Loughrea branch line

{{Infobox rail line

|name = Loughrea branch line

|other_name = Attymon & Loughrea Light Railway

|color =

|logo =

|logo_width =

|image = File:Approaching Lynchfort level crossing near Loughrea.jpg

|image_width =

|caption = The 15:30 from Attymon Junction approaches Lynchfort level crossing near Loughrea on 10 October 1975

|type = Heavy rail

|system = Córas Iompair Éireann

|status = Ceased operation

|locale = County Galway, Ireland
{{coord|53.26615|-8.60452|display=inline,title|type:landmark|notes= (Dunsandle station line midpoint)}}

|start = Attymon Junction

|end = {{rws|Loughrea}}

|stations = 3

|routes =

|daily_ridership =

|open = 1890

|close = 1975

|owner = Midland Great Western Railway
Great Southern Railways
Córas Iompair Éireann

|operator = Midland Great Western Railway
Great Southern Railways
Córas Iompair Éireann

|character = Secondary

|depot =

|stock =

|linelength = {{convert|8|mi|75|chain}}

|tracklength =

|tracks = Single track

|gauge = {{track gauge|1600mm}} Irish gauge

|electrification = Not electrified

|speed =

|elevation =

|map = {{Loughrea branch line|inline=1}}

|map_state =

|box_width =

}}

The Loughrea branch line was a railway line that opened in 1890 and closed in 1975. The 9 mile single track branch ran from the Attymon Junction on the Dublin to {{rws|Galway}} main line and terminated at {{rws|Loughrea}}. {{rws|Dunsandle}} was the single intermediate stop. It was the last rural branch line to survive in Ireland.{{cite book| title=The Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland – An illustrated History|last=Shepherd|first=Ernie|publisher=Midland Publishing Limited|year=1994|ISBN=1-85780-008-7|pages=43,44,67,70,118}}

History

The Loughrea and Attymon Light Railway company was formed on 24 April 1885 to construct the line. It opened on 1 December 1890 with an agreement in place for the Midland Great Western Railway to operate the line for the next 50 years.{{Cite book |url=https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5QaeKRl846vrMyzvBppcA0eMFqUiv43-gKYvZCwM4GIETCBELGKGGzD6hzHxhINieiQpCdg09RsAj12w8fD92FWgjFPlo1rf4PRvIn_fahF_8f9wpjaliWdZlEJsFgAjx9EhoR0Sf9U4XJywP9vY18C0f4H919uq6mXKIPlKOREQZWofM9H1U_sn3tRSIiz7cZKdBsMTVCxDwqksG6YeFgSYXU_o0Y4pHcgFzQ7cRkDcSi5BXpkc_KYXsPVLpbeWgCDrGGGv8ZmSDGI9_rqeP0S4j5J9Hog |title=Bradshaw's Railway Manual, Shareholder's Guide and Official Directory 1905 |date=1905 |publisher=Henry Blacklock and Company Limited |location=London |pages=221 |access-date=5 February 2024}} However, this arrangement did not run its full term as the line was absorbed into the new Great Southern Railways (GSR) from 1 January 1925. GSR was itself superseded by Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) on 1 January 1945. The line was closed by CIÉ on 3 November 1975 and the track was lifted in 1988.{{Cite book |last=Johnson |first=Stephen |title=Johnson's Atlas and Gazetteer of the Railways of Ireland |publisher=Midland Publishing Limited |year=1997 |isbn=1857800443 |location=Leicester |pages=90}}

Rolling stock and services

= Steam era =

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

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

= 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/3948|access-date=6 November 2017|website=Geograph|title=The Attymon Jct - Loughrea railway :: Shared Description|last=Bridge|first=Albert}}

Loughrea branch line

History

Rolling stock and services

= Steam era =

= Dieselisation era =

References

Further reading