Newcomen Junction

Newcomen Junction, in north Dublin City, is located on the 1880s built Midland Great Western Railway's Glasnevin Jct to North Wall line, which now runs into the new Docklands Station. Newcomen Jct was established when the City of Dublin Jct Railway built a connecting line from their platforms at Amiens St Station (now Connolly) which descended down to join the MGWR's North Wall line, which the MGWR had initially refused to provide. The North Wall line was little used during the 1990s, but was re-laid and reopened for the new Docklands Station in March 2007. The connecting line to Connolly Station from Newcomen Jct remains useful for diversions and stock movements.
Due to engineering works at West Rd Juction near Connolly Station, trains from Connolly to Maynooth and Sligo were diverted via Newcomen Jct, where 29000 Class railcar No.29113 is seen passing over the Royal Canal with a Maynooth bound service. Approaching Newcomen Jct from the west, No.29429 crosses over onto the up line as prepares to ascend the gradient up to Connolly Station with a service from Maynooth. This line running parallel to the Royal Canal was opened by the Midland Great Western Railway in the 1870s. An 8100 Class DART unit is seen passing over the former MGWR line into North Wall, now Docklands Station, with a northbound service from Bray to Howth. The section of line into the Docklands was also closed for the engineering work seen here. 22000 Class railcar No.22005 passes over the Royal Canal at Newcomen Junction with the 15:05 Dublin to Sligo train. This section of line between Connolly Station and Newcomen is mostly only used during these diversionary workings.
The huge stands of Croke Park stadium form to the backdrop to this photo of 22000 Class No.22005, seen just west of Newcomen Junction with its morning Dublin to Sligo service. 071 Class locomotive No.073 leads the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's 'Best of Both' diesel railtour through Newcomen Jct, en route from Arklow to Mullingar. This train was formed of the RPSI's vintage ex CIE coaching stock. A general view of Newcomen Junction, looking east towards the North Wall yards. In the foreground are the lines leading to the Docklands terminus, used by some Maynooth line train services. The original bridge which carries the Connolly line across the Royal Canal was removed in the late 1980s, but was replaced by this modern lifting structure in the early 2000s. An early 1970s view of Newcomen Jct, with the original small bridge across the Royal Canal on the right. Just beyond the bridge the short branch to the steam packet harbour diverges, but by this time it had long fallen into disuse. Re-engined Metrovick A Class loco No.A58r heads past with a goods train from North Wall, while in the distance can be seen the one time elevated West Rd signal cabin. ©Barry Carse
In CIE 'black & tan' livery, 181 Class loco No.B186 takes to the line to Connolly Station at Newcomen Jct with a train from the west. The bridge over looking the junction at Newcomen carries the North Strand Road, where two CIE buses can be seen operating services from the city centre. ©Barry Carse