From Civil war to later decline

Image of Ballyvoile bridge 1922

Ballyvoile bridge 1922

Image of Ballyvoile bridge 1922

Image of Ballyvoile bridge 1922

Ballyvoile bridge 1922

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During the Civil War in 1923, the stone Viaduct at Ballyvoile outside Dungarvan was blown up and a train crashed off it, fortunately without loss of life. The bridge was replaced by a steel bridge on concrete piers by the well-known firm of Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd. Many local men who worked on the bridge went to England with McAlpine.

Ballyvoile Bridge

Photograph of Ballyvoile Bridge

Ballyvoile Bridge

Ballyvoile Bridge

Photograph of Ballyvoile Bridge

Enlarge image

In 1925 all the railways in the South of Ireland were amalgamated to form the Great Southern Railways, including the G.S.W.R., the largest component of the new company. In January 1945 Coras Iompair Eireann was formed. Dublin United Tramways was an influential component of the new body and favoured buses at the expense of railways and a long decline ensued. 1968 saw the withdrawal of services between Waterford and Mallow. In the meantime the Quigly Magnacite Plant was built at Ballinacourty with an extension built from the existing line at Morrissey's bridge. The remainder of the line was dismantled and the land sold. The last train departed for Waterford from Ballinacourty in July 1982 and the lines lay unused since.