Dundrum

Dundrum, in the southern suburbs of Dublin was first served by rail in 1854 when the Dublin & Wicklow Railway built their main line from Bray. Dundrum became a terminus of the line until it was extended north to Harcourt Street in 1858. The Harcourt Street line was closed in December 1958 by CIE, just a few years before the small village of Dundrum and others on the line were to mushroom in suburban growth out from Dublin City centre.

The Harcourt St line trackbed remained intact however, and in 2004 the line was partly reopened from Harcourt St to Stillorgan in the form of Luas Line B. Whilst the original platforms and station buildings at Dundrum were demolished after closure, the main original D&WR station building survived closure and was preserved during the Luas line building, it is now a Cafe. It is single storey, with glazed arches on the railway side and retains much of its D&WR architecture. The original rail overbridge just north of the station across Dundrum village had long since been demolished, and now the Taney Road suspension bridge carries the Luas line over it. In railway days the station had a crossover and siding at the Bray end, and the signal cabin was on the up side of the line.
This is Dundrum Station as it was in 2003 during the rebuilding of the Harcourt St line as the Green Luas line. On the right is the 1854 built station building. This is the 1854 Dublin & Wiclow Railwat station building at Dundrum, located on what was the former down platform. This station served as temporary terminus for the railway as it was extended north into Dublin City in the late 1850s. This is the station building as it was in 2003 following the initial completion of the Luas line, the new down platform of which is in the foreground. This view shows the original architectural arches and columns on the railway side of the structure. A close up of one of the 1850s original column supports at Dundrum station building. If I am not mistaken, the cream and green colours are of the former 1950s CIE livery, painted at the time of the railway.
This is a view of the building at Dundrum as viewed from the station forecourt. The structure was designed by the Irish railway contractor William Dargan, and features a typical Dublin & Wicklow door surround. Today the building is a now a cafe. This is a view looking north towards Dublin City at the former Dundrum railway station. In the distance is the new Luas line bridge nearing completion. In railway days the original bridge here was a much smaller affair. This is the new suspension bridge as complete, which carries the Luas line across the main road leading into the former Dundrum village, which unlike in railway days is now very much in Dublin City's suburbs. Another view of the neat and impressive bridge at the north end of Dundrum Luas stop, which spans the wide Taney Road below. In railway days this road was much narrow and a small lattice railway overbridge sufficed.
A 2002 view taken at the south end of Dundrum Station, looking towards Bray during the rebuilding of the line. At this time the former railway trackbed had been cleared of vegetation. In the distance the line passes beneath an original stone road overbridge which remains in situ. This is the present day view, taken shortly after the Luas line opened and brought rail services back to Dundrum. A Citadis built Luas tram approaches the platform with a northbound service from Stilliorgan to Dublin City centre. Luas tram No.4009 stands on a dull day at the new Luas stop at the former railway station at Dundrum. Nowadays these French built trams feature a yellow warning band around their surrounds to aid visibility while traversing the street sections of the line in Dublin City. The new Luas style name board on the down platform at Dundrum. In railway days the signal cabin at Dundrum sported a large name board advertising
This is the Luas stop at the former Dundrum Station, looking south towards Bray. The the new platforms are at a high level to the original railways ones once sited here. This view was taken before the line opened. A permanent way train is seen stabled at the south end of Dundrum Station. These trains were the first to be seen here since the Harcourt St line closed in December 1958, although it wasn't until 1960 that line through Dundrum was finally lifted. This is the restored granite walled subway at the south end of Dundrum Station. This view is from the down side, while on the opposite side of the line was once sited the Dublin Wicklow & Wexford Railway signal cabin. This is a view of the Taney Road before the new Luas line bridge was constructed. In the distance can be seen the station building at Dundrum, located at a higher elevation. The railway line originally approached the station on a embankment on the northside, which had long since been removed.
This is a similar view but with the new Luas line bridge in situ. Originally this road did not exist in railway days. The former bridge and embankment were removed following the closure of the railway line in December 1958.