Milltown / Dundrum

Dundrum has recently been in the news headlines because the Luas line opened this year and it goes from St. Stephen's Green to Sandyford via Dundrum. This is a huge development but in a way, it is history repeating itself. The Harcourt Street Line was embarked upon to offer an alternative to the Dublin-Kingstown Railway. The route was to stretch from Dublin to Bray.

Nine Arches Bridge, Milltown, Co.Dublin.

The bridge, which today takes the Luas over the River Dodder Valley, was built in the nineteenth century. It was hailed at the time as a huge engineering achievement and was known locally as the Nine Arches. The bridge was made from limestone cut into blocks. The view from the postcard is one remarkably similar to an image used on the railway timetable for the Winter of 1948. The tall chimney in the background is the old Dublin laundry at Milltown. This bridge has certainly stood the test of time.

Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.

Nine Arches Bridge, Milltown, Co.Dublin.
Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.

Nine Arches Bridge, Milltown, Co.Dublin.

The bridge, which today takes the Luas over the River Dodder Valley, was built in the nineteenth century. It was hailed at the time as a huge engineering achievement and was known locally as the Nine Arches. The bridge was made from limestone cut into blocks. The view from the postcard is one remarkably similar to an image used on the railway timetable for the Winter of 1948. The tall chimney in the background is the old Dublin laundry at Milltown. This bridge has certainly stood the test of time.

Image acquired from The Collectors' Shop, Blackrock.

Enlarge image

The Dublin & Wicklow Railway Company built the Bray-Dundrum part of the line. They obtained the other part of the line from an existing railway company. 1854 was the opening date for the line. Dundrum was the first stop for the train until Ranelagh and Milltown stations were built. The bridge beyond Milltown station came to be known locally as the 'Nine Arches'. This was partly because it was a nine arch stone viaduct, but also because it was deemed such an engineering feat, that it was instantly recognisable by this title.

Engineers, at the time, were very proud of their achievement. Today the bridge is in use again, carrying the Luas over the River Dodder. Comparison views illustrate that the bridge has hardly changed although the trains certainly have.

Dundrum Railway Station is Victorian in character and has a protected structure status today. William Dargan, chairman of the Dublin & Wicklow Railway, designed Dundrum station. The postcard dates from 1912 approximately. A sign displayed at the station for St. Columba's College in Rathfarnham, indicated to boarders where to get off to reach their destination. There was a special goods platform to cater for the volume of goods arriving in the station. It was in a central location and had a substantial number of passengers.

During the construction of the Luas line, the station was in use as a construction office.