1932 Great Southern Railways

Note: This is a sub-section of 1932 Railway Year Book and Great Southern Railways

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OFFICE.
KINGSBRIDGE STATION, DUBLIN, W.6.

DIRECTORS.
SIR WALTER R. NUGENT, Bart., D.L. (Chairman), Donore, Multyfarnham, co. Westmeath.
MAJOR H. A. HENRY (Deputy-Chairman), Keadeen, Newbridge, co. Kildare.
PATRICK J. BRADY, Glena, Booterstown, co. Dublin.
THE RIGHT. HON. H. G. BURGESS, P.C., LL.D., Euston Station, London, N.W. 1
LIEUT.-COL. T. A. B. CAIRNES, Stameen, Drogheda.
CHRISTOPHER D. EVANS, St. Helen’s, Lucan, co. Dublin.
JAMES P. GOODBODY, Summerville, Limerick.
ARTHUR JACKSON, D.L., Lisroyan, Sligo.
THE RIGHT HON. JAMES MACMAHON, P.C., St. John’s, Islandbridge, Dublin.
A. R. MACMULLBN, 6, George’s Quay, Cork.
JOSEPH X. MURPHY, T.D., Ashurst, Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, co. Dublin.
DR. W. LOMBARD MURPHY, Dartry, Upper Rathmines, co. Dublin.

AUDITORS.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR STANLEY HARRINGTON, P.C., Araglin, Queenstown, co. Cork.
THOMAS GEOGHEGAN, F.C.A., 4, College Green, Dublin.

OFFICERS.
General Manager—W. H. MORTON, M.I.Mech.E.
Secretary—H. S. COE, P.C.
Solicitor—J. J. MCDONALD, B.A.
Traffic Manager—P. J. FLOYD.
Chief Engineer— A. W. BRETLAND., M.Inst.C.E.I.
Chief Mechanical Engineer— A. W. HARTY.
Signalling and Telegraph Supt.— J. H. NICHOLSON.
Accountant—F. H. H. SMITH.
Stores Superintendent—J. P. MEADOWS.
Hotels Manager— JAMBS DOYLE.
Chief Cashier—S. J. SMARTT.
BANKERS.
THE BANK OF IRELAND, Dublin.
MESSRS. GLYN, MILLS & CO., 67, Lombard Street, London, E.C. 3.
NATIONAL BANK, LTD.

Telegraphic Addresses and Telephone Numbers of Principal Departments,

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
IN accordance with the Railways Act, 1924, the undertakings of the Cork, Bandon & South Coast Railway Company (including the Bantry Bay Extension and the Bantry Extension Railway), the Great Southern & Western Railway Company (including the Geashill Extension), and the Midland Great Western Railway were merged as from 12th November, 1924, into a company designated The Great Southern Railway Company. In accordance with the same Act the undertaking of the Dublin & South Eastern Railway Company (including the City of Dublin Junction Railways and the New Ross & Waterford Extension Railways) and of the Great Southern Railway Company were amalgamated as from 1st January, 1925, under the title of The Great Southern Railways Company. The undertaking of all the other railway companies whose lines were entirely within the Free State (excepting the Listowel Ballybunion Railway and Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway) were absorbed by this (the Great Southern Railways) company as from 1st January, 1925, under the provisions of the Act referred to. The entire longth of the system is 2,159 miles.

GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY.
The first portion of the G. S. and W. Ry. was incorporated 6th August, 1844, for a railway from Dublin to Cashel, afterwards to Cork. Various local Irish lines have from time to time been amalgamated with the G. S. and W. Ry., amongst which are the Cork and Limerick Direct, incorporated 3rd July, 1860, opened August, 1862, amalgamated 1st July, 1871; Cork and Youghal, amalgamated 1st July, 1866 ; Irish South-Eastern, incorporated 1st July, 1863; Killarney Junction, incorporated 1846, opened May, 1854, amalgamated 1st May, 1860 ; Clara and Banagher, vested in G. S. and W. Ry., 14th May, 1895 ; Headford and Kenmare, opened 4th September, 1893. Kanturk and Newmarket, purchased by G. S. and W. Ry. as from 1st July, 1892. Killorglin Railway, opened 15th January, 1885, and Killorglin to Valencia, 12th September, 1893. North Wall Extension, opened for passenger traffic, 2nd September, 1877 ; Sallins and Baltinglass, opened to Colbinstown on 22nd June, 1885, and to Baltinglass, Ist September, 1885 ; Tullow Extension, opened 1st June, 1886 ; Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and. Harbours Act, 12th August, 1898, authorising construction of new railway, Waterford to Rosslare (opened August, 1906), and acquisition of the undertakings of the Fermoy and Lismore and the Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Rys. The Fishguard Act, 1903, authorised railway over River Suir at Waterford, connecting the stations on the North and South sides of river, opened September, 1906. Amalgamation Act, 6th August, 1900: Waterford and Central Ireland Railway Company amalgamated with G. S. and W. Ry. Co. as from 1st July, 1900. Amalgamation Act, 6th August, 1900 : Waterford, Limerick, and Western Railway Company, amalgamated with G. S. and W. Ry. Co. as from 1st January, 1901. Act, 1900, purchase of Mitchelstown and Fermoy Ry. 1st April, 1901, Drumcondra Link Line opened ; 1st January, 1902, Limerick and Kerry Ry. vested in the G. S. and W. Ry.; 1st January, 1902, Rathkeale and Newcastle Junction Ry. vested in G. S. and W. Ry.; 1st October, 1902, Ballywilliam and Palace East Ry. leased in perpetuity to the G. S. and W. Ry. by D. W. and W. Ry.; Goolds Cross and Cashel line, opened for traffic 19th December, 1904.
Statistics (1924) immediately prior to amalgamation.

Mileage.—Owned, 973 miles 64 chains ; leased or worked, 176 miles 57 chains; share of lines leased or worked jointly, 17 chains; total mileage, first track, 1,150 miles 58 chains; total length of track (including sidings), 1,558 miles 32 chains.
Rolling Stock.—251 tender locomotives; 63 tank locomotives; 12 departmental locomotives ; 843 coaching vehicles; 7,762 merchandise and mineral vehicles ; 617 service vehicles.

MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
Incorporated 1845, for a railway from Dublin to Mullingar and Longford, and subsequently to Athlone and Galway; several other railways have since been added and various sections opened as follows: Dublin to Mullingar 1847-8, to Galway 1851, Longford branch 1855, to Sligo 1862, Liffey branch 1864 ; Great Northern ana Western Ry. opened Athlone to Castlebar 1860-2, to Westport 1868, Ballina branch 1873, leased to the M.G.W.R.
1870, amalgamated 1890 Dublin and Meath Ry. opened to Navan 1862, to Athboy 1864, to Kingscoiart 1870-3, amalgamated 1888; Sligo and Ballaghadereen Ry. . opened 1874, amalgamated 1877 ; Attymon and Loughrea 1890 ; Claremorris and Ballinrobe 1892. Ballina and Killala 1893 ; Westport and Achill 1894 ; Galway and Clifden 1895.
Statistics (1924) immediately prior to amalgamation.
Mileage.—Owned, 516 miles 31 chains; leased or worked, 21 miles 55 chains; total mileage, first track, 538 miles 6 chains ; total length of single track (including sidings), 787 miles 74 chains.
Rolling Stock.—122 tender locomotives ; 17 tank locomotives ; 365 coaching vehicles ; 3,05 i merchandise and mineral vehicles ; 273 service vehicles; 1 service rail motor.

CORK, BANDON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.
The Cork and Bandon Ry. was incorporated 1845, and opened for traffic December, 1851, between Bandon and Ballinhassig, a service of coaches being maintained pending the completion of the tunnel between the latter place and Cork. The Cork and Kinsale Junction Ry., incorporated 1859, was worked by the C. & B. Company at a mileage rate, until purchased in 1879. The West Cork Ry., from Bandon to Dunmanway, was opened for traffic June, 1866, but worked by an independent company. The Hen Valley Ry., opened for traffic July 21, 1877, extends from Dunmanway to Skibbereen. The Cork and Kinsale and West Cork lines were taken over as from January 1, 1880, with the lease of the Hen Valley Ry. and power to construct the Bantry Extension. In 1909, the Hen Valley Ry., was acquired by the Bandon Company, Other sections are the Bantry Extension, opened for traffic July 1, 1881; the Clonakilty Extension, opened August, 1886, and the Baltimore Ry. opened May, 1893, from Skibbereen to Baltimore, giving a continuous main line from Cork to Baltimore, 61| miles. The latter railway is worked by the C. B. and S. C. Ry. The Cork and Macroom Ry., opened June, 1866, for some years used the Cork terminus of the Bandon Company, but in September, 1879, provided an independent terminus. The line carries a heavy fishing traffic from Bantry and Kinsale, and there is also a considerable tourist traffic, especially by the “Prince of Wales route” to Glengariff and Killarney via Bantry, C. B. and S. C. trains also work through over the Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Light Ry. opened December, 1890.
Statistics (1924) immediately prior to amalgamation.
Mileage.—Owned,^65 miles 70 chains ; leased or worked, 28 miles 20 chains , total track mileage (including sidings), 112 miles 60 chains.
Rolling Stock.—20 tank locomotives; 62 coaching vehicles; 445 merchandise and mineral vehicles : 23 service vehicles.

DUBLIN AND SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.
Originally incorporated as the “Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin Railway Company,” by Act of 1846, and known as the “ Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway Company” from 1860until31st December, 1906, becoming on 1st January, 1907, the “ Dublin and South Eastern Railway Company.” Includes the Dublin and Kingstown Railway, authorised in 1831, the first railway opened for public traffic in Ireland, the construction having been completed in 1834. The Kingstown-Dalkey section was for a short period worked by atmospheric traction. Various sections of the railway have been opened as follows :—To Kingstown, 1834; to Wicklow, 1856 ; to Enniscorthy, 1864; to Wexford. 1872; to New Ross, 1887; City of Dublin Junction Railways, 1891; and New Ross to Waterford, 1904. The opening of the Extension Railway from New Ross to Waterford has provided not only a new route to Waterford, but to all places in the south and west of Ireland served by the Great Southern and Western Ry., which connects at Waterford with the Extension Railway.

The Dublin and South Eastern Ry. forms a portion of the Royal Mail route between London and Dublin, and very complete arrangements have been made at the Packet Station at Kingstawn for dealing with the large Mail and Passenger traffic passing over that route. Through lavatory carriages of improved type are run between Kingstown and the principal Stations on the systems of the Great Southern and Western, Great Northern (Ireland) and Midland Great Western Rys.; and breakfast and dining cars are available for through passengers travelling to and from Kingstown by the trains of the two former lines.

Statistics (1924) immediately prior to amalgamation.

Mileage.—Owned, 133 miles 6 chains ; share of joint lines, 25 chains; share of lines leased or worked, 22 miles 67 chains; total mileage, first track, 156 miles 18 chains ; track mileage (including sidings), 218 miles 20 chains.

Rolling Stock.—28 tender locomotives; 33 tank locomotives; 268 coaching vehicles ; 1,063 merchandise and mineral vehicles ; 73 service vehicles.

Companies Absorbed.
(With brief particulars as applying immediately prior to absorption,)

• Athenry and Tuam Extension to Claremorris,—Incorporated 1890 ; opened 30fch April, 1894 ; worked by G. S. & W. Ry. Length, 17 miles; 2 locomotives ; 30 goods vehicles.
  
• Ballinascarthy and Timoleague Junction Light,—Worked by Timoleague and Courtmac- sherry Light Railway. See later.
  
• Ballinrobe and Claremorris Light,— Opened 1st November, 1892; worked by M. G. W. Ry. Length, 12J miles.
  
• Baltimore Extension,—Opened May, 1893. Worked by C. B. & S. C. Ry.
  
• Bantry Extension,—Opened 1st July, 1881. Worked by C. B. & S. C. Ry.
  
• Cavan and Leitrim,—Incorporated 1883; railway opened July, 1887; tramway opened, 1888. 3 ft. gauge. Length, 48| miles; 9 locomotives; 24 coaching vehicles; 161 goods vehicles.
  
• Clonakilty Extension,—Opened 28th August, 1886. Worked by C. B. & S. C. Ry. Length, 8J miles.
  
• Cork., Blackrock and Passage.—Incorporated 1846 ; opened 1850. On 29th October, 1900, the original line from Cork to Passage, 6^ miles, was converted from 5 ft. 3 in. to 3 ft. gauge, which has always applied to the remainder. Length, 16^ miles ; 4 locomotives; 25 coaching vehicles; 34 goods vehicles.
  
• Cork and Macroom Direct,—Incorporated 1861, opened 12th May, 1866. 5 ft, 3 in. gauge. Length, 24| miles ; 5 locomotives; 27 coaching vehicles; 117 goods vehicles.
  
• Cork and Muskerry Light,—Incorporated, 1883; opened. August, 1887. 3 ft. gauge. Length, 18 miles; 6 locomotives ; 27 coaching vehicles ; 50 goods vehicles.
  
• Cork City,—Worked by G. S. & W. Ry.
  
• Donoughmore Extension,—Opened 1890. Worked by Cork and Muskerry Light Ry.
  
• Dublin and Kingstown.—Opened, 17th December, 1834. Leased to and worked by D. & S. B. Ry. from 1st July, 1856. Length, 6 miles.
  
• Loughrea and Attymon Light,—Opened, 1st December, 1890. Worked by M. G. W. Ry. Length, 9 miles.
  
• Schull and Skibbereen Tramway and Light Raihvay (West Carberry Tramways and Light Railways Co., Ltd.).—Incorporated, 1883; opened, 1886. 3 ft. gauge. Length, 15 miles; 4 locomotives; 10 coaching vehicles ; 58 goods vehicles.
  
• South Clare,—Incorporated, 1884; opened, 1892. 3 ft. gauge. Length, 26 miles. Operated in conjunction with West Clare Railway. Joint rolling stock: 9 locomotives; 35 coaching vehicles ; 170 goods vehicles.
  
• Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Extension Light,—Incorporated, 1888 ; opened, 1891. 5 ft. 3 in. gauge. Length, 9 miles ; 3 locomotives; 4 coaching vehicles ; 20 goods vehicles.
  
• Tralee and Dingle Light,—Incorporated, 1884; opened, 1st March, 1891. 3 ft. gauge. Length, 39 miles; 8 locomotives; 21 coaching vehicles ; 78 goods vehicles.
  
• Tralee and Fenit,—Opened, 5th July, 1887. Worked by G. S. & W. Ry. Length, 8 miles.
  
• Waterford and Tramore,—Incorporated, 1851; opened, 5th September, 1853. 5 ft. 3 in. gauge. Length, 7J miles ; 4 locomotives ; 21 coaching vehicles ; 12 goods vehicles.
  
• West Clare,—Incorporated, 1883; opened, 1887. 3 ft. gauge. Length, 27 miles. Rolling stock jointly operated with South Clare. See above.
  

GENERAL PARTICULARS.
Principal Towns Served, Distances, and Quickest Trains.—Dublin and Coik, 16G miles ; Dublin and Sligo, 134| miles; Dublin and Galway, 126| miles; Dublin and Limerick, 124 miles; Dublin and Waterford, 111 miles. The fastest trains in each case are tho down and up day mail trains.
Largest Stations.—Dublin-Kingsbridge (3 platforms), Westland Row (8 platforms), Broadstone (2 platforms), Cork (6 platforms), Limerick (3 platforms), Waterford (8 platforms).

Total Length of Platform Faces at Large Stations.—Cork, 3,990 ft.; Waterford, 3,620ft.; Westland Row, 3,260 ft.; Limerick, 1,855 ft.; Kingsbridge, 1,670 ft.

Steepest Gradient.—Broad Gauge Lines: 1 in 50 at Mountain Stage on Valentia Branch for 2 miles ; 1 in 60 on North Wall Branch for 1 mile.
Narrow Gauge Lines: 1 in 30 between Camp and Glenagalt on Tralee and Dingle Branch for 2J miles.

Permanent Way.—Primary Lines: Bull-head rails, 45 ft. long, 90 lbs. per yard ; chairs, 46 lbs. each; sleepers, 9 ft. by 10 ins. by 5 ins. = 2,112 to the mile. Secondary Lines : Flat bottom rails, 45 ft. long, 85 lbs. per yard ; sole plates, 22 lbs. each ; sleepers, 9 ft. by 10 ins. by 5ins.= 1,995 to the mile.

Longest Tunnels.—Cork, 61 chains long; between Bray and Greystones, 50 chains long ; Ballinhassig, 40 chains long.

Through Services.—Between Cobh (Queenstown), Cork and Dun Laoghaire (Kingstown) Pier (L. M. & S Ry.), and between Cobh and Cork and Dublin (North Wall, L. M. & S.Ry.). From and to Dun Laoghaire Pier (D. and S. E. Section), and North Wall (L. M. & S. Ry.) Between Dun Laoghaire Pier and G. N. Ry.

Colours of Coaching Stock.—Light purple lake; now being altered gradually to cream above waist line, brown below, roof dark grey.

Running Powers.—Great Northern (I.) : Navan Junction to Kells.

Summit Levels.—Midland Great Western Section: Between Ballinasloe and Woodlawn DMinand South Eastern Section: Between Chapel and Rathgarogue, 405 ft. above sea level.

Canals.—Royal Canal, 96J miles in length; construction began 1789; taken over by railway in 1845. The Company do not now act as carriers on the canal, but only as toll-takers.

Driver’s position on the Footplate.—Both sides.

Mile Posts and Gradient Boards.—Midland Great Western Section : Down side of main line. Cork, Bandon and South Coast Section : Down side of main line. Dublin and South Eastern Section: Mile posts, up side of main line; gradient boards, down side of main line. Great Southern and Western Section: Mile posts, down side, gradient posts up side.

Important Bridges, Viaducts, and other engineering works are—Viaduct over River Liffey and Beresford Place in Dublin ; Bridge in the Avoca Valley between Rathdrum and Woodenbridge; Bridge over the River Barrow near New Ross ; Bridge over River Shannon, Athlone ; Bridge over River Suir, near Waterford.

Docks, Harbours, and Wharves.—Spencer Dock, Dublin; Riverside Wharves, Waterford ; Rosslare Harbour (Worked).

Hotels Owned.—Great Southern Hotels at Killarney; Kenmare, Parknasilla, Sligo, Galway, Mallaranny, and Caragh Lake; Station Hotel at Cork, and Railway Hotel at Rathdrum, in the centre of the beautiful scenery of County Wicklow.

STATISTICS.—Year ended December 81st, 1931.

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Mileage.—Owned, 2,066 miles 2 chains; lines jointly owned, 8 chains; lines leased or worked, 120 miles 20 chains ; total mileage, first track, 2,186 miles 30 chains; second track, 281 miles 19 chains ; third track, 9 miles 48 chains; fourth track, 2 miles 21 chains ; over four tracks (reduced to single track), 1 mile 36 chains; total length of single track (including sidings), 2,779 miles 77 chains. Mileage run over by Company’s engines : Owned, 2,066 miles 10 chains ; leased or worked, 120 miles 20 chains; continuous running powers,63 chains ; total, 2,187 miles 13 chains.

Rolling Stock.—Locomotives: tender, 10 (4-6-0), 102 (4-4-0), 35 (2-6-0), 23 (2-4-0), 198 (0-6-0), total, 368 ; tank, 14 (4-6-0), 22 (4-4-2), 14 (4-4-0), 4 (2-6-2), 7 (2-6-0), 24(2-4-2), 4 (2-4-0), 1 (2-2-2), 2 (0-6-4), 5 (0-6-2), 35 (0-6-0), 12 (0-4-4), 2 (0-4-2), 1 (0-4-0); “ Sentinel ” engines, 2 ; total, 149 ; departmental steam locomotives, 3 ; departmental petrol rail motors, 5; departmental electric motor, 1 ; total locomotives (including petrol rail and electric motors), 526 ; tenders, 384. Coaching vehicles : uniform class, 787 ; composites, 230 ; restaurant cars, 11; post office vans, 15; miscellaneous, 603; total, 1,646. Steam rail motors, 4 ; petrol rail motors, 3. Merchandise and mineral vehicles: open wagons, 4,098 ; covered wagons, 5,403 ; mineral wagons, 60; special wagons, 17 ; cattle trucks, 2,259 ; rail and timber trucks. 307; brake vans, 230 ; miscellaneous, 15 ; total, 12,389. Service vehicles, 1,075.

Canals.—95 miles 43 chains.

Houses and Dwellings Owned.— 1,569 houses or cottages for railway servants, 60 other houses or cottages.


Traffic—

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Traffic Mileage.—Train miles : coaching, 5,888,000; 60,487; total, 9,195,015. Shunting, coaching, 293,629 ; (Assisting, Light, etc.), 808,456. Total engine miles, 11,774,

See Also

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