Dundalk

Dundalk, Co Louth, on the main Dublin to Belfast line, was at one time a major railway centre in Ireland, due largely to the establishment of the Great Northern Railway's main works there in the late 1890s. Dundalk was also the junction for the extensive Irish North West lines, which were taken over by the GNR and ran west out to the Atlantic coast at Bundoran via Clones and Enniskillen. Heading in an easterly direction, the Dundalk & Greenore Railway, built a line from Dundalk to Greenore port and was largely funded by the London North Western Railway. The GNR took over the working of the Greenore line in 1933. The D&GR was the first to close in 1951, though a short section of the line remained intact to serve Barrack St goods yard until 1996. The junction for the INW line was just south of the station at Dundalk Central, and only a stub of this closed 1957 line remains, this being the disused freight depot. The GNR Dundalk Works were run down in the late 1960s following CIE taken over in 1958.

Dundalk Station boasts a long island platform, connecting covered footbridge and typical GNR yellow brick station buildings, complete with small museum, cafe, and the preserved Dundalk Central signal cabin. Dundalk North cabin was demolished when the railcar stabling sidings were built on the up side of the station in recent times. Simplification of the trackwork and signalling around Dundalk Station in 1996 resulted in the removal of the extensive sidings on the down side, now a car park.
Shadows from the ornage Great Northerl Railway style platform canopies are cast upon 'Enterprise' DVT No.9001, seen on a Belfast to Dublin service at Dundalk. 201 Class locomotive No.227 propels this southbound afternoon Belfast to Dublin service out of Dundalk Station. This loco has since been repainted in the silver & green 'Intercity' livery like the rest of the class. Great Northern Railway's V Class compound 4-4-0 No.85 'Merlin' stands at Dundalk Station with a southbound Belfast to Dublin train in 1957. Behind the loco can be seen two water tanks, of which only one remains in situ today. ©Wilson Adams Collection A present day view at roughly the same location as the previous photo sees the modern 'Enterprise' service standing beside the sole remaining water tank at Dundalk Station. A car park on the right now occupies the once extensive sidings on the up side of the station.
Seen stabled at the north end of Dundalk Station in early 2002 is 071 Class loco No.085. In the background is the now demolished 'Dundalk North' signal cabin. Also seen stabled alongside the site of the former carriage sheds at Dundalk are 1961 delivered 121 Class locomotives, Nos.128+135. These locos were withdrawn soon after this photo was taken. By this time the new stabling sidings on the down side of Dundalk Station were under construction, as 201 Class loco No.229 stands at the head of an afternoon Dublin to Belfast 'Enterprise' service. 1962 built 141 Class loco No.168 is seen passing along the down side of Dundalk Station as it shunts the adjacent freight yard. Today there are no freights trains north of Drogheda on the Dublin to Belfast main line, and No.168 has since been scrapped.
One of the then new 2900 Class diesel railcars, No.2956, stands on the rear of a southbound commuter service at Dundalk Station. These Spanish built units have since been redesignated as the 29000 Class railcars. Seen appropriately carrying the 'Enterprise' livery, 201 Class loco No.223 prepares to leave Dundalk with a morning Dublin to Belfast service. This is the view looking towards Belfast from the north end of Dundalk Station, with the hills and mountains of Slieve Gullion range visible in the background. De Dietrich 'Enterprise' DVT No.9002 approaches with a service from Belfast. No.233 named 'Abhainn na Chlair' or 'River Clare', is seen again at Dundalk Station this time propelling a southbound 'Enterprise' to Dublin. The large structure behind the train is the once rail served Harp Brewery.
The blue livery of Northern Ireland Railway's 111 Class loco No.112 gleams in the sun as it runs around a Railway Preservation Society of Ireland special at Dundalk Station. Behind in the sidings is a 29000 Class railcar, and a rake of Mk3 carriages. 'When I grow up!' No.112 named 'Northern Counties', stands on the down side of Dundalk Station is a rake of preserved Craven built coaches of Sheffied. These ex Irish Rail operated carriages are now used by the RPSI on their specials. Ex Great Southern & Western Railway's J15 Class 0-6-0 No.186 is seen at the north end of Dundalk Station, preparing to head into the carriage sidings to collect the Craven coaches which will form a return RPSI special to Dublin.
No.186 was one of a 111 J15 0-6-0s which entered service with the Great Southern & Western Railway between 1866 and 1903. No.186 herself was built at Inchicore, Dublin, in 1879 and was withdrawn from service by CIE 1964. It is seen here coupling up the RPSI's Craven coaches. A Railway Preservation Society of Ireland driver showing off a different era at Dundalk during the 'Dundalk 50th' specials. A range of preserved vintage RPSI coaches are seen stabled in the bay platform at the south end of Dundalk Station. The middle carriage is a 1902 built Great Southern & Western Railway state saloon coach No.351. The 1960s Sheffield built Craven coaches are viewed on the down platform at Dundalk Station. The nearest vehicle is an ex British Rail built Mk1 generator van which provides heating to the coaches.
The 1963 built Craven coach No.1541, seen repainted in the RPSI's latest own livery of light blue, at Dundalk Station. The rest of the fleet, some of which remain in the Irish Rail black & orange livery, will gradually be repainted. On display outside the station during the RPSI's 'Dundalk 50th' special is one of the Great Northern Railway's AEC Regent double decker buses, built at Dundalk Works. On a much quieter day at Dundalk Station, 071 Class loco No.071 rests in the former southern bay platform at Dundalk Station while operated Irish Rail's annual weed spraying train. A scene on the down side of Dundalk Station where in the early 1970s ex Great Northern Q Class 4-4-0 No.131 was plinthed following withdrawal from CIE service in 1964. An ex GNR AEC railcar, No.904n, is also seen. No.131 survives in a dismantled condition at the RPSI's Whitehead base near Belfast. ©Barry Pickup
A familar sight at Dundalk Station were the transfer goods trains from the Barrack St yard on the east side of the town. These transfer goods utiilised a brakevan, such as this ex Great Northern vehicle seen been shunted here by a C Class loco No.209 in the early 1970s. ©Barry Pickup The main booking office at Dundalk Station can be seen in its elevated position on the left, with the connecting covered footbridge to the island platform. View of Dundalk Station from the covered footbridge. In this view can be seen one of originally two bay platforms, as well as the GNR water column. Platform 2 on the down side of Dundalk Station, showing the W.H Mills's late 19th century yellow brick buildings and cast iron canopies. On the right is the structure housing a very interesting railway museum at the station.
Another view of platform 2 at Dundalk Station, with the railcar stabling sidings on the left. A redundant Mk3 carriage set is stored in one of the sidings. View of the cast iron canopies on platform 1 at Dundalk Station, complete with colourful floral hanging baskets. The entrance to the covered footbridge at Dundalk Station leading to the island platform. This is the only remaining Great Northern style covered footbridge left on the Irish Rail system. Dundalk is a fine example of GNR architecture. The station is unique in having a long centre island platform with footbridge connected to the main buildings on the left. This layout is more common at UK stations, but certainly not in Ireland.
The nice approach to the island platform at Dundalk Station from the footbridge ramp. Note the ornate railings and posts also. Dundalk Station remains a colourful location through all seasons, it is a pity the same can't be said in the variety of trains which pass through here nowadays, mostly just the 'Enterprise' and the 29000 Class railcars. This is the booking office at Dundalk, as viewed from the elevated forecourt. In the distance is the 'Slieve Gullion' mountain. This is the former 'Dundalk Central' signal cabin, which was once situated adjacent to the junction with the line to Enniskillen. The cabin was taken out of use in 1996.
The neat and well preserved lever frame with Dundalk Central signal cabin, which is now located on the island platform at the station. The cabin dated from the 1870s. A picture within the small museum at Dundalk Station, showing the removal of the redundant signal cabin in 1996. The cabin was placed on a rail flat truck and hauled up to the platform at the station. The small museum inside Dundalk Station, housing an impressive collection of GNR photographs and railway artefacts. The collection includes all sorts of items from the railways around Dundalk, including the former Barrack St branch and Greenore line.
Some other interesting GNR artefacts, including a Great Northern Railway box of chocolates featuring a 1950s image of a V Class loco hauled 'Enterprise'. Dating from 1975, Northern Ireland Railway's 80 Class railcar No.8090 brings an Modern Railway Society of Ireland railtour into Dundalk Station, operating from Belfast prior to the withdrawal of these units from service. 80 Class power car No.8094 stands at the 'down' platform at Dundalk Station having arrived from Belfast on the MRSI railtour. The train would shortly be shunted into the bay platform on the southern side of the station. No.8094 is seen again stabled briefly at the underused bay platform at the southern end of Dundalk Station. Some of the 80 Class units were refurbished in Britain in 2007/8, such as No.8094, but all have since been withdrawn.
De Dietrich DVT No.9004 is seen at the north end of Dundalk on the rear of a departing 'Enterprise' service from Dublin to Belfast. The loco was 201 Class No.230. Having climbed over the gradients in the border region, the other 'Enterprise' DD set lead by No.9002 and propelled by 201 Class loco No.207, approaches Dundalk with the first morning service to Dublin. 2800 and 29000 Class diesel railcars are seen stabled in the sidings on the 'down' side of Dundalk Station. The nearest, No.29426, would shortly operate a morning service to Dublin. Spanish CAF manufactured 29000 Class railcar No.29426 is now seen parked at Dundalk's 'down' platform prior to operating south to Dublin. The sidings and vacant ground in the background mark the site of the former Great Northern carriage shed.
29000 Class No.29419 is seen stabled in the bay platform at the south end of Dundalk Station. Formely there was another bay platform on the 'down' side serving the Enniskillen line. Another MRSI railtour from Belfast to Dundalk is seen formed of one NIR's 450 Class railcars, seen approaching the station lead by unit No.8785. Beside the unit number can be seen the small MRSI headboard. Power car No.8455 provided the power for the MRSI railtour from Belfast, seen having arrived at Dundalk Station. The 450s date from 1985, but their power units were salvaged from the withdrawn 70 Class railcars of 1967 vintage.