First impressions

The Traveller's Experience

An experimental trip from Dublin to Carlow took place on Tuesday July 21st 1846. On that morning, a party in the company of Sir John Macneill left the Inchicore depot about 1.5 miles from Kingsbridge. The train with engine and tender consisted of two trucks and one first class carriage. Clondalkin was the first station reached. Here the station house was described as being "Elizabethan in style, simple in detail and substantially built". With the steam at full strength the train travelled at sixty miles an hour to Lucan, and from there to Hazlehatch and Celbridge.

Train circa 1848 (2)

This image is taken from the Illustrated London News on 11 Nov 1848.

Carlow County Library

Train circa 1848 (2)
Carlow County Library

Train circa 1848 (2)

This image is taken from the Illustrated London News on 11 Nov 1848.

Carlow County Library

Enlarge image

Here the countryside was described as being "rich and beautiful". Just before Sallins the line crossed the Grand Canal by a "handsome stone bridge". At Sallins the contractors "have a depot" for goods brought up by canal, a forge for straightening rails and a steam mill for "notching the sleepers". At this point loaded trucks on which were over 4,000 sleepers and rails for completion of the second line on the Carlow branch were attached. The train was now pulling a load of about 400 tons.

The Railway line then crossed the Grand Canal and the River Liffey and then reached Newbridge. The train proceeded to Kildare Station. The branch line to Carlow commenced at Cherryville which is just about two miles from Kildare. Athy was the next station on the line and further on Mageney Station. One of the travellers described the countryside near Carlow as "exceedingly beautiful - well wooded and excellently cultivated, affording many splendid views".

On approaching Carlow the train skirted the demesne of Colonel Bruen M.P. and passed under the Dargan Bridge into Carlow Station. It was the first train that had stopped there. A crowd of some hundreds had gathered there to cheer on Sir John Macneill and his party. The bridge and station house were decorated with flags for the occasion.

The traveller described the railway line as being so constructed that a train could travel in safety at 70 miles an hour. The average speed that day was 35 miles an hour on the outward journey and 45 miles an hour on the return trip.

"No gentleman's carriage on the best macadamised road travelled smoother"

The Onlookers' Experience

According to the "Carlow Sentinel" of August 1st, 1846 the first train of the Great Southern and Western Railway reached Carlow the previous Wednesday. It was a complete surprise to the local inhabitants. The train was composed of first and second class carriages and a large van for servants and luggage. A numerous body of Directors and officials made the journey that day.

They included;-
Sir John Macneil, George Roe, ex-Lord Mayor of Dublin, William Haughton, Esqrs., Directors of the Company; A. Godby, Esq, Secretary to the General Post Office; William Dargan, Esq., contractor; James Fagan, Grey Porter, Alfred Haughton, Chas. Bourne, M. Jeffares, and J.W. Rickards,also Messrs Murphy, Superintendent of the Railway Police, and Durance, Superintendent of the Locomotive department. The directors inspected the works and were gratified at their progress. The quality of the workmanship was lauded by all as being a credit to those responsible.

The Directors were generally opposed to the opening of the line for passengers until staff were appointed. However they were persuaded by several gentlemen present to offer a return train from Dublin to Carlow for the races. This was a special concession for three days only and not a "final preparation for passenger traffic".

Refreshments for the visiting dignitaries were provided at the station house. They returned to Dublin at six o'clock in high spirits. Fifty six miles of their railway line had been satisfactorily completed.