Glenderg

I'll have a signal please. Semaphore will do fine. (I'll get me coat....)

Bang on snapper. A report in 1880 suggested building another station 400m south for the W&L such was the disharmony between the two, hence why there are sidings so far south - or were. They could marshall their butter wagons which came from tipp without interfereing with the GSWR. They could then be readied for the the dublin line for transport onward. There was another scheme in the early twenties under GSR to sort out the layout, culled by cost and the Milne report under CIE suggested something similar. "The inquiry team were of the opinion that whilst there was strong justification for improving the layout there, it was recommended that the plans be reviewed and a modified, less costly scheme be prepared" . This resulted in the direct curve to limerick and some other alterations, but the reversing lark with the waterford train remained. Ernest Ahrons, a well respected railway engineer referred to Limerick Junction as being "one of the most extraordinary junction stations that ever existed, which may also be described as typically Irish". The man was right.

I don't ever recall anything coming in off that up line until it hit the scissors and then met the platform, but it's one of the most inelegant track layouts I've ever seen - possibly what makes it so fascinating.

Unfortunately the drawings only cover the car park piece to the south. There were works a number of years ago to do with masts and rearranging stuff adjacent to the limerick branch, so there might be a pp to go with it. Tipperary County Council site - 071526 - and used Iarnrod Eireann as applicant to get a list of all works. R.