Dunsandle

Dunsandle Station, Co.Galway, was the only intermediate station on the 1890 constructed Attymon to Loughrea branch line. The Loughrea branch was nine miles long and closed completely in 1975. The track remained in place until the mid 1980s and was hoped to become a preserved railway by the West of Ireland Steam Railway Association, a company long since disappeared. Sadly the track was lifted in 1988 when Attymon ceased to be block post.

The main station building at Dunsandle, an Midland Great Western design, has one platform, opposite this is the small stone built goods shed, complete with loading bank. The owner of Dunsandle Station has restored the buildings, and has re-laid track through the station. Former Westrail stock, which lay derelict at Tuam have now been moved to Dunsandle where they are currently been restored. Amongst the stock includes CIE E Class locomotive No.E428. See Dunsandle Railway Station for more history on the Loughrea branch.
In early 1975, re-engined Metrovick C Class loco No.B220, stands at Dunsandle Station with a mixed passenger and goods branch service from Loughrea to Attymon Jct. ©John McKegney Although the Loughrea branch closed in 1975, Dunsandle Station was recently restored by the owner and now includes track and rolling stock. B220 is seen again at Dunsandle in early 1975, this time with a single coach working to Loughrea. On the right is the goods siding and shed. ©John McKegney Seen carry CIE's 'Supertrain' livery is another C201 Class loco , this time No.232, working the branch service to Loughrea in September 1975. ©Jonathan M.Allen
Dunsandle Station in March 2008, with recently relaid track. Both the station building and stone built goods store have been pleasingly restored. Seen at the north end of Dunsandle Station is ex Midland Great Western J19 Class 0-6-0 No.610, working the branch service from Loughrea to Attymon in September 1960. ©Roger Joanes After dieselisation of the Loughrea branch in 1962, the small G Class locos also worked the branch services. Here, No.G615 has arrived at Dunsandle with a single coach for Attymon in April 1963. ©Roger Joanes A replica name board of the original Great Southern/CIE style sign has been placed on the recently restored Dunsandle Station. This view shows how far the track was laid within the station area.
Seen heading south away from Dunsandle Station towards Loughrea in May 1975 is another G Class, this No.G616. The train is about to enter a short cutting behind the photographer. ©Jonathan M.Allen This is the south end of Dunsandle Station, where there is this aforementioned short cutting, which G616 was about to enter in May 1975. The goods platform and loading bank at Dunsandle. It was still occasionally used by branch goods services until closure in 1975. Closer shot of the small stone built goods shed at Dunsandle, typical of the type built at small Midland Great Western intermediate stations.
The goods shed, as viewed from the road side, showing the large door entrance for the transfer of goods from road to rail and vice versa. A number of vintage rolling stock can be seen at the north end of the restored Dunsandle Station. Here is E Class loco No.E428, with a 1950s CIE Bredin designed coach. Both the loco and coach were built at Inchicore Works, Dublin. E428 was one of 33 locomotives of the CIE E Class, built between 1955-63 at Inchicore Works, Dublin, mainly for light branch line work and shunting. Cab interior of E Class loco E428 at Dunsandle Station, these locomotives usually ran at a max speed of 25mph.
View from the cab of E428 at Dunsandle Station looking north towards Attymon, the trackbed of the former branch line can clearly be seen ahead. A CIE Bredin coach, built in 1954 at Inchicore, is also preserved at Dunsandle Station. It had been photographed in a stored state at Tuam, Co.Galway. An ex Great Southern & Western 1910 built brakevan and a CIE open wagon are seen preserved at Dunsandle Station. On the left is an original MGWR semaphore signal post. A standard CIE open wagon, designed by Oliver Bullied at Inchicore Works, Dublin, is seen at Dunsandle Station shortly after repainting.
A vintage ex Midland Great Western four wheel tank wagon This tank wagon, which originally had MEX branding on its sides, once lay in a derelict condition at Tuam Station for several years. The notice plate on the side of this 4-wheel MGWR tank wagon at Dunsandle Station. Gradient post, possibly of Midland Great Western origin, is seen at Dunsandle Station. When Dunsandle signal cabin closed in 1926, it was replaced by this four lever ground frame, which has recently been cleaned up.
The trackbed south of Dunsandle at Toolobaun level crossing, looking north. Part of the embankment has been removed. In the distance is the cutting whose north end is visible from the station. The only remains of the small crossing keepers house at Toolobaun level crossing south of Dunsandle. The remaining concrete made crossing gate post at Toolobaun level crossing south of Dunsandle Station. This is the former Lynchford LC, another level crossing between Dunsandle and Loughrea.
The derelict crossing keepers house at Lynchford level crossing between Dunsandle and Loughrea. Lynchford level crossing, looking north towards Dunsandle and Attymon. The trackbed was then currently been removed by the new Loughrea bypass, which is now open.