Where/What is "Clonydonnin"

Clonydonnin is a passing loop half way between Clara and Athlone

There are two remote passing loops on the Galway route:

Clonnydonnin as per above and Geashill between Portarlington and Tullamore.

The Westport route has one at Knockcroghery between Athlone and Roscommon, and Sligo has one at Killucan, between Enfield and Mullingar.

There is also Dromkeen between Limerick and Limerick Junction

corktina wrote: »

are they at former stations and are they used much? odd aspect I had never realised about

They generally are at old stations or at least the site of their signal cabins controling a block post and yes they can be used quite a lot, depending on how busy a line is.

Knockcroghery was retained both as a fringe box for CTC and in ETS days as a rendevous for ballast trains for Lecarrow which collected a subsidary train staff in the good old days of ETS operation.

There is also a loop at Carraig on Shannon outside the station and Enfield is one other point on the Sligo line that allows for crossing. Woodlawn is a crossing point on the Galway line while Limerick Junction has one on the Limerick side; it was long used for goods trains to be bypassed but I doubt if it sees much use these days. Thomastown was used till a few years ago on the Waterford line before it was moved to Ballyhale to save waiting times on crossings.

I gather than Cobh Junction has a loop of sorts on the Midleton branch; perhaps somebody may be able to clarify the arrangement down there.

bikeman1 wrote: »

Lets not forget Galway Loop, which is just outside Galway Station on the bridge at Lough Atalia, used by many services to pass. Quite frustrating place if you are coming from the east, you are just about in Galway, can see the city centre, but have to wait for a departing service!

Far less trains use Galway loop since the last timetable change when Oranmore opened.

You could then also add Sligo loop, which is outside the station, along with Carrick-on-Shannon and Wexford.

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

No loop there this long time, sadly. The nearest ones are Rosslare Strand and Enniscorthy.

lxflyer wrote: »

Wexford does have a loop!!!

It's just north of the station.

Gadzonks; I forgot about it, LXflyer.

Wexford loop must get the prize for being the most underutilised...

Niles wrote: »

Wexford loop must get the prize for being the most underutilised...

Indeed - but if there was a failure or there is a ballast train then it can be needed.

Better to have than to have not I would suggest.