Dundalk Square Crossing

Dundalk Square Crossing, located just south of Dundalk Central and station, was where the former Dundalk & Greenore railway crossed the main Great Northern Railway's Dublin to Belfast line on the level. The D&GR line ran east to the port of Greenore, and was partly funded by the London & Northern Western Railway, and later the GNR took over this line in 1933. The line to Greenore and the square crossing was closed in 1951. The square crossing had its controlling signal cabin, which also signalled the main line which passed through the centre of the adjacent Great Northern's Dundalk Works, established there in the late 1890s. The engine sheds, stores building, and a few older workshops survive having been run down in the late 1960s following CIE taker over of the GNR in 1958. Part of the works site is now used by Bus Eireann and other industries.
201 Class loco No.229 passes the site of the Dundalk's former 'Square Crossing' with an afternoon Dublin to Belfast 'Enterprise'. A southbound 'Enterprise' is seen heading out of the station at Dundalk and approaches the Ardee Rd bridge adjacent to the former square crossing. The former Dundalk & Greenore line crossed the Great Northern's main line at right angles from left to right between the stores building on the left and the engine shed beyond. The D&G line was latterly worked by the GNR and closed in 1953. The trackbed of the D&G line beside the GNR works. The line continued straight across the Great Northern's main line towards Barrack Street, the metal fencing marks the site of the square crossing.
This is the parapets of the Ardee Rd bridge, which crossed the Greenore and the Great Northern's main line. The former Dundalk Works are out of view to the right. Ex GNR diesel railcars Nos.C1 & C2 , built in 1935, are seen stored at Dundalk Works in 1961. The track the railcars are stored on is the remains of the D&GR line on the approach to the square crossing, which was sited behind them in the background. ©John Camp Brand new 121 Class locomotive No.B122 in grey & yellow livery is seen been turned on the turntable at Dundalk Works in 1961. Today the railway sheds behind are now utilised by Bus Eireann. ©John Camp An ex GNR SG3 Class 0-6-0 is seen on shed at Dundalk Works in 1961, these were the most powerful 0-6-0 locomotives to run in Ireland. The shed is now bricked up and used by Bus Eireann. ©John Camp