Islandbridge Junction

Islandbridge Junction, located just west of Heuston Station in Dublin City, was established in the 1880s when the Great Southern & Western Railway built a line that diverged north towards Glasnevin from their main Dublin to Cork line. The line to Glasnevin ran north of the city to connect with the Midland Great Western Railway's goods line to the North Wall yards. Today, the line between Islandbridge Junction and Glasnevin Jct, which incorporates the 757 yard long tunnel underneath the Phoenix Park, remains in use for freight and transfer workings to North Wall and Connolly Station. In recent times, a platform No.10 of Heuston Station was established beside Islandbridge Junction while Heuston Station was been rebuilt, but today the platform is out of use. Just beyond the platform, the line crosses the River Liffey on a lattice bridge before entering the tunnel.
201 Class locomotive No.212 is seen heading past Islandbridge Jct with an afternoon train to the west consisting of Mk3 coaching stock. Loco No.212 'River Slaney' is seen again, this time heading from Inchicore Works to Heuston Station light engine. The loco is seen on the inner of the three tracks west of Islandbridge Junction. Seen in its rather dull 'Enterprise' livery, 201 Class loco No.207 takes a 'Volvo Race' special to Galway past Islandbridge Jct. The lines diverging in the background head north towards Glasnevin and ultimately on to Dublin's other main station at Connolly, as well as the North Wall freight yards. This is the double track Great Southern & Western Railway built line from Islandbridge to Glasnevin, opened in the late 1880s. This is a view just beyond the junction with the main line and shows the lattice bridge across the River Liffey, as well as the 757 yard long Phoenix Park tunnel in the background.
A view from inside the 757 yard long Phoenix Park tunnel, which passes beneath the park itself. The portal end seen here is at the northern end of the tunnel. The line between Islandbridge and Glasnevin is mostly used by freight and empty stock movements. This a view of the cutting located on the main Dublin to Cork line just west of Islandbridge Jct, and is known as the 'Gullet'. Seen in the gullet is a 29000 Class railcar, No.29402, seen heading a commuter service to Kildare, while 201 Class loco No.232 awaits the road towards Islandbridge and Heuston. 201 Class loco No.216 is seen making a spirited departure away from Dublin as it powers along the uphill gradient at Islandbridge with a rake of Mk3 coaching stock. Another 'Enterprise' livery 201 Class loco, this time No.230, is seen in charge of an evening Dublin to Cork express at Islandbridge Jct consisting of Mk4 coaching stock.
'Intercity' liveried 201 Class loco No.219 'River Tolka' coasts down from the gradient at Islandbridge with a GAA special to Dublin consisting of Mk3 coaching stock, while in the background a 22000 Class railcar is on the middle track with a southbound service. The Mk3 stock hauled by loco 219 in the previous image is seen been shunted out of Heuston Station at Islandbridge Jct, the task being performed by 141 Class loco No.144. This loco entered service with CIE in January 1963 and was built by General Motors at their La Grange Illinois Works in the USA. 201 Class 207 is seen taking the middle road at Islandbridge as it nears the end of its journey to Dublin with another GAA special formed of the 1980s built Mk3 coaching stock. 071 Class No.088, complete with puppy dog, is seen passing Islandbridge Jct working a transfer from Inchicore Works to Heuston Station. In this view are three generations of Irish Railway motor power, built by General Motors, with 088 dating from 1976, 141 Class 144 dating from 1962 and 201 Class 224 dating from 1995.
A rake of the streamlined Mk4 coaching stock is seen rounding curve on the main line west of Islandbridge Jct, heading by driving van trailer No.4006. To the extreme left of the image is an LED banner signal which is an advanced warning for the aspect of the follwing signal out of view on the gantry. The 071 Class leader, No.071, rounds the curve at Islandbridge Jct with the morning Dublin North Wall to Ballina IWT freight train, which includes two pocket style container wagons at the front. Standing tall in the background is the Wellington Monument of the Phoenix Park, dating from the 1820s. The dark green 'Enteprise' livery of 201 Class loco No.209 looks well in the morning sun as it powers a Dublin to Cork express past Islandbridge Jct. Loco 209 is named 'River Foyle', although it is evidently missing its nameplates on its cab sides. 071 Class loco No.076 heads a permanent way train past Islandbridge Jct, consisting of track panels and the 1966 vintage 4-wheeled spoil wagons, once used for the bartyes traffic between Silvermines and Foynes in Co.Limerick.
201 Class locomotives are regularly employed on the IWT freight trains, such as No.220, seen taking the North Wall to Ballina liner past Islandbridge, with its bogey flat wagons loaded with a mixture of container and tanks. Loco No.220 is seen again, this time heading the Dublin bound IWT freightliner from Ballina in Co.Mayo, consisting entirely of the pocket container wagons. The train is seen crossing the Liffey Bridge and is about to enter the Phoenix Park Tunnel. On a dull day at Islandbridge Jct, 071 Class loco No.075, identified by its missing Irish Rail logo, heads a ballast train from the North Wall probably bound for the permanent way depot at Portlaoise. Seen in much bright conditions, orange liveried 071 Class loco No.078 takes the Irish Rail weed spraying train past Islandbridge Jct heading for Portlaoise.
Sister locomotive No.084 approaches Islandbridge Jct from the west with a permanent way train bound for the North Wall yard. In the background is the former Islandbridge army barracks. Another glimpse of 084 and its permanent way train at Islandbridge, with two red painted ex barytes ore wagons in tow. The four bogey flat wagons usually carry steel rails. Seen at Islandbridge Jct, 201 Class loco No.232, complete with a matching rake of 'Intercity' liveried Mk4 stock, snakes its way out of the carriage sidings near Heuston Station. 071 Class loco 076 shakes the foundations of the Islandbridge residents as it powers its North Wall to Ballina IWT freightliner through the gullet.
201 Class loco No.207 'River Boyne' brings one of the De Dietrich 'Enterprise' sets past Islandbridge Jct, heading from Belfast to Inchicore Works on a transfer working. 201 Class loco No.222 is just about to cross the River Liffey at Islandbridge Jct as it nears the end of its journey with the Ballina to Dublin IWT liner. 071 Class loco No.080 brings the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's 'Mystery Train' railtour from Dublin to Kilkenny past Islandbridge Jct, formed of the 1960s Craven built coaches. 071 Class loco No.088 leads a rake of seven empty auto-ballaster wagons around the curve at Islandbridge Jct while en route from North Wall to the Mayo line.
Enterprise liveried 201 Class loco No.230 is seen in charge of the RPSI's two-day May tour, seen heading a special to Ballybrophy with the blue liveried Craven built coaches. A 6-car ICR set, lead by No.22263, makes its way up the middle road in the 'Gullet' west of Islandbridge Jct. Ex Dublin & South Eastern Railway 2-6-0 loco No.461 heads the RPSI's 'Kilkenny Festival' special past Islandbridge. On this occasion the older orange & black liveried Cravens are marshalled at the front of the special next to the Mk1 generator van. 071 Class loco No.082 passes Islandbridge Jct hauling recently re-deliveried ICR sets Nos.22010 & 22011, which had arrived earlier by ship in Dublin Port from Korea. The two railcar sets were later shunted into the adjacent former Guinness yard.