Site Description
There are remains of an Up island and a Down platform at this station which was a junction between the D&BJR and the N&AR. The station building was on the former. The latter company s line from Newry trailed in on the Up side before continuing on north and crossing
over the mainline en route to Armagh by a bridge, the abutments of which remain to this day at MP 72 . There was a connection, trailing to the mainline. This line connected in Newry with the lines to Greenore and Warrenpoint, closed in 1951 and 1965 respectively.
The line to Armagh was cut back to Markethill in 1933 and this was itself closed in 1955. This line ran through Lisummon Tunnel, at 1759 yards, one yard short of a mile, it was the longest ever in use in Ireland. The trackbed of the branch back to Newry remains intact.
In refusing to deal in through traffic, the attitude of the D&BJR at this location became a national scandal and led to the passing of additional legislation, "Cardwell s Act", to force railway and canal companies throughout the United Kingdom to quote through rates
between each other. There is a quarry on the Down side (now hidden by trees) from which the GNR(I) obtained ballast, the quarry being served by a link to the mainline. A disused loading bank and the remains of a disconnected siding are on the same side. From here to
Portadown, the line shadows the Newry River and Canal, which are on the Up side.
Photographs
Google Street View - Goraghwood Station
Links
