Ashtown in the western suburban area of Dublin on Midland Great Western Railway's line to Sligo had a station principally opened for racecourse traffic in 1903, and had both up and down platforms. The station, along with the adjacent signal cabin was closed by CIE in 1963, however it reopened briefly when trains served the nearby Phoenix Park during the Papal visit in 1979.The station reopened fully in 1982 when a commuter services was reinstated to Maynooth. The MGWR signal cabin once stood on the up side of the line beside the level crossing, which is still manually operated today. Beyond the station level crossing on the down side was a siding serving Todd's Mill, dating from 1882 and lifted in the early 1960s. The station once featured a Victorian footbridge of Great Southern & Western origin, since replaced by a modern type.
1 29000 Class railcar No.29420 stands at the down platform at Ashtown with a Dublin to Maynooth suburban service. Behind the train can be seen the modern station building at Ashtown, dating from 2000.
2 Seen racing through Ashtown Station with an evening Dublin to Sligo train is 071 Class loco No.081.
3 Heading in the opposite direction towards Dublin is the loaded timber train from Sligo to Dublin, hauled by 071 Class loco No.072.
4 29000 Class railcar No.29107 approaches Ashtown Station on a service to Maynooth, with the morning March sunshine casting a long shadow on the up line.
5 Framed by the footbridge at the west end of Maynooth Station, another 29000 Class unit, No.29421, heads away from Ashtown.
6 Another diesel railcar, but this time from the 'Intericty' breed, 22000 Class railcar No.22003 approaches Ashtown with a morning Dublin to Sligo service.
7 An older generation of the diesel railcar fleet arrives at Ashtown with a service to Enfield, formed by 2800 Class No.2805.
8 2600 Class railcar No.2608 arrives ath the curved up platform at Ashtown, framed by the rather spartan like metal shelter on the down side.
9 A 2800 unit No.2811 is seen on the rear of this 4-car railcar set, heading away from Ashtown Station towards Dublin.
10 29126 passes the 70mph board at the east end of Ashtown Station as it begins its climb up towards Reily's level crossing, which is located between Ashtown and Broombridge.
11 Coming through Ashtown Station is 071 Class loco No.078, heading the empty North Wall (Dublin) to Sligo timber train.
12 Ex Great Southern & Western Railway J15 Class 0-6-0 No.186 passes through Ashtown Station with a rake of 1950s vintage CIE coaching stock, heading a Railway Preservation Society of Ireland special to Mullingar.
13 In complete contrast to No.186 which dates from 1875, 22000 Class railcar No.22005 glides through Ashtown Station on a morning Sligo to Dublin service.
14 Taking the curve at speed through Ashtown is 071 Class loco No.074, heading the empty timber train from Dublin to Sligo. These would return loaded the following evening to Dublin.
15 As seen here the down platform at Ashtown Station is longer than the up platform, where 29000 Class railcar No.29401 is seen calling with a service from Maynooth. The apartments in the background are typical of the type to be built in this area.
16 Seen approaching the down platform at Ashtown Station is silver & black liveried 071 Class loco No.080, heading the empty timber train to Sligo. Unfortunately this service no longer operates.
17 The modern footbridge adjacent to the level crossing at Ashtown Station. The footbridge replaced an earlier Victorian structure, which was of Great Southern & Western origin.
18 A view of Ashtown Station, looking east towards Dublin from the footbridge. The platforms date from the opening of the station in 1902 by the Midland Great Western Railway.
19 Looking the opposite way west towards Sligo. The gravel road on the left is the site of the one time Todd's Mill Siding, lifted in the early 1960s.
20 he crossing gates at Ashtown are still manually operated, as seen here. There are no plans yet to automate them with lights and lifting barriers.
21 The red 'X' panels on the gates at Ashtown level crossing, complete with heavy red lamps.
22 Ashtown Station was originally opened as early as 1847, to serve to the nearby Phoenix Park Racecourse. Fully opened in 1902, it was closed by the Great Southern Railway in 1934. The platforms were refurbished in 1977, and later the station fully reopened in 1981.
