Sutton

Sutton & Baldoyle Station, generally known just as 'Sutton', was the only intermediate station built on the Dublin & Drogheda Railway's branch from Howth Jct to Howth in July 1844. Following the Great Northern Railway takeover in 1876, the company added the present station building complete canopy on the down platform, along with a covered station footbridge (replaced in 1983). Adjacent to the station level crossing is the now redundant GNR built signal cabin, disused since the replacement of mechanical signalling on the line as part of the DART scheme in 1983.
The typical GNR station masters house at Sutton also survives, located by the car park. Sutton was also the starting point of the GNR's Hill of Howth Tram, which began operating from Sutton to the Summit and down to Howth in 1901. The tram sheds and associated buildings were located south of the level crossing. Today, only the former electric power generator building remains, the Hill of Howth tram having been closed by CIE in 1959.
1983 built Linke Hofmann Busch DART unit No.8318 arrives at Sutton Station on a southbound service from Howth to Bray. In the summer of 1989, 8100 Class DART No.8114 leads a northbound service to Howth on the approach to Sutton Station. On the left is the disused Victorian era Great Northern Railway style signal cabin. ©Jonathan M.Allen Now refurbished 8100 Class DART, No.8115, approaches Sutton with an 8-car afternoon service to Howth. The GNR signal cabin remains in situ, although the steps leading up to the structure have been removed. Japanese built 8500 Class DART No.8623 arrives at the down platform at the north end of Sutton with a stopping service to Howth.
No.8122 approaches Sutton Station from the south with a service to Howth, the car in the background is passing over Baldoyle Road level crossing. On the left is the former electric power generator building which powered the GNR's Hill of Howth trams. No.8622 forms the rear 8500 Class DART unit on this northbound service to Howth, seen departing Sutton. The train is crossing over Cosh level crossing, a minor road just north of the station. C201 Class locomotive No.208 approaches Sutton Station with a southbound suburban pushpull train from Howth in 1980. On the right is the trackbed of the recently lifted 'Cosh Siding'. Note the typical GNR semaphore signal on the left, mechanical signalling at Sutton ceased in 1982. ©Jonathan M.Allen Seen at the same location, 8100 Class DART No.8319 approaches Sutton Station with a southbound service to Greystones. The site of Cosh siding is now overgrown, though the footpath alongside the railway remains.
No.8122 stands at the up platform at Sutton Station with a southbound service to Greystones. On the left is one the then recently installed bus style waiting shelters. Framed nicely by the canopy awning at Sutton, No.8325 returns from Howth with an afternoon southbound service to Bray. Spanish built 8200 Class DART No.8402 arrives at Sutton Station with a southbound service from Howth. No.8402 was built by CAF in 2000, and nowadays like the rest of the class it remains withdrawn from service. 8500 Class DART No.8623 heads across the automatic level crossing at Sutton Station with a southbound service to Bray. The crossing here was automated in 1983 as part of the DART scheme.
Passing the site of the former tram depot at the south end of Sutton is 8500 Class DART No.8631, with Howth bound service. In the early 1980s, a siding was installed here to stable trains, but was never used and was lifted in the early 2000s. The tall 1982 built footbridge at Sutton Station, which replaced the original Great Northern Railway era one, which was once covered. The exterior of the single storey GNR station building had received some refurbishment and nowadays looks clean and bright. Closer up view of the GNR canopy at Sutton Station which remains in good condition.
The cast iron supports that hold up the canopy at Sutton Station showing the GNR decals, albeit revearsed at this angle. Sutton, as viewed from the station forecourt. It was here until 1959 that passengers boarded trams for the Hill of Howth. The typical Great Northern style station masters house adjacent to Sutton Station. A few original GNR platform benches are still to be seen here. The southern side of the GNR signal cabin at Sutton Station, showing its relatively good condition. The original wooden crossing gates were operated by a wheel, which no longer appears to be in the cabin.
A C201 Class loco approaches Sutton with a suburban train to Howth. Progress in installing the overhead wires is evident in this 1983 shot, as is the new CTC signalling. Note the GNR semaphore signal and crossing gates. In the background can be seen the former wooden tram shed with its tall doors, it was demolished soon after this photo was taken. ©Barry Pickup Great Northern Railway Howth tram No.3 is seen inside the wooden tram depot adjacent to Sutton Station. No.3 displays the GNR's Oxford blue & cream livery, which was also applied to diesel railcars. In the background can been Sutton station masters house. ©Wilson Adams Collection Tram No.2 stands outside the shed at the southern end of the depot in 1957. No.2 was built in 1901 by Brush of Loughborough for the GNR's Hill of Howth tram. ©Wilson Adams Collection In September 2010, part of the original Hill of Howth tram line was unearthed during road resurfacing adjacent to Sutton Station. The track in the foreground lead from the depot across the road and into the station forecourt.
Another view of this remnant of the former Hill of Howth tram line at Sutton, closed in 1959. It is possible most of the tram track survives in the station forecourt. The road has since been resurfaced. At the north end of Sutton Station area is Cosh level crossing, which guards a minor road that parallels the railway and runs along the coast to Howth. Advertising for the Emirates airline, 8500 Class DART No.862 rolls into Sutton Station from Howth on a stopping service to Bray. The colourful livery can be seen reflecting off the station surfaces. The Emirates DART set is seen again at Sutton as it crosses the level crossing at the south end of the station with a northbound service to Howth, lead by No.8629.
The 8-car 8500 DART set promoted the launch of the Emirates airline services to Dublin in January 2012. The unit has since returned to its normal DART livery having carried the promotion for four months. No.8632 is on the rear of the set departing for Howth. Ex Dublin & South Eastern Railway's 2-6-0 locomotive No.461 approaches Sutton Station with the RPSI 'Spare Link' special from Wexford to Howth. This was the first steam special on the Howth branch since April 1980. Following the RPSI special, 201 Class loco No.217 speeds through Sutton Station light engine on its way to Howth to haul the return special to Dublin Connolly. The Emirates DART set returns from Howth with a southbound service to Bray. Visible in the left background is Ireland's Eye. The section of line between Sutton and Howth runs close alongside the Irish Sea.
Loco No.217 approaches Sutton Station with the returning RPSI 'Spare Link' special from Howth, formed of the 1960s Craven built coaches. This was the first occasion a 201 Class locomotive has operated a passenger train on the Howth branch. In its 1950s CIE green livery, ex DSER loco No.461, dating from 1922, runs through Sutton Station tender-first as it returns to Dublin Connolly after its 'Spare Link' run. On the tender can be seen the 'Flying Snail' logo. Viewed on the stretch of line between Sutton and Howth, 071 Class locomotive No.076 runs north along the line towards Howth light engine during the weekend of signal testing on the branch. Loco No.076 is gimpsed at Cosh level crossing on the approach to Sutton Station. The loco is heading light engine back to Dublin having completed some signalling tests on the branch. The appearance of locomotives on the Howth branch, normally the demense of the DARTs, is not a regular occurance.