Sydney Parade

Sidney Parade, located in Dublin City's southern suburbs, was first served by the railway as early as 1835 when the Dublin & Kingstown Railway constructed a station on Sidney Parade Avenue one year after the opening their line from Westland Row (Pearse) to Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire). By the 1860s, the D&KR had become the Dublin Wicklow & Wexford Railway, and this company upgraded Sidney Parade Station in 1862 by providing a single storey brick built station building on the up platform, and large waiting shelter on the down platform. A footbridge was also installed and a new 9-lever signal cabin was constructed at the north end of the station in 1871. Sidney Parade Station was closed by CIE in 1960, but reopened in 1972 with the expansion of Dublin suburban services. All the buildings survived demolition during closure and were utilised once again, accept for the footbridge which was replaced by Great Southern & Western style one once located at Sandymount. Today only the signal cabin is disused, though preserved, it closed in 1985 one year after the crossing gates were automated for the DART. The station is also nowadays signposted as 'Sydney Parade'.
A scene at the south end of Sidney Parade Station, with 29000 Class railcar No.29413 heading the 13L05 Dublin to Rosslare service, while 8100 Class DART No.8331. No.29113 is the rear 29000 Class railcar unit on the southbound 13:05 Dublin to Rosslare service, seen been held at the south end of Sidney Parade awaiting the clearance for the busy level crossing at Merrion. 8100 Class DART No.8112 rolls into Sidney Parade with a northbound service to Howth. No.8112's old DART logos have recently been removed, as seen here on its front end. No.8324 is the rear 8100 unit on this northbound DART service to Howth, seen heading away from Sidney Parade. The trees and shrubs screen off the suburban houses either side of the railway line along this stretch.
No.8105 stands at Sidney Parade Station with a southbound DART service to Bray. No.8105 now sports its new 'DART 25' logos, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of electric DART services operating in Dublin. 8100 DART No.8339 gingerly approaches Sidney Parade with a southbound DART service to Bray. The train is passing over the level crossing at the north end of the station. To the right is the disused Victorian era signal cabin. The 1871 brick built Dublin Wicklow & Wexford Railway signal cabin at the north end of the down platform at Sidney Parade Station, adjacent to the level crossing. Within Sidney Parade signal cabin was a 9-lever Saxby & Farmers frame. The wheel for operating the one time manual crossing gates can also be seen. The cabin remained in use until 1985, one year after the crossing gates had been automated at the station.
The 1862 brick built Dublin Wicklow & Wexford single storey station building on the up platform at Sidney Parade. It is similar to the one at Lansdowne Road, recently refurbished as part of the suburban upgrade known as DASH. A plaque mounted in the waiting shelter at Sidney (or Sydney as appearing here) Parade Station informing passengers of the station's role within the short storey 'A Painful Case' of James Joyce's Dubliners, published in 1914. Sidney Parade, with the Poolbeg Electricity Supply Board (ESB) towers at Poolbeg in the background, which over look this area. The signs spell the location as Sydney. The level crossing adjacent to Sidney Parade Station, as viewed from the western side on Sidney Parade Avenue. This crossing is one of the quieter ones along this section of the line.
The public footbridge, between Sidney Parade and Merrion, allows pedestrian access from Ailesbury Mews residential area to the Merrion Road. The mock round tower in the background belongs to St Teresa's chruch. Sindey Parade, as viewed from the public footbridge south of the station. Note how close the block signal sections are in this area. This view is looking north to Dublin, with 8500 Class DART No.8640 preparing to depart for Bray. The footbridge steps on the west side of the railway, south of Sidney Parade. It is unsual, as it is not a typical Dublin South Eastern design, having been salvaged from the former Kilmessan Jct Staton on the Midland Great Western Railway's line in Co.Meath.