Naas

The large town of Naas, Co.Kildare, was effectively bypassed by the Great Southern & Western Railway's Dublin to Cork line in 1846. It wasn't until 1885 that the town gained its train service, however it was located on what was to become the long branch line from Sallins to Tullow, which opened throughout in 1889. The station at Naas was large, located by the Dublin Rd, it had up & down platforms, with the main single storey stone built station building on the up side and wooden waiting shelter on the down side. At the south end of the down platform was the typical brick built GSWR 20-lever signal cabin. The Dublin Rd at the northern end of the station crossed the former double track line from Sallins (singled in 1937) via an overbridge, demolished in 1953 and replaced by a levelcrossing. The goods shed and yard was located at the south end of the station on the up side, beyond which was another road overbridge, which remains in situ today.

The long branch was never heavily used and passenger services on the route were suspended in 1944 following coal shortages. It reopened briefly only to be closed to regular passenger and goods traffic in 1947. The line to Tullow remained open however for occasional cattle specials before finally closing completely in 1959. Naas Station was demolished in the 1970s after many years of dereliction, and a Tesco supermarket now occupies the site. The goods shed and station masters house are all that remains of the station buildings.
The site of the northern end of Naas Station, looking south towards Tullow. The Dublin Road in the foreground once crossed the line via an overbridge which was replaced by a level crossing in August 1953. Looking the opposte way north towards Sallins at the site of the one time level crossing on the Dublin Road at the northern end of Naas Station. The school house, gilmpsed through the tree on the left has been extended onto the former trackbed. What would have been the end of the platforms at the northern end of Nass Station, looking south towards Tullow, Tesco supermarket now occupies most of the site. The site of Naas Station, looking north towards Sallins with the Maxoll garage in view, seen in the previous photos. To the right is the Blessington Road which paralled the eastern side of the station.
The stone built goods shed at the south end of Naas Station survives, now used as a cafe. The structure dates from 1885. The Storehouse Cafe, which now occupies the goods shed at the former Naas Station. The shed was located at the western side of the station. | The trackbed at the southern end of Nass Station has been built on. This view is looking north towards Sallins with the former goods shed visible on the left. The substantial Great Southern & Western station masters house at Naas remains, now a private residence. This structure is larger than the other types built on the branch to Tullow.
Viewed from the Baltinglass Rd which paralleled the eastern side of Naas Station, once sited where Tesco supermarket is. The end of the original stone wall on the left marks a former access road to the station. The road overbridge at the south end of Naas Station area. It is one of the typical metal bridge plate designs. A view looking back towards Naas Station and Sallins from the road overbridge, with the roof of the stone built goods shed visible on the far left. There were extensive sidings on either side of the line, serving the goods shed, coal yard and oil depot on the left, and to the right lengthy cattle pens. The approach to the road overbridge at the south end of Naas Station, with typical railway telegraph on the left.