Oldcastle

The small town of Oldcastle, Co.Meath, was the terminus of a branch line built by the Dublin & Belfast Jct Railway from Drogheda via Navan in March 1863. Taken over by the Great Northern Railway in 1876, the Oldcastle branch lost its passenger service in April 1958, but remained in use for goods until 1963. The station at Oldcastle remains remarkably intact, and is one of the few to retain its GNR canopies and wooden train shed. Adjacent to the station on the single platform is a yellow/brick building added by the GNR. The large goods shed and water tower also remain, complete with tank.
The Dublin & Drogheda Railway's stone built station building contrasts starkly with the later Great Northern Railway's red & yellow brick office on the left at Oldcastle. The exterior of the former Oldcastle Station, which retains its Great Northern Railway style canopy. The station last saw a regular passenger in April 1958. Oldcastle is one of the few GNR branch termini stations to retain its wooded train shed roof, as seen here. The section for the trains is has been boarded up. The weight trolley, still sitting on the disused platform at Oldcastle Station. Goods traffic on the Oldcastle branch ceased in April 1963.
The interior of that small red & yellow brick office building at Oldcastle Station, constructed by the Great Northern. The water tower for steam locomotives, complete with tank, survives at the eastern end of the former Oldcastle Station. The large stone built goods shed remains in situ at the eastern end of Oldcastle Station. The attached yard office can also be seen. The buildings are now used by private industries. Another view of the large stone built goods shed at Oldcastle Station, dating from March 1863. The last goods train operated from Oldcastle in April 1963.
This is the first road overbridge outside Oldcastle town on the former line. The track on the Oldcastle branch was lifted in 1964, one year after closure. A view looking east towards Navan and Drogheda from the first overbridge outside Oldcastle town. The former trackbed along here is now used as a farm track.