Clontarf

This is the original Great Northern Railway's Clontarf Station, sited on the Howth Road in Dublin's northern suburbs, just north of the present day Clontarf Rd Station. The GNR opened the halt in the early 1920s and was typical of the type built for suburban stations, with wooden up and down platforms along with waiting rooms. There was also once a signal cabin located on the down platform but was taken out of use by the GNR when Killester cabin took over the section of signalling from East Wall Junction (near Connolly).

Clontarf was never a busy halt and was closed by the GNR in 1956. The station masters house, and a one time office for Amiens Street remains and boasts typical GNR architecture. Both gate entrances which led from road level up to the station remain, but the up side is currently brick up. The up side still retains stone steps, which led up to the wooden platforms. Only the concrete base of the up waiting shelter remains at rail level, and is located beside a colour light signal, all other buildings have long since been demolished.

Early 10th century view of Clontarf Halt, looking north towards Belfast from the up platform. On the right is the GNR waiting shelter, while in the background is the wooden built signal cabin, removed in the 1920s. 201 Class loco No.209 is just north of the one time Clontarf Halt as it heads the 13:20 Dublin to Belfast 'Enterprise' service. Unfortunately the site of the former halt is inaccessible. Seen at the same location just north of Clontarf Halt is 8100 Class DART unit No.8100, the first member of this DARTclass, seen heading a northbound stopping service. The first member of the 071 Class, No.071, heads across the Howth Road adjacent to the former Clontarf Halt with a northbound empty Tara Mines ore train.
This is the GNR station masters house adjacent to the former Clontarf halt, and was also used as offices for the GNR HQ at Connolly. This is the down side of the road overbridge adjacent to the former Clontarf Halt. The bridge across the Howth Road was renewed in the early 2000s, replacing the original 1850s Dublin & Drogheda Railway structure. The bricked up gate entrance is all that remains of the one time Clontarf Halt, closed in September 1956. Behind the wall wooden steps would lead up to the down platform. This is the gate entrance on the up side of the one time Clontarf Halt.
The stone steps leading up to the former up platform still survive on the down side of the former Halt at At railway level only the concrete bases of the one time wooden waiting shelter remains on the down side of the line, just visible in this view.