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The section of the Dublin to
Rosslare line around Bray Head, between
Bray town and
Greystones in north Co.Wicklow is one
of most scenic stretches of railway in Ireland. The route around the
headland was surveyed and engineered by none other than
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who at
the time was engaged with the construction of the Dublin & Wicklow
Railway's line from Bray to the county town of
Wicklow further south. The section of
line around the headland from Bray to Greystones was first opened in
1855. The line featured several engineering structures, including
tunnels and several wooden trestle built viaducts. High maintenance
costs and constant damage from the sea resulted in several deviations
from the original 1855 route, the first of which involved the
construction of new tunnel (No.1) in 1876, however a section of the 1855
alignment was retained as 'Worthington Siding' until 1882. The second
occurred in 1879 between No.2 and 3 Tunnels, and the final
deviation was implemented as late as 1917, which involved the
construction of the longest tunnel (No.4) at 1,042 yards long at the
southern end of the headland.
All of the deviations
eliminated the Brunel's viaducts and cliff sections, the line now taking
on the name Brunel's Folly due to the route's reconstructions.
Today there are four tunnels in total, including some smaller nameless
ones. A well maintained pathway between Bray and Greystones overlooks
the majority of the railway line. |
.JPG "8500 Class DART No.8630 is seen...")
.JPG "8100 DART 8127 coasts down from Bray...")
.JPG "Another 8500 DART, this time No.8607,...")
.JPG "Another view of 8607, seen heading...")
.JPG "2800 Class railcar No.2812 is seen at...")
.JPG "Another view of 2812, preparing to...")
.JPG "The sun had come out by the the time...")
.JPG "A view from the same location, but...")
.JPG "The southern portal of the first...")
.JPG "Looking the opposite way we see the...")
.JPG "A close up of one of the piers that...")
.JPG "The trackbed of Brunel's abandoned...")
.JPG "This is the approach to Brabazon...")
.JPG "Close up of the abandoned Brabazon...")
.JPG "Viewed from above southern end of...")
.JPG "Another view showing Brunel's...")
.JPG "8500 DART No.8521 has just emerged...")
.JPG "Another view of 8521, seen about to...")
.JPG "A general view of the line around...")
.JPG "This a closer view of northern portal...")
.JPG "Viewed from above Bray Head No.2...")
.JPG "8100 Class DART No.8311 makes it way...")
.jpg "121 Class locomotives Nos.135+131...")
.JPG "A general view of the scenic section...")
.JPG "Permanent way gangs frequently...")
.JPG "A distant view of the abandoned...")
.JPG "The southern portal of Bray Head No.2...")
.JPG "Looking the opposite way south...")
.JPG "Viewed from the higher parelle...")
.JPG "The northern portal of Bray Head No.3...")
.JPG "The rear of an 8500 Class DART unit...")
.JPG "The last tunnel around Bray Head is...")
.JPG "At the northern end of Bray Head is...")
.JPG "Typical electrification pylon along...")
.JPG "The higher parellel pathway from...")
.JPG "Between Bray Head No.1 & 2 Tunnels...")