Kilmeadan

Kilmeadan, Co.Waterford, was located on the Waterford to Dungarvan line, which ran ultimately to Mallow. Opened in 1878 by the Waterford Dungarvan & Lismore Railway, it was taken over by the Great Southern & Western Railway, becoming the main Cork to Rosslare line. Unfortunately the Waterford to Mallow line was closed in 1967. However, Ballinacourty magnesite plant was opened in Dungarvan in 1970 and this kept the line from there to Waterford in use for freight until 1982. The weed sprayer was the only train to traverse the line during the 1980s, with last movement to operate on the line in May 1990.

Kilmeadan Station had up & down platforms, with the small wooden station building and GSWR signal cabin located on the down side. Following the lifting of disused line in the late 1990s, the section between Kilmeadan and Waterford was rebuilt by the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway, who now operated regular trains from the station along the re-laid line of 3ft gauge. The platforms were restored and an ex Irish rail Mk2 coach was installed on the down platform which now houses a shop and cafe.
Kilmeadan Station, looking west towards Mallow from the adjacent road overbridge on the R680. The up & down platform remains in use, restored by the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway. Kilmeadan is the terminus of this 3ft gauge tourist line. The overgrown Kilmeadan Station in 1996, looking west towards Mallow, showing the disused track still in situ. At this time the up & down platforms were barely visible. The track was removed by Irish Rail in the late 1990s. ©Eamonn Redmond The down platform at Kilmeadan Station, on which the original station buildings were once sited. The Great Southern & Western Railway style buildings are long gone, but the Waterford & Suir Valley have installed an ex Irish Rail Mk2 coach which now houses a cafe and shop for visitors. Kilmeadan Station, looking east towards Waterford from the up platform. The road overbridge can be seen at the east end of the station. On the right is the Mk3 coach.
Seen from the west end of the derelict station, 141 Class loco No.159 brings the annual weed spraying train from Waterford to Ballinacourty through Kilmeadan in June 1985. ©David Parks The ex Irish Rail British Rail built Mk2 coach at Kilmeadan Station, located on the down platform. The coach now houses a shop and cafe. On the right is the ramp which leads up to the R680 road. A mystery station building at the eastern end of Kilmeadan, possibly an original structure dating from when the line was open. In the background is the adjacent road overbridge. Kilmeadan, looking towards Mallow from the west end of the station. The trains services between Kilmeadan and Waterford are operated by diesel traction. In the distance can be seen the end of the line, which terminates at the locomotive and rolling stock shed.
The locomotive shed at the west end of Kilmeadan Station, where the 3ft gauge Waterford & Suir Valley Railway terminates. Beyond the shed is the trackbed of the former line to Mallow, where a stone overbridge can be seen. A standard CIE style semaphore signal, with its arm fixed in position. This signal is located at the end of the up platform. The approach to the station at Kilmeadan is through a rocky cutting. This is view of the rocky cutting on the eastern approach to Kilmeadan Station. In the foreground can be seen the turnout point for the loop. The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway currently operates 17 kilometres of line in the direction of Waterford. The station name board, located on the former up platform at Kilmeadan Station. Regular passenger services on the Mallow to Waterford line ceased in March 1967. Regular freight to Dungarvan continued until 1982, with the then disused track been lifted in the late 1990s.
The up platform at Kilmeadan. The steps on the right lead up to the station masters house, and are an original feature of the station. An original cast iron Great Southern & Western Railway mile post on the up platform at Kiilmeadan. The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway caters prominantly for young children. A post 1925 bilingual CIE weight restriction board, once found at road ovebridges throughout the country, seen restored on the up platform at Kilmeadan Station. The original turnstile gate at the entrance to the station at Kilmeadan, now home to Waterford & Suir Valley Railway. This is the road ramp which leads to the the down platform, where once a GSWR wooden station building was sited.
West of Kilmeadan town is Kildermody level crossing on the N25 road. In June 1985, 141 Class No.159 approaches the level crossing en route to Ballinacourty with the weed spraying train. ©David Parks By 1996, a fence had be placed across the disused track on the east side of Kildermody level crossing near Kilmeadan. In this view looking east towards Waterford is the rather substantial gate keepers house. ©Eamonn Redmond By 2005 the track across the N25 road at Kildermody crossing near Kilmeadan had been removed, with shrubs and trees covering the former trackbed. The eastern approach to Kildermody level crossing, west of Kilmeadan, showing the overgrown track in 2005. The protecting semaphore signal for the crossing remains remarkably intact, despite many years of neglect.
The trackbed east of Kildermody level crossing, looking back towards Kilmeadan. The trackbed is still reasonably walkable, with ballast still evident along the former line. A close up of Kildermody down semaphore signal, a standard CIE type installed in the late 1960s with an illuminous arm, now long since faded.