Wilkinstown

Wilkinstown Station, Co.Meath, is a small wayside station on the currently disused Navan to Kingscourt branch, opened in 1872 by an independent company but largely operated by the Midland Great Western Railway. Passenger services on the Kingscourt branch ceased in 1947, but the line remained in use for gypsum traffic right up until 2001, when that traffic transferred to road. The last train to Kingscourt was the weed sprayer in 2002, and today the line is disconnected beyond Navan at Tara Junction. The station at Wilkinstown had just one platform, small station building and stone built goods store. There is evidence of a signal cabin at the south end of the station adjacent to the level crossing on the R162 road. A goods/cattle bank also remains on the up side of station once served by a goods loop.
Wilkinstown Station, on the disused Kingscourt branch. The station here, which consists of a single platform, single storey station building and store was closed to passengers in January 1947. The last train to run to Kingscourt was the annual weed spraying train on Friday 7th June 2002, hauled by 141 Class loco No.175, seen passing by Wilkinstown. ©Colm O' Callaghan Closer view of the 1872 built single storey station building at Wilkinstown, now a private residence. The owners appear to keep the former platform neat and tidy. What must have been some sort of signal cabin at Wilkinstown Station, in later years an exposed lever frame was located here
A recent view of Wilkinstown Station, looking north towards Kingscourt from the R162 road, showing the now gateless level crossing. In May 1976, 001 Class locomotive No.059 stands before the large wooden crossing gates at Wilkinstown while operating an Irish Railway Record Society special from Kingscourt. The IRRS headboard can be seen mounted onto the loco. ©Barry Carse The level crossing gates at Wilkinstown Station have been removed, replaced with a mesh fence, only the wooden gate posts remain. The small stone built goods shed located on the platform at the north end of Wilkinstown Station. Regular goods services on the Kingscourt branch ceased in 1963.
A view showing the extant of the weeds and grass growing on the track through Wilkinstown Station. The platform edging however remains in good condition. A similar view but in June 2002 when 141 Class 175 was heading north past Wilkinstown Station with the weed spraying train from Drogheda to Kingscourt. ©Colm O' Callaghan In May 1990, Northern Ireland Railway's railbus, No.RB3, arrives into Wilkinstown Station with the 'Cavan Coup' railtour from Belfast to Kingscourt. RB3 now operates at the preserved Downpatrick Railway in Co.Down. ©Colm O' Callaghan Not surprisingly the bricks used for the former signal cabin at Wilkinstown Station was manufactured further north at Kingscourt's brick works.
The original wooden picket gate still survives at the passenger entrance at Wilkinstown Station. The level crossing at the south end of Wilkinstown Station on the R162 road which runs roughly paraellel to the railway from Navan to Kingscourt.