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Ireland
Waterford & Suir Valley Railway
The society was established in 1997 with the intention of restoring the Waterford and Tramore Railway, but after feasibility studies this was deemed impractical due to changes in road layouts made since the line's closure.
The Waterford - Dungarvan rail route was then explored and agreement was reached to try to restore a section of the historic line which was integral in connecting travelers from London to Killarney made popular as a holiday destination by Queen Elizabeth and was the first line to have luxury dining cars in Ireland. This line also carried significant volumes of mail from the UK and Ireland to the Americas via Cobh.
The society laid its first track in 2000 and by the end of 2003 it had laid over 8 km of track from Kilmeadan to Gracedieu Junction. It ran its first public trains in May that year.
In 2004, a further 2 km of track were laid as far as Bilberry. In 2008, the railway carried its 100,000th passenger, and in 2010 opened a maintenance and storage shed for its rolling stock. In 2016, the WSVR received planning permission for a new station building at Kilmeadan for which it is seeking to raise funds.
In March 2017 the Waterford Greenway opened on the 46 km of track bed built for the Waterford to Dungarvan rail line with walkers and cyclists sharing much of the last 10 km with the heritage railway as it heads towards Waterford City. Kilmeaden station is a meeting point with users of the Greenway and visitors to the railway availing of the station's facilities.
The railway is a registered charity, with a voluntary board of directors, with the purpose of preserving a part of Waterford's significant industrial heritage and educating visitors on its rich history. In 2016 the railway carried over 24,000 passengers and by 2018 this number had risen to just under 30,000.
WSVR Whistlestop cafe
The new Whistlestop cafe and facilities were completed in 2020, partly funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund, which help meet the needs of the growing number of visitors to the Greenway especially during the COVID restrictions when the shop was permitted to be open.
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Visit us
Address
Contact
Kilmeadan Station
Kilmeadan
What Waterford
X91 DH93
+353 (0) 51 384058
West Clare Railway
West Clare Railway has been restored to provide a fun day out for families and school tours.
The importance, magnitude and impact of the birth of the West Clare Railway on the local transport system of County Clare cannot be measured. The story has been well documented over the years, in book and song. However, it is extraordinary that it was not until the mid 1990's that a local committee attempted to revive this treasured historical railway.
Jackie Whelan became involved when a committee for the Restoration of the West Clare Railway was created in the mid 1990's. He initially carried out all the preparatory works for the tracks of this railway line, including all excavation works, track laying & fencing on a voluntary basis for this committee.
One objective of the committee was to include the "Slieve Callan" steam engine as part of the proposed West Clare Railway restoration project. At that time this steam engine lay dormant and on display at Ennis Railway Station. This project presented an excellent opportunity to preserve and restore this unique locomotive.
A proposal was made to C.I.E. to remove the engine from its plinth in Ennis. For any proposal to be considered it required proving a commitment to the West Clare Railway restoration, and this was obvious by the substantial preparatory work carried out in Moyasta. An agreement for the removal of the "Slieve Callan" steam engine from Ennis to Moyasta was granted to the West Clare Railway company, amid much consternation in Ennis at the time.
Unsurprisingly, the agreement had conditions, including that the engine be substantially improved or rebuilt within 3 years. This would require enormous funding. At this stage the committee involvement ceased. Jackie then became directly responsible for carrying forward and persevering with raising funds to continually update and improve this unique venture to bring to where it is today.
In 2009 the "Slieve Callan" returned, rebuilt and running smoothly, to Moyasta Junction. It now provides visitors and enthusiasts alike with a look into, and experience of, the fascinating railway history of Ireland, and is a fitting tribute to our heritage and to the hard work and efforts of all involved in bringing a steam locomotive back to Moyasta.
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Visit us
Address
The West Clare Railway,
Moyasta,
What. Clare
Contact
+353 87 791 9289
+353 86 805 2614
Cavan and Leitrim Railway
The Museum, which was established in 1993 is run entirely by volunteers, is located beside the Irish Rail station in Dromod on the grounds of the old Cavan and Leitrim Railway Yard.
Today half a mile has been restored and remains preserved after its closure in 1959. Following the closure, all that remained in Dromod was the Station House, the engine shed and water tower. Today they have been restored and are been preserved.
One of the original locos (No. 2) and one of the original carriages are preserved and on display at the Ulster Folk Park and Transport Museum, Cultra and No.3 "Lady Edith" is in the United States at the New Jersey Museum of Transportation.
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Visit us
Address
The Cavan & Leitrim Railway
Station Road
Dromod
Leitrim
Ireland
Contact
00353-71-9638599
Fintown Railway - An Mhuc Dhubh
The Fintown Railway is the only operational railway in Co. Donegal. Set amidst spectacular highland scenery overlooking Lough Finn, the railway (3 m/5km) is a restored section of the former County Donegal Railway. This setting prompted the famous international playwright Brian Friel to pronounce "What is on offer is a unique journey along the shores of a lake as grand as any in Switzerland or Minnesota".
The railway nestled deep in the heart of spectacular mountainous scenery steeped in tradition, myth and folklore, and running along the crystal clear waters of Loch Finn is a million miles from the constant rush of every day life. You are invited to relive those bygone days when Donegal had 200 miles of narrow gauge railway operated by the County Donegal and Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway Companies.
This unique journey is a three mile return trip right along the shores of Loch Finn. The reopening on the 3rd June 1995 of this first section of the intown - Glenties railway restoration project commemorated the centenary of the original opening in 1895.
The Fintown Railway is operated by Comhlacht Traenach na Gaeltachta Lair (2000) Teo which translates as the Central Gaeltacht Train Company.
Gaeltachts are designated areas of Ireland where Gaelic is still the primary language and old Irish traditions and culture form part of everyday life. The company is very much community driven and aims to further develop the railway viewing it as a catalyst for sustainable tourism development in the area.
An Mhuc Dhubh translates as the Black Pig. This was how locals christened the arrival of the first steam engine 100 years ago. Puffing, "snorting", and billowing plumes of black smoke, this monstrous creature evoked memories of St. Colmcille's prophesy centuries earlier: that there would never be peace in Ireland until the return of the wild pig to the shores of Loch Finn!
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