Limerick- Ballybrophy rolling stock

[Metrovik]

Having recently seen the remains of a Turntable upon leaving the sleepy Ballybrophy, It occurred to me I've no idea what stock would've ever run on the line bar the current DMUs and the GM diesels of not so long ago bar I'm guessing a C class but I've still no real idea of the actual passenger stock. This is mostly helped by my inability to find any photographs of the station bar the odd few in Ernie's archive. So anyone with any information on this sleepy little overlooked line is much appreciated.

[Mayner]

2 hours ago, Metrovik said:

Having recently seen the remains of a Turntable upon leaving the sleepy Ballybrophy, It occurred to me I've no idea what stock would've ever run on the line bar the current DMUs and the GM diesels of not so long ago bar I'm guessing a C class but I've still no real idea of the actual passenger stock. This is mostly helped by my inability to find any photographs of the station bar the odd few in Ernie's archive. So anyone with any information on this sleepy little overlooked line is much appreciated.

The Nenagh Branch was basically the Main Line for Dublin-Limerick passenger trains until CIE opened the 'Direct Curve" at Limerick Junction in 1967 and introduced a non-stop Dublin-Limerick passenger service via the Junction. The two daily Heuston-Limerick passenger trains were routed over the branch until the direct connection from the main-line to the branch was removed during the 80s, a Dublin-Limerick Goods operated into the late 70s.

Originally trains could run directly between the 3 main line platforms and the branch (to or from Roscrea)

Basically the majority of CIE main line diesel locos and passenger stock would have regularly operated over the line up to the 1980s with the possible exception of MK3 Coaches. Interestingly the B141 /181  hauled Foynes-Ballina Oil and Coal trains were routed over the branch when the Limerick-Claremorris line was temporarily closed during the early 1990s. The oil/coal trains were restricted to a speed limited of 35mph and were routed by the branch to avoid delaying fast trains on the main-line between Limerick Junction and Ballybrophy.

[Westcorkrailway]

2 hours ago, Metrovik said:

Having recently seen the remains of a Turntable upon leaving the sleepy Ballybrophy, It occurred to me I've no idea what stock would've ever run on the line bar the current DMUs and the GM diesels of not so long ago bar I'm guessing a C class but I've still no real idea of the actual passenger stock. This is mostly helped by my inability to find any photographs of the station bar the odd few in Ernie's archive. So anyone with any information on this sleepy little overlooked line is much appreciated.

Go back almost 100 years and pullmans were going via nenagh into limerick 
 

 

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, Metrovik said:

Having recently seen the remains of a Turntable upon leaving the sleepy Ballybrophy, It occurred to me I've no idea what stock would've ever run on the line bar the current DMUs and the GM diesels of not so long ago bar I'm guessing a C class but I've still no real idea of the actual passenger stock. This is mostly helped by my inability to find any photographs of the station bar the odd few in Ernie's archive. So anyone with any information on this sleepy little overlooked line is much appreciated.

100 years ago you're looking at the end of GSWR days, at which time the line was far from sleepy, with the Nenagh branch, as it was known, having heavy goods traffic plus two main line trains a day plus locals. Typical locomotives would have been standarrd GSWR types, mostly J15 0.6.0s, but with a good few of Limerick's ex-WLWR locos, including 2.4.0s. Passenger traffic would have been in the hands of various classes of GSWR 4.4.0s, with ex-WLWR ones more to be seen on locals, especially to Killaloe.

Passenger stock was a mixture. Local trains almost entirely non-corridor six wheelers, main line trains a mix of about 50/50 these and corridor and non-corridor bogies. Not sure about pullmans - they only had a handful of these, and they were more normally one each on the up and down Cork and Galway mails. However, the main line services had dining cars after, probably, about 1900.

Within a year, with the GSR taking over, and ex-MGWR stock working into Limerick somewhat more, the odd ex-MGWR coach might have turned up, but this line remained pretty solidly "southern" territory until diesel days.

The forthcoming Hattons Genesis six-wheel coaches are very close to what would have operated over this route on all but Dublin services. 00 Works' J15, if you could get one now, is the "go-to" locomotive for local, mixed and goods trains on this line at the time you're talking about.

[Broithe]

2 hours ago, Metrovik said:

So anyone with any information on this sleepy little overlooked line is much appreciated.

The National Library has many views of Ballybrophy, back when it was the Centre of the Universe.

E.g., https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000304509

[Metrovik]

Sorry lads, didn't get the chance to reply yesterday. Thanks for all the info. Looks like it wasn't always so sleepy at Ballybrophy! 

Progress or not they've really taken the charm out of the place!

[Broithe]

48 minutes ago, Metrovik said:

Progress or not they've really taken the charm out of the place!

The basic layout is still there and, if you know what was there, you can still 'see' it in your mind's eye.

The track layout, turntable, shed, signal cabin, ground frames, sidings, cattle dock, various canopies, telegraph poles, original footbridge, etc. are all gone, but the place hasn't been flattened for a concrete and glass edifice.

[jhb171achill]

3 hours ago, Broithe said:

The basic layout is still there and, if you know what was there, you can still 'see' it in your mind's eye.

The track layout, turntable, shed, signal cabin, ground frames, sidings, cattle dock, various canopies, telegraph poles, original footbridge, etc. are all gone, but the place hasn't been flattened for a concrete and glass edifice.

Or a bus shelter, thankfully! Now, Rosslare.......

Many ex-GSW station buildings still exist on the Cork line, and Limerick Junction to Waterford. Presumably they're listed. But most are in need of TLC, and if left alone will deteriorate in the near future to a point of no return. Pity they don't refurb them and rent them out. Not one reason in the world why not.