Thurles

Thurles, north Co.Tipperary, is an important stop on the main Dublin to Cork line. The Great Southern & Western Railway opened the line from Portlaoise through Thurles to Limerick Junction in March 1848. Thurles was also a junction for the GSWR branch line to Clonmel, which diverged from the Cork main line south of the town at the former 'Thurles Junction'. The line to Clonmel lost its passenger service in 1963 and was closed completely in March 1967. Thurles once also boasted a rail served sugar beet factory, which was closed in 1987 and replaced with the factory at Mallow, now also gone. Thurles Station itself once had a large locomotive shed and yard, but today only the 1848 built goods shed remains, used by engineering trains.

The GSWR station building, located on the up platform, is unusually smaller for serving such a large town. The station also retains its original ornate footbridge, although a modern one has recently been constructed at the southern end of the station. The signal cabin, quite a tall GSWR example, was located at the south end of the station on the up side, it closed in 1986 following CTC introduction and was demolished some years after.
201 Class locomotive No.216, seen in its then new Irish Rail 'Intercity' livery, arrives at Thurles Station on a northbound service to Dublin consisting of Mk3 stock. 141 Class locomotives Nos.171+152 stand at the up platform at Thurles Station with an Irish Railway Record Society tour from Limerick, consisting of Mk3 coaching stock. Locos Nos.152+171 are viewed from old Great Southern & Western footbridge at the north end of Thurles. Both built by General Motors at their La Grange Illinois works, USA, in 1962, the 141s have given CIE and its predecessors a stirling service record. No.152's GM made horn, as viewed from the footbridge at Thurles Station.
201 Class loco No.226 storms through Thurles Station with a Dublin to Cork express consisting of Mk4 rolling stock. The stone road overbridge dates from the opening of the line in March 1848. 22000 Class railcar No.22133 stands on the rear of this southbound service to Limerick at Thurles Station. This unit is missing parts of its streamlined front. Spanish built Mk4 driving van trailer No.4006, approaches Thurles Station with the 16:30 Cork to Dublin service, passing the older generation Mk3 rolling stock. DVT No.4006 stands at the north end of Thurles Station, complete with the IRRS headboard fitted for the remainder of its journey to Dublin.
The main station building at Thurles, set back from the up platform. The GSWR's arched style architecture is clearly evident on this 1848 built structure. 141 Class No.152 is reflected in the glass within this wonderful stone built GSWR arch at Thurles Station. Build plate on the Great Southern & Westerns ornate footbridge at Thurles Station. It is unknown if this ancient structure is 'protected'. At the south end of Thurles Station on the up side is a large stone built water tower, complete with tank. The large locomotive once stood here also.
071 Class loco, No.071, is seen stabled in the loop adjacent to the former locomotive shed site south of Thurles Station, which can be seen in the background. Seen roughly at the same location, 201 Class loco No.223 heads away from the platforms at Thurles Station with a southbound Dublin to Cork express, formed of the Mk4 stock. No.223 entered Irish Ral service in March 1995.