Charlestown

Charlestown, Co.Mayo, is one of the larger towns sited on the disused Claremorris to Coolloney 'Burma Road' line, which was built cheaply in 1895 by the Great Southern & Western Railway. Regular passenger service ceased in 1963, but goods continued until 1975, Charlestown retained its goods facilities for this, along with its loop and sidings. The station only had one platform, with a signal cabin located half way down it. The goods shed was at the northern end of the station also. The buildings remained in situ up to the mid 1980s when they were demolished leaving just the platform.
This was the single platform station at Charlestown, looking south towards Claremorris. At this time the old CIE platform lamps and platform remained intact in its original condition. In the foreground is the rusted point for the diverging loop siding. A couple of years later the former platform at Charlestown has been tidied up by the local community. A new name board and platform lamps have been added and the platform resurfaced. The station buildings were demolished in the mid 1980s. A close up of the point rodding at the disused Charlestown Station. The station only had one platform and a loop siding, as well a small goods yard. On the single platform at Charlestown Station, looking north to Sligo, showing the through line and loop siding. The goods siding complete with timber buffer stop which once served the small goods shed and yard is visible on the right.
A view looking south towards Claremorris from the end of the single platform at the former Charlestown Station. The trackwork was at this time still in situ but overgrown. A view looking south towards Claremorris from the end of the single platform at the former Charlestown Station. The trackwork was at this time still in situ but overgrown. A Great Southern & Western semaphore signal post, complete with lamp, at Charlestown Station. The signal post has since been removed during the vegetation clearance. At the south end of Charlestown Station the disused line crosses the small Mullaghanoe River which runs through the town. At this time the track beyond the bridge was heavily overgrown.
This is the small iron bridge which carries the disused line across the Mullaghanoe River, viewed following the recent vegetation clearance. The lattice posted signal post which once guarded the southern approach to Charestown Station remains in situ, complete with counter weight and oil lamp. The gap in the platform face marks the site of the one time Charlestown signal cabin. This Great Southern & Western brick built cabin was demolished in the mid 1980s. This is the northern approach to Charlestown Station which is visible in the distance. A garage now occupies part of the disused line here.
A view looking towards Sligo from the northern extremity of Charlestown Station, showing the condition of the disused line. New mile posts, such as that visible on the left, have been added to the lineside during the vegetation clearance.