dublin prices was the cheapest I could find. The complex was only a 10 minutes’ walk from Heuston station, so the location was good also. I was soon in my room, showered and in bed, the bed was comfy and no sooner had my head hit the pillow than I was out for the world and slept right through until 04.00 next morning, which gave me around 10 hours sleep, as I had an early start the next morning.
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shredder1
Established Member
Ireland (Day 5). Tuesday 4th August 2026.
I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
After a great night’s sleep at the Binary Hub Aparto, the student accommodation, I was soon up and out ready for the 05.45 from Dublin Heuston to Athlone. I was heading for the Billina line, which was new track for me from the junction station at Manulla, but trains were not as frequent, the Manulla to Ballina line operates on a shuttle DMU service.
I arrived into Athlone at 07.21, but my train to Manulla Junction wasn’t until 09.15 so I took a walk around Athlone and had breakfast in a local café. On returning to Athlone railway station, I caught the 09.15 to Manulla Junction for 10.36 with a quick change to Ballina at 10.39, the train was already on the platform and arrived into Ballina at 11.06.
The tracks continue beyond the station at Ballina over a level crossing which looks rarely used, however, there is a line of flat trucks beyond the crossing, but I was unable to see how far the line continued beyond that. The passenger line did originally run from Ballina to Killala at one time, but closed in 1934.
I returned from Ballina on the same train which departed at 13.00 and arriving at Manulla Junction for 13.27, a few minutes wait for the next train at 13.29 and I caught this train as far as Castlerea and arrived into the town at 14.11. I was essentially heading to Westport, but didn’t fancy a long wait at Manulla Junction as there is nothing there, so I caught a train back in the Dublin direction and then waited for the Westport train from Castlerea, I arrived at 14.11 and departed at 14.52, so that gave me chance to get something to eat from the local Spar shop opposite the station.
I left Castlerea at 14.52 and arrived into Westport for 15.59. I had visited Westport in the 1990s on an ITG rail tour and I must admit it hadn’t changed much from memory, although platform 2 was now out of use for passenger traffic and the footbridge sealed. As I arrived, I was lucky in that another GM class 071 in grey livery was just about to leave on the closed platform, it was in front of a log train, number 079. The old steam locomotive depot still survives though just beyond the station.
The lines beyond Westport continued on the Westport Newport line to Achill, but this closed in 1937. A Greenway has been created beyond Westport railway station, but I only had time to follow it for a short distance. My train left Westport at 18.30 and I arrived back into Dublin Heuston for 21.48, it had been another great day.
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I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
After a great night’s sleep at the Binary Hub Aparto, the student accommodation, I was soon up and out ready for the 05.45 from Dublin Heuston to Athlone. I was heading for the Billina line, which was new track for me from the junction station at Manulla, but trains were not as frequent, the Manulla to Ballina line operates on a shuttle DMU service.
I arrived into Athlone at 07.21, but my train to Manulla Junction wasn’t until 09.15 so I took a walk around Athlone and had breakfast in a local café. On returning to Athlone railway station, I caught the 09.15 to Manulla Junction for 10.36 with a quick change to Ballina at 10.39, the train was already on the platform and arrived into Ballina at 11.06.
The tracks continue beyond the station at Ballina over a level crossing which looks rarely used, however, there is a line of flat trucks beyond the crossing, but I was unable to see how far the line continued beyond that. The passenger line did originally run from Ballina to Killala at one time, but closed in 1934.
I returned from Ballina on the same train which departed at 13.00 and arriving at Manulla Junction for 13.27, a few minutes wait for the next train at 13.29 and I caught this train as far as Castlerea and arrived into the town at 14.11. I was essentially heading to Westport, but didn’t fancy a long wait at Manulla Junction as there is nothing there, so I caught a train back in the Dublin direction and then waited for the Westport train from Castlerea, I arrived at 14.11 and departed at 14.52, so that gave me chance to get something to eat from the local Spar shop opposite the station.
I left Castlerea at 14.52 and arrived into Westport for 15.59. I had visited Westport in the 1990s on an ITG rail tour and I must admit it hadn’t changed much from memory, although platform 2 was now out of use for passenger traffic and the footbridge sealed. As I arrived, I was lucky in that another GM class 071 in grey livery was just about to leave on the closed platform, it was in front of a log train, number 079. The old steam locomotive depot still survives though just beyond the station.
The lines beyond Westport continued on the Westport Newport line to Achill, but this closed in 1937. A Greenway has been created beyond Westport railway station, but I only had time to follow it for a short distance. My train left Westport at 18.30 and I arrived back into Dublin Heuston for 21.48, it had been another great day.
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I recently did a trip similar to this starting in Maynooth, I caught the early Sunday morning train to Sligo. From there it was an hour and a bits hop to Ballina on the 458 and a welcome short fester in Ballina before making the trip down to Manulla on the 2 car dmu shuttle. This got into Ballina to meet the Westport-Dublin train but as it was only a half hour wait for the Westport train, I decided to wait for it at Manulla. Little did I know that not only is there no facilities at this wild West Station, you can't even leave it for a wander without a tresspass on the railway!Ireland (Day 5). Tuesday 4th August 2026.
I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
After a great night’s sleep at the Binary Hub Aparto, the student accommodation, I was soon up and out ready for the 05.45 from Dublin Heuston to Athlone. I was heading for the Billina line, which was new track for me from the junction station at Manulla, but trains were not as frequent, the Manulla to Ballina line operates on a shuttle DMU service.
I arrived into Athlone at 07.21, but my train to Manulla Junction wasn’t until 09.15 so I took a walk around Athlone and had breakfast in a local café. On returning to Athlone railway station, I caught the 09.15 to Manulla Junction for 10.36 with a quick change to Ballina at 10.39, the train was already on the platform and arrived into Ballina at 11.06.
The tracks continue beyond the station at Ballina over a level crossing which looks rarely used, however, there is a line of flat trucks beyond the crossing, but I was unable to see how far the line continued beyond that. The passenger line did originally run from Ballina to Killala at one time, but closed in 1934.
I returned from Ballina on the same train which departed at 13.00 and arriving at Manulla Junction for 13.27, a few minutes wait for the next train at 13.29 and I caught this train as far as Castlerea and arrived into the town at 14.11. I was essentially heading to Westport, but didn’t fancy a long wait at Manulla Junction as there is nothing there, so I caught a train back in the Dublin direction and then waited for the Westport train from Castlerea, I arrived at 14.11 and departed at 14.52, so that gave me chance to get something to eat from the local Spar shop opposite the station.
I left Castlerea at 14.52 and arrived into Westport for 15.59. I had visited Westport in the 1990s on an ITG rail tour and I must admit it hadn’t changed much from memory, although platform 2 was now out of use for passenger traffic and the footbridge sealed. As I arrived, I was lucky in that another GM class 071 in grey livery was just about to leave on the closed platform, it was in front of a log train, number 079. The old steam locomotive depot still survives though just beyond the station.
The lines beyond Westport continued on the Westport Newport line to Achill, but this closed in 1937. A Greenway has been created beyond Westport railway station, but I only had time to follow it for a short distance. My train left Westport at 18.30 and I arrived back into Dublin Heuston for 21.48, it had been another great day.
The journey down to Westport is very pretty. I had around an hour before my last train back to Dublin so went for a quick wander down the town which is around a 15 minute walk from the Station. A quick visit to Tesco (a little more convenient for the Station) had me stocked up for the return to Dublin. It is a lovely journey from West to East but I was surprised how busy the train got with the students returning to their halls of residence. I bailed out at Hazelhatch to catch a bus back to Maynooth where I was staying.
A lovely day out!
shredder1
Established Member
Thanks very much for nice, yes a nice region, I didnt know you couldnt leave Manulla station, glad I didnt choose to wait there now.
shredder1
Established Member
Ireland (Day 6). Wednesday 5th August 2026.
I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
The alarm was set for 06.00 and I left the Binary Hub Aparto, the student accommodation just after 06.30 and took breakfast in Dublin Heuston railway station and settled for a Supermac, the Irish equivalent of McDonalds, cheap and nasty, but it filled a gap. I was heading for Waterford on the 07.20 and I arrived into Waterford for 09.45. It is a line I travelled on in the 1990s on a ITG rail tour, but still nice to see the station again and it is due to be rebuilt slightly nearer the city centre. The classic overhead signal box will be renovated, and a new bridge is being built across the River Suir to facilitate the new railway station.
I made my way to the bus station as I wanted to visit the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway, a preserved railway operating on a section of the old Waterford to Cork track bed. The bus cost 6 Euros and the ride was only around 12 kilometres. The bus dropped me off at a cross roads and I then had a 20 minutes’ walk along dual carriage ways with no footpaths, until I eventually got to the railways operating centre at Kilmeaden.
The railway is a 3ft gauge operated by small industrial diesel shunting locomotives. The views along the River Suir are excellent and a cycle track follows the railway for much of the way, I was however disappointed in that the railway, for some reason, don’t run trains to the end of the line at Bilberry midweek, only at weekends, so I didn’t get the opportunity to travel the full length of the line, it would also be far better for visitors to be able to join the train at Bilberry which is much closer to Waterford and would be easier to access. A bus does stop outside the railway at Kilmeaden station, but it is infrequent, so I had to return to catch my bus back into Waterford, by the same route, taking my chances walking along a busy dual carriageway with no pavements.
I spent a little time exploring Waterford centre before making my way back to the railway station for my next train. I was catching the 16.25, one of two trains that travelled the line on a daily basis, the first train being in the morning. The route was to Limerick Junction, the direct line via Carrick on Suir and Tipperary. I also travelled on this line in the 1990s on an ITG rail tour, the ITG have the former goods warehouse at Carrick and store a number of preserved locomotives there, as I passed through the station, I noted a locomotive and shunter in the yard sealed in vandal proof casings, so I couldn’t identify them.
My train arrived into Limerick Junction at 18.08 and I travelled back to Dublin Heuston on the 18.22, arriving back into Dublin at 20.03. I was soon back in my accommodation after another satisfying day on the rails.
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I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
The alarm was set for 06.00 and I left the Binary Hub Aparto, the student accommodation just after 06.30 and took breakfast in Dublin Heuston railway station and settled for a Supermac, the Irish equivalent of McDonalds, cheap and nasty, but it filled a gap. I was heading for Waterford on the 07.20 and I arrived into Waterford for 09.45. It is a line I travelled on in the 1990s on a ITG rail tour, but still nice to see the station again and it is due to be rebuilt slightly nearer the city centre. The classic overhead signal box will be renovated, and a new bridge is being built across the River Suir to facilitate the new railway station.
I made my way to the bus station as I wanted to visit the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway, a preserved railway operating on a section of the old Waterford to Cork track bed. The bus cost 6 Euros and the ride was only around 12 kilometres. The bus dropped me off at a cross roads and I then had a 20 minutes’ walk along dual carriage ways with no footpaths, until I eventually got to the railways operating centre at Kilmeaden.
The railway is a 3ft gauge operated by small industrial diesel shunting locomotives. The views along the River Suir are excellent and a cycle track follows the railway for much of the way, I was however disappointed in that the railway, for some reason, don’t run trains to the end of the line at Bilberry midweek, only at weekends, so I didn’t get the opportunity to travel the full length of the line, it would also be far better for visitors to be able to join the train at Bilberry which is much closer to Waterford and would be easier to access. A bus does stop outside the railway at Kilmeaden station, but it is infrequent, so I had to return to catch my bus back into Waterford, by the same route, taking my chances walking along a busy dual carriageway with no pavements.
I spent a little time exploring Waterford centre before making my way back to the railway station for my next train. I was catching the 16.25, one of two trains that travelled the line on a daily basis, the first train being in the morning. The route was to Limerick Junction, the direct line via Carrick on Suir and Tipperary. I also travelled on this line in the 1990s on an ITG rail tour, the ITG have the former goods warehouse at Carrick and store a number of preserved locomotives there, as I passed through the station, I noted a locomotive and shunter in the yard sealed in vandal proof casings, so I couldn’t identify them.
My train arrived into Limerick Junction at 18.08 and I travelled back to Dublin Heuston on the 18.22, arriving back into Dublin at 20.03. I was soon back in my accommodation after another satisfying day on the rails.
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shredder1
Established Member
Ireland (Day 6). Wednesday 5th August 2026.
I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
My plan was to travel on the two train a day line that runs between Limerick and Ballybrothy, it was a late afternoon train at 17.10, so I was in no real rush to get down there. I boarded the 08.00 down to Limerick Junction from Dublin Heuston and arrived at 09.35 and spent some time on the station. The celebrity liveried GM class 071 was still attached to the engineering train in the yard and I went over to see the GM machine hidden behind the old depot; this was attached at the other end of the engineering train, this was grey liveried 083. Ready for departure was the train for Waterford, again only on two trains a day line, this being the morning service returning. It’s an interesting arrangement at Limerick Junction in that trains coming from the Waterford direction have to cross the main line on a crossover junction and travel beyond the junction down the Limerick lines, they then have to reverse to access Limerick Junction station. I have tried to show this operation in photographs of the Waterford train leaving and crossing the main line.
I left Limerick Junction on the 10.41, arriving into Limerick for 11.08. I walked out to the locomotive depot and had a chat with the shed foreman, a very pleasant lad, but because of health and safety he couldn’t show me around, there were only about 3 DMUs on the depot, but my main interest was photographing the old steam depot, but it wasn’t to be. I then went for a wonder around the city and down to the river. Limerick is a pleasant enough place to spend an afternoon and I also managed to get something to eat in one of the cafes on the water front. I returned to the station and then caught the 13.50 back up to Limerick Junction, arriving at 14.19 and returning on the 14.37 which saw me back in Limerick for 15.04 and enabled me to phot a few more class 201s working on the Dublin to Cork line and also helped me kill a little time.
The line between Limerick and Limerick junction takes just under 30 minutes to travel, it no longer has any intermediate stations on the line, but once had no less than five intermediate stations, these were Killonan on the junction for the Galway lines, Boher, Dromkeen, Pallas and Oola, I noticed at least two of these still standing and in use as private residencies.
I was waiting for my train at 17.10 from Limerick, the second of the day up to Ballybrophy via the Nenagh line. A line of some 52.5 miles with intermediate stations at Castleconnell, Birdhill, Nenagh, Cloughjordan and Roscrea and I was surprised that some of the towns en route appeared quite large and with industry of sorts. I spoke to the guard on the train and he told me they were hoping to invest in the line and possibly double it again and maybe see some freight services, only time will tell I suppose. It was a pleasant enough ride up the line though and as we terminated, on its own platform, at Ballybrophy arriving for 18.55 so it had taken 1 hour and 45 minutes to travel the line, and the train back up to Dublin Heuston wasn’t far behind at 18.58 and arriving back into Dublin for 20.03. Another satisfying and more chilled out day this time, but I had another early start the following day, so after something to eat it was a shower and early to bed.
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I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
My plan was to travel on the two train a day line that runs between Limerick and Ballybrothy, it was a late afternoon train at 17.10, so I was in no real rush to get down there. I boarded the 08.00 down to Limerick Junction from Dublin Heuston and arrived at 09.35 and spent some time on the station. The celebrity liveried GM class 071 was still attached to the engineering train in the yard and I went over to see the GM machine hidden behind the old depot; this was attached at the other end of the engineering train, this was grey liveried 083. Ready for departure was the train for Waterford, again only on two trains a day line, this being the morning service returning. It’s an interesting arrangement at Limerick Junction in that trains coming from the Waterford direction have to cross the main line on a crossover junction and travel beyond the junction down the Limerick lines, they then have to reverse to access Limerick Junction station. I have tried to show this operation in photographs of the Waterford train leaving and crossing the main line.
I left Limerick Junction on the 10.41, arriving into Limerick for 11.08. I walked out to the locomotive depot and had a chat with the shed foreman, a very pleasant lad, but because of health and safety he couldn’t show me around, there were only about 3 DMUs on the depot, but my main interest was photographing the old steam depot, but it wasn’t to be. I then went for a wonder around the city and down to the river. Limerick is a pleasant enough place to spend an afternoon and I also managed to get something to eat in one of the cafes on the water front. I returned to the station and then caught the 13.50 back up to Limerick Junction, arriving at 14.19 and returning on the 14.37 which saw me back in Limerick for 15.04 and enabled me to phot a few more class 201s working on the Dublin to Cork line and also helped me kill a little time.
The line between Limerick and Limerick junction takes just under 30 minutes to travel, it no longer has any intermediate stations on the line, but once had no less than five intermediate stations, these were Killonan on the junction for the Galway lines, Boher, Dromkeen, Pallas and Oola, I noticed at least two of these still standing and in use as private residencies.
I was waiting for my train at 17.10 from Limerick, the second of the day up to Ballybrophy via the Nenagh line. A line of some 52.5 miles with intermediate stations at Castleconnell, Birdhill, Nenagh, Cloughjordan and Roscrea and I was surprised that some of the towns en route appeared quite large and with industry of sorts. I spoke to the guard on the train and he told me they were hoping to invest in the line and possibly double it again and maybe see some freight services, only time will tell I suppose. It was a pleasant enough ride up the line though and as we terminated, on its own platform, at Ballybrophy arriving for 18.55 so it had taken 1 hour and 45 minutes to travel the line, and the train back up to Dublin Heuston wasn’t far behind at 18.58 and arriving back into Dublin for 20.03. Another satisfying and more chilled out day this time, but I had another early start the following day, so after something to eat it was a shower and early to bed.
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shredder1
Established Member
Ireland (Day 8). Friday 7th August 2026.
I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
I packed up at my student accommodation having spend my last night there, it had been good value for Dublin. I was now however heading back to the Dublin Connolly side of the city for the last day of my 8-day single country, interrail pass. When I first arrived 8 days ago, my first trip was to Sligo and I was heading back up that line again, so was on an early train at 06.55 to Dromod, the operating centre for the Cavan and Leitrim Railway, a 3 ft gauge railway that was once quite extensive.
“The main line ran 34 miles (54 km) from Dromod to Belturbet, opening in October 1887. A branch line from Ballinamore to Arigna opened in May 1888 and was extended in 1920 to reach the coal mines beyond Arigna. The Belturbet to Dromod route passed through towns including Tomkin Road, Ballyconnell, Ballinamore, Mohill, and Dereen, while the branch to Arigna ran via Ballyduff, Cornabrone, Kiltubrid, Creagh, and Drumshanbo The line included roadside tramway sections, particularly on the Arigna branch, which allowed it to navigate the hilly and boggy terrain economically”, (Source Wikipedia).
These days the Cavan and Leitrim Railway operate a half mile length of track, but is also a museum centre. I arrived at Dromod for 09.06, it’s a small village with the original station house being converted to a private dwelling. Opposite the main station however is the Cavan and Leitrim station building and yard, complete with loco shed.
The railway however wasn’t operating on my visit, but I found a dirt track off the main road that took me through to the station and yard. One of the railway members lives on site and he didn’t seem too happy that I was there, apparently the dirt track I had walked along was his neighbours garden and his main concern of course was vandalism to the railway, which is understandable and I expect they don’t have the funds to fence the railway off from the public.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to mind me taking a few photographs and advised me that the railway would be open to the public on the Saturday, the following day, unfortunately for me I was flying back to Manchester the following day, so will have to revisit at some point. They did have quite a collection of small diesel type shunters in the yard, probably ex peat railway machines, while they also had a steam locomotive in the sheds. I wish them luck with any further extensions and progress, its certainly worth paying a visit when its operating.
I departed from Dromod at 10.04 and arrived back into Dublin Connolly for 12.09. At 12.50 I caught the Enterprise behind a class 201, Black stiped liveried 233, to the Northern Ireland border station of Dundalk, mainly because I wanted to check out the small station museum, it was quite interesting and a well restored station, essentially a large island platform with access via an over bridge from what would have been border control at some point in the past.
I returned to Dublin Connolly on the 14.13 Enterprise behind class 201, 227 in Enterprise livery, arriving back into Dublin Connolly for 15.13. I was then aiming for my last line and new track for Ireland, Dublin Docklands. I boarded the 15.48 to Broombridge for 15.57 and then the 16.06 to Docklands for 16.19, an interesting line that passes below the main line into what was the North Wall area of Dublin.
I returned from Docklands at 16.27 to Broombridge for 16.35, departing at 16.51 for Dublin Connolly for 17.03. For the sake of completing every line in the last 8 days, I took the branch line to Howth, leaving Dublin Connolly at 17.23 and arriving into Howth for 17.50. I returned on the same train from Howth and it was nice to see a blue liveried Northern Ireland class 201 number 216 stood on shed at Connolly and in bright enough sunshine to managed a few photographs from the passing train.
It was a fantastic week and covered 3 different preservation sites, but I missed out a lot more, which are difficult to access without a car, rural Ireland isn’t adored by public transport and many lines have been closed over the years, it was however a very enjoyable trip. I left Dublin Connolly for the last time and caught a late airport bus from the city; I was on an early flight on the Saturday morning and managed to grab a few hours sleep at the airport before my flight back to Manchester, it was emotional.
www.cavanandleitrimrailway.com
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I decided to spend 8 days in Ireland, mainly line bashing as there was still a few lines I hadn’t completed. I travelled on a number of lines on the ITG Rail tours back in the 1990s, some lines that have sadly since closed. I visited the country last year for 3 days and travelled over to Clifden and Galway and also completed all the Luas tram network. Over this recent visit I completed all the lines in Ireland including ones I had travelled on previously. I also managed to visit a few of the preserved railways, including the Lartigue Monorail Museum, which has been on my bucket list for some time. I was using a one country Irish Interrail ticket and the stats for the week were 3,824 kilometres on 44 trains, spending 2 days and 6 hours cumulatively on trains. It was a great trip, but like most countries, so many lines have been closed over the years and the knock-on effect is still evident in many rural areas, while two of the lines I travelled on, only had two trains a day operating.
I packed up at my student accommodation having spend my last night there, it had been good value for Dublin. I was now however heading back to the Dublin Connolly side of the city for the last day of my 8-day single country, interrail pass. When I first arrived 8 days ago, my first trip was to Sligo and I was heading back up that line again, so was on an early train at 06.55 to Dromod, the operating centre for the Cavan and Leitrim Railway, a 3 ft gauge railway that was once quite extensive.
“The main line ran 34 miles (54 km) from Dromod to Belturbet, opening in October 1887. A branch line from Ballinamore to Arigna opened in May 1888 and was extended in 1920 to reach the coal mines beyond Arigna. The Belturbet to Dromod route passed through towns including Tomkin Road, Ballyconnell, Ballinamore, Mohill, and Dereen, while the branch to Arigna ran via Ballyduff, Cornabrone, Kiltubrid, Creagh, and Drumshanbo The line included roadside tramway sections, particularly on the Arigna branch, which allowed it to navigate the hilly and boggy terrain economically”, (Source Wikipedia).
These days the Cavan and Leitrim Railway operate a half mile length of track, but is also a museum centre. I arrived at Dromod for 09.06, it’s a small village with the original station house being converted to a private dwelling. Opposite the main station however is the Cavan and Leitrim station building and yard, complete with loco shed.
The railway however wasn’t operating on my visit, but I found a dirt track off the main road that took me through to the station and yard. One of the railway members lives on site and he didn’t seem too happy that I was there, apparently the dirt track I had walked along was his neighbours garden and his main concern of course was vandalism to the railway, which is understandable and I expect they don’t have the funds to fence the railway off from the public.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to mind me taking a few photographs and advised me that the railway would be open to the public on the Saturday, the following day, unfortunately for me I was flying back to Manchester the following day, so will have to revisit at some point. They did have quite a collection of small diesel type shunters in the yard, probably ex peat railway machines, while they also had a steam locomotive in the sheds. I wish them luck with any further extensions and progress, its certainly worth paying a visit when its operating.
I departed from Dromod at 10.04 and arrived back into Dublin Connolly for 12.09. At 12.50 I caught the Enterprise behind a class 201, Black stiped liveried 233, to the Northern Ireland border station of Dundalk, mainly because I wanted to check out the small station museum, it was quite interesting and a well restored station, essentially a large island platform with access via an over bridge from what would have been border control at some point in the past.
I returned to Dublin Connolly on the 14.13 Enterprise behind class 201, 227 in Enterprise livery, arriving back into Dublin Connolly for 15.13. I was then aiming for my last line and new track for Ireland, Dublin Docklands. I boarded the 15.48 to Broombridge for 15.57 and then the 16.06 to Docklands for 16.19, an interesting line that passes below the main line into what was the North Wall area of Dublin.
I returned from Docklands at 16.27 to Broombridge for 16.35, departing at 16.51 for Dublin Connolly for 17.03. For the sake of completing every line in the last 8 days, I took the branch line to Howth, leaving Dublin Connolly at 17.23 and arriving into Howth for 17.50. I returned on the same train from Howth and it was nice to see a blue liveried Northern Ireland class 201 number 216 stood on shed at Connolly and in bright enough sunshine to managed a few photographs from the passing train.
It was a fantastic week and covered 3 different preservation sites, but I missed out a lot more, which are difficult to access without a car, rural Ireland isn’t adored by public transport and many lines have been closed over the years, it was however a very enjoyable trip. I left Dublin Connolly for the last time and caught a late airport bus from the city; I was on an early flight on the Saturday morning and managed to grab a few hours sleep at the airport before my flight back to Manchester, it was emotional.
The Cavan and Leitrim Railway (Dromod)
The museum that was established in 1993, is run entirely by volunteers. The museum is located beside the Irish Rail station in Dromod on the grounds of the old Cavan and Leitrim Railway yard.
www.cavanandleitrimrailway.com
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