Ballina Breach Line to Claremorris from the 1950s to 2015

Photos of the Ballina Branch Line.
Photos from the 1950s to 2015
With some very interesting historical photos
Includes Construction of a new freight yard in Ballina back in the 1970s

[@tommykearney510]

Brilliant shots Gerry.

[@noelenright5534]

Superb Gerry-Lovely memories,thanks for sharing.

[@gerryconmy]

Thanks Noel I knew you would like it
Gerry

[@trainsinireland5063]

Lovely Collection of Photos Gerry!😃.

[@liamlonergan8622]

Brilliant , lovely to see

[@RYNT1157]

Interesting to see the changes there over the years.

[@gerryconmy]

Tom it was the time before video cameras, it would have made a great video. But the pictures also tell a great story.

[@COLLOONEYJUNCTION]

Good sequence of shots of the steam crane at the bridge replacement. PWD activities are often overlooked.
Peter.

[@gerryconmy]

@@COLLOONEYJUNCTION Thanks for your comments. It was in a time before viveo camera's. So I decided to up load photos.
Gerry

[@SouthernYard]

Lovely memories there Gerry.

[@gerryconmy]

Thanks and the time before video cameras

[@carrabinejoineryltd4243]

I'm in Ballina

[@carrabinejoineryltd4243]

Hi Gerry, great to see these videos, please keep up the great work!! I'm putting up displays of our towns lost heritage in vacant shopfronts throughout the town voluntarily, I've a few done already but I've nothing on the railway, I find these very hard to find, would you interested in doing a display of old photographs with me?
Thanks
Paul Carrabine

[@gerryconmy]

Hi Paul I have no plans to go to Ballina soon. If you email me I could send the photos to you, and include my photos as copyright.

[@gerryconmy]

Hi Paul I could send the photos to your business address if that's ok
Gerry

[@carrabinejoineryltd4243]

@@gerryconmy Hi Gerry, you're a legend, yes that would be perfect, RUclips doesn't allow me put any contact details here, it deletes the message automatically. I really appreciate this, I'm looking for as many as possible to do with Ballina and Killala and more in particular the Steam driven age of locomotives, build of the track etc. Again thanks very much, I'll put you as copyright for all the photos

[@gerryconmy]

I sent you a PM on the company's contact address
Gerry

[@carrabinejoineryltd4243]

@@gerryconmy Hi Gerry, I didnt see anything come through, if you could ring the company and ask for Paul, I cannot think of any other way, RUclips keeps deleting my messages if I put up any info regarding contacts, thanks very much for your help, the window shop will look amazing once it's done, thanks
Paul

[@johndodd6575]

Gerry, thank you so much for posting this remarkable collection of photos. Seeing Ballina developing over the years was fascinating. I wonder what time period is covered here. I spent many a summer holiday from the 60’s through to the early 80’s staying near Kiltimagh. I wish I’d taken some photos there. I wonder whether you by any chance have any images from the Burma Road during its period of decline.
Thank you, once again, for posting.

[@gerryconmy]

Hi John. Photos are from 1950s to 2015. Glad you enjoyed.
Gerry

[@shadrana1]

Did that line go direct to Claremorris from Ballina or did you have to change at Manulla Junction?I always had to change at Manulla when going to Foxford from Dublin.

[@gerryconmy]

When Manulla junction was open you had to change to get on the Dublin train. When Manulla closed in 1963 the train from Ballina went direct to Claremorris. Now Manulla is reopened Theres shuttle between Ballina and Manulla to connect with the Westport train.

[@shadrana1]

@@gerryconmy Does that Ballina line continue through Manulla to Claremorris now?There used to be a wee pub on the Foxford side of the station and I got rather partial to the local porter getting to my granda's place four or five hours late.I think most of the Westport trains stopped at Castlebar but that was an eight mile walk.

[@gerryconmy]

Yes the Ballina line goes through to Claremorris.

[@shadrana1]

@@gerryconmy Thanks,it's a long way from Edinburgh to Pontoon,Foxord.My granny walked the whole 44 miles from Ballina to Sligo and got the coal boat to Glasgow at a fare of 7/6 and that was expensive at that time.7/6 is approx. 35 euro cents.

[@ArcadiaJunctionModelTrains]

Fantastic video but they Kilalla Branch should have been reopened to get the tanks of that extremely deadly chemical as near the factory as possible and not have the loading/unloading and then driving the chemicals through the streets of Ballina. It was a horrific accident waiting to happen and could have killed most of the town if a tank ruptured. Thankfully it never happened.

[@gerryconmy]

Thanks for your comment. The line could not have been reopened because of new houses being built on the track bed. When Asahi factory was being built it was looked at and was decided it was not feasible. Thanks again Gerry