Ballylinan

Ballylinan, Co.Laois, was once located on a 12 mile branch line which ran from the large town of Athy to the collieries at Wolfhill. Constructed by the British government to aid the supply of coal during the WW1, the line was opened in September 1918 and was operated by the Great Southern & Western Railway. When the collieries ceased production during the 1920s, the section of line between Ballylinan and Wolfhill was closed at the end 1929 by the then Great Southern Railway. The remaining section from Ballylinan to Athy was retained for sugar beet traffic until complete closure by CIE in April 1963. As the line never had a passenger service, no station was provided at Ballylinan, except for a run around loop and a loading bank, which today have long disappeared.
This was the site of the one time sugar beet siding at Ballylinan, located on the east side of the village, looking north towards Athy. This was the terminus of the branch line until its complete closure in April 1963. Another view of the former Ballylinan branch line terminus, now the local sports ground. There was never a passenger station here; only a run around loop and a loading platform used for the sugar beet traffic. A view of the site of the one time terminus at Ballylinan, looking south towards Wolfhill. The section of line from Ballylinan to Wolfhill had closed as early as 1929, with Ballylinan becoming the terminus until closure in 1963. Because of the flat geography of the landscape between Ballylinan and Athy, large sections of the former trackbed has been ploughed back into the nearby fields. This is a view looking north towards Athy at Ballylinan, with the Ballylinan Level Crossing keepers house visible in the distance.
This is the former Ballylinan Level Crossing, located just north of the terminus on a small road leading east out of the village. The gate keepers house remains largely in original condition, but with an extension at its northern end. All the houses on the branch line were built to this design. This is the former Drimroe Level Crossing and gate keepers house, located between Ballylinan and Athy. The keepers house here remains in its original condition. The location of the former crossing gates is visible on the left. The site of the level crossing at Drimroe near Ballylinan, looking north towards Athy. The concrete gate posts remain in situ here. Redundant sleepers recovered from the lifting of the branch line in 1964 were used to create a permanent fence across the old trackbed seen here. This is the former level crossing at Aghanure, located on the south side of Ballylinan village on the section of the former line to Wolfhill and the collieries. The gate keepers house also remains here as a private residence. The line from Ballylinan to Wolfhill had closed in 1929.
Although abandoned for over 70 years, sections of the Ballylinan to Wolfhill line can still be seen, such as this embankment at Rathaspick, south of Ballylinan. The site of Rathaspick Level Crossing, south of Ballylinan on the old line to Wolfhill. The N80 road has been widenned considerably since the line was closed. The former gate keepers house can be seen on the right.