Birdhill

Birdhill, north Co.Limerick, is located on the Great Southern & Western Railway's 1860 built branch line from Killonan Junction, near Limerick, to Ballybrophy via Nenagh. The station has two basic platforms, a loop and a siding on the down side. However, only the down platform remains in use for passenger services. The station building, also located on the down side, was a two storey structure, but was demolished many years ago, replaced now by a basic shelter and porta-cabin. The station also once boasted a stone built locomotive and goods shed.
The signal cabin, located at the south end of the station, also controls the points leading to the 1982 built Kilmastulla shale loading point a few miles to the north, which until recently was served by trains from Limerick's Castlemungret cement works. Birdhill was also the junction for the short branch to Killaloe, opened in 1864 and which closed completely by CIE in 1948. This diverged just north of the station, adjacent to which is the former water tower.
141 Class locomotives Nos.171+152 stand at Birdhill Station with an Irish Railway Record Society tour to Limerick, consisting of Mk3 coaching stock. A burst of sunshine at Birdhill warrants another photo of 171+152, complete with IRRS headboard. Both locos were built in 1962 by General Motors at their Illinois works in the USA. No.171 remains the sole survivor still in regualr Irish Rail service. This is the signal cabin at the south end of Birdhill Station. The original was rebuilt in the 1950s by CIE, as evident by the modern materials used. The lever frame within Birdhill signal cabin, consisting of 24 levers. The cabin acts as fringe signalling location between the mechanically operated Ballybrophy branch to Limerick's modern CTC signalling.
The electronic panel for remotely controlling the siding giving access to Kilmastulla shale loading point, located 2 miles north of Birdhill. The station layout within Birdhill signal cabin, which also features the Kilmastulla Siding. Only one siding remains within Birdhill Station located within the former goods yard, now used by engineering trains. Demonstration of the operating procedure for the Kilmastulla siding within Birdhill signal cabin. This equipment was installed in 1982 when shale trains began operating between Kilmastulla and Castlemungret cement works west of Limerick. One of the 19th century made token machines located within Birdhill signal cabin, squeezed behind the modern water cooler. This token machine is no longer in used.
Birdhill is today only a small village, however it oddy boasts more railway infrastructure use than any of the other principal town served on the Ballybrophy branch. The sole surviving siding within Birdhill Station's former goods yard. One goods loading platforms remain. The site is now used by engineering trains. Goods trains stopped serving Birdhill in 1976. One of CIE's 1980s T board signs, in Irish Rail's green & grey livery on the disused but neatly kept up platform at Birdhill Station. The Mk3 stock which formed the IRRS special to Limerick, seen at Birdhill Station. Most of the train could not be accommodated due to the short length of the platform.
A lamp hut, built of corrugated iron, is seen at the south end of the up platform at Birdhill Station. ©Anthony McDonald A standard CIE bracket semaphore signal at the north end of Birdhill Station. The space between the signal and the railway line was once occupied by a siding, which was effectively a stub of the former branch line to Killaloe. Another standard CIE semaphore signal, mounted on a steel pole, at the north end of Birdhill Station, this been the up starter for Roscrea, or Kilmastulla. The site of Birdhill Junction, located at the north end of the loop beyond the station, where the former branch to Killaloe diverged. The trackbed continues straight ahead into the undergrowth.
This is the Kilmastulla Siding, north of Birdhill and controlled from Birdhill signal cabin. Shale traffic from here to the cement factory at Castlemungret near Limerick ceased in 2009. Here, 071 Class locomotive No.072 runs past Kilmastulla with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's 'Province of Leinster' tour from Dublin to Limerick. Loco No.072, built by General Motors in 1976, takes the the RPSI tour out of Birdhill Station, formed of Mk2 coaching stock. On the left is a standard CIE bracket semaphore signal, with the smaller arm protecting the loop.