Loughrea branch line

Loughrea branch line
The 15:30 from Attymon Junction approaches Lynchfort level crossing near Loughrea on 10 October 1975
Overview
Other name(s) Attymon & Loughrea Light Railway
Type Heavy rail
System Córas Iompair Éireann
Status Ceased operation
Locale County Galway, Ireland
53°15′58″N 8°36′16″W / 53.26615°N 8.60452°W / 53.26615; -8.60452  (Dunsandle station line midpoint)Coordinates: 53°15′58″N 8°36′16″W / 53.26615°N 8.60452°W / 53.26615; -8.60452  (Dunsandle station line midpoint)
Termini Attymon Junction
Loughrea
Stations 3
Operation
Opened 1890
Closed 1975
Owner Midland Great Western Railway
Great Southern Railways
Córas Iompair Éireann
Operator(s) Midland Great Western Railway
Great Southern Railways
Córas Iompair Éireann
Character Secondary
Technical
Line length 8.75 miles (14.08 km)
Number of tracks Single track
Track gauge 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge
Electrification Not electrified
Route map
Loughrea branch line
Attymon Junction
Dublin-Galway Main Line
Left arrow to Galway — to Athlone & Dublin Right arrow
Dunsandle
Loughrea

The Loughrea branch line was a railway line that opened in 1890 and closed in 1975. The branch ran from the Attymon Junction on the Dublin to Galway main line and terminated at Loughrea. Dunsandle was the single intermediate stop. It was the last rural branch line to survive.[1]

Services

The branch had five round trip passenger services at its peak in 1895. Many would be mixed passenger and freight.[1]

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

Steam Era

Pictures exist of 2-4-0 and 0-6-0 engines in use on the branch.

Dieselisation Era

The branch was normally operated by a CIE 611 Class with a single passenger coach. When that locomotive was unavailable for servicing or maintenance a CIE 201 Class Metropolitan-Vickers or a CIE 141 Class would normally substitute. Exceptionally a CIE 001 Class could be used.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Shepherd, Ernie (1994). The Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland – An illustrated History. Midland Publishing Limited. pp. 43, 44, 67, 70, 118. ISBN 1-85780-008-7.
  2. Bridge, Albert. "The Attymon Jct - Loughrea railway :: Shared Description". Geograph. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.