Waterford and Limerick Railway

Introduction

This line is open. It runs from Limerick, in the mid west on the River Shannon, south east to cross the former Great Southern and Western Railway Dublin-Cork line, with an interchange at Limerick Junction, and continue through Tipperary and Clonmel to Waterford, in the south east at the head of Waterford Harbour.

The company was incorporated in 1845. The line was opened in portions from Limerick in 1848, reaching the outskirts of Waterford, but on the opposite (north) bank of the River Suir, in 1853.

It became the Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway in 1896 and was absorbed by the Great Southern and Western Railway in 1901.





Dates

  /  /1845Waterford and Limerick Railway
Incorporated.
  /  /1848Waterford and Limerick Railway
Opened from Limerick to Tipperary. Contractor William Dargan.
  /  /1848Waterford and Limerick Railway
Doubled from Limerick to Pallas.
  /  /1849Waterford and Limerick Railway
Doubled from Pallas to Keane's Points, Limerick Junction.
  /08/1851Waterford and Limerick Railway
Worked by William Dargan.
  /  /1852Waterford and Limerick Railway
Extended from Tipperary to Clonmel.
15/04/1853Waterford and Limerick Railway
Extended from Clonmel to Fiddown and Portlaw. Contactor William Dargan.
  /05/1853Waterford and Limerick Railway
Ceased to be worked by William Dargan.
23/08/1853Waterford and Limerick Railway
Extended from Fiddown and Portlaw to Dunkitt [W and LR] (temporary station short of Waterford).
11/09/1854Waterford and Kilkenny Railway
Waterford and Limerick Railway
Extended from Dunkitt [W and KR] and Dunkitt [W and LR] to Waterford [Newrath], a terminus for Waterford on the north bank of the River Suir. A free ferry connected the terminus to Waterford (until opposed by the Bridge Commissioners). The lines met at Newrath Junction, a single track continuing to the terminus (replaced by two parallel single lines as traffic increased).
31/12/1855Railway Clearing House
By this date, Cork and Bandon Railway, Crieff Junction Railway, Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway, Dublin and Drogheda Railway, Forth and Clyde Junction Railway, Furness Railway, Great Southern and Western Railway, Irish South Eastern Railway, Killarney Junction Railway, Leeds, Bradford and Halifax Junction Railway, Leven Railway, London and South Western Railway, London, Tilbury and Southend Railway, Monkland Railways, Monmouthshire Railway and Canal, Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway, Norfolk Railway, North and South Western Junction Railway, Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, Peebles Railway, Perth and Dunkeld Railway, Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, St Andrews Railway, Ulster and Dundalk Railway, Waterford and Kilkenny Railway and Waterford and Limerick Railway join.
  /10/1856Waterford and Limerick Railway
Building of a permanent Limerick station approved.
  /  /1858Limerick and Castleconnell Railway
Opened from Killonan (Waterford and Limerick Railway) to Castleconnell.
  /09/1858Waterford and Limerick Railway
Board of Trade inspects the new Limerick station (although it had been in use for some time).
17/01/1859Limerick and Ennis Railway
Longpavement to Clarecastle opened. Trains provided by Waterford and Limerick Railway.
  /  /1860Waterford and Limerick Railway
Limerick market tramway authorised.
08/01/1861Waterford and Kilkenny Railway
Worked by the Waterford and Limerick Railway.
22/04/1861Limerick and Ennis Railway
Waterford and Limerick Railway works line.
  /  /1863Athenry and Ennis Junction Railway
Waterford and Limerick Railway agrees to work line.
  /  /1864Waterford and Limerick Railway
Limerick market tramway opened.
28/06/1864Waterford and Kilkenny Railway Waterford and Limerick Railway
Extended from Waterford [Newrath] to Waterford North.
01/06/1867Waterford and Kilkenny Railway
Ceased to be worked by the Waterford and Limerick Railway.
01/10/1867Waterford and Kilkenny Railway
Takes over its own working and ceases using Waterford North due to access charges, changing to first Waterford [Newrath] (and then a new temporary station Newrath Common when the Waterford and Limerick Railway objected).
  /  /1872Limerick and Castleconnell Railway
Absorbed by Waterford and Limerick Railway.
  /  /1872Athenry and Ennis Junction Railway
Waterford and Limerick Railway operates line.
  /  /1880Southern Railway [Ireland] Great Southern and Western Railway
Thurles becomes junction station (actual divergence at Thurles Junction) when the line from Clonmel finally reaches the Great Southern and Western Railway. Worked by the Waterford and Limerick Railway.
20/12/1880Waterford and Limerick Railway
Abbeydorney, Abbeyfeale opened.
  /  /1883Waterford and Limerick Railway
Extended from Waterford North to North Wharf as a single line.
  /  /1883Waterford and Kilkenny Railway Waterford and Limerick Railway
Doubled from Waterford North to Fiddown. Junction laid in again at Newrath Junction.
  /  /1883Limerick and Castleconnell Railway
Killaloe quay line opened. The Waterford and Limerick Railway's associated Shannon & Inland Navidation Co operated on Lough Derg.
  /  /1884Waterford and Limerick Railway
Waterford North to North Wharf doubled.
  /  /1887Tralee and Fenit Railway
Opened. Worked by the Waterford and Limerick Railway.
  /  /1890Claremorris and Swinford Railway Collooney and Swinford Railway
Light railway companies created for the Waterford and Limerick Railway to complete from Claremorris (Great Northern and Western Railway)to Sligo Collooney Junction (Midland Great Western Railway). Initially proposed by the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1893Athenry and Ennis Junction Railway Athenry and Tuam Railway
Absorbed by Waterford and Limerick Railway
  /  /1893Limerick and Ennis Railway
Absorbed by Waterford and Limerick Railway.
  /  /1894Great Northern and Western Railway
Claremorris further expanded in anticipation of the Waterford and Limerick Railway supported Claremorris to Sligo route opening.
  /  /1895Claremorris and Swinford Railway Collooney and Swinford Railway
Sligo branch of the Waterford and Limerick Railway opened from Claremorris South terminus (Athenry and Tuam Extension to Claremorris Railway) to Claremorris (Great Northern and Western Railway) and on to Collooney Junction (Midland Great Western Railway), Sligo.
  /  /1896Waterford and Limerick Railway
Renamed Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway with the opening of the Collooney and Swinford Railway.
  /  /1896Waterford and Limerick Railway
Limerick Locomotive Works enlarged.
01/06/1904New Ross and Waterford Line (Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway)
Line opened. An alteration to the former Waterford and Limerick Railway goods line to North Wharf is used to access Waterford North station from the east. With this opening the DW&WR changes its name in 1907.
  /  /1911Waterford and Limerick Railway
The Midland Great Western Railway ceases stabling two engines at Limerick for its traffic using running powers to and from Athenry.
  /  /1929Waterford and Kilkenny Railway Waterford and Limerick Railway
Newrath Junction taken out, two single parallel lines run east to Suir Bridge Junction
  /  /1929Waterford and Limerick Railway
Limerick Junction to Killonan singled, loops being retained at stations.
  /  /1931Waterford and Limerick Railway
Junction at Killonan taken out, lines running as two single track railways to Limerick.
  /  /1931Waterford and Limerick Railway
Factory portion of the Limerick market tramway closed.
  /  /1940Waterford and Limerick Railway
Limerick market tramway closed except for siding serving the bus depot.
  /  /1947Waterford and Limerick Railway
Junction at Killonan restored.
  /  /1950Waterford and Limerick Railway
Limerick market tramway completely closed.
04/02/1963Waterford and Limerick Railway
Abbeydorney, Abbeyfeale closed.
15/06/1963Waterford and Limerick Railway
Closure of Limerick ticket platform 'Limerick Check', last ticket platform in the British Isles, used for arrivals from Ennis.
  /  /1966Waterford and Limerick Railway
Signalling upgraded for extra services with closure of the Waterford to Mallow route.
10/04/1966Waterford and Limerick Railway
Limerick renamed Limerick Colbert to commemoration Cornelius Colbert, one of the executed leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.
  /  /1967Great Southern and Western Railway Waterford and Limerick Railway
Curve put in between Kyle Crossing (GS&WR) and Milltown (W&LR) at Limerick Junction.
08/08/1968Great Southern and Western Railway Waterford and Limerick Railway
First passenger train uses the new curve at Limerick Junction for the Dublin to Limerick service.
  /  /1975Waterford and Limerick Railway
Curve into Limerick station from Foynes and Tralee line closed.
  /  /1993Silvermines Branch Limerick and Castleconnell Railway Waterford and Limerick Railway Limerick and Foynes Railway
Silvermines to Foynes flow of barytes, lead and zinc ceases.
31/08/2020Waterford and Limerick Railway
Service restarted from Limerick Junction to Waterford having been suspended due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.

Limerick to Waterford

The line was built south east progressively from Limerick to Waterford.

Shed scene at Limerick in July 1988. ...
Ian Dinmore /07/1988
CIE locomotive G611 inside the shed at Limerick in July 1988. ...
Ian Dinmore /07/1988
The locomotive shed and yard at Limerick in July 1988. ...
Ian Dinmore /07/1988
Scene inside Limerick shed in July 1988 ...
Ian Dinmore /07/1988

This is the junction between the Waterford and Limerick Railway and the Limerick and Foynes Railway.
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More
I can see you too.... Held up by a signal check at the appropriately named Limerick Check signal box in the summer of 1988. ...
Ian Dinmore /07/1988
Scene at Limerick Check signal box in April 1996. ...
Ian Dinmore /04/1996
View from a passing train of Limerick Check cabin in 1988. To the left, the Foynes branch veers to the west past the wagon shops. Mothballed in 2001, ...
Bill Roberton //1988
An arriving train about to pass Limerick Check in April 1996. ...
Ian Dinmore /04/1996

A platform existed here in 1880 during a disagreement over running powers into Limerick Junction.
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More
Inside Clonmel signal box, County Tipperary, April 1996. ...
Ian Dinmore /04/1996
CIE freights crossing at Clonmel, South Tipperary, in April 1996. ...
Ian Dinmore 11/04/1996
The 1700 to Rosslare Harbour stands at Waterford in 1993. ...
Bill Roberton //1993
Looking north from Waterford over the River Suir to Sallypark Freight Terminal where a class 071 is parked. The gantry crane in the centre of the ...
Bill Roberton //1993
CIE 080 stands with a train at Waterford in 1993. ...
Bill Roberton //1993
CIE 167 carrying out manoeuvres at Waterford station in 1993. ...
Bill Roberton //1992


Limerick Junction west to north curve

This curve was added in 1967

A platform existed here in 1880 during a disagreement over running powers into Limerick Junction.
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