Athenry on the Midland Great Western Railway's Dublin to Galway line was a busy junction for the line from Limerick to Claremorris, the latter having lost its regular passenger service in 1976. The station at Athenry is very attractive; retaining all its MGWR buildings, including the former goods shed. The stations buildings on both the up & down platforms are built of brick and retain their original canopies The junction for Limerick is at the western end of the station beyond the former goods yard, and the now disconnected junction to Claremorris is at the eastern end beyond the road overbridge. The now redundant signal cabin is located on the down platform at the western end beside the level crossing, which is now automated. Passenger services between Galway and Limerick were restored in March 2010 following the re-opening of the line south to Limerick, however it is uncertain whether the northern section to Claremorris will ever be restored.
1 This is Athenry Station, looking east towards Dublin from the down platform. This was before the station was modernised.
2 The sun can be a nuisance sometimes, 071 Class loco No.077 gets the Galway to Dublin service train started away from Athenry Station.
3 The bracket semaphore signals at the eastern end of Athenry Station. The smaller arms read for the disused line to Tuam and Claremorris. The signals were swept away during the modernisation of the Galway line.
4 A view looking west towards Galway from the end of the down platform at Athenry. On the right is the former goods shed, now roofless. The signal cabin can be seen adjacent to the crossing gates.
5 The large lever frame inside Athenry signal cabin. In the background can be seen the wheel for operated the crossing gates. This, along with the levers, were replaced by automatic barriers and colour light signals.
6 One of Irish Rail's no obselete plastic nameboards on the up platform at Athenry Station. The tidy nature of the station seen here has allowed it to win many best kept station awards.
7 With the modernisation of the Galway line complete, 071 Class loco No.085 rolls into Athenry Station with a morning Galway to Dublin service.
8 085 is not making use of the Midland Great Western water crane on the up platform at Athenry Station.
9 085 was built by General Motors at their La Grange Illinois Works in 1976, entering service CIE in May 1977.
10 Passing 085 is 201 Class locomotive No.203 arriving at Athenry with the morning service from Dublin to Galway. Both trains consist of Mk3 stock.
11 Approaching the level crossing at the west end of Athenry Station is orange liveried 071 Class loco No.078, with the 9:15am Galway to Dublin service.
12 Sheltering beneath the footbridge at Athenry Station, 078 awaits the road east to Ballinalsoe with its train from Galway. The point work associated with the line to Claremorris were all removed during the modernisation.
13 Seen stabled with a ballast train beside the former bulk cement terminal at the west end of Athenry is 141 Class locomotive No.152. The cement silo has since been demolished
14 Seen on the side of the guards van on the ballast train stabled at Athenry Station.
15 Seen beneath the Victorian footbridge at Athenry Station is 071 Class loco No.083, working an Irish Railway Record Society special from Limerick.
16 There are now two footbridges at Athenry Station. 2700 Class railcar No.2713 gets the clear signal for Gort while working a Galway to Limerick service.
17 A Mk3 generator van, seen on the rear of the IRRS special from Limerick at the west end of Athenry Station. This is view is from the new vantage point of the newly built footbridge.
18 A view looking towards Galway before the modern footbridge was constructed. On the left is the stone built water tower complete with tank.
19 General view of Athenry Station, looking west towards Galway. Both up & down platforms see regular used by trains operating between Galway, Limerick and Dublin.
20 Athenry Station retains many original features pre-dating the nationalised railway system from 1925 onwards.
21 The 1870s brick built Midland Great Western building on the up platform at Athenry Statiion, complete with attached canopy.
22 New & old signs are seen together at Athenry Station. The footbridge notice features the old style of the Irish language.
23 A bell for alerting passengers of an approaching service train is still to be seen attached to the canopy support at Athenry Station.
24 The Victorian cast iron and wooden canopy supports on the down platform at Athenry Station.
25 Small wooden kiosk is seen on the down platform at Athenry Station, although no longer used it remains in very good condition.
26 The large stone built station masters house at Athenry, located on the up side of the station.
27 The Victorian footbridge at the east end of Athenry Station is not the original Midland Great Western one; it is borrowed from a disused Great Southern & Western station elsewhere on the rail network.
28 The water column on the up platform at Athenry Station, unfortunately it is no longer servicable.
29 This was the junction at the east end of Athenry Station, where the disused line to Tuam and Claremorris diverges to the left heading north. The disused line has been disconnected here, and if rebuilt would require a costly reinstatement of the junction.
