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Maynooth, Co.Kildare, well
known for its
university NUI, was first served by rail when the MGWR
opened their main line from
Broadstone Dublin to here in 1846, with
passengers having to transfer to the Royal Canal to Mullingar until the
extension to that town opened in 1848. Surprisingly for such a large
town, Maynooth Station was actually closed in 1947, but remained a block
post retaining its signal cabin and passing loop. These were taken out
of use in the late 1970s, but were reinstated shortly afterwards in 1981
when the new commuter service to Maynooth began running. The
reopening of the station resulted in the demolition of the original
single story MGWR station building, similar to that of
Leixlip's, but the MGWR signal cabin,
platforms and station masters house remained.
It wasn't until 1994
when the new 'Arrow' trains started running that the Maynooth commuter
service started proper, and finally in 2000, the single line section
from Maynooth to
Clonsilla was re-doubled having been
singled by the GSR in 1931. This also brought about upgrading of the
signalling, but Maynooth signal cabin remained the CTC fringe cabin
until it was extended all the way to Sligo in 2005. Maynooth Station
also gained a new modern booking office, complete with glass edifice,
along with platform extensions. |
_2.JPG "29102 is seen having just arrived at Maynooth on a commuter service from Dublin, note the reflecting red aspect signal on the side profile.")
.JPG "29000 Class railcars 29102 & 29112 are seen side by side at Maynooth Station.")
.JPG "Present day view of the same location where 055 was reveals just how much Maynooth Station has changed following the town's ever expanding commuting needs. The MGWR signal cabin to the left remains of course.")
.JPG "29000 Class railcars 29419 & 29104 are seen together at Maynooth Station.")
.JPG "22000 Class railcar No.22023 approaches Maynooth Station with the 9:00 service from Sligo.")
.JPG "Modern & old are seen together at Maynooth Station, with 19th century MGWR signal cabin and modern IE booking office and 22000s railcars.")
.JPG "Front profile differences between 22000 & 29000 Class railcars are seen in this shot of 22020 leaving Maynooth for Dublin Connolly.")
.JPG "The green light for the 11:05 Dublin-Sligo train at Maynooth Station.")
.JPG "A very sleak 22000 Class railcar 22005 stands at Maynooth Station with the 11:05 Dublin-Sligo train.")
.JPG "22007 departs Maynooth on the 11:05 Dublin-Sligo train.")
.JPG "Inspection car No.721 is seen beside 29000 Class railcar No.29104 at Maynooth Station.")
.JPG "Inspection car No.721 heads for the sidings at the west end of Maynooth Station.")
.JPG "29424 departs empty stock from Maynooth Station.")
.JPG "No.721 is seen again at Maynooth Station having reversed out of the sidings at the west end of the station.")
.JPG "071 Class locomotive No.076 stands at Maynooth Station with the morning Dublin North Wall to Sligo empty timber train.")
.JPG "076 & empty timber wagons at Maynooth Station.")
.JPG "076 awaits the road west from Maynooth Station with the morning North Wall-Sligo empty timber train.")
.JPG "Track recording car EM50, which dates from the late 1970s, is seen at Maynooth Station.")
.JPG "The MGWR brick station masters house at Maynooth Station, which is located on the down side of the line.")
.JPG "Maynooth Station, looking west towards Sligo from the end of the up platform, showing the sidings the left.")
.JPG "Reminder of the re-instated double track line to Maynooth in 2000.")
.JPG "View towards Dublin from the end of Maynooth's up platform, showing the gradient at the east end of the station.")