Waterford and Tramore Railway: Difference between revisions
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On 1 January 1925 the [[Great Southern Railways]] (GSR) was formed and absorbed the W&TR. On 31 December 1944 the GSR and [[Dublin United Transport Company]] merged to form [[Córas Iompair Éireann|CIÉ]]. |
On 1 January 1925 the [[Great Southern Railways]] (GSR) was formed and absorbed the W&TR. On 31 December 1944 the GSR and [[Dublin United Transport Company]] merged to form [[Córas Iompair Éireann|CIÉ]]. |
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The Waterford and Tramore Railway was the only line in Ireland that was not connected to any other. Its terminus in Waterford was in Manor Street. All other railways to Waterford used [[Waterford railway station]] situated on the opposite side of the [[River Suir]]. |
The Waterford and Tramore Railway was the only line in Ireland that was not connected to any other.{{cn|reason=[[Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway]] seems one exception plus some narrow gauge|date=June 2021}} Its terminus in Waterford was in Manor Street. All other railways to Waterford used [[Waterford railway station]] situated on the opposite side of the [[River Suir]]. |
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The W&T was one of five railways that served [[County Waterford]]. The others were: |
The W&T was one of five railways that served [[County Waterford]]. The others were: |
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Contributor note: For correction of a couple of facts and possible expansion |
| Waterford and Tramore Railway | |
|---|---|
| History | |
| Opened | 5 September 1853 |
| Closed | 31 December 1960 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge |
The Waterford and Tramore Railway (W&TR) was a railway in County Waterford, Ireland, that linked the city of Waterford and the seaside town of Tramore, a distance of 7+1⁄4 miles (11.7 km).[1] It was opened on 5 September 1853 and remained completely isolated from the rest of the Irish railway network for the whole of its existance.[1] It closed on 31 December 1960.[2]
History
Construction began on 10 February 1853. The Waterford business community met the £77,000 cost. William Dargan's construction company completed the single track line in seven months – a considerable achievement as a section of line outside Waterford ran over deep bog covered with bulrushes. Each terminus included a turntable.
On 1 January 1925 the Great Southern Railways (GSR) was formed and absorbed the W&TR. On 31 December 1944 the GSR and Dublin United Transport Company merged to form CIÉ.
The Waterford and Tramore Railway was the only line in Ireland that was not connected to any other.[citation needed] Its terminus in Waterford was in Manor Street. All other railways to Waterford used Waterford railway station situated on the opposite side of the River Suir.
The W&T was one of five railways that served County Waterford. The others were:
- Dublin and South Eastern,
- Waterford and Central Ireland,
- Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore,
- Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway.
Closure
On 27 September 1960 CIÉ announced that it would close the line on 31 December and replace it with a bus service. To avoid demonstrations, the last scheduled train did not run. The final trains run were the 13:25 from Waterford and the 14:10 from Tramore.
In the first half of 1961 all the tracks were lifted. The rails were scrapped by a Dublin scrap firm[citation needed] and the sleepers were sold for use in defences against coastal erosion.
Locally it was rumoured that the tracks were to be shipped to Nigeria. Similar false rumours attended many railway closures at the time.
One of the few remaining traces of the railway is Tramore station house, which after lying derelict for many years is now owned by Waterford County Council.
Motive power
The railway was initially worked with two 2-2-2 tank locomotives built by William Fairbairn & Sons in 1855, numbered 1 and 2. Several other locomotives were added later. No. 2 was scrapped in 1928. No. 1 remained in service until 1936 when it was derailed and plunged down an embankment, and cut up on the site. By then several other locomotives had been brought to the W&T from the main railway network. When No. 1 met with its end, It was then the last locomotive with single driving wheels in regular traffic in the British Isles.[3]
From c. 1955 CIÉ 2600 Class diesel railcars Nos. 2658 and 2669 were dedicated to the line, being adapted to have second class and no toilet facilities giving a capacity of nearly 100.[4] They were moved from Waterford by road when introduced and upon line closure.[5]
References
- ^ a b Casserley (1974), p. 86.
- ^ Baker (1972), p. 150.
- ^ Casserley 1960, p. 18.
- ^ Baker (1972), p. 160.
- ^ Baker (1972), pp. 159–160.
Bibliography
- Baker, Michael H. C. (1972). Irish Railways since 1916. Shepperton: Ian Allen. ISBN 0711002827. OCLC 248259641.
- Bairstow, Martin (2011). Railways in Ireland. Vol. Part Four:Great Southern & Western. ISBN 9781871944402.
- Casserley, HC (1960). Historic locomotive pocket book. London: BT Batsford. p. 18.
- Casserley, H. C. (1974). Outline of Irish Railway History. Newton Abbot & North Pomfret: David & Charles. ISBN 0715363778. OCLC 249227042.
- Clements, Jeremy; McMahon, Michael (2008). Locomotives of the GSR. Newtownards: Colourpoint Books. ISBN 9781906578268. OCLC 547074718.
- Fayle, H; Newham, AT (1972) [1964]. The Waterford & Tramore Railway. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5518-X.
- O'Donoghue, Frank (2012). The 5-Minute Bell. Frank O'Donoghue. ISBN 9780957448407.
External links
- "Waterford & Tramore Railway --: Early History". Edmund Rice Primary School.
- Waterford-Tramore Railway: Road Maintenance Costs
- Closure rumours
- Closure debate