Kilmessan Junction

Kilmessan Junction on the former Dublin & Meath Railway line from Clonsilla to Navan, is where the 1864 built branch line to Trim and Athboy diverged. All of the Meath lines came under the control of the Midland Great Western Railway in 1889. Passenger services on the Clonsilla to Navan and Athboy branch were withdrawn in January 1947. The Athboy branch was closed altogether in 1953, but wasn't lifted until 1958. The Clonsilla to Navan line meanwhile survived until April 1963, been used for only occasional goods trains.

Kilmessan Jct station was block post until closure in 1963, thus retaining its signal cabin, loop and sidings, by which time the main station building was derelict. Today, the station buildings are incorporated into the Station House Hotel, which include the main D&MR building, platforms, goods shed, and typical MGWR signal cabin. At the south end of the station can be seen the former turntable pit. Part of the line to former lien to Navan was reopened as far as Dunboyne in September 2010.
Kilmessan Station, looking north towards Navan from the end of the former up platform. Both up and down platforms, along with station buildings remain in situ, all used by the present hotel. This is part of the former down platform at Kilmessan Station. The station buiding visible in this view has been extended across the former trackbed. The 1862 built station building at Kilmessan, now the 'Station House Hotel'. The structure has been extended considerably on the platform side. The well preserved Midland Great Western Railway style station building at Kilmessan, located at the north end of the station. The cabin remained in use until closure of the line between Clonsilla and Navan in April 1963.
Inside the MGWR signal cabin at Kilmessan Jct Station are some original features, such as the metal stair case, supplied by ''The Railway Signal Company Ltd' of Britain in the 1860s. A rear view of the signal cabin at Kilmessan, looking south towards Dublin. Until August 1955, the cabin controlled access to the then little used branch line to Athboy. This is the large stone built goods shed at Kilmessan, located on the down side of the station. The building is now used as a reception hall for the hotel guests. Located at the south end of Kilmessan Station is the well of the former turntable, long since removed. This table was used for turning steam locomotives working on the Athboy branch line. The table was disused after closure of the branch to passengers in 1947.
This was the site of the junction at the north end of Kilmessan Station. The trackbed of the line to Navan continues straight ahead, while the former branch to Athboy diverged to the left in a northwesterly direction. The junction was removed in 1955. The road overbridge, located at the south end of Kilmessan Station. This area is now a landscape garden. The line through here was lifted in 1964, following the closure of the railway between Clonsilla and Navan by CIE in April of the previous year.