Ardgillan

Ardgillan, located by the coast in north Co.Dublin between the large towns of Skerries and Balbriggan on the main Dublin to Belfast line, is well known for the location of its nearby castle demesne, established in 1738 by Robert Taylor, whose family occupied the 18th century house until 1962. The Dublin & Drogheda Railway built a small halt by request from the Taylor Family in 1844, whose land was paralleled by the nearby railway line. The halt consisted of short wooden platforms and a small brick hut, located by the level crossing giving access to the demesne from what is now the parallel R127. The Taylor family would notify Balbriggan railway station to arrange a train to stop at the halt at their request.

By the turn of the century the halt had been removed, although the brick hut survived until the late 1980s. The adjacent level crossing at the halt site was removed in the mid 1990s, although the former gate entrance remains on the road side of the railway line. Ardgillan Castle itself is now open to the public. South of the former halt is Lady's Stairs footbridge which gives pedestrian access to the demesne from the R127 road.
Seen storming past Ardgillan Demesne near the site of the one time private halt is 201 Class loco No.8208 heading the 13:20 Dublin to Belfast 'Enterprise'. 071 Class 075 rumbles past Ardgillan with a northbound empty ore train from Alexandra Road in Dublin port, to Tara Mines near Navan. Seen passing along the sunny coast by Ardgillan Demesne is 2600 Class railcar No.2613, heading a southbound commuter service from Drogheda. To the right of the railway is the R127 road running between the towns of Skerries and Balbriggan. Looking a bit lonely, 071 Class No.086 in silver & black livery rumbles past Ardgillan heading for Drogheda.
De Dietrich driving van trailer No.9002, is seen passing Ardgillan at the head of the 12:30 Belfast to Dublin 'Enterprise'. Seen having just past through the former Ardgillan level crossing, 29000 Class railcar No.29427 heads south to Dublin. A view looking out across the Irish Sea from Lady's Stairs footbridge at Ardgillan. The footbridge allows pedestrian access to Ardgillan House and Demesne. Passing the Lady Stair's bus stop is a 29000 Class railcar, heading south to Dublin from Drogheda. The Dublin Bus route along here is one of the northernest to be operated out of the city.
Again viewed from the road side of the Lady's Stairs footbridge at the eastern end of Ardgillan Demesne is an 8-car 2800 Class railcar set heading for Drogheda, with No.2806 leadiing. 29442 is seen passing the site of Ardgillan Halt with a northbound commuter service to Drogheda. A shower of rain looms over the coast north at Balbriggan. 201 Class 230, in original 'Enterprise' livery, heads past Ardgillan in pleasent conditions powering the 13:20 express from Dublin to Belfast. Another 201 Class loco still seen in its original 'Enterprise' livery is No.209 'River Foyle', seen propelling the 12:30 Belfast to Dublin express through a thunderstorm at Ardgillan.
29000 Class railcar No.29126 passes alongside the traffic near Ardgillan with a southbound commuter service to Dublin. The town of Skerries, and its harbour, is out of view to the left. No.9004, the 'Enterprise' driving van trailer, is seen at the head of the 12:30 Belfast to Dublin service, seen running alongside the R167 road at Ardgillan. A smart looking 071 Class locomotive, No.072, is seen running alongside the stone walled Ardgillan Demesne with a northbound empty ore train to Tara Mines Seen at the same location, with Ardgillan footbridge visible in the backround, sister locomotive No.081 heads south with an empty ballast train from Navan.
This is the gate on the up side of the line at the former level crossing at Ardgillan, which was located adjacent to the former Dublin & Drogheda Railway halt. The former level crossing at Ardgillan, located just north of Lady's Stairs footbridge. The level crossing, located adjacent to the 1840s halt, was removed in the mid 1990s. Ardgillan 20090725 0014 CC The stone piers from the original 1840s Lady's Stairs footbridge at Ardgillan still exist , with the modern concrete structure added above.