Waterford–Mallow railway line

Waterford–Mallow
Technical
Track gauge	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge
Waterford–Mallow railway line To Rosslare Waterford (Main/North) Waterford (South) Grace Dieu Junction (W&LR)   To Dublin Heuston & Limerick Kilmeadan Carroll's Cross Kilmacthomas Durrow Dungarvan Cappagh Cappoquin Lismore Tallow Road Ballyduff Clondulane Fermoy Glanworth Ballingdangan Mitchelstown Ballyhooly Castletownroche To Dublin Heuston Mallow to Cork

The Waterford–Mallow railway line ran from Waterford to Mallow and allowed for trains to run directly from Waterford to Cork City.

History

Share of the Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway Company, issued 20 August 1874

The line was opened in stages by various companies and was completely opened on 12 August 1878.^[1]

On 17 May 1860 the Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) opened a 16+3⁄4 miles (27.0 km) branch from Mallow (on its Dublin to Cork main line) to Fermoy.^[2] An extension from Fermoy to Lismore was approved to be constructed by the Fermoy and Lismore Railway in 1869 and following opening on 1 October 1872 was operated by the GS&WR.^[2]

The Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway (WD&LR) was incorporated in 1871 and fully opened its 43 miles (69 km) section on 12 August 1878; thus completing the continuous connection from Cork via Mallow to Waterford.^[2] The WD&LR operated its own trains and was to take over operation of the Fermoy to Lismore section from the GS&WR on 1 March 1893.^[2]

The route was completely taken over by the GS&WR in 1898.^[3] The route was closed in 1967^[4]

The line closed in March 1967 for economic reasons.^[5] As most patronage was for Cork on the boat train it was possible to re-route between Waterford and Mallow via Limerick Junction, a route that was of greater mileage but which only resulted in a maximum 10 minute increase in journey time.^[5]

Route

From Waterford to Dungarvan has some significant 1 in 66 inclines to two summits.^[2] In 2022 a Greenway was proposed along the old route^[6] from Mallow to Dungarvan.

Services

The Fishguard & Rosslare Railways & Harbours Company gained authority to run a boat service from Fishguard, Wales to Rosslare Harbour in 1895. The GS&WR were then able to run a service notably including a twelve-wheeled dining car from Rosslare routing via Waterford and Mallow at considerable convenience for travellers going to Cork City and further south-west.^[7]

References

Footnotes

1. Casserley (1974), pp. 71–72.
2. Casserley (1974), p. 71.
3. Murray & McNeill (1976), p. 74.
4. Bairstow (2011), p. 62.
5. Baker (1972), pp. 150–151.
6. to Dungarvan Greenway
7. Baker (1972), p. 14.

Sources

• Bairstow, Martin (2011). Railways in Ireland. Vol. Part Four:Great Southern & Western. Martin Bairstow. ISBN 9781871944402.
• Baker, Michael H. C. (1972). Irish Railways since 1916. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0711002827. OCLC 248259641.
• Casserley, H. C. (1974). Outline of Irish Railway History. Newton Abbot & North Pomfret: David & Charles. ISBN 0715363778. OCLC 249227042.
• Murray, K. A.; McNeill, D. B. (1976). The Great Southern & Western Railway. Irish Railway Record Society. ISBN 0904078051. OCLC 3069424.