I remember the gatehouse when I was a child and an old man who would be there with his billycan of tea to open the gates, my name is Nestor from St Francis tce Athlone, I left if 1976.
The 1978 film The First Great Train Robbery starring Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down was filmed on the former Mullingar to Athlone railway line before it closed.
It's quite sad in a way to see things decay, but at least some good use will come out of it for people. Nice look at the location cases,block joint and the track feeds, and that bird did not like that cat! Cool video, many thanks!
Anyone Know the name of those pinky purple weeds are at 2:40. They grow all over the rail network river banks out of walls etc, they would be great in the back of the garden. Tried transplanting but unfortunately I'm no Christian Bernard.
Thanks, its just a pity to see them go to waste like that, they all have so much potential to make good money, but that's just typical Ireland getting rid of things like that !
Many year's ago when Desi O'Mally was the TD for the dept' of transport a delitgation met him in the Dail , demanding the the line from Limerick to Ennis be kept open. The TD ask the main man how they arrived in Dublin . By "CAR" of course. WHY????????
@Christy Dolan Done it earlier this year and its a wonderful facility, sadly Galway county council haven't got the same vision as their counterparts in Westmeath.
@Christy Dolan The problem in Galway at present is the lack of progress with the proposed Athenry to Claremorris Greenway on the old disused railway line which has been closed for over forty years as some of the local politicians are campaigning for to have it reopened as a freight line.
@Christy Dolan Doubt it very much, the line fron Limerick to Athenry was opened foe passenfers and its costing a couple of millions per year to subsidise and theres a motorway rinning from Limerick to Tuam, plenty of support for Greenway though.
Thanks Matthew, they have actually cleared all of the bushes on the line for a new cycle way. but they are keeping all the track on the line which is a good thing.
If I am right this line led to galway eventually. But you could only get to it from connolly station. I remember being on it going to galway. Such a shame to see.it.like this. Great video
Most if not all of the line is to be used as a Cycle Greenway, The Track Bed from Mullingar to Moate has been cleared but the Track hasn't been lifted,because it was once Double track there's no need too, I think I read that CIE (yes it still exists) handed over the line for 20 years.but it could be 30.
hello there that thanks for this I'm from Birr I'm sure your aware of our railway story. was this line athlone to mullingar direct and why is it not connected to the other line
My grandfather was the gatekeeper for years and the house was just up from the gates. Such a pity it's closed . Happy new year from Spain.
I remember the gatehouse when I was a child and an old man who would be there with his billycan of tea to open the gates, my name is Nestor from St Francis tce Athlone, I left if 1976.
Great clip, I walked here as a child, Edward Nestor, St Francis Tce. Left Athlone in 1976.
The 1978 film The First Great Train Robbery starring Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down was filmed on the former Mullingar to Athlone railway line before it closed.
It's quite sad in a way to see things decay, but at least some good use will come out of it for people. Nice look at the location cases,block joint and the track feeds, and that bird did not like that cat! Cool video, many thanks!
As you are probably aware we have miles of disused track or track bed and sidings. Such a shame and awful to see such waste.
I have noticed that, its a pity so many lines in England and Ireland are lying abandoned, some of those lines have so much potential.
Irish Rail Trains Scotland too...
I could swear I could smell the old creosote watching this thanks.
It should be reopened of course all railway lines throughout Ireland should be reopened.
@Christy Dolan It would cut down on 1) Pollution, 2) Traffic Jams & 3) Car Accidents/Road Deaths of course.
Despicable what happened to the railways, truly despicable, and in Northern Ireland it was encouraged by the government too!
Could this line be reopened
I realy wish they opened up the westport to galway line again.
Same here, it would really be a great way to connect the two cities.
i travel a lot to galway and i have to go by bus
Just imagine what difference it would make if the railway was still there.
Anyone Know the name of those pinky purple weeds are at 2:40. They grow all over the rail network river banks out of walls etc, they would be great in the back of the garden. Tried transplanting but unfortunately I'm no Christian Bernard.
Good footage, disused lines are a familiar site in the Uk as you know, it's a shame that this line and others are sate unused.
Thanks, its just a pity to see them go to waste like that, they all have so much potential to make good money, but that's just typical Ireland getting rid of things like that !
Many year's ago when Desi O'Mally was the TD for the dept' of transport a delitgation met him in the Dail , demanding the the line from Limerick to Ennis be kept open. The TD ask the main man how they arrived in Dublin . By "CAR" of course. WHY????????
95 CIE. I've ruled out 1895 and 1995 and i sincerely hope its not 1795 or 2095. So maybe size or weight??.
Was that line double tracked?
Amazing Shots it's incredible that they are you using a new signal on that line
I've done this on a narrow guage line here in Sweden (Skara- Lundsbrunn)
Why don't they get mk3 coaches and open the disused tracks as rail excursions or tours
That's what they should do, but the line is disconnected from the main line in Athlone, so that's a bit of a problem.
They could bring the carriage as far as possible by rail
That would be good for a railtour sometime in the future
The gates look new
Have to spend their subsidies on something.
how long would the walk take along the track mullingar - athlone ?
why did they get ride of that track you went on?
Mad its a cycle way now☹
Who knew that a cycle track would be present just one year later?
Did they keep the track?
+Irish Rail Trains yes most of it, a cycling track runs beside the railway track from athlone to mullingar
@Christy Dolan Done it earlier this year and its a wonderful facility, sadly Galway county council haven't got the same vision as their counterparts in Westmeath.
@Christy Dolan The problem in Galway at present is the lack of progress with the proposed Athenry to Claremorris Greenway on the old disused railway line which has been closed for over forty years as some of the local politicians are campaigning for to have it reopened as a freight line.
@Christy Dolan Doubt it very much, the line fron Limerick to Athenry was opened foe passenfers and its costing a couple of millions per year to subsidise and theres a motorway rinning from Limerick to Tuam, plenty of support for Greenway though.
trains went from kilkenny to portlaois it passed through castlecomer
Excellent video!
Thanks !
Nice video Stephen such a sad sight.
I am surprised that the signal is still working.
Thanks Matthew, they have actually cleared all of the bushes on the line for a new cycle way. but they are keeping all the track on the line which is a good thing.
Brilliant footage Stephan, a sad sight to see it in such a sorry state:/
Thanks Sean, it is, but it just proves how careless Irish Rail actually are.
Great!
Thanks !
Nice video IRT, keep up the good work..
Thanks man, appreciate it :)
If I am right this line led to galway eventually. But you could only get to it from connolly station. I remember being on it going to galway. Such a shame to see.it.like this. Great video
iam travelling on trains since i was year old i went to dublin my granny and mother we stay in my aunt's house
is this line actually closed or technically open??
The line is closed for good, never to open again.
not the same status as the western rail corridor.
I know, I wish they would reopen this line, it would be a great benifit to the area.
Most if not all of the line is to be used as a Cycle Greenway,
The Track Bed from Mullingar to Moate has been cleared but the Track hasn't been lifted,because it was once Double track there's no need too, I think I read that CIE (yes it still exists) handed over the line for 20 years.but it could be 30.
www.independent.ie/irish-news/greenways-new-40km-path-for-midlands-30277324.html
its sad that it closed by the way why did it close?
Great video IRT! Nice footage of the Union signal there outside Athlone. Is the red light still illuminating or was that a glare from the sun?
Thanks man, the signal was actually still on.
Eindrucksvolles Video! Daumen hoch! Schönen Gruß!! Bruno :-)
Dank Bruno, froh, dass Sie mochte es!
irish rail trains Thank you for your answer in German !!!! I was very pleased! Bruno:-)
Your welcome Bruno !
Creepy :)
Indeed, there is always an eerie feeling on any abandoned line.
Great footage Stephen, starting to look very neglected now alright :(
Thanks Danny, yeah its a pity they let it get like that.
hello there that thanks for this I'm from Birr I'm sure your aware of our railway story. was this line athlone to mullingar direct and why is it not connected to the other line
Yeah this is the Athlone - Mullingar line, its been out of use since 2002 and has been disconnected at Athlone.
cute.
trains use go to borris from dublin after it stopped in borris it use to make it's way to new ross
The railway line in borris is adandoned for years what a waste
Go to carraroe tá she nis far
What a shame
Paul78bcn Indeed