Clonmel

Clonmel, Co.Tipperary, is one of the more important stations on the underused cross country line from Waterford to Limerick. The line was opened in 1852 by the Waterford and Limerick Railway, and then taken over by the Great Southern & Western in 1901. Clonmel was also the junction for an 1879 built line that ran north to join the main GSWR's Dublin to Cork route at Thurles, but passenger services on this line ended in 1963, and closed completely in 1967. Clonmel therefore boasted a concrete built locomotive shed and facilities, located at the south end of the station on the down side. The station however still retains its large and imposing station building, brick built signal cabin and goods shed, along with the original GSWR footbridge. Beyond the road overbridge at the west end the derelict cattle sidings remain. A short section of the already mentioned closed Thurles line remains, and once used for storing redundant goods wagons. Just beyond this short stub was Powerstown racecourse platform, which still remains and is included here.
Not much of Clonmel is visible in this photo, but a lot is of 141 Class loco No.170, seen heading Ian Walsh's 'Boat Train' railtour to Rosslare. No.170 was built by General Motors in 1962. The loco was eventually withdrawn and scrapped in August 2008. In the background is Clonmel signal cabin. Another railtour is seen at Clonmel Station, this time headed by 141 Class locos Nos.171+141 on the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's 'Comeragh Railtour'. The locos are viewed from the footbridge at Clonmel Station. Whilst No.171 is the last 141 Class loco still in use with Irish Rail, the first member of the class No.141 has been preserved by the RPSI.
The more usual traction to be seen on the lightly used Limerick Jct to Waterford line are the 2700 Class railcars, one of which is seen arriving at Clonmel with a service to Waterford. The signalman at Clonmel Station gives the all clear to the driver of 2700 Class No.2724, seen preparing to leave Clonmel with an afternoon Limerick to Waterford service. No.2715 is seen on the rear of this 2700 Class railcar set heading away from Clonmel with its service to Waterford. The ground disc signal guards the entrance into the adjacent siding, once used for loading a bagged cement and fertlizer, as well as timber until the end of the 1990s. Note the down starting signal mounted to the former goods shed. A general view of the large and imposing station building at Clonmel. Much of the building is now used by Bus Eireann services. The size of the 1852 built Waterford & Limerick Railway structure does not match the meager passenger numbers here.
Close up detail on the Victorian footbridge at Clonmel Station, allowing its age to be appreciated. The substantial Waterford & Limerick Railway stone built station building on the up platform at Clonmel, dating from 1852. The exterior of the station building at Clonmel has remained largely the same since opening in the 1850s. Some original features includes this porch canopy. The approach to Clonmel Station. The tower like structure to the eastern end of the building is an unusual feature. Only a small portion of the structure remains in railway use.
Clonmel Station, looking east towards Waterford from beneath the road overbridge. This is the same spot where the earliest known Irish railway photograph was taken in 1858. The rear of Clonmel's down home semaphore signal, with its additional bracket for the loop, as well as another ground disc. The level crossings in the distance are Cashel Road (R688) and Heywood. Clonmel Station looking towards Waterford, showing the signal cabin and goods shed. The stub of the closed line to Thurles can be seen to the left opposite the goods siding. End of the line to Thurles; now just a long siding out of Clonmel Station. The line to Thurles closed completely in 1967, but this stub remained to store redundant wagons, and had once been extended to the Powerstown platform adjacent to the Clonmel racecourse.
This is the Powerstown platform, used during race specials to the adjacent racecourse in Clonmel. This view is looking north towards Thurles. At the Thurles end of Powerstown platform, looking back towards the remaining stub of the line and Clonmel Station. The heavily overgrown concrete built engine shed at the eastern end of Clonmel Station survives. The structure dates from the early 20th century. When long distance travel was once common many 'railway pubs' were established adjacent tp country stations in Ireland. This is the one located near Clonmel Station.