WATERFORD & TRAMORE RAILWAY
The Waterford and Tramore Railway linked the city of Waterford and the seaside town of Tramore, a distance of 7 1⁄4 miles. It was opened on September 5th, 1853, and closed on December 31st, 1960.
Construction began in February 1853. The Waterford business community met the £77,000 cost. William Dargan's construction company completed the single track line in seven months – a considerable achievement as a section of line outside Waterford ran over deep bog covered with bulrushes. Each terminus included a turntable.
The Waterford and Tramore Railway was the only line in Ireland that was not connected to any other. Its terminus in Waterford was in Manor Street. All other railways to Waterford used Waterford railway station situated on the opposite side of the River Suir.
On September 27th, 1960, CIÉ announced that it would close the line on December 31st and replace it with a bus service. To avoid demonstrations, the last scheduled train did not run. In the first half of 1961 all the tracks were lifted.
Engine No. 4, built for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway in 1847, in use on the Waterford & Tramore Railway until 1905
The railway was initially worked with two 2-2-2 tank locomotives built by William Fairbairn & Sons in 1855, numbered 1 and 2. Several other locomotives were added later. No. 2 was scrapped in 1928. No. 1 remained in service until 1936 when it was derailed and plunged down an embankment, and cut up on the site. By then several other locomotives had been brought to the W&T from the main railway network. When No. 1 met with its end, It was then the last locomotive with single driving wheels in regular traffic in the British Isles. From 1955 diesel railcars served the line.
These pictures are published for pleasure/information/research purposes only and are not for sale or copy under any circumstances. Information in captions has been researched as thoroughly as possible but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Read MoreConstruction began in February 1853. The Waterford business community met the £77,000 cost. William Dargan's construction company completed the single track line in seven months – a considerable achievement as a section of line outside Waterford ran over deep bog covered with bulrushes. Each terminus included a turntable.
The Waterford and Tramore Railway was the only line in Ireland that was not connected to any other. Its terminus in Waterford was in Manor Street. All other railways to Waterford used Waterford railway station situated on the opposite side of the River Suir.
On September 27th, 1960, CIÉ announced that it would close the line on December 31st and replace it with a bus service. To avoid demonstrations, the last scheduled train did not run. In the first half of 1961 all the tracks were lifted.
Engine No. 4, built for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway in 1847, in use on the Waterford & Tramore Railway until 1905
The railway was initially worked with two 2-2-2 tank locomotives built by William Fairbairn & Sons in 1855, numbered 1 and 2. Several other locomotives were added later. No. 2 was scrapped in 1928. No. 1 remained in service until 1936 when it was derailed and plunged down an embankment, and cut up on the site. By then several other locomotives had been brought to the W&T from the main railway network. When No. 1 met with its end, It was then the last locomotive with single driving wheels in regular traffic in the British Isles. From 1955 diesel railcars served the line.
These pictures are published for pleasure/information/research purposes only and are not for sale or copy under any circumstances. Information in captions has been researched as thoroughly as possible but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
GSR - 560 - Atock MGWR Class K 0-6-0T - built 1894 by Broadstone Works as MGWR No.115 ACHILL - 1925 to GSR as Class J26 No.560 - 1932 fitted with enlarged bunker for Waterford & Tramore line - 1945 to CIE - 1963 withdrawn - seen here departing Waterford Manor Street Station with a train of ex-railcar stock.
