Beauparc

Beauparc is a small village located in the Boyne Valley in Co.Meath. It once had an attractive station on the Great Northern Railway's Drogheda to Navan branch line. The branch lost its passenger service in 1958 but goods traffic, mainly in the form gypsum from Kingscourt ensured the line's future. In 1977, Tara Mines and Platin cement trains also began operating on the line. Today the line remains open to solely serve the Tara Mines at Navan.
Beauparc Station retains its up & down platforms and large brick built station building, dating from the opening of the line in 1850 by the Dublin & Drogheda Jct Railway, latterly taken over the by the GNR. The typical GNR signal cabin once stood at the Drogheda end of the platform, this is marked by the gap in the platform for the levers. Behind the level crossing is also a goods bank.
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This is Beauparc Station, now a private residence. The station's up & down platform remain, the up side being well cared for. 071 Class loco 080 pauses with a loaded ore train from Tara Mines to Dublin Port. The level crossing at Beauparc is operated by the train crew. Here, 071 Class loco No.080 is seen heading across the minor road adjacent to the station a loaded ore train from the Tara Mines near Navan to Dublin Port. A view from the Drogheda side of the level crossing at Beauparc, looking east. The platform on the left is the former goods loading bank, long since disused. 080's Tara Mines train awaits departure towards Drogheda. A general view of Beauparc Station, looking west towards Navan. The Great Northern Railway signal cabin was once sited on the platform adjacent to the level crossing, the gap in the platform facing indicating its position.
Approaching Beauparc Station from the Drogheda direction is the 071 Class locomotive leader, No.071, seen hauling the Irish Rail weed spraying train, complete with wasp panel warning boards. A crew member has closed the crossing gates at Beauparc allowing 071 to roll forward across the road into the former station. 071 was built by General Motors in 1976, and entered service with CIE in May 1977. Irish Rail's weed spraying, seen at Beauparc Station. An ex British Rail built steam generator van conveys the crew and equipment. while the chemicals are contained in the yellow painted tanks. With the distant signal for station level crossing in the background, 071 heads away from Beauparc with the Drogheda to Navan weed spraying train.
On a dull day a rather weathered looking 071 Class loco No.087 approaches Beauparc Station from Navan with a loaded ore train from Tara Mines to Dublin Port. Loco 087 and her Tara Mines train are seen adjacent to the 1850s built station building at Beauparc. The red painted wagons indicate that they have recently received attention at Irish Rail's wagon workshop in Limerick. 071 Class loco No.073 works the annual weed sprayer train past Dollardstown bridge, just west of Beuparc while en route from Drogheda to Navan. A patched up No.081 passes the disused station at Beuparc as it heads an early departed midday Tara Mines train from Navan to Dublin Port.
Loco No.073 is seen returning from Navan with the weed spraying train past Beauparc. The train would shortly reach Platin where it was stabled overnight. Another patched up 071 Class loco, No.084, works the empty rake of Tara Mines ore wagons past Dollardstown, just west of Beauparc. Much of the Navan branch has been relaid and reballasted, as evident on this stretch. No.084 is seen having briefly paused at Beauparc to allow the crew to open the crossing gates while working the first laden train of the day from the Tara Mines. In brighter conditions than on the previous occasion, the tired looking loco No.084 runs along the Navan line west of Beauparc with the afternoon empty Alexandra Road to Tara Mines ore train.
With the gates closed to road traffic, the only named 071 Class loco, No.082, heads through Beauparc Station with the morning laden train from the Tara Mines to Alexandra Road. Loco No.086 approaches Hays Bridge, located between Beauparc and Navan, with the midday loaded ore train for Dublin Port. This loco has evidently borrowed a cab door off a withdrawn orange & black liveried 141 Class loco. Loco No.082 approaches the Dollardstown bridge west of Beauparc with the afternoon rake of empty wagons bound for the Tara Mines. Just west of Beaupark in the direction of Navan is this unusual fine stone rail overbridge. It was constructed by the Dublin & Drogheda Railway in 1855.