Mountmellick

Mountmellick, Co.Laoise, was the terminus of a very short branch line, 7 1/2 miles, which ran north from the town of Portlaoise. The Waterford & Kilkenny Railway had built this line to Mountmellick in March 1885, and had envisaged that the line would be extended further north to join the Great Southern & Western's line from Portarlington to Athlone. This was never built and thus the branch line was merely a dead end from Portlaoise. Trains had to reverse out to join the south facing branch line at Portlaoise at Conniberry Jct. Passenger and goods services ceased in 1947, but the line remained open for sugar beet and specials until January 1963. The concrete built single storey station building and goods shed were constructed by the GSWR. The adjacent station masters house also remains.
A very weathered Metro-vick A Class locomotive No.A30 stands at Mountmellick Station with an Irish Railway Record Society special, prior to departing back to Portlaoise in June 1961. ©J.E.Aitken Mountmellick Station, terminus of a short branch from Portlaoise, retains its concrete built station building, station masters house and goods shed. The branch closed completely in January 1963. The 1920s concrete built Great Southern & Western Railway goods shed at Mountmellick Station. This type of structure can be seen at other former GSWR stations, such as at Attanagh further south. A general view of Mountmellick Station, looking south towards Portlaoise. On the left can be seen the GSWR station masters house. This view is from the nearby R442 road.
The approach to the 'Station House' at Mountmellick. The branch was opened in March 1883, but lost its regular passenger and goods services in January 1947. It remained in use for monthly specials and sugar beet trains until 1963.