Athlone-Mullingar

SeanW

Wonder what the current state of the Athlone Mullingar railway is?

Is it officially closed? How is the track at present? Does the weedspray train visit it regularly?

Losty Dublin

The line beyond Mullingar yard confines is closed to all traffic and can't be traversed without engineers permission. It hasn't been sprayed in years now and don't expect it to be anytime soon. It's ok in parts and bad in others; it is through bogland so it's to be expected.

simon_24

Yeah its not in great shape, Moate station now fenced off, although gates are built into fencing, walked it the other day, no chance of getting a train down it in its current shape

end of the road

no train will ever travel the line again.

demanufactured

end of the road wrote: »

no train will ever travel the line again.

I agree , Its be let go to such a poor state it wouldn't be cost effective to ever try reopen it.

I always wondered why it wasn't kept as a freight line though , even back when freight was busy it would have kept freight off the main dublin galway line.

L1011

demanufactured wrote: »

I agree , Its be let go to such a poor state it wouldn't be cost effective to ever try reopen it.

I always wondered why it wasn't kept as a freight line though , even back when freight was busy it would have kept freight off the main dublin galway line.

At the time, Clonsilla-Maynooth was single and daytime freight flows would have been blocking Maynooth commuter on a single line.

Sligo Quay

SeanW wrote: »

Wonder what the current state of the Athlone Mullingar railway is?

Is it officially closed? How is the track at present? Does the weedspray train visit it regularly?

The strange thing is Irish Rail seems to have stopped weedspraying the closed lines since 2002, Sligo Quay hasn't been sprayed since 2002, along with the Foynes Branch, Athlone /Mullingar and Navan / Kingscourt, although I think the South Wexford (Waterford / Rosslare) was sprayed this year, but thats not closed as such, present status = services suspended.

Losty Dublin

demanufactured wrote: »

I agree , Its be let go to such a poor state it wouldn't be cost effective to ever try reopen it.

I always wondered why it wasn't kept as a freight line though , even back when freight was busy it would have kept freight off the main dublin galway line.

The freight yard in Athlone was on the south line so a freight train to stop at it via the Mullingar line, a reversal or a propelling movement (Driving a train backwards) was required. As the two busiest freight flows on the line came from Heuston (Beer) and Cabra (Cement), they arrived from the Portarlington line so it made sense to send the traffic down this way. In any case, the line speeds and capacity that MYOB mentioned also had their part to play in seeing it off.

best_before

SeanW wrote: »

Wonder what the current state of the Athlone Mullingar railway is?

Is it officially closed? How is the track at present? Does the weedspray train visit it regularly?

It's been officially closed for a long time. At the Mullingar end of it, you could describe the state of it in one word - 'sorry'. You can't even see most of it for weeds & the only reason all the sleepers haven't rotted away is that some of them have been burned, presumably during cider 'parties'. At least one farmer has 'privatised' a section by fencing it off so that cattle don't stray when they're crossing it. It's a pity, but I think they'd be very hard-pressed to justify the cost of re-opening this line, unless the new Chinese 'mini-city' in Athlone (assuming it ever happens) creates sufficient demand. It certainly looks like there was never any intention of re-opening it, or even maintaining it as an option.

Sligo Quay

Losty Dublin wrote: »

The freight yard in Athlone was on the south line so a freight train to stop at it via the Mullingar line, a reversal or a propelling movement (Driving a train backwards) was required. As the two busiest freight flows on the line came from Heuston (Beer) and Cabra (Cement),

I don't see the connection with Cabra cement, Cabra never supply the west of Ireland with cement, Cabra got its cement from Limerick in the early days, then from Platin, Cabra was just a local depot for building supplers in the Dublin Area, it wasn't a ''factory''.
Sligo Quay had 4 tall cement silos that suppled the North West, but then Quinn cement arrived and that closed down Sligo Quay for cement, Cabra had the same status as Sligo, then only difference Cabra supply the Dublin Area and had 2 or 3 silos, not sure, just had a look at this http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/Railway%20Stations%20C/Cabra/IrishRailwayStations.html but it didn't supply the rest of the country, Limerick and Platin which where and still are factories, did that. Cabra was just like Sligo, Tullamore, Waterford, Cork and Belfast, supplying local areas with bulk cement, bag cement was completely different, Cabra never handled bag cement, all them other places did.

rainbowdash

Sligo Quay wrote: »

The strange thing is Irish Rail seems to have stopped weedspraying the closed lines since 2002, Sligo Quay hasn't been sprayed since 2002, along with the Foynes Branch, Athlone /Mullingar and Navan / Kingscourt, although I think the South Wexford (Waterford / Rosslare) was sprayed this year, but thats not closed as such, present status = services suspended.

Athenry - Claremorris was not sprayed either in recent years, although it saw an inspection car a few years ago.

I don't think the Limerick cement branch is being sprayed either, even though it saw trains quite recently.

Limerick - Ballybrophy and Limerick Junction - Waterford will surely fall by the wayside during this recession, leaving nothing but Dublin to the big cities, Limerick - Galway and Tara Mines.

I can't see Ennis - Athenry getting chopped because its a short distance.

flyingsnail

rainbowdash wrote: »

I don't think the Limerick cement branch is being sprayed either, even though it saw trains quite recently.

The limerick cement branch is no longer passable due to the removal of the level crossing at Rathbane.

rainbowdash

flyingsnail wrote: »

The limerick cement branch is no longer passable due to the removal of the level crossing at Rathbane.

That sounds about right from Irish rail, make double sure it can never be accessed again.

Now they can streamline Limerick with no junctions except the Ennis turnout and service yard (after they close the Nenagh branch)

It will make LimericK junction much tidier too if they can get rid of that nasty Waterford branch.

Losty Dublin

rainbowdash wrote: »

That sounds about right from Irish rail, make double sure it can never be accessed again.

Now they can streamline Limerick with no junctions except the Ennis turnout and service yard (after they close the Nenagh branch)

It will make LimericK junction much tidier too if they can get rid of that nasty Waterford branch.

As there is solid proposals for reopening the Foynes branch for mineral traffic, there is every possibility that the junction will be retained.

rainbowdash

Losty Dublin wrote: »

As there is solid proposals for reopening the Foynes branch for mineral traffic, there is every possibility that the junction will be retained.

I really can't see it happening. If it was to happen the cost of reconnecting it would be minimal given the overall cost of a complete line rebuild.

If its pallasgreen etc. you are referring to they could possibly bring it to Cork on an existing line.

Losty Dublin

rainbowdash wrote: »

I really can't see it happening. If it was to happen the cost of reconnecting it would be minimal given the overall cost of a complete line rebuild.

If its pallasgreen etc. you are referring to they could possibly bring it to Cork on an existing line.

There has been a complete costing done for the Limerick resignaling. Included in the costing is other works in the region, including the required work required to reopen the Foynes branch, which isn't actually that much, all told. It's now a matter for the mineral ore customer/s to agree to the flow on the line and for the funds to be made good for the work.

dowlingm

Why would we want to see 50mph ore trains on the Cork-Dublin line? Wouldn't there have to be some movements in the Junction too to get it there?

If Pallasgreen was a serious contender to open soon I would say the best shipping route would be Waterford port - the money spent on rehabilitating Foynes could have been used to send the ore the other way but increase capacity in the largely single track Pallasgreen-Waterford sections which would have improved passenger flow too especially if Limerick-Limerick Junction was doubled and raised to 80+mph. Automatic operation in the Clonmel area might have raised the prospect of timber flows and Sunday passenger trains. Instead Cahir, Tipperary, Carrick on Suir and Waterford West are all being "rationalised" to ensure no such heady thoughts will contemplated in the new order of things.

rainbowdash

dowlingm wrote: »

Why would we want to see 50mph ore trains on the Cork-Dublin line? Wouldn't there have to be some movements in the Junction too to get it there?

If Pallasgreen was a serious contender to open soon I would say the best shipping route would be Waterford port - the money spent on rehabilitating Foynes could have been used to send the ore the other way but increase capacity in the largely single track Pallasgreen-Waterford sections which would have improved passenger flow too especially if Limerick-Limerick Junction was doubled and raised to 80+mph. Automatic operation in the Clonmel area might have raised the prospect of timber flows and Sunday passenger trains. Instead Cahir, Tipperary, Carrick on Suir and Waterford West are all being "rationalised" to ensure no such heady thoughts will contemplated in the new order of things.

Nobody would want to see ore trains on Dublin-Cork anymore than Belfast-Dublin, but this option, or even going via Waterford as you suggested, might be more economical than rebuilding Foynes.

Maybe even go to Dublin if all the unloading infrastructure is already in place, maybe they could use bigger boats too and make it all more viable - who knows?

I'm just saying the Foynes option is not a shoein if ore is to be transported by rail.

Hell you could bring it to Galway too and make use of the WRC!

dowlingm

You could send it to North Wall all right, provide a bit of revenue to the Limerick-Ballybrophy line, pay for a rebuild to the Ballybrophy area to allow southbound trains to enter the branch directly plus some additional track in the Kildare/Cherryville area to ease the existing flows to/from Portarlington (essentially a mini KRP). The other advantage of sending to NW is that 071s and 201s are in and out of there anyway so replacement locos would be easier to source than having to have one at Limerick and dispatch same. Of course it occurs to me that IE themselves have contemplated freight on the Cork line...

By the time any of this happens ore prices will have tanked along with the Chinese economy, naturally.

Sligo Quay

They could always send it to Sligo Quay and reopen the Burma rd, tongue in cheek if your into white elephants.
But on a more serious note last figure I heard for Foynes Branch relay was 5million, the WRC was 100million and the rest because of the building of over the top stations with large carparks that nobody uses.
A straight forward basic relay for ore trains only, could be done with minimum cost, as long as nobody gets a brainstorm of an idea to build white elephant railways stations for non existent fare paying passengers and expensive footbridges with lifts for wheelchairs that don't exist ether, a practical idea as long as its not taken over by dreamers or politicans looking for a pipe dream to gain election votes, it could work.

demanufactured

http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/Railway%20Stations%20M/Moate/IrishRailwayStations.html

http://eiretrains.com/Photo_Gallery/Railway%20Stations%20A/Athlone%20Midland/Irish%20Railway%20Stations.html

xtradel

Did anybody see that BBC programme "Three Men go to Ireland" with Griff Rhys Jones, Dara O'Briain and Rory McGrath? They arrive by boat in Mullingar and then take the old line to Athlone on some pedal bike rail contraption. Cant remember if the guy who designed it said it was available for hire or not. I'd love a spin on it though!

lord lucan

xtradel wrote: »

Did anybody see that BBC programme "Three Men go to Ireland" with Griff Rhys Jones, Dara O'Briain and Rory McGrath? They arrive by boat in Mullingar and then take the old line to Athlone on some pedal bike rail contraption. Cant remember if the guy who designed it said it was available for hire or not. I'd love a spin on it though!

I remember that. I Googled it afterwards but couldn't find anything online about it.

Losty Dublin

The sort of bike in the show were used by permanent way workmen to inspect track and to move around without blocking the line up with engines. When the workmen arrived or if a train was coming, they lifted the cycle off the track.

There is one in Hell's Kitchen Museum in Castlerea; maybe it was the very one seen in the show.

http://www.hellskitchenmuseum.com/bike.htm

dmcronin

They use something similar in France on disused lines (poor-ish vid, but you'll get the idea)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOmXT6r0wnw

dmcronin

The Irish version definitely looks more home made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5MrcckV5Uc&feature=autoplay&list=ULNxdeHaIXAl0&playnext=1

demanufactured

I have many memories of being on the line as a kid
The only trains we would ever see were inspection cabs or "yellow cabs" as we called them.
Only twice did i ever see a proper train on it and i lived right beside the line most of my life.

cbl593h

xtradel wrote: »

Did anybody see that BBC programme "Three Men go to Ireland" with Griff Rhys Jones, Dara O'Briain and Rory McGrath? They arrive by boat in Mullingar and then take the old line to Athlone on some pedal bike rail contraption. Cant remember if the guy who designed it said it was available for hire or not. I'd love a spin on it though!

And I assume for your "spin" the Mullingar to Moate token will be released (or pilotman provided) and CTC will be informed Moate to Athlone under supervision of Divisional Engineer who conducts all movements over the line as per Weekly Circular,still operational railway...........

Judgement Day

cbl593h wrote: »

And I assume for your "spin" the Mullingar to Moate token will be released (or pilotman provided) and CTC will be informed Moate to Athlone under supervision of Divisional Engineer who conducts all movements over the line as per Weekly Circular,still operational railway...........

I wonder do Tralee UDC have the Tralee/Fenit manual staff out for their illegal activities on this nominally operational railway. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056478742&page=7

dmcronin

cbl593h wrote: »

And I assume for your "spin" the Mullingar to Moate token will be released (or pilotman provided) and CTC will be informed Moate to Athlone under supervision of Divisional Engineer who conducts all movements over the line as per Weekly Circular,still operational railway...........

Yeah sure, why not?

dmcronin

Judgement Day wrote: »

I wonder do Tralee UDC have the Tralee/Fenit manual staff out for their illegal activities on this nominally operational railway. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056478742&page=7

Have they gotten tired of playing with their big train set to Blennerville?

demanufactured

Im amazed that the line is still connected at athlone...
There was work going on aat athlone midland a couple months ago where they disconnected the old engine shed from the network.
Id say its only a matter of time before the line is cut off altogether.

Hungerford

Judgement Day wrote: »

I wonder do Tralee UDC have the Tralee/Fenit manual staff out for their illegal activities on this nominally operational railway. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056478742&page=7

All we need for some third-party to request to run a service and stump up its access charges and both Tralee UDC and Irish Rail will be in a heap of trouble. It is technically open, just not in use.

ardmacha

All we need for some third-party to request to run a service and stump up its access charges and both Tralee UDC and Irish Rail will be in a heap of trouble

.

Could we have a collection on Boards? Someone must have some rolling stock.

end of the road

ardmacha wrote: »

.Could we have a collection on Boards? Someone must have some rolling stock.

i've a couple of box cars and some rebogied x BR class 37s if anyones interested <snip> i'l get them out of the shed tomorrow <snip>

demanufactured

Ill be about town in athlone for a whilr tomorrow...ill take a few pics of the mullingar line where i can.

Sligo Quay

If you could take a few pictures of Moate station or maybe Castletown, particularly Moate, new pallet fencing has been installed around the station area, just wondering if the level crossing gates are still in place.

simon_24

Level crossing gate have been replaced with plastic white ones, fence has gates in it that would allow access through station on one line

demanufactured

Heres a couple I took this morning at the "white gates" in Athlone.
The first one looking East towards Moate , And the second looking west towards the juntion with the southern line.

Judgement Day

Mothballing CIE style - lifting train will be along soon. :rolleyes:

Sligo Quay

In a worse condition than I thought.

end of the road

Judgement Day wrote: »

Mothballing CIE style - lifting train will be along soon.

very true, it will get to all the network one day and then CIE's mission of self destruction will be complete.

starhillroad

CIE - Proudly sponsored by and supporting the Automobile Association, Irish Motor Federation and Car Industry since 1945.

roundymac

starhillroad wrote: »

CIE - Proudly sponsored by and supporting the Automobile Association, Irish Motor Federation and Car Industry since 1945.

Don't forget the road haulage industry as well.:(

corktina

end of the road wrote: »

very true, it will get to all the network one day and then CIE's mission of self destruction will be complete.

a good bit of it yes, the main sections will remain ,provided they are actually viable to retain at that stage. The fixed costs associated with running the Company will barely diminish in step with the reduction of mileage.

Is it a matter of National Pride that we feel we MUST have a Railway?

Partizan

Judgement Day wrote: »

Mothballing CIE style - lifting train will be along soon. :rolleyes:

Better off. Lift the damn line and in its place put a cycle/walk track thereby preserving the alignment.

Ted Mosby

corktina wrote: »

a good bit of it yes, the main sections will remain ,provided they are actually viable to retain at that stage. The fixed costs associated with running the Company will barely diminish in step with the reduction of mileage.

Is it a matter of National Pride that we feel we MUST have a Railway?

Is it a matter of principle to many boardsies that we MUST NOT have a Railway? That's the way it reads here.

steamengine

corktina wrote: »

a good bit of it yes, the main sections will remain ,provided they are actually viable to retain at that stage. The fixed costs associated with running the Company will barely diminish in step with the reduction of mileage.

Is it a matter of National Pride that we feel we MUST have a Railway?

It's a matter of National Pride, to a few of us at least, that we HAVE a Railway and that we don't listen too closely to the bean counters and the tarmac brigade and throw alignments away until it's absolutely beyond doubt that they will never be used again. For fellow railway enthusiasts who wish to have their speak, the 'future of rail transport in Ireland' is being discussed on Infrastructure at present.

end of the road

people recognise rail as an alternative to the car and especially to a horid bus. if invested in properly when we had the money we could have had a rail network faster then the motor ways which won't stay to a high standard forever i'm afraid, the IMF will tell us not to invest in them probably. people want the choice, not to be bullied on to one form of transport because the anti rail brigade want to get rid of it all because they think the money will be put to better use which it won't. if it did close i suppose nobody would do anything about it just sit there as usual and let it happen like the laughing stock that we are.

Bonus_Pack

While I would love to see the line converted to a greenway, I think we must realse that this is no easy feat dispite what it may look like to begine with.
We should remember the debacle that was the proposal to make a walking/cylcing route along the kilmeaden-dungarvan stretch - landowners blocked it outright with some claiming squatters rights on the trackbed and the ubiquitous neurotic bunch that were paranoid about dumping taking place - yeah, shure the farmers were dumping farm plastic waste out there with years.
Others were obsessed with the prospect of youths using drugs and quads out on the line and interfereing with lifestock.

Sligo Quay

Probably never reopen, new M4 and M6 and all.....