Mount Elliot Railway Tunnel

DWCommuter · 14-05-2010 2:10pm #1

Anyone here know where the northern portal of the mount elliot tunnel is near New Ross. I know the soutern one down by the bridge.

Stonewolf · 14-05-2010 2:53pm

Not sure since I'm not familiar with the line but is it here?:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=52.420518,-6.924713&spn=0.002405,0.004823&t=h&z=18

Can't find any trace of an alignment further North but this looks likely. Apparently the Northern end looks like: http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/N/New%20Ross/slides/Mt%20Elliot%20Tunnel%20001_2.html

EDIT:
According to the internet it's West of this just on the West side of the road where it runs North and a bit South of the right hand turn. You can actually make out the alignment a bit over to about where I posted a link to from which point it looks like it's annihilated by the N30 for a km or two and then veers off North from that alignment. I'd provide a link but google is being moody.

Judgement Day · 14-05-2010 3:49pm

DWCommuter wrote: »

Anyone here know where the northern portal of the mount elliot tunnel is near New Ross. I know the soutern one down by the bridge.

Thinking of starting a preservation society - you're wasting your time....:D

DWCommuter · 14-05-2010 4:12pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

Thinking of starting a preservation society - you're wasting your time....:D

No. Im smuggling guns. Thought it might be a handy place to stash them.:D

Run_to_da_hills · 14-05-2010 4:20pm

DWCommuter wrote: »

No. Im smuggling guns. Thought it might be a handy place to stash them.:D

Or "head shop" products.

DWCommuter · 14-05-2010 6:13pm

Stonewolf wrote: »

Not sure since I'm not familiar with the line but is it here?:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=52.420518,-6.924713&spn=0.002405,0.004823&t=h&z=18

Can't find any trace of an alignment further North but this looks likely. Apparently the Northern end looks like: http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/N/New%20Ross/slides/Mt%20Elliot%20Tunnel%20001_2.html

EDIT:
According to the internet it's West of this just on the West side of the road where it runs North and a bit South of the right hand turn. You can actually make out the alignment a bit over to about where I posted a link to from which point it looks like it's annihilated by the N30 for a km or two and then veers off North from that alignment. I'd provide a link but google is being moody.

Its most likely in this area. (inside yellow box on aerial view)

mount elliot tunnel northern portal.jpg

paulm17781 · 14-05-2010 8:30pm

What is it, disused alignment? Where did it go to?

Judgement Day · 14-05-2010 8:57pm

Waterford/Macmine Junction line. DW is thinking of reopening it for steam trains.

lord lucan · 14-05-2010 9:00pm

There's a couple of pics on Eiretrains here:http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/N/New%20Ross/slides/Mt%20Elliot%20Tunnel%20001_2.html

Stonewolf · 14-05-2010 9:05pm

DWCommuter wrote: »

Its most likely in this area. (inside yellow box on aerial view)

mount elliot tunnel northern portal.jpg

I think it might actually be on the other side of the road, you can see the alignment continues. This site also seems to suggest that: http://wikimapia.org/10160006/Dismantled-Railway-Line

Cookie_Monster · 14-05-2010 9:09pm

DWCommuter wrote: »

No. Im smuggling guns. Thought it might be a handy place to stash them.:D

for a reasonable cut I will show you the exact location

Judgement Day · 14-05-2010 9:14pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

for a reasonable cut I will show you the exact location

Maybe DW will let you be President of his new society if you show him the portal into his railway world.......:D

Victor · 14-05-2010 9:34pm

DWCommuter wrote: »

Its most likely in this area. (inside yellow box on aerial view)

mount elliot tunnel northern portal.jpg

The double line of trees appears to extend towards the N30, so perhaps a little west of the yellow box.

Hungerford · 14-05-2010 10:26pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

for a reasonable cut I will show you the exact location

It might not be treasure. Maybe IE's illusive care and maintenance crew for the line are trapped in the tunnel and Derek's planning to rescue them.

Anyway, the precise path of the alignment should still be on Ordnance Survey maps. It was never formally closed. It won't help with finding the tunnel though but should reduce your reliance on guesswork from aerial photos.

Roryhy · 14-05-2010 10:32pm

The n30 seems to run on the old rail route, if you follow the route out a bit you can see where they diverge again in the area of Ballintober.

Victor · 14-05-2010 10:45pm

Actually, its about 40m west of the N30 http://ims0.osiemaps.ie/website/publicviewer/main.aspx#V1,672293,630261,7

On this map you can just make out the steep ground above the portal. http://wikimapia.org/#lat=52.4191042&lon=-6.9373083&z=18&l=0&m=s&v=9

Roryhy wrote: »

The n30 seems to run on the old rail route, if you follow the route out a bit you can see where they diverge again in the area of Ballintober.

Not quite if you move your mouse over the various boxes here, it will trace the route for you. http://wikimapia.org/#lat=52.4174454&lon=-6.9279957&z=14&l=0&m=s&v=9

NedNew2 · 15-05-2010 12:44am

I can confirm all of the above by Victor as I have been through the tunnel myself. The northern end is just before the ferry bridge. The old New Ross - Enniscorthy road (N30) was realigned inthe 1980's along the old railway route. Beforehand it was a windy twisty route - you can see it from the aerial photos (it follows the river).

DWCommuter · 15-05-2010 12:25pm

NedNew2 wrote: »

I can confirm all of the above by Victor as I have been through the tunnel myself. The northern end is just before the ferry bridge. The old New Ross - Enniscorthy road (N30) was realigned inthe 1980's along the old railway route. Beforehand it was a windy twisty route - you can see it from the aerial photos (it follows the river).

So coming out of the northern end of 6the tunnel it crossed the N30 on a bridge?

DWCommuter · 15-05-2010 12:30pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

Waterford/Macmine Junction line. DW is thinking of reopening it for steam trains.

No. Big smelly diesels and I'll run them in pairs. Jaysus I love them in pairs.:D

NedNew2 · 15-05-2010 10:50pm

DWCommuter wrote: »

So coming out of the northern end of 6the tunnel it crossed the N30 on a bridge?

No, it goes under the N30. The train used to come out of the tunnel and about 30 metres later it went under the N30 (the tunnel/bridge under the N30 is still in place but fairly well covered by bushes at this stage). The tunnel under the N30 is only about 20 metres long.

DWCommuter · 16-05-2010 12:17am

NedNew2 wrote: »

No, it goes under the N30. The train used to come out of the tunnel and about 30 metres later it went under the N30 (the tunnel/bridge under the N30 is still in place but fairly well covered by bushes at this stage). The tunnel under the N30 is only about 20 metres long.

Thanks for that. You've filled in the last missing section of this line for me.

Ledger · 02-03-2011 1:49pm

never had a huge interest in trains or anything but have always been really interested in the red bridge (barrow rail bridge) and the mile tunnel (mount elliot rail tunnel).

I know the Waterford to New Ross section of the line was never officially closed, but was the enniscorthy route closed officially?

I've been on the bridge many times, i know its a rust bucket.

But would the tunnel still be structurally sound?

topnotch · 02-03-2011 2:05pm

If you go onto the osi map viewer and use press 8 for the 25" map you should be sorted.
http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,672205,630192,7,9

Carawaystick · 03-03-2011 12:20am

NedNew2 wrote: »

No, it goes under the N30. The train used to come out of the tunnel and about 30 metres later it went under the N30 (the tunnel/bridge under the N30 is still in place but fairly well covered by bushes at this stage). The tunnel under the N30 is only about 20 metres long.

No, the rail line passed over the old route of the New Ross to Clonroche road, twice. (it wasn't the n30 in them days)
in the 80's sometime, the road was realigned to run its current straight alignment.

The old road was well below the existing road level as it wound below the old-rail-line/existing-road

topnotch · 03-03-2011 1:22am

here's a pic of the north entrance.
http://irishrailwaynews.multiply.com/photos/album/203/Mount_Elliot_Tunnel_and_Bridge#photo=2

Ledger · 03-03-2011 11:03am

Carawaystick wrote: »

No, the rail line passed over the old route of the New Ross to Clonroche road, twice. (it wasn't the n30 in them days)
in the 80's sometime, the road was realigned to run its current straight alignment.

The old road was well below the existing road level as it wound below the old-rail-line/existing-road

the old road is still there, you can turn off the main road and it will bring you back onto it a mile or two down after you go under the two bridges where the rail line crossed.

NedNew2 · 03-03-2011 10:32pm

Carawaystick wrote: »

No, the rail line passed over the old route of the New Ross to Clonroche road, twice. (it wasn't the n30 in them days)
in the 80's sometime, the road was realigned to run its current straight alignment.

The old road was well below the existing road level as it wound below the old-rail-line/existing-road

No to your "No".

I was referring to the exit of the northern portal of the tunnel, as I mentioned earlier, 30 metres after exiting the tunned the trackbed goes under the N30 for about 20 metres. Always did.

A few kilometres further on towards Clonroche/Enniscorthy it crosses over the old road twice as you mentioned (was the N79 I think before the N30).

But it goes under the N30 straight after the tunnel as I said earlier.

I know the area intimately and have seen it with my own eyes. Ok?

flazio · 06-03-2011 12:57pm

topnotch wrote: »

If you go onto the osi map viewer and use press 8 for the 25" map you should be sorted.
http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,672205,630192,7,9

Just make sure you zoom in as far as the highest or second highest zoom level otherwise you'll see the wrong map.

Doublechinlolz · 07-05-2011 3:01pm

Hate to bring this up again but to get into the tunnel you have to go in somebodys driveway, just saying.

Ledger · 07-05-2011 3:04pm

MarkD09 wrote: »

Hate to bring this up again but to get into the tunnel you have to go in somebodys driveway, just saying.

no you dont, if you go in from the rail bridge side, you can just go in, if you go from the other side you just climb down from the road

Eugbug · 13-11-2011 10:51pm

Is it possible to walk through the Mount Elliot railway tunnel near New Ross or has it been sealed ?

Victor · 14-11-2011 6:33am

Merged.

Partizan · 14-11-2011 3:36pm

Waterford-Macmine Junction fascinating pics but one of the many pointless railway lines that sprung up in the late 19th/early 20th century. Correct decision was made in 1963 to shut it and rip it up, however many viable lines suffered as well when Mad Todd Andrews went on a Texas Chainsaw Massacre style rampage.

dermo88 · 14-11-2011 6:52pm

Partizan

"when Mad Todd Andrews went on a Texas Chainsaw Massacre style rampage"

To dismiss Todd Andrews as mad and to describe his work as a chainsaw massacre is emotive. Richard Beeching did the same in Britain. It was pruning of a tree to ensure that the whole tree survived. Thats what we have today.

Hindsight is a great teacher. Given the choice, one route that survives today from Todd Andrews era would go, namely Limerick to Nenagh and Ballybrophy.

Waterford to Tramore would survive
Clonsilla to Navan

Not much else. Many "viable" lines. Not many at all to be honest. Nice for enthusiasts perhaps, but for travellers, nope......sad to say.

Beyond that, the present network, and it would be nice to cooperate with Northern Ireland and allow Portadown-Omagh-Derry to survive also, and thrive.

But beyond that, every single decision he made, I agree with, in the context of its time.

Judgement Day · 14-11-2011 6:56pm

dermo - Todd Andrews was an FF muck savage who along with Erskine Childers nearly killed off the Irish railway system completely - no more needs to be said. Stay off the sauce.

ardmacha · 14-11-2011 7:43pm

But beyond that, every single decision he made, I agree with, in the context of its time.

Harcourt Street?

Partizan · 14-11-2011 9:08pm

dermo88 wrote: »

Partizan

"when Mad Todd Andrews went on a Texas Chainsaw Massacre style rampage"

To dismiss Todd Andrews as mad and to describe his work as a chainsaw massacre is emotive. Richard Beeching did the same in Britain. It was pruning of a tree to ensure that the whole tree survived. Thats what we have today.

Hindsight is a great teacher. Given the choice, one route that survives today from Todd Andrews era would go, namely Limerick to Nenagh and Ballybrophy.

Waterford to Tramore would survive
Clonsilla to Navan

Not much else. Many "viable" lines. Not many at all to be honest. Nice for enthusiasts perhaps, but for travellers, nope......sad to say.

Beyond that, the present network, and it would be nice to cooperate with Northern Ireland and allow Portadown-Omagh-Derry to survive also, and thrive.

But beyond that, every single decision he made, I agree with, in the context of its time.

Sorry dermo, but I disagree with you there. The closing down of the Harcourt St line was an eact of economic sabotage not to mention shutting down the West Cork line which deprived a whole swath of the south west without any proper transport infrastructure which had a terrible knock on effect in the region in terms of economic development.

dermo88 · 16-11-2011 10:12am

I am being objective in my thinking with regard to Todd Andrews. It has to be seen in the context of its time, rather that the benefit of hindsight.

No railway in Europe was making a profit. It was looking like an increasingly outmoded transportation mode, particularly on low traffic routes.

The closing down of the Harcourt St line was an act of economic sabotage

Within a few years, that was evident, but in the context of Dublin in 1958, hardly so. The development, expansion and road congestion was not envisaged at that time. Bear in mind there was mass emigration, a falling population, and generally - in many cases the role of the rail network was to carry passengers to one destination. The Boat train platform at Carlisle Pier.

Economic sabotage....hardly. Remember, there were 120 passengers per day using the Harcourt Street line, which had an hourly service. Hardly intense usage by any means.

By 1974, with the first oil crisis, and the need for cheaper alternatives to the private car, increased traffic congestion in Dublin, it was evident that it was a mistake.

Judgement Day

Todd Andrews was an FF muck savage who along with Erskine Childers nearly killed off the Irish railway system completely

Wrong - massive wholesale investments were made, including the Craven coaches, the GM locomotive fleet, and the replacement of steam. Unit trains and container trains were introduced, and one person operation of trains. All in all, the measures taken under his tenure brought CIE to within 250,000 Pounds of breaking even by 1964. All this while passenger numbers grew on a shrinking mileage.

West Cork.....it was a glorified freight railway. Top speeds on it were around 50mph, and it was coming up for renewal. Its axleload tolerances were poor. It would not have survived beyond 1976 in any other European country, and I include rail friendly nations such as Germany and France there. Even they have made cutbacks.

Nearly killed it off. Sometimes rotten branches have to be cut, so that the tree survives. Thats what happened.

purplepanda · 16-11-2011 7:35pm

With the Barrow Road bridge / New Ross bypass N25 crossing project now in mothballs & not likely to start for a decade or more & considering the very substantial costs involved, one day it might be worthwhile considering much cheaper alternatives for transport in the region.

The South Wexford line should never have been closed unless the Barrow River road crossing went ahead, also anyone familiar with New Ross traffic congestion wouldn't mind the rail link to Waterford being rebuilt either, including the NR rail bridge continuing to a Park & Ride station somewhere east of the town.

Rebuilding & reopening these rail links would be but a fraction of the costs of the planned NR bypass bridge, how much has been wasted on that project already in planning & costs of land purchase? I doubt if it will be built in 20 years time!

Hindsight is a wonderful thing

Hopefully, if the money ever becomes available it is spent more wisely next time. Unless FF gets back into power :mad:

Seems the government is now telling the councils involved that the bypass is still on track, the sort of rubbish they tell West on Track campaigners when they demand the WRC extends northwards http://www.newrossstandard.ie/news/bypass-project-hasnt-stalled-2895189.html

Judgement Day · 16-11-2011 11:34pm

dermo88 wrote: »

I am being objective in my thinking with regard to Todd Andrews. It has to be seen in the context of its time, rather that the benefit of hindsight.

No railway in Europe was making a profit. It was looking like an increasingly outmoded transportation mode, particularly on low traffic routes.

The closing down of the Harcourt St line was an act of economic sabotage

Within a few years, that was evident, but in the context of Dublin in 1958, hardly so. The development, expansion and road congestion was not envisaged at that time. Bear in mind there was mass emigration, a falling population, and generally - in many cases the role of the rail network was to carry passengers to one destination. The Boat train platform at Carlisle Pier.

Economic sabotage....hardly. Remember, there were 120 passengers per day using the Harcourt Street line, which had an hourly service. Hardly intense usage by any means.

By 1974, with the first oil crisis, and the need for cheaper alternatives to the private car, increased traffic congestion in Dublin, it was evident that it was a mistake.

Judgement Day

Todd Andrews was an FF muck savage who along with Erskine Childers nearly killed off the Irish railway system completely

Wrong - massive wholesale investments were made, including the Craven coaches, the GM locomotive fleet, and the replacement of steam. Unit trains and container trains were introduced, and one person operation of trains. All in all, the measures taken under his tenure brought CIE to within 250,000 Pounds of breaking even by 1964. All this while passenger numbers grew on a shrinking mileage.

West Cork.....it was a glorified freight railway. Top speeds on it were around 50mph, and it was coming up for renewal. Its axleload tolerances were poor. It would not have survived beyond 1976 in any other European country, and I include rail friendly nations such as Germany and France there. Even they have made cutbacks.

Nearly killed it off. Sometimes rotten branches have to be cut, so that the tree survives. Thats what happened.

If you lop too many branches off any tree the trunk itself dies. The wholesale investments you refer to would have had to been made by whoever was running CIE as it had inherited an ancient collection of motive power and rolling stock. As for one person operation of trains - what do you mean? It's only in very recent times that this has come into force. As for containerisation - this too was long after Todd Andrews. The West Cork lines had a lot of track renewal work carried out prior to closure and the railway was busy with both passengers and freight.

The Harcourt Street line closure was an utter folly which Todd Andrews pushed through due to his 'class' hatred of what he saw as a railway operating to facilitate a few Protestant solicitors who lived in Foxrock. Many people at the time protested against the closure and put forward alternatives - I've read newspaper articles of the day so it's not hindsight - but this was the era when the politician, the church and Fianna Fail were revered.

Where does your figure of 120 passengers per day come from? I seem to remember that the annual figure was quite respectable and, of course, took into account race and seaside traffic. Anyway, it's all irrelevant now as is the rail system outside Greater Dublin.

ajay 83 · 17-11-2011 12:04am

Iv been in the tunnel many times. You can access it easy enough from both sides. The easiest side is at Rosemount Stud lodge. Its creepy and damp and extremely dangerous! But great fun when your young:)

nlgbbbblth · 18-01-2014 12:10pm

Walked through it with flaming torches and a bag of cans on the night we finished our Inter Cert, 1987. Then back over the red bridge.

Trick of the Tail · 25-01-2014 12:18am

I've been through it too. It's waterlogged at the northern end, but after a period of dry weather it's navigable.

It's interesting that you can still see the signs of pick axes having been used to dig it on the Rock sides and ceiling.

The southern end is the easiest to get to, just climb up the bank opposite the alignment that goes to the bridge, where the small road bridge used to be.

Victor · 25-01-2014 8:34am

Trick of the Tail wrote: »

It's interesting that you can still see the signs of pick axes having been used to dig it on the Rock sides and ceiling.

Are you sure? I suspect a pick axe would have limited effect on solid rock.

Trick of the Tail · 25-01-2014 9:49am

Well that's what I assumed the markings are!

It's sandstone I think, so hand tools may well have been used back then.

gobnaitolunacy · 25-01-2014 10:17am

Those marks were made by 'drills', not a Black & Decker from B&Q.... but a chisel-like thing that you'd have to drive with a sledge hammer for finishing off an area that had been blasted out.

twomint · 17-02-2014 12:00am

Sorry to drag this one back up but looking for a bit of information.

I visited the tunnel recently and very impressive it is too -

1.

2.

3.

The northern portal -

Now above the portal on the right hand side as you look is a memorial plaque -

Does anyone know what happened to Nicholas Coady on 15th December 1930 ? I've tried looking on the interweb but can only find reference to him in the 1911 census.

Losty Dublin · 17-02-2014 12:45am

twomint wrote: »

Sorry to drag this one back up but looking for a bit of information.

Does anyone know what happened to Nicholas Coady on 15th December 1930 ? I've tried looking on the interweb but can only find reference to him in the 1911 census.

I'd guess that he was killed on or by a train around there. If you dropped an e mail to the IRRS, they may have a record of what happened to him.

twomint · 17-02-2014 12:51am

Thanks for that Losty, will give it a try.

Have to admit that some sort of accident like getting hit by a train did cross my mind but when I went looking for any information I found nothing.

The memorial doesn't look that old either so was just intrigued as to what the back story was and who put it on the portal.

Losty Dublin · 17-02-2014 1:18am

twomint wrote: »

Thanks for that Losty, will give it a try.

Have to admit that some sort of accident like getting hit by a train did cross my mind but when I went looking for any information I found nothing.

The memorial doesn't look that old either so was just intrigued as to what the back story was and who put it on the portal.

Drop me a PM; I'll see what I can do for you.

twomint · 18-02-2014 1:18pm

PM sent Losty

Mount Elliot Railway Tunnel

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