Gibbstown

The station at Gibbstown, Co.Meath, on the disused line to Kingscourt was located some distance east of the village it was supposed to have served on the R163 road. Gibbstown Station opened in 1872 on an independent railway which ran between Navan and Kingscourt, latterly taken over by the Midland Great Western Railway who operated trains between Clonsilla through to Navan and Kingscourt. CIE withdrew passenger services over the line in 1947, but the section between Navan and Kingscourt was retained for goods, latterly for gypsum traffic until 2001 when these trains also ceased. Gibbstown only had one platform upon which was sited the now demolished single storey station building, as well as the wooden waiting shelter (possibly survives beneath the undergrowth). On the up side was a goods loop serving a goods platform and small stone built goods shed.
In the early 1970s, an empty Kingscourt bound gypsum train pauses at the former halt at Gibbstown, hauled by 001 Class loco No.002. The halt at Gibbstown consisted of one platform and a siding. The single storey station on the right was demolished sometime in the 1980s following dereliction. ©Barry Carse Northern Ireland Railway's railbus, No.RB3, pauses at the remains of Gibbstown Station while on a special from Navan to Kingscourt in May 1990. In the foreground can be seen the former level crossing, then recently replaced by a wider road. ©Colm O' Callaghan This is what the former station at Gibbstown looks today, now totally overgrown with little evidence of the platform and station building. This view is looking south towards Navan. 001 Class loco No.059 is in charge of an Irish Railway Record Society special returning from Kingscourt to Navan in May 1976. In the foreground is the trackbed of the former goods siding. ©Barry Carse
A May 1990 view of the same location, but with RB3 operating the 'Cavan Coup' railtour. The derelict platform and the site of the demolished station building can be seen on the left. ©Colm O' Callaghan A view looking north towards Kingscourt at the former Gibbstown Station, with the level crossing on the R163 road in view. The line to Kingscourt has been disused since 2002. A milepost located on the up side of the line at Gibbstown Station, reading 34½ miles from the former Midland Great Western Railway terminus at Broadstone in Dublin. The northern side of the level crossing at Gibbstown, with the former station beyond. All the crossings on the Kingscourt branch were operated by the train crew.
Close up of the wide wooden crossing at Gibbstown. Most of the crossing gates on the Kingscourt branch have been removed, except this one at Gibbstown. The mainstay of traffic on the ex Midland Great Western Railways Kingscourt branch was gypsum, which was transported by rail to Drogheda and Limerick until 2001. Here, 141 Class locomotives Nos.146+158 approach Gibbstown level crossing with a loaded train from Kingscourt in June 1996. ©Colm O'Callaghan A view of the northern approach to Gibbstown Station, showing the grass and shrubs which have grown onto the track. This is the southern approach to Gibbstown Station, showing the overgrown state of the disused line to Kingscourt. A MGWR signal with no arms still stands by the line.
This Midland Great Western signal post, with missing arm, still stands on the southern approach to Gibbstown. Until recently the signal's arm was of a 'distant' type warning of the level crossing adjacent to the former station.