Brennanstown

Brennanstown, south Co.Dublin, is located south of Carrickmines on the Luas Green line from Dublin to Brides Glen. The section of Luas line from Sandyford to Brides Glen was opened in 2010, and largely utilises the trackbed of the former Harcourt St to Bray railway line, which was opened in 1859 and was closed by CIE in December 1958. A Luas stop has been built at Brennanstown, consisting of up & down platforms, but it has yet to open to the public due to lack of business development in area. South of the Brennanstown stop is a tunnel and beyond it the line passes close to the former Tully level crossing on the old Harcourt St line, where the gate keepers house still survives, however there was never a station at Brennanstown or Tully in railway days.
The site of Brennanstown Luas stop, while under construction in 2009. This view is looking south towards Brides Glen. This part of the Luas line utilises the former Harcourt St railway trackbed, which was opened in 1859 and closed in December 1958. The week before the Luas line through Brennanstown to Brides Glen was opened, a special service was operated from Sandyford for the Irish Railway Record Society. Here, tram No.5015 is seen on the rear of the special during a photo stop at the now completed Brennanstown stop. Another earlier view of Brennanstown, looking south towards Brides Glen from the pedestrian ramp which would lead to the platforms. The trackbed of the original railway line was lowered here to pass beneath a tunnel. A more up to date view sees the IRRS special at Brennanstown, from the now completed pedestrian ramp. Whilst the tram stop has been completed, to date it has yet to be opened to the public.
Brennanstown, looking north towards Dublin City, with the line curving towards the next stop at Carrickmines. This particular stretch of the Luas line still has a rural setting, as it was in railway days some 50 years ago. The IRRS special is at the down platform to Brides Glen. Tram No.5007 emerges from the curved box shaped tunnel at the south end of Brennanstown while operating on a test run prior to the opening of the line to Brides Glen. This is one of the newer batch of Luas trams, delivered from Citadis in 2009. No.5007 departs north from Brennanstown while operating on a test run to Sandyford. The tram is seen gaining height to the original Harcourt St railway line trackbed. An evening view of the newly completed Luas line at Brennanstown, looking north towards Dubin. This particular stretch of the line is more or less what would have been in place in railways days some 50 years ago, albeit without the overhead wires and side railings.
Tram No.5001 approaches Brennanstown from the Dublin direction with a southbound service on the first day of Luas services to Brides Glen. As yet the trams do not call at the Brennanstown stop. No.5001 runs non-stop through the Brennanstown Luas stop with a tram to Brides Glen. The stop as yet to open due to the lack of business development in the area. Note the advertising pillars remain blank. Tram No.5003 is seen on the rear of a northbound Luas service to Stephens Green in Dublin City centre, seen passing through the disused Brennanstown stop. An earlier view showing the Brennanstown Luas stop while underconstruction. Whilst the tunnel in the foreground was completed with track, the line had yet to be fully laid between Brides Glen and Sandyford.
At the south end of Brennanstown is an original stone built culvert bridge, which the Harcourt St railway line passed over. The bridge, dating from the opening of the railway line in 1854, is now utilised by the new Luas line, then under construction in this view. The southern end of the tunnel portal at Brennanstown, showing the track nearing completion, although some way off before the first trams began operating to Brides Glen. This view is looking north towards Dublin. Coming up to date, Luas tram No.5005 has emerged from the tunnel having passed through Brennanstown with a service from Dublin City to Brides Glen. It was expected a business development would be built over the tunnel area, but this has yet to materialise. Just south of Brennanstown is the site of the Tully level crossing, where the Harcourt St railway line crossed a minor country lane. Today one of the granite gate posts remain, as does a remnant of the track embedded in the tarmac in the foreground.
The Dublin & Wicklow Railway granite level crossing gate post at the former Tully level crossing, south of Brennanstown. The post possibly dates from the opening of the railway line in the 1850s. The site of the former Tully level crossing, looking north towards Dublin. The Harcourt St line was eventually closed by CIE in December 1958. The new Luas line to Brides Glen also crosses this country lane, out of view to the left. The site of the former Tully level crossing, looking south towards Bray, with the gate post visible on the left. Much of the land around the former trackbed is still under developed. The level crossing gate keepers house survives at the former Tully LC. The house, which has been extended since closure of the line, is nowadays semi derelict.
Another view of the former Tully level crossing, just south of Brennanstown. The railway line crossed at right angles to the road. Nowadays the Luas line also crosses this road where the car is parked in the background. Adjacent to the Luas line tunnel at Brennanstown is the original trackbed of the Harcourt St line. Remarkably some railway telegraph poles remain in situ on the former trackbed, more than 50 years after closure in 1958. Another view of one of the railway telegraph poles at Brennanstown, just short of the former Tully level crossing. This view is looking north towards Dublin, with the Luas line then under construction on the left. One of the other gate posts once belonging to Tully level crossing is seen dumped in an adjacent field by the Luas line.