Carrick-on-Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon, Co.Leitrim, on the Midland Great Western Railway's Dublin to Sligo line retains almost all of its original station buildings, such as the former signal box, footbridge and well maintained waiting room on the up platform, most of which date from 1862. The station is one of the most tidiest and attractive on the Sligo line. In 1988 the station at Carrick-on-Shannon ceased to be a block post and the loop and sidings were all removed leaving a very much simplified and underused station. Nowadays with the heavy investment on the Sligo line, a new loop has been re-instated just beyond the platforms beside the former goods shed, and the station buildings were restored.
071 Class loco No.087 has just arrived at Carrick-on-Shannon with a train from Dublin to Sligo. The loop here at the station was removed in 1988, but a newer one was installed behind me with the CTC upgrade for the line This is the substantial Midland Great Western station building at Carrick-on-Shannon, dating from the opening of the line in December 1862. The building is similar to other larger stations on the Sligo line. Carrick-on-Shannon retains most of its Midland Great Western buildings, such as the wooden waiting room and signal cabin on the disused up platform. The attractive and well preserved MGWR wooden waiting shelter at Carrick-on-Shannon Station, complete with floral displays.
This is the typical but small Midland Great Western signal cabin at Carrick-on-Shannon, located at the west end of the station on the up platform. The cabin closed in 1988, and the loop and sidings were lifted. The interior of the signal cabin still retains some of its fitting, such as the levers and pulleys beneath the wooden floor. This is the Victorian MGWR footbridge at Carrick-on-Shannon, which is a typical MGWR design seen at other stations on the line. The footbridge at Carrick-on-Shannon features some attractive intricate decorations as seen here, something which you don't see on modern footbridges nowadays.
Carrick-on-Shannon, looking east towards Dublin from the footbridge. The down platform has been extended considerably in recent years. The curve through the station has also been eased with the removal of the passing loop. 087 is seen heading away from Carrick-on-Shannon with a train to Sligo. This view shows the reinstated loop which nowadays only sees occasional use. A view looking west towards Sligo at Carrick-on-Shannon, with the goods shed and former yard visible. The reinstated loop can also be seen. The large stone built goods shed at Carrick-on-Shannon, located at the west end of the station. The shed has not been served by a siding since the late 1980s.