Dublin and Kingstown Railway

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The Dublin and Kingstown Railway (D&KR), which opened in 1834, was Ireland’s first railway. It linked Westland Row in Dublin with Kingstown Harbour’s West Pier in County Dublin.

1 History
2 Gallery
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The line in 1837

Before construction even commenced, a survey of the existing road traffic through Blackrock was performed every day for 6-months in 1831 in order to determine potential passenger numbers. The average daily traffic was found to be 160 private carriages, 620 private jaunting cars and 820 public cars.

Building of the 6-mile line was delayed by opposition from two different landowners who insisted on large cash compensations and in the case of Lord Cloncurry the building of a private foot bridge over the line to a bathing area complete with a Romanesque temple, a short tunnel and a cutting to maintain his privacy. Part of the line ran on an embankment built across the strand between Merrion and Blackrock which later led to the formation of Booterstown marsh. The first train ran on 9 October 1834, consisting of eight carriages hauled by Hibernia.

The line was extended to Dún Laoghaire station’s current location using the then existing Dalkey Quarry industrial tramway cutting which ran to the West Pier. However, this took a further three years, again due to opposition from local property owners, this time led by Thomas Gresham. The station building was converted in 1971 to a restaurant, Brasserie Na Mara.

The D&KR later included the Dalkey Atmospheric Railway branch.

In 1854 the lines were leased to the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway Company who changed the original standard gauge to the wider Irish gauge.

The line is now part of the DART route.

[edit] Gallery

The view from Blackrock towards Merrion, 1834	From the Martello Tower at Seapoint, looking towards Kingstown, 1834	Lord Cloncurry's bridge, near Blackrock, 1834	"From the Foot Bridge at Sea Point Hotel, looking towards Salt Hill....Kingstown Harbour in the distance", 1834
The original Kingstown railway station (1844 - 1971), now a restaurant. Architect: John Mulvaney	Rear of Westland Row Station, Cumberland St., first train, 1834