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

RailwayOpenedClosedLengthNotes
Ballycastle Railway1880195017 mi (27 km)
Ballymena and Larne Railway1877195036 mi (58 km)Ruling gradient: 1 in 36
Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway1875194016 mi (26 km)Highest railway in Ireland at 1,045 ft (319 m)
Bessbrook and Newry Tramway188519483 mi (4.8 km)
Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway188319337+14 mi (11.7 km)
Clogher Valley Railway1887194237 mi (60 km)
Giant's Causeway Tramway188319499+14 mi (14.9 km)Electric
Glenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company187318844 mi (6.4 km)
Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway1853195399 mi (159 km)Crossed into County Donegal, Ireland
Portstewart Tramway188219261.85 mi (2.98 km)
Strabane and Letterkenny Railway1909196019.25 mi (30.98 km)Crossed into County Donegal
Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Tramway187719153.3 mi (5.3 km)Damaged during storm, not restored

Republic of Ireland

Operating

Defunct

RailwayOpenedClosedLengthNotes
Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway1990s2008tourist attraction
Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway1902193216 mi (26 km)1850: 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Cork and Muskerry Light Railway1887193425 mi (40 km)
County Donegal Railways Joint Committee18921960121 mi (195 km)1863: 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Dublin and Lucan tramway188018977 mi (11 km)
Galway and Salthill Tramway187919182.13 mi (3.43 km)
Schull and Skibbereen Railway1886194715+12 mi (24.9 km)
Tralee and Dingle Light Railway1891195332 mi (51 km)
West Donegal Railway1860189218 mi (29 km)merged into Donegal Railway Company

900 mm (2 ft 11+716 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.
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