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Mount Elliot Railway Tunnel

  • 14-05-2010 2:10pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,032 ✭✭✭


    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.


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭Stonewolf


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,032 ✭✭✭DWCommuter


    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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


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

    Or "head shop" products. :p


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,032 ✭✭✭DWCommuter


    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


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,858 ✭✭✭paulm17781


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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,577 ✭✭✭lord lucan




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,132 ✭✭✭Stonewolf


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,522 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    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 ;)


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,490 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 912 ✭✭✭Hungerford


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 368 ✭✭Roryhy


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,490 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 386 ✭✭NedNew2


    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).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,032 ✭✭✭DWCommuter


    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?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,032 ✭✭✭DWCommuter


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 386 ✭✭NedNew2


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,032 ✭✭✭DWCommuter


    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.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭Ledger


    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?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 410 ✭✭topnotch


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,779 ✭✭✭Carawaystick


    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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 410 ✭✭topnotch




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭Ledger


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 386 ✭✭NedNew2


    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? :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,249 ✭✭✭✭flazio


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,390 ✭✭✭Doublechinlolz


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭Ledger


    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


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 67 ✭✭Eugbug


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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,490 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Merged.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 629 ✭✭✭Partizan


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,000 ✭✭✭dermo88


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    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. :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,476 ✭✭✭ardmacha


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

    Harcourt Street?


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 629 ✭✭✭Partizan


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,000 ✭✭✭dermo88


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,070 ✭✭✭purplepanda


    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 :D 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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    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.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ajay 83


    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:)


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,668 ✭✭✭nlgbbbblth


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,319 ✭✭✭Trick of the Tail


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,490 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,319 ✭✭✭Trick of the Tail


    Well that's what I assumed the markings are!

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


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,073 ✭✭✭gobnaitolunacy


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 25 twomint


    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.
    12574218384_a21bb33905_z.jpg

    2.
    12574224254_14613e95ca_z.jpg

    3.
    12574226234_55c8b24c21_z.jpg

    The northern portal -
    12573888483_c5563e581a_z.jpg

    Now above the portal on the right hand side as you look is a memorial plaque - 12573783585_5a2ae91c7a_z.jpg

    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,237 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 25 twomint


    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.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,237 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    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.


  • Registered Users Posts: 25 twomint


    PM sent Losty


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