Really great video, re-opening the line would be a great boost to the region making Galway Westport or Ballina Limerick possible offering great choice to passengers
A unique, historical & fantastic video and great to see the Western corridor from the perspective of a driver, including the stations & level crossings on N17. Also the scenery and time of year is similar to that on the cine film taken of the Railcar going from Claremorris to Kiltimagh in 1981.
Fantastic but very sad video. Glad to have it to say I travelled it a long time ago. Interesting to see that most of the over bridges seem to be wide enough for double track. Thanks for that.
Too many levels crossings between Claremorris and Tuam for modern rail passenger transport. However from Tuam to Athenry that is a sweet section of well built and level crossing free railway and could well be reopened for commuters. Great video thanks
I was on a special train from Limerick over that stretch in September 1990 and decay was setting in at that stage. Then the line had a small renaissance with the rerouting of the "Coal and Oil" trains but once Asahi folded that was it. Would be nice if they could find a use for the full "radial" route from Rosslare all the way to Sligo. Keep those videos coming and happy 2019!
@@petermernagh9991 sure you'd drive it quicker by truck via Dublin. An hour and 3/4 even from Athenry to Limerick by rail. And then a run-around. Then two hours to Waterford, another. That's if there are no delays or long timetabled waits for crossings. Probably close to eight hours Sligo - Rosslare via Limerick. No quicker than via Connolly either.
I thought this line was so broken up only cyclists could use it!! Bring back our railways in the west and stop the bs. Connectivity for the abandoned west it's time we spoke up for our region!
Hi Peter, no this was a different day. I do have a video of the day D Fearn travelled but to ensure respect to all who travelled that day it won’t appear online.
I've been sharing this a bit online when discussions come up regarding opening the line v greenways. Tuam has the second highest commuter population into Galway city, in the county. The stretch between Tuam & Athenry is either in a trough or mound so both doesn't seem an option.
Máire Daly not really certain what you mean but with regard to reopening as a transport facility, where’s there’s a will there’s a way! I really can’t see Tuam Athenry being a cycling Mecca and drawing in the tourists!
@@SouthernYard I'm with you there, I think the green-way campaign is wildly optimistic with regard to the economic benefits... full of folk who have no interest in cycling or it's infrastructure with regard to policy.
Mm as Ive said before, it all comes down to economics! The major cost of any railway is the P/way. If that runs thru an urban area (eg DART or LUAS in Ath Cliath), that mainly fixed cost can be spread amongst many users/passengers. But in a rural area with fewer users, the cost per user rises. Indeed the other part of CIE (ie Bus Eireann) prob does an Expressway route between Claremorris and Athenry (Galway) and that for BE, is more cost effective. But a summer heritage/ tourist railway is a possibility: tho the unsubsidised cost would be high (eg the famous Ffestionig in N Wales runs but fares are high,even with much volunteer support).
SouthernYard Where were the Barriers on the Western Rail Corridor controlled from?.Was it from a little small Hut at the Level Crossing or from something like in Athlone that control's all the West of Ireland Crossings and Signals.When were the Signal Lights turned off?.Were they left on all the time from when it closed to passenger services in the 1960s?.Also why is it today the Lights and Barriers at the Crossings are gone?.
Really great video, re-opening the line would be a great boost to the region making Galway Westport or Ballina Limerick possible offering great choice to passengers
I was on that inspection car in 2005
Brilliant footage. Woukd be fantastic to see it re open
A unique, historical & fantastic video and great to see the Western corridor from the perspective of a driver, including the stations & level crossings on N17. Also the scenery and time of year is similar to that on the cine film taken of the Railcar going from Claremorris to Kiltimagh in 1981.
Fantastic but very sad video. Glad to have it to say I travelled it a long time ago. Interesting to see that most of the over bridges seem to be wide enough for double track. Thanks for that.
Too many levels crossings between Claremorris and Tuam for modern rail passenger transport. However from Tuam to Athenry that is a sweet section of well built and level crossing free railway and could well be reopened for commuters. Great video thanks
Maybe some crossings will be replaced. Apart from those crossing the N17 which are close together, most are on minor roads.
I'm totally hooked on these video's! ahuge thanks to all uploaders.
You’re welcome it’s nice to remember the past and remind us of what we could have again with a bit of positive thinking and planning.
I was on a special train from Limerick over that stretch in September 1990 and decay was setting in at that stage. Then the line had a small renaissance with the rerouting of the "Coal and Oil" trains but once Asahi folded that was it. Would be nice if they could find a use for the full "radial" route from Rosslare all the way to Sligo.
Keep those videos coming and happy 2019!
Rosslare to Sligo, via Waterford and Limerick with proper freight train facilities at Rosslare Europort would be such an asset.
@@petermernagh9991 sure you'd drive it quicker by truck via Dublin. An hour and 3/4 even from Athenry to Limerick by rail. And then a run-around. Then two hours to Waterford, another. That's if there are no delays or long timetabled waits for crossings. Probably close to eight hours Sligo - Rosslare via Limerick. No quicker than via Connolly either.
@@capnskiddies yep, but how many truck loads would fit on a freight train?
I thought this line was so broken up only cyclists could use it!! Bring back our railways in the west and stop the bs. Connectivity for the abandoned west it's time we spoke up for our region!
😢 It would be great to see it opened and running again
They must reopen it
Because OUR TRAINS MATTER!
stfu ?
I don't like it when I see an abandoned train track 😭😔
This railway can still be re-opened and restored. I really hope it will happen one day.
Plans are in place, so yes hopefully!
Grant footage and nostalgic seeing the old railway 😊 Will it ever open again? Stevie
Going thru ballygluin station.(castletown)from the quiet man film at 32 min onwards .
Thank you for uploading that historic piece.Was that the day Dick Fearn travelled south on it & a few from W=O=T were on the return leg?Peter.
Hi Peter, no this was a different day. I do have a video of the day D Fearn travelled but to ensure respect to all who travelled that day it won’t appear online.
I know the line has been severed at Athenry, but is it still possible to send down inspection cars, etc. from Claremorris end?
No longer passable as vegetation has taken over and some crossings tarred over.
When was the "southern yard" closed for good? The heart has been torn out of Claremorris station.
They used it as a storage yard up until the 1970s and once the sidings were taken out of use it ceased.
The rails seemed to be shiny in this footage. Was this due to the camera quality of the time not showing the oxidation?
They wouldn’t have been shiny, no traffic on the line at that stage. Most likely the damp weather.
I've been sharing this a bit online when discussions come up regarding opening the line v greenways. Tuam has the second highest commuter population into Galway city, in the county. The stretch between Tuam & Athenry is either in a trough or mound so both doesn't seem an option.
Máire Daly not really certain what you mean but with regard to reopening as a transport facility, where’s there’s a will there’s a way! I really can’t see Tuam Athenry being a cycling Mecca and drawing in the tourists!
@@SouthernYard I'm with you there, I think the green-way campaign is wildly optimistic with regard to the economic benefits... full of folk who have no interest in cycling or it's infrastructure with regard to policy.
Superb! Hardly passable now 13 years later.
Not passable anymore, nature is slowly taking over.
Mm as Ive said before, it all comes down to economics! The major cost of any railway is the P/way. If that runs thru an urban area (eg DART or LUAS in Ath Cliath), that mainly fixed cost can be spread amongst many users/passengers. But in a rural area with fewer users, the cost per user rises. Indeed the other part of CIE (ie Bus Eireann) prob does an Expressway route between Claremorris and Athenry (Galway) and that for BE, is more cost effective. But a summer heritage/ tourist railway is a possibility: tho the unsubsidised cost would be high (eg the famous Ffestionig in N Wales runs but fares are high,even with much volunteer support).
It’s planned to reopen this stretch of railway as its a missing link. Relatively small cost. Freight initially will be the traffic.
Will it ever reopen?
Would tuam station need to be rebuilt if the line were to reopen?
Refurbished I think.
Lovely Footage!😃.Well Filmed!.Why did they not use the Barriers at the Crossings that had them.Also were the signal lights left on all that time?.
They barriers worked when the inspection car went down the previous year. I'd imagine they felt it was too much of a risk in trying to lower them.
SouthernYard Why would it have been a risk.
They might go down but they may not come back up! They weren't maintaining them.
SouthernYard Where were the Barriers on the Western Rail Corridor controlled from?.Was it from a little small Hut at the Level Crossing or from something like in Athlone that control's all the West of Ireland Crossings and Signals.When were the Signal Lights turned off?.Were they left on all the time from when it closed to passenger services in the 1960s?.Also why is it today the Lights and Barriers at the Crossings are gone?.
Controlled at a panel beside the crossing. They were decommissioned only a few years ago as they started to fall apart.
What were the inspection cars looking for or inspecting?
Inspecting the track but mainly ensuring the alignment is free of encroachment.
Great footage! May I ask how you got this? Where you on board?
I wasn’t on board. I got the footage through some contacts.
SouthernYard saw Irish rail workers on N17 outside Ballindine today. Any ideas what’s happening?
I don’t know John. Its hardly anything to do with reopening.
When have inspection cars ceased running in that line?
Martin 2007 or 2008. Can’t remember exactly.
great photage
When did the last insp car run?
2007 I believe.
The music absolutely ruined this. Cant take more than 2mims
You’re entitled to your opinion but you could just turn the volume down!
&