RAILSCOT | Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland]

Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland]

Introduction

Much of this line, between Rosslare Strand and Waterford, is mothballed and not in use.

This was the Irish portion of the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours company line, there also being a portion in Wales. The company took over the Waterford and Wexford Railway which it re-opened, also expanding and rebuilding Rosslare Harbour [Pier].

The line had two large viaducts, Suir Viaduct (out of use) and Barrow Viaduct (on the mothballed section).

Dates

/ /1894	Fishguard Bay Railway and Pier Co Act authorises absorption of the Waterford and Wexford Railway. Combination to be named Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours. Waterford and Wexford Railway re-opened from Wexford to Rosslare Harbour [1st]. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1895	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Authorisation to operate steamers between Fishguard Harbour and Rosslare Pier. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1897	New Ross and Waterford Line (Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway) Act for Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway branch, supported by the Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway and proposed Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1898	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Incorporated. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1898	Fermoy and Lismore Railway Absorbed by Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1898	Waterford and Wexford Railway Absorbed by Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1898	Waterford, Dungarvan and Lismore Railway Absorbed by Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1898	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Absorbed by Great Western Railway. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1898	New Ross and Waterford Line (Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway) Support of the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours withdrawn when absortbed by the Great Western Railway. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1898	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Contract for the 'South Wexford Line' to Robert McAlpine to build the line from Rosslare to Abbey Junction [Waterford], with a curve from Killinick to Felthouse Junction (Waterford and Wexford Railway) and the connection from Suirbridge Junction to Grace Dieu Junction west of Waterford. Large bridges required: Suir Viaduct (1,210ft) and Barrow Viaduct (2,131ft, Ireland's longest bridge). Rosslare Pier to be extended by Charles Brand of Glasgow. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
01/08/1906	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Opened for local service from Waterford to Wexford. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
30/08/1906	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours New line opened fully. New Boat Train service and connecting steamers begins. Suirbridge Junction (north bank) to Grace Dieu Junction (south bank) opened along with the 1,205ft Suir Viaduct. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1910	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Waterford to Wexford service altered to run via Rosslare Strand (requiring a reversal in Rosslare). Killinick to Felthouse Junction falls out of use. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1911	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Killinick to Felthouse Junction closed. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1917	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Steamer service withdrawn. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/07/1922	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Taylorstown Viaduct blown up. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/02/1923	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Barrow Viaduct not usable after bridge sabotaged by removal of a vital component of the control mechanism. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
17/09/1923	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Steamer service restarts. Rosslare to Waterford not re-opened as Taylorstown Viaduct not yet replaced and Barrow Viaduct not usable. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
01/01/1924	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Re-opened between Rosslare and Waterford. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
13/06/1941	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Loss of SS St Patrick on service from Rosslare Pier to Fishguard Harbour when bombed by German aircraft. Steamer service withdrawn in November. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/11/1941	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Fishguard Harbour to Rosslare Pier steamers withdrawn. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/12/1941	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Brief Christmas only resumption of Fishguard Harbour to Rosslare Pier steamer service. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/12/1943	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Brief Christmas only resumption of Fishguard Harbour to Rosslare Pier steamer service. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
14/01/1944	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Fishguard Harbour to Waterford steamer service withdrawn. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/12/1944	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Brief Christmas only resumption of Fishguard Harbour to Waterford steamer service. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
16/07/1945	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Fishguard Harbour to Waterford steamer service restored. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
23/05/1947	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Fishguard Harbour to Rosslare Pier steamer service restored. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1962	Waterford and Wexford Railway Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Vehicular traffic commences at Rosslare Pier, a crane being used for unloading. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
23/05/1965	Waterford and Wexford Railway Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Rosslare Pier and harbour altered to allow handling of vehicular traffic. Motorail service introduced. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1966	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Temporary Kilmokea station opened for construction of Great Island Power Station. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1969	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Bellferry container traffic handled at sidings by Abbey Junction [Waterford]. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
07/04/1986	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Barrow Viaduct hit by vessel and line closed for three months. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1989	Waterford and Wexford Railway Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours New terminal opened at Rosslare Harbour. Rosslare Harbour [Pier] and Rosslare Harbour [1st] (closed 1977) stations replaced by new Rosslare Harbour [2nd] station. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /1993	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours New container sidings, Belview Sidings, opened. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
/ /2008	Waterford and Wexford Railway Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Rosslare Europort opened, on the site of the stabling sidings and turntable line, to replace Rosslare Harbour [2nd]. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)
18/09/2010	Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Closed to passengers between Waterford and Rosslare Strand. Bridgetown [Wexford], Wellingtonbridge, Ballycullane and Campile closed. (See also Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours [Ireland].)

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.

Rosslare Harbour

The railway pier at Rosslare Harbour was completely rebuilt for the opening of the line. A proper station was opened at the head of the pier.

Rosslare Harbour [Pier]

This station was located at the end of Rosslare Pier. It was replaced in 1989 by Rosslare Harbour [2nd], a little further south.
...

Rosslare Strand

Sleeper service (?) at Rosslare Strand, seen from a Waterford - Rosslare Harbour train which had just come off the now-closed direct line (since ...
Bill Roberton /06/1993