Loughrea branch line
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 Galway main line and terminated at Loughrea. Dunsandle was the single intermediate stop. It was the last rural branch line to survive in Ireland.[1]
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Ceased operation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Midland Great Western Railway Great Southern Railways Córas Iompair Éireann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | County Galway, Ireland 53.26615°N 8.60452°W (Dunsandle station line midpoint) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Heavy rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System | Córas Iompair Éireann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | Midland Great Western Railway Great Southern Railways Córas Iompair Éireann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1890 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 8.75 miles (14.08 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tracks | Single track | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Character | Secondary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) Irish gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | Not electrified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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
- 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.
- Bridge, Albert. "The Attymon Jct - Loughrea railway :: Shared Description". Geograph. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
Further reading
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