Enniscorthy

Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford, is located on the main Dublin to Rosslare line. The Dublin Wicklow & Wexford Railway had opened the Wexford line as far as here in November 1863. Work however on extending the line was delayed due to the construction of the bridge across the River Slaney and the 405 yard long tunnel beneath the town just south of the station, and the extension did not open until 1873. Enniscorthy retains much of its DWWR/Dublin South Eastern style station buildings, including the 1922 replacement signal cabin which has since become redundant, footbridge and waiting room on the up platform. The goods shed and yard are located at the north end of the station and are now used by engineering trains.
Two trains cross at Enniscorthy; with 071 Class loco No.082 arriving with a southbound Dublin to Rosslare Harbour service. This early 2000s view shows Enniscorthy Station before modernisation of the Rosslare line. A clean 071 Class loco No.072 departs south from Enniscorthy Station with a Dublin to Rosslare Harbour service. 072 was built by General Motors in 1976, entering service with CIE in the summer of 1977. 1962 built 141 Class locomotives Nos.147+144 look well in the sun at Enniscorthy Station having arrived from Dublin on an Irish Railway Record Society special to Rosslare. Both these locos have since been withdrawn from Irish Rail service. Locos 147+144 are glimpsed again, this time at the south end of Enniscorthy Station as they are about to cross the River Slaney bridge and enter Enniscorthy Tunnel which burrows beneath the town.
Seen in silver & black livery, 071 Class loco No.081 stands beneath the Dublin Wicklow & Wexford Railway style footbridge at Enniscorthy with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland 'South Wexford' diesel railtour. A general view of Enniscorthy, taken in the early 2000s, showing the two storey Dublin Wicklow & Wexford Railway station building, dating from 1863. Today the station has since been modernised like others on Rosslare line. The former goods yard and sidings at the north end of Enniscorthy Station. Although goods traffic here ceased in March 1964, the shed and yard remain in use for permanent way and engineering trains. To the rear of Enniscorthy Station was this siding serving 'Donohoes' yard, whose former premisses are visible in the background. This was one of four private sidings located in the Enniscorthy area. This siding still remains in situ.
Enniscorthy Station is well maintained throughout the year, featuring many floral displays such as here seen on the down platform. The Dublin & South Eastern Railway style signal cabin at Enniscorthy was built to replace an earlier DWWR wooden one which was destroyed in 1922 during the civil war. The lever frame within the signal cabin at Enniscorthy. Mechanical signalling on the Rosslare line was made redundant in 2009. The track diagram as seen in Enniscorthy signal cabin. Of interest are the sidings in the former goods yard, which at this time still provided access into the goods shed. This siding however has since been lifted.
The taken machines located within Enniscorthy signal cabin. The 1970s Mk2 coaching stock visible in the background which formed the IRRS special has since been withdrawn and scrapped. A view looking south towards Rosslare at Enniscorthy during semaphore signalling days. The 405 yard long tunnel can be seen the distance. The standard CIE style ''up home' semaphore signal complete with bracket signal for the loop at the south end of Enniscorthy Station. All semaphore signals on the Rosslare line have since been removed. Instead of the usual 22000 Class railcar service from Rosslare, No.2804 forms the rear of a 2800 Class set for Dublin, seen crossing Irish Rail's annual weed spraying train at Enniscorthy.
071 Class locomotive No.079 takes the annual weed spraying train across the River Slaney at the south end of Enniscorthy Station while operating from Dublin to Wexford. The train is about to plunge into the 405 yard long tunnel beneath the town.