Arklow, Co.Wicklow, is one of the larger towns to be served by the Dublin Wicklow and Wexford Railway line which runs from Dublin to Wexford and opened as far as Arklow in 1863. The line to Wexford was latterly operated by the Dublin & South Eastern Railway and the station at Arklow still features a typical DSER footbridge and attached signal cabin, now disused since modern Centralised Traffic Control have been installed on the line to Rosslare. Arklow also features a typical two storey DWWR station building on the down platform, behind which is the large goods shed and yard, which remained in use for bagged cement traffic until the early 1990s. Along with Intercity trains to Rosslare, Arklow is now regularly served by commuter trains.
1 The driver of 071 Class loco No.079 prepares to collect the single line token to Rathdrum at the north end of Arklow Station with a service from Rosslare to Dublin.
2 The British Rail built Mk2 coaching stock at Arklow Station, which formed the usual afternoon service from Rosslare Harbour.
3 A view looking north towards Dublin from the footbridge at Arklow, with the main Dublin Wicklow & Wexford Railway station building on the down platform on the right.
4 This is the original DWWR footbridge at Arklow Station. Some of the signal cabins on the Dublin South Eastern line were attached to the footbridge, as seen here at Arklow.
5 Inside the 15-lever DWWR signal cabin at Arklow Station. In the background can be seen the electronic staff token machines. The cabin is no longer in use today.
6 Looking south towards Rosslare from the footbridge at Arklow Station. The siding serving the goods shed and yard converges from the left behind the down platform.
7 Two semaphore signals at the north end of Arklow Station. The nearest on the up side is an original pre-1925 Dublin South Eastern signal mounted on a lattice post.
8 CIE re-signalled the stations on the Dublin South Eastern line for bi-directional running in the mid 1970s. The nearest standard CIE signal dates from this alteration.
9 A 2600 Class railcar No.2615 awaits the road north to Rathdrum with a service from Gorey. One of the new colour light signals is seen on the left, which would eventually displace the mechanical semaphore signalling.
10 141 Class locomotives Nos.144+147 have just arrived at Arklow Station on an Irish Railway Record Society tour to Rosslare.
11 Old & modern are seen together at the north end of Arklow Station. In the background are the scenic Wicklow Mountains.
12 Seen at the south end of Arklow Station with a rake of ex British Rail built Mk2 stock is 071 Class loco No.081, seen heading a Railway Preservation Society of Ireland special to Wexford.
13 The RPSI special is viewed from the footbridge at Arklow Station. The up platform features an array of attractive plants and shrubs.
14 The station nameboard at Arklow. The Irish name translates to the 'Meadow of Arnkell'. The town is also well known for its small port, which is not rail connected.
15 A pre-1925 Dublin South Eastern lattice posted semaphore signal at the south end of Arklow Station, surrounded by the new two aspect colour light signals, yet to be commission when this photo was taken.
16 This is the down home semaphore signal at Arklow, another lattice post design, although it has been altered to feature a signal arm for the loop, which is in the 'off' position.
17 This is the up home signal for Arklow Station, again on a lattice post and featuing a loop signal. The DSER signals were often quite tall like this one.
18 The outer home semaphore signal for down trains approaching Arklow Station. The Avoca River can be seen on the left. All of the semaphore signals were replaced by Centralised Traffic Control signalling, or CTC as it is known.
