Maynooth to Sligo

HISTORY

The Midland Great Western Railway was founded after a boardroom split in the fledgling Great Southern and Western Railway. The original line ran from Broadstone to Mullingar with a branch to Longford and to achieve this first objective, the Royal Canal was acquired, it having been proposed to run the line along the bed of the canal! However, on competition grounds, Parliament would not allow this, forcing the company to build along adjacent land owned by the canal company. Subsequent extensions saw the mainline brought to Galway and the branch or secondary mainline extended to Sligo. However, nowadays, the mainline is that to Sligo, Galway is served from Heuston Station via Portarlington and the Mullingar - Athlone line is little used.

The line can be divided into a number of distinct sections. The first 16 miles form the Maynooth line and see a reasonable suburban service between this North Kildare dormitory and university town and the capital city. This section is dealt with here. From Maynooth to Longford is commuter territory, with dedicated services to/from Dublin. These two sections would be the more prosperous ones on the line. Finally, there is the section to Sligo. The long term existence of this section, previously in doubt, appears to have been secured.

28.06.1947	MGWR	Broadstone to Enfield
06.12.1847	MGWR	Enfield to Hill of Down
02.10.1848	MGWR	Hill of Down to Mullingar (MP50)
14.12.1855	MGWR	Mullingar to Longford
03.09.1862	MGWR	Longford to Sligo (MP133¼)
??.07.1863	MGWR	Sligo (MP 133¼) to Sligo (Mac Dhiarmada)

MILEPOSTS

From	To	Measured from	Side
Maynooth	Sligo	Broadstone Station	Down

TRACK

Previously, the double line extended as far as Longford, that as far as Mullingar being doubled in sections shortly after opening, as far as Inny Junction was doubled in 1858 and hence to Longford, 20 years later. Clonsilla to Maynooth to Killucan was singled in 1930 and to Mullingar in 1929. Inny Junction to Longford was singled in 1924 and hence to Longford was singled in 1931. From Collooney to Collooney Junction was singled in 1923, while the Carrignagat Junction to Ballysodare line was reduced to two singles in 1930 with the SL&NCR line being removed after closure in 1957 and from Ballysodare to Sligo was singled in 1959.

SIGNALLING

From Maynooth to Sligo is controlled by mini CTC.

ROUTE DESCRIPTION

15 0.00 MAYNOOTH

PHOTOS Last updated: 16th June 2007

There are both Up and Down platforms here with the modern station building adjacent to the disused signal cabin on the Up platform. This contains a ticket office, shop, administrative offices and signaling facilities. The station closed in 1963, reopened in 1981 with the original station building being replaced by a compact ticket office which in turn was superceded by the present structure in 2001. Between this and the Royal Canal harbour is the car park. There is a footbridge at the Dublin Connolly end of the station. The former stationmaster's house, now a private residence, is on the Down side.

At the Sligo end of the station, on the same side, there is an engineering depot. This is on the site of a turntable that was accessed by a short trailing siding from the Down line. Beyond this, there was a loading bank and sidings off the original Down line, but these have been incorporated into a housing estate and built over. There was a loading bank and siding on the Up side, also at this end of the station which have been built on to provide additional car parking facilities.

Approximately ¼ mile beyond the station, Maynooth College can be seen on the Up side. The bricked up archway in the college wall was used as a goods access point from the canal.

18 3.15 Branganstown Accommodation Crossing?

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Former accommodation crossing which gave access to a boathouse on the Royal Canal.

18½ 3.69 KILCOCK STATION?

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Nothing remains of the original station which was located between the 18½ mile post and the road overbridge to the west of it, the latter the location of a new, single platformed station opened in 1998 on the Down side. The original station closed in 1848, due to its presence on a 1 in 100 gradient, which the locomotives of the day found difficult to start off from and was replaced by that some ¾ miles distant.

19¼ 4.24 Kilcock Old Station?

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Opened in 1850 to replace the original station in Kilcock, the Up and Down platforms here are staggered. The derelict station building is on the Up platform. The remains of the signal cabin, a block post until 1977 is at the Dublin end of the Down platform. The disused goods store is opposite. Beyond the road overbridge at the Sligo end of the station, there is a disused loading bank on the Up side, albeit totally overgrown. The station closed in 1963. Due to the development of Kilcock nearer to the site of the original station, the decision to build a new station there was taken, rather than build a station here.

21 6.18 Fern's Lock Station?

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AHB Level Crossing. There was a two platformed station on the Dublin Connolly side of the level crossing until this closed as a station and block post in 1963. There is a memorial cross on the Up side of the line beyond the crossing.

23 8.09 Kilbrook Ballast Pit?

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Approaching this disused quarry on the Down side that was served by a facing siding off the mainline, there is an accommodation crossing. A block post was located here between 1889 and 1905.

26¼ 11.50 ENFIELD STATION?

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Approaching the station, there is a long siding on the Down side. This trails into a number of sidings, which diverge on the same side into the goods area. This area extensively handled beet and livestock traffic until the 1970's, beet traffic straggling on until 1985 and in the 1990s, a more modest traffic in molasses and timber. There are two sidings here, one of which is served by a loading bank. There is another loading bank on the Down side on the Dublin side of the station, upon which is the former goods store. This is served by a separate siding.

The disused signal cabin, bearing a nameboard, is at the Dublin end of the disused Up platform, beside which is a water tank. Closed in 1963, the station reopened to passengers in 1988. Only the Down platform, which is served by a loop, is in regular use and the ticket office, a Portakabin, is on this. At the Sligo end of this platform is a water tower. Behind the Dublin end of the Down platform, the former stationmaster's house, now a private residence, can be seen. On the Up side at the Sligo end of the station, there is another loading bank that was served by a siding. Opposite, built into the walls of the cutting, there is a plaque in memory of one Patrick Roche who died in 1972. Enfield was the junction station for the Edenderry branch from 1877 until this branch lost its passenger service in 1931. Leaving the station, there is a harbour on the adjacent canal.

27¾ 12.90 Nesbitt Junction?

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Named after Miss Dowling Nesbitt of Leixlip (who subscribed almost ¼ of the cost of the line and gave 3 miles of the necessary land free), the line to Edenderry diverged on the Down side here. Originally there was a junction here with its own signal cabin, but when the line was singled, the junction was removed and the former Down line was retained as far back as Enfield, becoming part of the branch line. The line closed in 1963.

28½ 13.68 Blackwater River Bridge?

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The Royal Canal crosses the River Blackwater on the Up side by means of an aquaduct.

30¼ 15.40 Moyvalley Station

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There were both Up & Down platforms at this station that closed in 1963. The station building and signal cabin, a block post until 1963, were on this. A road overbridge obliterated these. At one stage, owners of a nearby house had the right to insist on trains stopping at the station.

32¾ 17.93 River Boyne Bridge?

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The line crosses the River Boyne here by a stone bridge. On the Up side, the Royal Canal crosses the river by means of the Leinster Aqueduct.

33½ 18.65 Ballynabarny Accommodation Crossing?

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Accommodation Level Crossing. 34 Mile Cabin, which was opened in 1891 was located here. No trace of this remains.

35¾ 20.83 Hill of Down Station?

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Approaching the station, there is a loading bank on the Up side. There were both Up and Down platforms at this station, which closed in 1963. No trace remains of that on the Down side. There was a block post here until 1965, the signal box having been at the Dublin end of the station on the Down side. Until then, there was a loop with sidings off each end on the Up side. There is another loading bank on the Up side at the Sligo end of the station.

40½ 25.56 Thomastown Crossing?

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Level Crossing.

41¾ 26.84 Killucan Station?

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The running line serves the Down platform at this station that closed in 1963. There is a loop on the Up side. There is also a disused loading bank on the same side at the Dublin end of the station, accessed from a trailing siding off a trailing siding at the same end. The disused signal cabin, a block post until 2006, is at the Sligo end of the station, on the Down side, beyond which, there is a full barrier, automatic level crossing. The former goods store, used at one stage as a canal lock gate factory is on the Up platform, behind which is the former goods area. The station buildings were also on this side. There is the remains of a loading bank on the Down side after the level crossing.

45¾ 30.74 Down's Bog Crossing/46th Mile Box?

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Level Crossing. There was previously a signal cabin, a block post until 1977, on the Down side before the crossing with a trailing siding behind this.

47 32.00 Baltrasna Crossing

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Level Crossing. On the Sligo side of this, there is a Hot Box Detector.

50¼ 35.33 MULLINGAR?

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Approaching the station, there is a racecourse on the Down side. The original Mullingar station was in the vicinity of this point. Just before the present station, the line to Athlone and Galway / Westport diverges on the Down side. The siding to the former goods area diverges on the Up side. A 'V' shaped platform serves both the Down Sligo and Up Galway lines, with the Down Galway and Up Sligo lines having platforms of their own. There is a waiting room on the latter, as well as a canopy. The station building and signal cabin, the latter with nameboard, are on the 'V' platform. A subway connects the two outer platforms to the centre platform and the station building. That to the Down Galway platform has been blocked off. This job was originally done by a footbridge.

The circular section of the station building saw use at one stage as tea rooms, but now houses the ticket office, toilets and waiting area. In the area between the platforms, there is an attractive rock garden. There was a Dublin facing bay on the Up side between the running lines and the goods area. This area is being redeveloped as additional paltforms. There is a waiting shelter on the Down Galway platform, which is covered by a canopy. There is a water tower at the Galway end of the same platform. The former goods store is between the mainline and the branch.

50¾ 35.75 Canal Crossing?

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Immediately after crossing the Royal Canal, by a bridge that was renewed in 2003, there is a disused cattle bank and site of sidings on the Down side. These were used to load cattle bound for northern stations, which would have run via Cavan town and Clones. There was a signal box at this location, but this closed when the line was singled in 1929.

52¼ 37.28 Cullenmore Crossing?

PHOTOS Last updated:

Level Crossing.

52½ 37.52 Levington Crossing?

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Level Crossing. There was a block post and loop here until 1963. Until 1994, the road crossing the line here was the main Dublin - Sligo road, however the opening of the Mullingar bypass obviated this particularly poor section of the road. The Royal Canal feeder, which runs parallel to the railway from about MP 51½, crosses under the line beyond the crossing before entering Lough Owel. The railway runs along the shore of the Lough for approximately 1½ miles, the lake remaining in view until before Clonhugh.

56¼ 41.45 Clonhugh Station?

PHOTOS Last updated:

The station building is on the Up platform, which is served by the running line at this station that closed in 1947. The Down platform is overgrown.

57½ 42.53 Multyfarnham Station?

PHOTOS Last updated:

The station building, now a private residence, is on the Up platform at this station that closed in 1963. This was served by a loop, with the running line serving the Down platform, on which there is a waiting shelter. The former goods store and loading bank are at the Dublin end of this. The signal cabin, a block post until 1985, is at the Sligo end of the Down platform. It remains to control the adjacent level crossing. About 1 mile beyond the station, Lough Derravaragh can be seen in the distance.

60¼ 45.37 River Inny Bridge?

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61 45.97 Inny Junction?

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The line to Cavan and Clones, closed completely at the end of 1959, diverged on the Up side here. Inny Junction was merely an exchange station, there being no outside access to the platforms. Little remains of the station building, which was between the Up platform and the Down Cavan line platform. There was also a Down platform and a loco shed on the Up side here, of which traces remain.

63¼ 48.32 Streete and Rathowen?

PHOTOS Last updated:

Level Crossing. There was a station on the Sligo side of this crossing until 1963. There were both Up and Down platforms, with the running line now serving the former on which there is a waiting shelter. There is a store on the Up platform and the crossing cottage is on the Down side after the crossing.

64½ 49.88 Clonwhelan Crossing?

PHOTOS Last updated:

Level Crossing.

67¾ 52.93 EDGEWORTHSTOWN STATION

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

The running line serves the Down platform. The station building is on the Up platform, which is served by a loop. At the Dublin end of the station, there is a disused loading bank. The signal cabin was at the Sligo end of the station on the Down side. This was demolished when the platform was extended. The goods area was on the Up side and contained a goods store and two loading banks. One of the latter remains in the car park that occupies the site.

68 53.18 Ballymahon - or Tinare - Crossing?

PHOTOS Last updated:

Level Crossing.

72½ 57.53 Clonahand Crossing?

PHOTOS Last updated:

Level Crossing.

76¼ 61.24 LONGFORD STATION?

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

Approaching the station, there is a disused siding on the Up side. The former goods area is on the Down side and runs the length of the station. This area is now used for stabling passenger rolling stock. There is a bus depot on the Up side at the Dublin end of the station, after which, on the same side, is the station building. This contains a ticket office, waiting area and stationmaster's office. The former signal cabin is mid-way along the Down platform, with a footbridge at the Sligo end of the station. There is lift access to the Down platform from an external footbridge over the line. Leaving the station, there was a loco depot on the down side. Opposite, the former goods store and disused loading bank can be seen. There is a small crane on this. There was previously a water tower beyond the Down platform, but this was demolished by a train in 1995! Beyond this, the line previously crossed the Longford branch of the Royal Canal by a swing bridge, since removed and filled in.

80 65.21 Newtownforbes Station?

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

The station building, now a private residence, is on the Up platform at this station that closed in 1963. There is a disused, overgrown loading bank on the Down side at the Sligo end of the station. There was originally a goods store here.

85¾ 70.93 Dromard Crossing?

PHOTOS Last updated:

Level Crossing.

87¼ 72.44 DROMOD STATION?

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

The station building is on the Up platform, which is served by the running line. There was previously a signal cabin at the Sligo end of the Down platform. When the latter was extended, the cabin was demolished. A footbridge connects the two platforms. There is a siding off the loop beyond this. Behind the station on the Up side, the former C&LR station building can be seen. This narrow gauge line ran to Belturbet, where it connected with the GNR(I) and had a branch from Ballinamore westwards to Arigna. It closed in 1959. Beyond the station, on the same side, the former goods store and interchange platform with the narrow gauge line can be seen. There is a loading bank between the platform and the store. There is also a siding on this side, at the end of which is a gantry. The siding is used for ballast loading and was previously for the transshipment of coal from Arigna on the C&LR. There was formerly a loading bank on the Down side at the Sligo end of the station.

90 74.97 Gortinee Brickworks?

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Site of a siding to a local brickworks.

92 77.09 River Shannon Bridge?

PHOTOS Last updated:

This bridge was renewed in 2009. Prior to this, the bridge was a Bascule type opening bridge which was opened in 1878. There was a single lever ground frame on the Down side to control the opening span of this six span bridge. This was the first example of a Bascule type bridge in Ireland. This was unusual in that the opening span was drawn back, as opposed to being turned.

93 78.09 Drumsna Station?

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

There are both Up and Down platforms at this station that closed in 1963. The station building, now a private residence is on the Up platform. The derelict goods store is on the same side at the Dublin end of the station. The signal cabin is between this and the platform and was a block post until 1963. This has been extended at both ends for use as accommodation. There is a water column beside it. There is a shelter on the Down platform.

97¾ 82.94 CARRICK ON SHANNON STATION

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

The station building is on the Down platform here, which is served by the running line. There was a loop on the Up side until 1988, when the signal cabin, which is on the same side, closed as a block post. The former goods store and the site of a siding are on the Down side at the Sligo end of the station. There was previously a water tower on the Down platform. At the Sligo end of the station, there is a disused loading bank and the site of a siding. There is a modern facing siding on the same side.

106½ 91.52 BOYLE STATION

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

Approaching the station, there is a siding on the Down side which trails into a loop on the same side serving the Down platform at this station. There is a waiting shelter on this platform. At the Sligo end of this platform, there is the base of a water tower. The former signal cabin was beyond this. As of 2010, the bricks that formed the base of this were on the nearby loading bank and the superstructure of the cabin dumped nearby. The station building is on the Up platform. Beyond the station, there are two sidings and a loading bank on the Down side. These are used for ballast loading. The former goods area was opposite where the car park is now located.

107 92.09 Boyle River Bridge?

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111¾ 97.12 Tawran - or Murray's - Crossing?

PHOTOS Last updated:

Level Crossing.

112½ 97.61 Kilfree Junction?

PHOTOS Last updated:

Both Up and Down platforms remain at this station that closed in 1963. The line to Ballaghadereen, closed in 1963, trailed in on the Up side at the Dublin end of the station. The embankment for this branch can still be seen. There is a disused loading bank on the Down side at the Sligo end of the station and between this and the Up island platform, there is a well of a turntable. The water column here was not at the station proper, but on the branch line.

119¾ 104.75 Woodfield Crossing?

PHOTOS Last updated:

Level Crossing.

120¼ 105.40 BALLYMOTE STATION?

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

Approaching the station, there was previously a loading bank and a store, which were served by a separate siding on the Up side. There are both Up and Down platforms at this station. However, since the closure in 1989 of the former signal cabin (which was at the Sligo end of the Up platform), that on the Down side is disused. The station building is on the Up platform. There are disused flights of steps to each platform from the road overbridge at the Dublin end of the station. There is a store and water tower on the disused Down platform. The former goods area is on the Up side at the Sligo end of the station and includes a long loading bank.

There is a minature railway of recent vintage in the public park beyond this. The park is named after a priest who helped found what became Celtic football club in Glasgow.

127½ 112.61 River Owenmore Bridge?

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127¾ 112.93 COLLOONEY STATION?

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

This station is the only one of Collooney's three railway stations to remain in use, the SL&NCR and ex-GS&WR stations having closed in 1957 and 1963 respectively. There was a loop on the Up side, which served the Up platform. This was removed when Collooney ceased to be a block post in 1930. Nothing remains of the Up side platform and shelter, nor the former display of the station name in shells which was on the embankment behind this. The station building is on the Down platform, before which is the former goods store and loading bank. There was previously another disused loading bank on the Down side at the Sligo end of the station. Leaving the station, the line crosses over the trackbed of "The Southern Siding", which was the link between the GS&WR and SL&NCR. The former GS&WR goods store can be seen on the southern side of this.

128 113.18 Collooney Junction?

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The line from Claremorris, "The Burma Road", closed in 1975 and disconnected, but not lifted, trails in on the Down side here. There was a signal box here until 1930 when the junction came under control from Ballysodare. There is an active campaign to have the line the "Western Rail Corridor" reopened.

128¾ 113.94 Carrignagat Junction?

PHOTOS Last updated:

The SL&NCR line from Enniskillen, trailed in on the Up side here. It was a condition of the SL&NCR's Act of Incorporation that they double the line from here to Ballysodare and this was done. This situation prevailed until 1930, when the junction was taken out, the signal cabin that was here closed and the two lines remained as two single lines as far as Ballysodare. There are two redbrick cottages on the Down side which carry a stone plaque with the inscription "SL&NCR 1882". These were provided by the latter as workmen's cottages.

129½ 114.53 Owenmore River Bridges?

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There were previously two bridges here, another bridge was located on the Up side for use by the SL&NCR. This was built as part of their requirement to double the line to Ballysodare.

129½ 114.53 Ballysodare Station?

PHOTOS Last updated: 10th April 2010

The former goods store and loading bank are on the Down side at this station that closed in 1963. The derelict station building is on this side as well. There was previously a signal cabin, closed in 1977, on the Up side.There were both Up and Down platforms here, that on the Down side remains. A ½ mile long private siding from the loal flour mill, of Pollexfen and Company trailed in on the Down side at the Sligo end of the station. The trackbed of this, running in a cutting, remains.

130 115.18 Ballydrehid Bridge?

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134¼ 115.18 SLIGO MacDhiarmada STATION?

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Approaching the station, the loco area can be seen on the Up side. This contains a turntable, water tower, now in use for oil dispensation and remains of a loco shed. The line to Sligo Quay diverges on the Down side. The signal cabin is between this and the running line. Single track, it has two private sidings off this. The siding extends past the goods area onto the quay itself, where the line splits into three and is owned by Sligo Harbour Commissioners. There is a gantry before the quay section.

The main station buildings are on the Up side. These were "restored" in 1993, with the help of the European Union. In the entrance hall, which contains a ticket office, phones, a shop, toilets and a waiting area, there are two disused fireplaces. Over each of these there is a plaque, one commemorating the aforementioned restoration and the other the renaming of the station in honour of Irish patriot, Seán MacDiarmhada in 1966. The suffix is rarely, if ever used. The station building also contains a FASTRACK office. There are two platforms here, both having road access to them. There are two carriage sidings between these. There was a headshunt off the Dublin end of the Up platform. The original roof of the station was destroyed during "The Troubles", the present version is part of the restoration. Outside the station, there is a car park and a bus station.

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