Castletown

Castletown, Co.Westmeath, was a wayside station on the former Midland Great Western Railway's main line between Mullingar and Athlone, which opened in August 1851. Up to 1973, this line was used by all Galway and Mayo line trains, but these were re-routed via Portarlington from Great Southern & Western Railway's Heuston Station in Dublin. Thus the Mullingar to Athlone line became the poor relation to the main line to Galway and the west after this, with the last scheduled passenger service having traversed the route in 1987. The line remained in use however for frequent freight trains up to the late 1980s, and latterly specials and PWD workings until early 2000s.

Castletown itself lost its passenger service in 1963, but the station remained an important signalling blockpost and loop until May 1987. Today the disused up & down platforms remain, with the single storey MGWR station building nowadays being a private residence. The signal cabin is a retained as gatebox adjacent to the level crossing at the east end of the station. The derelict goods shed and associate loading bank also remains.
On 17th September 1989, 071 Class loco No.085 runs through the former station at Castletown with a GAA special bound for Dublin. In this view looking west towards Athlone can be seen the main station buildings, by then in private ownship. ©Colm O'Callaghan The disused station at Castletown, looking east towards Mullingar from the end of the 'Down' platform. A characteristic of Midland Great Western stations was a raised section of platform, still visible on the left. The station closed to passengers in 1963. The single storey station building at Castletown, which dates from the early 1850s. This type is similar to the others built by the Midland Great Western on their main line between Dublin and Athlone. This is the level crossing located at the eastern end of Castletown Station. This view is looking towards Mullingar. Beside the crossing is the disused Midland Great Western signal cabin. On the right is the post of former a signal, removed in 1987 when the station ceased to be a blockpost.
In June 1998, 141 Class loco No.173 brings the annual Irish Rail weed spraying train across the level crossing at Castletown, en route from Mullingar to Athlone. The gates were operated by the train crew, but the cabin was still retained as a gatebox. The line between Mullingar and Athlone was last sprayed in 2003. ©Colm O'Callaghan Back in September 1989, when the Mullingar-Athlone line was still in occasional use for main line trains, 181/141 Class locos Nos.186+177 head through Castletown with a Knock special bound for Claremorris. Although the station had ceased to be a crossing place, the disconnected loop remained in situ on the 'Up' side, clearly visible in this shot. ©Colm O'Callaghan A former railway cottage which is located on the overgrown 'Down' platform at Castletown Station. The building is currently semi-derelict. The close up view of the counter weight still mounted on the former signal post at the Mullingar end of Castletown Station. The post is probably an original Midland Great Western Railway type, dating pre-1925.
The typical Midland Great Western Railway style signal cabin at Castletown Station, located on the Mullingar side of the level crossing, which still retains its large crossing gates. The signal cabin is retained as a gatebox, but has been disused for many years now. The structure is also evidently missing its name board also. Another view of Castletown signal cabin, looking back towards Athlone and the station. The cabin can now longer be accessed as it is missing its steps. In the foreground can be seen the remnant of the former passing loop. In the days when Castletown was still an important block post on the main line to Galway, 181 Class loco No.183 awaits the road west towards Moate with a goods train in April 1978. In the background can be seen the former goods shed. ©Ernies Railway Archive A similar view taken in June 2012, looking west towards Moate and ultimately Athlone, from the end of the former 'Down' platform. The disused goods shed and loading bank are now totally overgrown, while CIE sign remains in situ on the left.
The partially visible stone built goods shed at Castletown. This was one of two sheds located at the station, this one being at the Athlone end on the 'Up side. It last handled goods traffic in 1963. This is the other goods shed, located on the 'Down' side of the station, and also at the Athlone end. The sidings serving the sheds were removed in 1963, leaving just the passing loop. Closer view of the other goods shed at Castletown, which is of a corrugated iron structure and looking much forlorn nowadays. On the right can be seen a loading back, now very overgrown. A distant view of the former station at Castletown, looking east towards Mullingar. The fencing on the 'Up' platform seperates the private station building from CIE property.
Seen just east of Castletown in April 1978, 141 Class loco No.177 nears the station while hauling a rake of mock mid 19th century carriages for use during the filming of the movie The First Great Train Robbery, staring Sean Connery. ©Ernies Railway Archive The same location but nearly 35 years later, showing the now rusty disused track of the Mullingar-Athlone line. Gone are the lineside telegraph poles. The location is a tall embankment east of Castletown and was used for several shoots during the filming of the The First Great Train Robbery. The same location, but looking west towards the station at Castletown, showing the extant of the overgrowth across the disused track. In this view can be seen a farmers crossing, and the 'Down' distant semaphore signal protecting the level crossing at Castletown Station. This farmers crossing located just east of Castletown was featured in the The First Great Train Robbery, where in the movie Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland throw the bundle of gold stolen from the train to an awaiting horse and cart at the crossing here. See on Youtube.
The 'Down' distant semaphore signal protecting the approach to the level crossing at Castletown Station. The signal, a CIE type, was installed at this location nearer to the crossing when the station ceased to be blockpost in May 1987. The eastern approach to Castletown is marked firstly by the long embankment before entering this grassy cutting On the right is the 'Down' distant signal, which still retains its lamp. The wiring, once connected to Castletown signal cabin, has been cut. This is the western approach to Castletown, the station being just obscured by the trees and shrubs in the distance. The 'Up' distant signal protecting the level crossing also remains in situ here. In the foreground is the gated Killians level crossing, which gives access to a local farm. Another standard CIE distant semaphore signal. This signal was installed here also in 1987 during the rationlisation of Castletown, when the station ceased to be blockpost in 1987.
The view looking towards Moate and Athlone, from Killians level crossing, located at the western end of Castletown. The signal is positioned on the trackbed of the former 'Down' line of the former double track, removed in the early 1930s, although the section here was retained a long siding until 1987. A recently cleaned up railway overbridge, located east of Castletown. This one is located on the aforementioned stretch of embankment used during the filming of the The First Great Train Robbery, which screened in the cinemas in 1978.