Boyne Road

In 1933, the Great Northern Railway built a short one mile branch line to the Boyne Road Cement Factory east of Drogheda on the River Boyne. The branch diverged from the main Dublin to Belfast line just north of the Boyne Viaduct at 'Cement Branch Junction', and curved sharply south east through Newfoundwell on the outskirts of Drogheda town to serve the cement factory, and an additional oil terminal. The branch line was heavily used by the GNR and later CIE, and latterly included a ballast loading point at Newfoundwell. But in 1977 a new cement factory west of Drogheda opened at Platin, and this became the main source of cement traffic in the area.


The Boyne Road Cement Factory on the branch meanwhile declined in rail traffic and by the early 1980s only the oil terminal was occasionally been served by trains. By the mid 1990s, only the section of the branch to the Newfoundwell ballast sidings were in use, primarily used for the re-ballasting of the main Dublin to Belfast line. By 1996, the ballast sidings were no longer required and Irish Rail removed the connection to the mainline at Cement Branch Junction, after which the branch was lifted as far as Newfoundwell. The remaining, and now isolated, section of the branch to the Boyne Road Cement Factory and the oil terminal is derelict and in some places heavily overgrown. All the track work, such as the oil sidings and Newfoundwell loop and loading dock however remain intact despite their disuse, and there are even a few GNR semaphore signals and posts still in situ.


This is a photographic survey of the branch, beginning at the oil sidings and cement factory at Boyne Rd, and then shows the Newfoundwell loop and ballast sidings, and the former junction to the mainline at Cement Branch Jnc.
This is the cement factory at Boyne Rd, located just outside Drogheda alongside the River Boyne itself. The factory opened in 1938 and was rail served by a branch off the Dublin to Belfast main line. The factory ceased cement producted in the early 1980s. ©Richard Wall Located on the river side of the factory were sidings which handled both bagged and bulk cement traffic.The bagged cement was usually conveyed in covered vans seen in the background. Here 001 Class loco No.005 is seen shunting at the sidings in July 1976. The Boyne Viaduct can just be seen in the distance. ©Barry Carse In addition to exporting bagged and bulk cement, the Boyne Rd factory was received small amounts of gypsum from Kingscourt, which was conveyed in hoppers via the freight only Kingscourt/Navan branch to Drogheda. 005 is seen shunting a small rake of gypsum hoppers, again in July 1976. ©Barry Carse An early 1970s view sees recently re-engined Metrovick A Class loco No.A20r hauling a lengthy train of the bulk 'bubble' cement wagons and some four-wheel vans loaded with bagged cement out of the yard at Boyne Rd factory. ©Richard Wall
An unusual visitor to the Boyne Rd factory was ex Great Southern & Western Railway J15 0-6-0 No.186, seen coming out of the cement factory on a Railway Preservation Society of Ireland tour in 1971. ©Jonathan M.Allen This is the same location but as today, looking back into the cement factory at the Boyne Rd. Although the track into the former factory remains it is now heavily overgrown. A tresspassing sign remains in situ and is visible in the background of the 1971 shot. Located just outside Boyne Rd was a rail served oil terminal. Imports of oil were regular rail hauled from the port of Foynes in Co.Limerick to here for use in the cement factory. This traffic ceased in the early 1980s but the terminal was still in situ in this July 1990 view. ©Colm O' Callaghan A view of the oil terminal outside the Boyne Rd cement factory in July 1990, by which time the terminal was out of use. There was also a short trip oil train which operated from Drogheda's other and more newer factory at Platin to here. ©Colm O' Callaghan
Seen at the Boyne Rd oil terminal in July 1980 is 001 Class loco No.018. The oil rack and platform is visible above the tank wagons. Note also the small control box which regulated the flow of oil between the pipes and the wagons. ©Barry Carse Today the oil terminal is derelict, alhough the twin sidings remain in situ, also as most of its infrastructure. It is impossible now for a train to reach here due to the branch been disconnected from the main Dublin to Belfast line. A close up view of the former oil rack and platform. Gone is the control box, a probable victim of vandalism. A buffer stop made of old redundant rails and still featuring its distinctive red and white paint is seen at the end of one of the sidings at the oil terminal.
A from looking out from the oil terminal towards the old cement factory at the Boyne Rd, showing the derelict track still in situ. A view of the line leading into the cement factory at Boyne Rd, July 1990. The track converging from the right leads from the oil termanal. Note the Great Northern Railway style semaphore signal. ©Colm O' Callaghan A view looking the opposite way from roughly the same location out towards the main line, with siding to the oil terminal diverging to the left. In the distance can be seen the GNR signal and Newtown level crossing. ©Colm O' Callaghan The same location but in March 1980 sees another oil train propelling back into the terminal at the Boyne Rd, hauled by one of CIE's C201 Class locos No.226. The crossings gates of Newtown level crossing are visible in the background. ©Barry Carse
he track at the same located but as today, covered over by grass and shrubs. This view is looking back into the former cement factory. A battered and twisted CIE distant semaphore signal arm is seen dumped on the track just outside the former Boyne Rd cement factory. This is Newtown level crossing today, one of two on the cement branch serving the Boyne Rd factory. The crossing is located just short of the oil terminal and factory complex. A permanent fence rail has been errected across the derelict track. Looking the opposite way back towards the main line at the derelict Newtown level crossing. The Newfoundwell loop and loading bank are located just beyond the shrubs. The track can be seen embedded in the tarmac at the level crossing.
A view of the Newfoundwell loop, looking back towards main line in July 1980. 001 Class loco No.018 is seen halted just short of Newtown level crossing with an oil train, while the guard disembarks from the loco to open the crossing gates. ©Barry Carse The scene today shows that although the Great Northern semaphore signal remains in situ, the tracks have been covered over. The Newfoundwell loop served a loading bank and shed visible in the distance. This has to be one of the few remaining GNR semaphore signals still intact, it even has disconnected wires hanging from its counter lever. A closer view of the former GNR semaphore signal, which even retains its oil lamp fixed behind the broken glass spectacles.
A view of the former Newfoundwell loading bank, complete with concrete store and canopy. The tracks are more overgrown here. The concrete building has had newer extensions added to the structure on either side. The same location but more than 30 years ago sees A20r heading past the Newfoundwell loop with its train of bubble cement wagons and vans. A standard CIE open wagon can be seen stabled in the loop, used to load fertilizer from the adjacent store. ©Richard Wall Just at the northern end of the Newfoundwell loop is another GNR semaphore, but only retains its post and step ladder. One of the overgrown tracks is visible in the foreground. A closer inspection on the counter lever still attached to the semaphore post at Newfoundwell, showing the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) stamp.
This was Newfoundwell level crossing on the R166 road, located just beyond the loop and loading bank. The permanent rail fence marks the site of the heavily overgrown track leading to the cement factory. Seen roughly at the same location in July 1976 is 001 Class loco No.006, heading a short empty gypsum train which had been unloaded at the Boyne Rd factory. Newfoundwell level crossing is just visible at the rear of train. ©Barry Carse The Boyne Rd branch also featured a marshalling yard at Newfoundwell, built in the early 1960s to stable bagged and bulk cement trains. In this early 1970s view A Class loco No.A20r heads past the yard with a loaded bulk cement train from the Boyne Rd factory. ©Richard Wall After the cement and oil trains ceased serving the Boyne Rd factory the branch fell into disuse except for the marshalling yard at Newfoundwell which found use a ballast loading point. 181 Class loco No.192 is seen here with a ballast train in April 1994. ©Colm O' Callaghan
The yard saw regular use in the mid 1990s during the Dublin to Belfast main line relaying work, which finally ended in 1996, after which the Boyne Rd branch was closed and disconnected with the main line. The line leading to the factory was already long out use by April 1994 when this photo was taken. ©Colm O' Callaghan Same location but in 2006. Following closure; the branch, including the ballast sidings here, were lifted between the main line and the Newfoundwell level crossing. Only the building visible in the right background, and the ESB power lines link with the previous past photos. In June 1996, 071 Class loco No.073 is seen having run around its ballast train on the weed covered tracks at the former marshalling yard at Newfoundwell. The track on the extreme left led down to the cement factory. The branch closed completely shortly after this photo was taken. ©Barry Carse Another present day view of site of the one time marshalling yard and ballast loading point at Newfoundwell on the Boyne Rd branch. A new road seen here leading to a housing estate has bisected the site of the former sidings.
A view looking back towards the former marshalling yard and cement factory, with the defaced CIE trespassing sign in the foreground. The track here was lifted shortly after closed in 1996. This CIE trespassing sign is somewhat more visable than the previous one at the Boyne Rd cement factory. Note the old Irish writing on it too, it possibly dates from the early 1960s. This is the trackbed of the former Boyne Rd branch just short of 'Cement Branch Junction'. where the branch joined the main Dublin to Belfast main line. The track along here was lifted after closure in 1996. Seen emerging from the cement branch at the junction with the main line is 181 Class loco No.192 with a ballast train from Newfoundwell in April 1994. No.192 has since been withdrawn and scrapped in November 2008. ©Colm O' Callaghan
With Drogheda's Boyne Viaduct visible in the background, sister loco No.113 approaches the junction with a northbound 'Enterprise' in July 1990. The track layout here meant that trains serving the branch had to operate 'wrong line' between the viaduct and the junction. ©Colm O' Callaghan