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Chronology
of the Railways
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| 1834 |
December 17 First railway between Dublin and Kingstown now Dun Laoghaire opened. |
| 1839 |
Great Northern Railway (Ireland) (GNR(I)) incorporated 1876 (the Ulster Railway, one of its constituents, dates from 1836) first section opened 1839, 606 miles (970 km) |
| Line opened between Belfast and Lisburn Co Antrim. | |
| 1841 |
The Belfast to Lisburn line is extended to Portadown Co Armagh |
| 1844 |
May 24 The Dublin to Droheda line opened. |
| 1845 |
Total length of line in Ireland 70 miles. |
| 1846 |
The railway arrived in Bagenalstown Couinty Carlow |
| The gauge of the Ulster railway was altered. | |
| 1848
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The first section of the Belfast to Ballymena via Carrickfergus line was built. |
| 2nd August Line opened between Belfast and Hollywood in Co Down. | |
| 1849 |
The Belfast to Portadown line is extended to Armagh. |
1850 |
Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway 16 miles (26 km); (originally Irish gauge, 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), converted to 3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge in 1900); incorporated 1846, four locomotives, 57 other vehicles |
| A line to Newtownards via Dundonald in Co Down is opened. Images from Newtownards station. | |
| 1853 |
Waterford and Tramore Railway 7.25 miles (12 km); opened 5th September 1851, four locomotives, 32 other vehicles;. The line which was unique in that it was not conected to any other line, it closed, on 1st January1960 |
| The Londonderry and Coleraine Railway was completed. | |
| 1855 |
The Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, and Portrush Railway was opened. |
| 1857 |
The gauge of the Dublin to Kingstown railway was altered. |
| 1858 |
Ballynahinch is connected to Downpatrick Co Down. |
| 1860 |
A viaduct over the River Bann at Coleraine built. |
1861 |
A line from Bangor County Down reaches Donaghdee in the same county. |
| 1863 |
Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway (L&LSR) 83 miles
(133 km); {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; opened 1863/ Extended in 1904 18 locomotives, 311 other vehicles |
| Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway 26.5 miles (42 km); incorporated 1863; six locomotives, 230 other vehicles | |
| December 31 Line opened between Derry and Farland Point. | |
| 1864 |
A branch to Buncrana built from the Derry to Farland point line. |
| 1865 |
The Belfast to Hollywood line extended to Bangor. |
1869 |
Newcastle is connected to Downpatrick Co Down |
| 1882 |
Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway 49 miles (78
km); {4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1875 11 locomotives,
228 other vehicles; Closed 1957 |
1880
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Giant's Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway & Tramway 8 miles (13 km); {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1880; two locomotives, 23 other vehicles |
| Ballycastle Railway 16.25 miles (26 km) {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1878, four locomotives, 74 other vehicles | |
| A station was opened at Abbetydourney Co Kerry on the Tralee to Limerick line. | |
1883 |
An extension to Letterkenny was constructed from the Derry line 16 miles (26 km); worked by L&LSR |
| 1884 |
Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway 7.25 miles (1 2 km); {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1883, three locomotives, 34 other vehicles; closed 1933 |
| Bessbrook and Newry Light Railway (electric) 3 miles (5 km) {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge} one locomotive, 24 other vehicles | |
| 1885. |
The Letterkenny network was converted to narrow gauge. |
| The Great Northern rail system reaches Belturbet in Co Cavan as does the Cavan & Leitrim narrow guage system in June | |
1886 |
Clonakilty Extension Railway 8.75 miles (14 km); Worked by CDJC |
| Clonakilty Extension Light Railway 8.75 miles (14 km); {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1881. | |
| Cork and Macroom Direct Railway 24.5 miles (38 km); incorporated 1861 four locomotives, 132 other vehicles | |
| Listowel and Ballybunion Railway 10 miles (16 km); (Monorail) (Lartigue system); incorporated 1886, opened 1888; three locomotives, 39 other vehicles | |
1887 |
Tralee and Fenit Railway 8 miles (13 km) |
| Clogher Valley Railway 37 miles (59 km) {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1884, seven locomotives, 127 other vehicles; closed 1942 | |
| West Clare Railway 27 miles (43 km); {3 ft 0 in (914 mm)
gauge} eight locomotives, 146 other vehicles Worked by CB&SCR |
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1896 |
1st August A 5 mile sput line connecting Ardee in Co Louth to the Belfast - Dublin line was opened |
1887 |
Carrickfergus Harbour Junction Light Railway 1 mile (2 km); incorporated 1882, |
| Cork and Muskerry Light Railway (C&MLR) 18 miles (29 km); {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1883, six locomotives, 87 other vehicles. | |
| The West Clare Railway opened it closed 1961 | |
1888 |
Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway 15.5 miles (25 km); {5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1887, four locomotives, 46 other vehicles |
| Cavan and Leitrim Light Railway 48.5 miles (78 km); {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1883, nine locomotives, 167 other vehicles | |
1889 |
June 12 Eighty passengers killed on the Armagh to Warrenpoint line. |
| 1890 |
Loughrea and Attymon Railway 9 miles (14 km) Worked by NCCMid {4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) gauge} |
| Ballinascarthy Railway; worked by T&CR; {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1888. | |
1891 |
Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Railway (T&CR) 9 miles (14 km); {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1888, two locomotives, 119 other vehicles |
| Tralee and Dingle Light Railway 37.5 miles (60 km); {3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge}; incorporated 1884, opened 1891; eight locomotives, 108 other vehicles | |
| City of Dublin Junction Railway 1.25 miles (2 km) | |
| 1892 |
Ballinrobe and Claremorris Railway 12 miles (19 km) |
| Ardglass is connected to Downpatrick Co Down. | |
1904 |
New Ross and Waterford Extension Railway 13.5 miles (22 km) Worked by GNR(I) |
1909 |
Castleblayney, Keady
and Armagh Railway 18.25 miles (29 km) Worked by GSWR {4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) gauge} |
| Strabane and Letterkenny Railway 19.5 miles (31 km) Worked by D&SER |
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| 1906 |
Castlewellan is connected to Newcastle. |
1920 |
There are now about 3,500 miles of line in Ireland |
1921 |
Jan 21st. First train arrives at Castlecomer (Co Klkenny) |
| 1922 |
During the Civil War lines were lifted and bridges blown up. |
| 1924 |
A Viaduct replacing one built in 1860 is built over the River Bann. |
| 1925 |
The Great Southern came into existence it took over 26 other companies and employed over 15,000 workers. |
| 1930-2 |
The Boyne viaduct is rebuilt it has a total length of 1,760 ft. with 15 spans. |
| 1931-34 |
The Greenisland Loop, between Belfast and |
1934 |
3rd June The Line conncting Ardee to the Belfast- Dublin line ceased carrying pasengers, freight was carried until 1976. |
| 1948 |
All railways in Ulster are nationalized. |
| 1950 |
All routes except the Belfast to Bangor and Belfast to Dublin lines are closed. |
| 3 July The Limavady to Dungiven line was closed. | |
| 1951 |
31st Dec The Dublin-Greenore-Newry Railway closed after 78 year service. |
| 1955 |
2 May 1955 A branch line to Limavady from the Belfast, Derry line was closed. |
1950 |
3 July The Limavady to Dungiven line was closed |
| The Belfast to Newtownards via Dundonald line is closed. | |
| 1953 |
8 August The Letterkenny to Derry line closed. |
| Tralee to Dingle Light Railway closed. | |
1955 |
2 May . The spur line from the Belfast, Derry to Limavady was closed |
| Passenger Service ceased in 1950's | |
1957 |
30 September The Omagh to Enniskillen line closed. |
| 1959 |
March The Cavan & Leitrim Railway narrow guage, and the Great Northern railways closed. |
1961 |
The West Clare railway closed. |
1962 |
Castlecomer station closes (Co Klkenny) |
1976 |
3rd November The line connecting Ardee to the Belfast - Dublin line was closed |
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