BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TULLOW
BRANCH
The Great Southern and Western Railway Act was passed in 1881
reviving an earlier abandoned proposal to build a branch line
from the Cork - Dublin line at Sallins to Baltinglass. Robert
Worthington was the contractor and construction of the line
started in March 1883 and was completed as far as Colbinstown
opening on June 22, 1885, in September 1885 and reaching the
terminus at Baltinglass on 1st September 1885. Intermediate
stations on the twenty four and a half mile branch were at intermediate
stations at Naas, Harriston, Dunlavin, Coldbinstown, Grangecon.
Worthington then extended the line south to a new terminus
at Tullow with one further intermediate at Rathvilly. At 35
miles in length was the longest branch line on the Great Southern
and Western Railway opening to Tullow on 1st June 1886. The
terminus at Tullow had an overall (trainshed) roof with a turntable
and water tower on the south side of the station.
There was a fatal accident at Tullow Station on 21st November
1901. Shortly after leaving that station the fireman noticed
that there was no driver. Having stopped the train he walked
back along the track where he found the driver. It would appear
the driver had got out onto the footplate to make adjustments
while the engine was moving out of the station and he slipped
and fell under the train. He dies the following morning.
Initially the branch was served by ten trains a day but the
lines popularity soon declined losing traffic to road transport
and this was reduced to three passenger trains and one goods
train a day. In 1928 a Sentinel Cammel steam rail car
was used on the line to reduce costs but it didn't prove popular
with passengers or staff and was quickly withdrawn. Passenger
numbers continued to decline with the popularity of the car
and the passenger service was eventually withdrawn on 22nd January
1947 with the freight service ceasing shortly afterwards on
10th March 1947
A monthly goods service was retained mainly for the transportation
of livestock with occasional passenger excursions for special
events such as All-Ireland final or annual pilgrimages to Knock
Shrine.
A daily goods service was reintroduced in 1957 but this was
short lived with final closure of the line coming on 15th June
1959 with a special excursion.
Although the station house remains in private occupation all
other station buildings have been demolished with only a section
of wall remaining and a new housing estate now stands on the
station site.
For more history and photographs of the Tullow branch line
see Carlow
County Museum web site
See also TULLOW
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