Dromin Junction

Dromin Junction, Co.Louth, on ex Great Northern Railway's Dublin to Belfast line between Drogheda and Dundalk, is where the 1896 built branch line to Ardee diverges. The short branch lost its passenger service as early as 1934, but remained in use for goods traffic until 1975. The tracks were finally lifted in March 1988. Dromin Junction station had closed in 1955, but remained intact along with the signal cabin to control the junction to the Ardee branch. Today, only the platforms remain, along with the water tower at the end of the down platform. The adjacent Great Northern Railway station masters house survives also as a private residence.
An early 1970s view of Dromin Junction, with a re-engined C Class locomotive No.B203, leading a single covered wagon and a brake van off the Ardee branch heading south towards Drogheda. The passenger station had been closed to passengers since February 1955, although the cabin remained open to control the junction. ©Barry Carse Another early 1970s view sees 181 Class loco No.182 leading a short keg train through the derelict Dromin Jct Station. By this time only a small part of the brick built station building remained. ©Barry Carse 181 Class locos also visited the Ardee branch on goods trains, here No.188 is seen having received a clear signal and is about to join the main Belfast to Dublin line, shortly before the branch closed completely in 1975. In the background can be seen the station building and Great Northern Railway signal cabin. ©Barry Carse A southbound mixed freight is seen on the main line heading through the forlorn looking Dromin Jct Station, hauled by 001 Class No.005. The signal cabin at Dromin would only be open when an Ardee branch goods train was due. To the right on the up platform can be seen the fenced access path which lead up the adjacent road overbridge. ©Barry Carse
The Ardee branch had lain derelict for 13 years by the time Northern Ireland Railway's 111 Class loco No.112 was captured heading south through Dromin Jct on the 'Enterprise' in March 1988. The digger seen beside the line had been lifting the track on the closed branch. ©Colm O'Callaghan A more recent view of the former Dromin Junction taken in May 2010 sees a southbound 'Enterprise' train passing the former up and down platforms. The site of the former station buildings are now fenced off and overgrown. A view looking south from the road overbridge at Dromin, where 201 Class loco No.227 in green & silver 'Intercity' livery is seen propelling this southbound 'Enterprise' from Belfast to Dublin. Seen at the same location is NIR's matching 'Enterprise' liveried 201 Class loco No.8208, operating the late running 13:20 from Dublin Connolly to Belfast Central.
Another March 1988 view of Dromin Jct, taken on the former down platform sees 141 Class looc No.151 heading south with a train from Dundalk. By this time only the water tower remained, visible in the background; all other station buildings at Dromin had been demolished. ©Colm O'Callaghan An earlier view of Dromin Jct taken on the 4th October 1975 sees the last passenger train to leave the Ardee branch hauled by the then Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's ex Great Northern S Class 4-4-0 No.171 'Slieve Gullion'. ©Barry Carse Another view of the RPSI special at Dromin, showing No.171 crossing over onto the up line at the south end of the station. Visible in this view is also the Great Northern style bracket semaphore signal controlling the down approach to the junction. ©Barry Carse The water tower still survives at the north end of the down platform at Dromin Junction. The tank is visible to the left, covered in shrubs and ivy. The bridge parapets visible on the main line belong to the bridge carrying the railway over the 'River Dee' from which the nearby town Ardee was named after.
A view of what was once the site of the station buildings at Dromin Jct, now heavily overgrown and fenced off. The derelict Ardee branch platform remains however, the end ramp of which is just visible through the trees and shrubs. The station masters house and railwaymens cottages survive as private residences on the down side of the former Dromin Junction station. The junction for the branch was once sited in the foreground. Part of a demolished stone bridge abutment just west of Dromin Jct on the former Ardee branch. The branch was only lifted in March 1988, several years after it had closed completely. Part of the former trackbed nearer Ardee is now a public footpath. An 8-car 2800 Class railcar set heads a Dublin to Drogheda service past the former Domin Jct, with No.2818 forming the rear unit.
201 Class loco No.233 approaches milepost 43½ on the Dublin to Belfast main line with a northbound 'Enterprise' service, just south of the former Dromin Junction. DD DVT No.9003 is leading the 10:30 'up' Enterprise to Dublin past Dromin Jct, with 201 Class loco No.230 propelling. Loco No.230 'River Bandon' is glimpsed at the south end of Dromin as it propels its 'Enterprse' service to Dublin.