List of narrow-gauge railways in Ireland

See also: Track gauge in Ireland

Ireland formerly had numerous narrow-gauge railways, most of which were built to a gauge of 3 ft (914 mm). The last (non-preserved) line to close was the West Clare Railway in 1961 (though it has been partially preserved).

3 ft (914 mm) railways

Northern Ireland

Operating

Defunct

Railway Opened Closed Length Notes
Ballycastle Railway 1880 1950 17 mi (27 km)
Ballymena and Larne Railway 1877 1950 36 mi (58 km) Ruling gradient: 1 in 36
Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway 1875 1940 16 mi (26 km) Highest railway in Ireland at 1,045 ft (319 m)
Bessbrook and Newry Tramway 1885 1948 3 mi (4.8 km)
Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway 1883 1933 7+1⁄4 mi (11.7 km)
Clogher Valley Railway 1887 1942 37 mi (60 km)
Giant's Causeway Tramway 1883 1949 9+1⁄4 mi (14.9 km) Electric
Glenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company 1873 1884 4 mi (6.4 km)
Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway 1853 1953 99 mi (159 km) Crossed into County Donegal, Ireland
Portstewart Tramway 1882 1926 1.85 mi (2.98 km)
Strabane and Letterkenny Railway 1909 1960 19.25 mi (30.98 km) Crossed into County Donegal
Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Tramway 1877 1915 3.3 mi (5.3 km) Damaged during storm, not restored

Republic of Ireland

Operating

Defunct

Railway Opened Closed Length Notes
Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway 1990s 2008 tourist attraction
Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway 1902 1932 16 mi (26 km) 1850: 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Cork and Muskerry Light Railway 1887 1934 25 mi (40 km)
County Donegal Railways Joint Committee 1892 1960 121 mi (195 km) 1863: 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Dublin and Lucan tramway 1880 1897 7 mi (11 km)
Galway and Salthill Tramway 1879 1918 2.13 mi (3.43 km)
Schull and Skibbereen Railway 1886 1947 15+1⁄2 mi (24.9 km)
Tralee and Dingle Light Railway 1891 1953 32 mi (51 km)
West Donegal Railway 1860 1892 18 mi (29 km) merged into Donegal Railway Company

900 mm (2 ft 11+7⁄16 in) gauge railways

Cork Electric Tramways and Lighting Company; opened 1898, closed 1931

3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge railways

Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway; opened 1900, closed 1925

2 ft (610 mm) gauge railways

Steam Train Express (located in the Emerald Park (formerly Tayto Park) theme park); opened 2015 (operating)

1 ft 10 in (559 mm) gauge railways

The St James's Gate Brewery narrow-gauge tramway, constructed 1873, closed 1975[2]

15 in (381 mm) gauge railways

Northern Ireland

Bellevue Park Railway (located in Bellevue Park); opened 1933, closed 1950 (defunct - park still operating)

Republic of Ireland

Difflin Lake Railway (located in Oakfield Park); opened 2003 (operating)

Monorails

Listowel and Ballybunion Railway; opened 1888, closed 1924; partially preserved

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Cavan and Leitrim Railway (Dromod)". Home. Retrieved 18 July 2023. Narrow Gauge Railway / Operational steam railway and museum collection
  2. ^ Oram, Hugh (2017). Ireland's Largest Industrial Railway: The Guinness System. Catrine, Ayrshire, Scotland: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84033-790-7. OCLC 1019552673.