Waterford-Mallow_railway_line
Waterford–Mallow railway line
Closed railway line in Ireland
The Waterford–Mallow railway line ran from Waterford to Mallow and allowed for trains to run directly from Waterford to Cork City.
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The line was opened in stages by various companies and was completely opened on 12 August 1878.[1]
On 17 May 1860 the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) opened a 16+3⁄4 miles (27.0 km) branch from Mallow (on its Dublin to Cork main line) to Fermoy.[2] An extension from Fermoy to Lismore was approved to be constructed by the Fermoy and Lismore Railway in 1869 and following opening on 1 October 1872 was operated by the GS&WR.[2]
The Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway (WD&LR) was incorporated in 1871 and fully opened its 43 miles (69 km) section on 12 August 1878; thus completing the continuous connection from Cork via Mallow to Waterford.[2] The WD&LR operated its own trains and was to take over operation of the Fermoy to Lismore section from the GS&WR on 1 March 1893.[2]
The route was completely taken over by the GS&WR in 1898.[3] The route was closed in 1967[4]
The line closed in March 1967 for economic reasons.[5] As most patronage was for Cork on the boat train it was possible to re-route between Waterford and Mallow via Limerick Junction, a route that was of greater mileage but which only resulted in a maximum 10 minute increase in journey time.[5]
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From Waterford to Dungarvan has some significant 1 in 66 inclines to two summits.[2] In 2022 a Greenway was proposed along the old route[6] from Mallow to Dungarvan.
The Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company gained authority to run a boat service from Fishguard, Wales to Rosslare Harbour in 1895. The GS&WR were then able to run a service notably including a twelve-wheeled dining car from Rosslare routing via Waterford and Mallow at considerable convenience for travellers going to Cork City and further south-west.[7]
Footnotes
- Casserley (1974), pp. 71–72.
- Casserley (1974), p. 71.
- Murray & McNeill (1976), p. 74.
- Bairstow (2011), p. 62.
- Baker (1972), pp. 150–151.
- Baker (1972), p. 14.
Sources
- Bairstow, Martin (2011). Railways in Ireland. Vol. Part Four:Great Southern & Western. Martin Bairstow. ISBN 9781871944402.
- Baker, Michael H. C. (1972). Irish Railways since 1916. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0711002827. OCLC 248259641.
- Casserley, H. C. (1974). Outline of Irish Railway History. Newton Abbot & North Pomfret: David & Charles. ISBN 0715363778. OCLC 249227042.
- Murray, K. A.; McNeill, D. B. (1976). The Great Southern & Western Railway. Irish Railway Record Society. ISBN 0904078051. OCLC 3069424.
