Dun Laoghaire

Dun Laoghaire, located on the south side of Dublin City and internationally famed for its harbour, was the terminus of the first railway constructed in Ireland. Although proposed as early as 1829, the Dublin & Kingstown Railway (as Dun Laoghaire was original known pre-1925) opened its line from Westland Row (now Pearse) to the harbour town in 1834. The line terminated in a singe platform (now platform 3) with an overall roof. The D&K granite built station building was located on the south side at road level. Here it met an already existing tram line constructed further south at Dalkey Quarry which had begun operation in 1817. In 1844 however, the Dalkey Quarry line was converted to a revolutionary and complex atmospheric operated railway, one of the first in the world, which terminated at a single platform adjacent to the D&KR terminus.

During this time the D&KR had become the Dublin & Wicklow Railway, who later converted the atmospheric line to conventional railway use in 1854. The D&WR had also added additional station buildings to Dun Laoghaire in 1844, and in 1859 constructed the short branch to Carlisle Pier which diverged just south of the station. Also at the south end of the station was short section of single track and it wasn't until 1957 that it was doubled, along with providing an additional platform to give it Dun Laoghaire Station conventional up & down platforms. Although the 1834 D&KR station building was sold, the D&WR one remained the main booking office until 2000 when a modern elevated glass structure was built across the line.
8100 Class DART No.8108 is seen at Dun Laoghaire on the rear of a southbound DART service to Greystones. The foreground marks the site of the former Great Southern Railway signal cabin, as well as the old water tower. DART No.8312 heads out of Dun Laoghaire Station with a northbound service to Howth. Trains can depart north from both the up & down platforms at this end of the station, as indicated by the signals. Another 8100 Class DART, No.8338, is seen approaching Dun Laoghaire Station from the north with a service to Greystones. The line from the bay platform can just be seen converging from the right. Seen in the bay platform at Dun Laoghaire Station is 8500 Class DART No.8626, seen while out of service. This platform is designated as No.3.
| The station building on the down platform at Dun Laoghaire was constructed in the 1840s by the Dublin & Wicklow Railway on the atmospheric line. The D&WR converted the atmospheric line to convential railway use in 1854. The newest booking office is now located above the lines. This is the original Dublin & Kingstown Railway station site at Dun Laoghaire. Opened in 1834, the single platform terminus once had an overall roof, clearly evident by the large retaining walls. The granite building at the south end Dun Laoghaire Station is the original Dublin & Kingstown Railway building, dating from 1834. The steps leading down from the structure once connected to the former atmospheric railway. An old CIE warning sign for permanent way workers at the south end of Dun Laoghaire Station, where the lengthy cutting to Sandycove commences.
Both large and small nameboard signs on the down platform at Dun Laoghaire. The superb building behind is the 19th century constructed Habour Masters building. View looking north towards Dublin from the end of the down platform at Dun Laoghaire, with one of the 1983 installed signals in view. These types differ slightly from most of the DART signals, having convential black surrounds. At the north end of Dun Laoghaire Station two sidings diverged leading to the piers at St.Micheals Warf, and the 'Coal Quay'. The new section of wall indicates where Coal Quay siding was located. It was disconnected in the late 1970s. An early 1970s view of the northern end of Dun Laoghaire Station, with a line up of three re-engined C Class locomotives Nos.B210, B213 and B206. To the left of the picture can be seen a covered wagon parked on Coal Quay siding which crossed the adjacent road at right angles. ©Barry Carse
A smokey Crossley engined C Class locomotive No.C212 is seen shunting some parcal vans at the north end of Dun Laoghaire Station. At this time in the early 1970s Victorian coaching stock was still used on services in the Dublin area, such as the ex Great Southern & Western carriage stabled in the siding. The level crossing gates for the Caol Quay siding can also be seen in front of the loco. ©Barry Carse Seen passing the ferris wheel at the north end of Dun Laoghaire is ex Great Southern & Western Railway's J15 Class 0-6-0 No.186, heading a Railway Preservation Society of Ireland special to Wicklow. The carriage behind No.186 is No.1142, was built in 1921 by the GSWR at Inchicore Works, and is a '1st Class Corridor'. Seen having past a Howth bound DART just north of Dun Laoghaire is 071 Class loco No.071, heading the annual Irish Rail weed spraying train from Dublin to Rosslare. The loco is seen adorned with its yellow and black striped warning placards. To the right is the harbour at Dun Laoghaire. Seen at the same location just north of Dun Laoghaire is an 8-car 8100 Class DART bound for Bray, headed by No.8301. The green footbridge in the background marks the site of 'Dunleary' level crossing, which was abolished at the time of electrification in 1984.
8500 Class DART No.8628 leads an 8-car Japanease built DART set past the former Dunleary level crossing, between Seapoint and Dun Laoghaire. This was also the site of the temporary Dublin & Kingstown Railway terminus of 1834. The weed spraying train is seen again with No.071 in charge, this time approaching the curve near Seapoint Station north of Dun Laoghaire. The train is travelling to Bray before spraying the 'Up' line back into Dublin City. In the background can be seen a 19th century Martello tower, now used as the HQ of the Genealogical Society of Ireland. No.071 is seen returning from Bray as it sprays the Up line back towards Dublin City. The train is seen at the north end Dun Laoghaire having passed a southbound DART which can be seen arriving at the station. No.071 was built by General Motors in 1976. Another 071 Class locomotive, this time No.085, is seen taking an empty ballast train through Dun Laoghaire's up platform. The vehicle travelling behind the loco is the obligatory guards van, which is fitted with a ballast plough.
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's 2-6-4 tank loco No.4 heads bunker first past Seapoint, just north of Dun Laoghaire, with a private charter special to Wicklow. No.4 has since returned to the RPSI's base at Whitehead in Northern Ireland for an overhaul. Seen just under a year later, a long 8-car 8500 Class DART, lead by No.8630, glides past the somewhat rough sea at Seapoint with a morning southbound service to Greystones. Viewed at a higher elevation to the previous year, Irish Rail's annual weed spraying train passes Seapoint with 071 Class loco No.079 at the healm, seen heading south for Bray on a calmer day.