Ballinacourty

Not really a station, but Ballinacourty, Co.Waterford, was once the originating point of several freight trains hauling magnesite, dolomite and oil. In 1969 CIE built a short branch to Ballinacourty just outside Dungarvan to serve Quigley's magnesite plant. The branch left the former Mallow to Waterford line just outside Dungarvan. This line had been closed as of 1967 but lifting hadn't reached beyond Dungarvan so the Waterford end of the line was retained for this freight traffic. The magnesite trains ceased in 1982 along with sporadic dolomite traffic, and after this only the weed spraying trains of 1980s visited the line which by then was in a derelict state.
The final movements over the line were in May 1990, when 141 Class loco, No.146, ran light to Ballinacourty on the 9th May for clearance trails, which was followed by inspection car, EM50. The branch was officially closed as of 1994 and the line was lifted some years later. Part of the track bed around Dungarvan is now a public footpath. Today, only an old redundant buffer stop remains, that being the former headshunt of the loop just outside the former magnesite plant.
In June 1986, Ballinacourty played host to CIE's anual weed spraying train, which was hauled from Waterford by 141 Class locomotive No.177. It is seen having just arrived at the loop outside the one time magnesite factory. ©David Hegarty 177, complete with yellow & black wasp panal boards, runs around the weed spray train at Ballinacourty in June 1986. Behind the loco can be seen the level crossing, and beyond which was the former Quigley magnesite plant. ©David Hegarty 177 is now seen back in the loop at Ballinacourty with its weed spraying train as prepares to depart back to Waterford in June 1986. Due to the overgrown state of the Ballinacourty line some vegetation had been caught on the loco's side gangway. ©David Hegarty This is the view of the run round loop outside the former magnesite plant at Ballinacourty. Although regular freight in the form of magnesite and dolamite ceased operating to Ballinacourty in 1982, the line remained open until at least 1990. ©David Hegarty
The same view but taken in 1996, some six years after the last train visited Ballinacourty. Part of the run round loop had been removed by this time. In the foreground is the buffer stop off the headshunt siding. ©Eamonn Redmond Today the former trackbed at Ballinacourty has been converted into a scenic walkway which leads into nearby Dungarvan. The remains of the buffer stop can be seen beyond the concrere fence. The remains of the buffer stop off the headshunt at the run round loop at Ballinacourty. The line from Waterford to Ballinacourty was finally lifted in the late 1990s. Viewed from the former level crossing at Ballinacourty, this was once the entrance into the large Quigley magnesite plant. Today the site is now a golf course.
This is the site of the former level crossing at Ballinacourty, where the entrance to the magnesite plant was located. The plant only operated for ten years, from 1972 to 1982. The scenic nature of the Ballinacourty area is apparent in this view of the former run round loop. The last train to traverse the line was by a light engine movement preformed by 141 Class locomotive No.146 in May 1990. Similiar view at Clonea Level Crossing No.2 but in 2006, showing how the Ballinacourty line has become part of a public walkway from Dungarvan town. The northside of Clonea level crossing No.2 is now totally overgrown. The crossing gates were had no resident gate keepers, they were operated by the train crew.
This is Clonea Level Crossing No.2, located just north of the magnesite plant. By 1996 the line had become quite derelict. This view is looking north to Waterford. ©Eamonn Redmond Clonea Level Crossing No.2, looking south towards the magnesite plant at Ballinacourty in 1996. The remains of the crossing gate can be seen in the foreground. ©Eamonn Redmond Located near Ballinacourty is the former level crossing at Ballyrandle. This level crossing was located on the section of line from Ballinacourty Junction and Dungarvan town. Although the Waterford to Mallow line closed, this section of line remained in situ until 1971.