Waterford Suir Valley Railway (WSVR) is a registered charity operating on a 3 ft (914 mm) gauge railway track from Kilmeadan back towards Bilberry outside Waterford, Ireland.The line shares much of its route along the banks of River Suir with the Waterford Greenway. This walking and cycle path passes through the station which has car parking and a coffee shop for visitors.
Apart from the station platforms, there are two other halts, built in 2017, at Mount Congreve and Bilberry on the outskirts of Waterford. The railway currently only uses diesel locomotives though efforts are underway to restore a steam locomotive to full operating capacity to run on the line.[1] In addition to regular scheduled services, the railway also operates a popular 'Santa Express' service. The carriages are wheelchair accessible.[2]
History
The society was established in 1997[3] with the intention of restoring the Waterford and Tramore Railway, but after feasibility studies this was deemed impractical due to changes in road layouts made since the line's closure. The Waterford - Dungarvan rail route was then explored and agreement was reached to try to restore a section of the historic line which was integral in connecting travelers from London to Killarney made popular as a holiday destination by Queen Victoria and was the first line to have luxury dining cars in Ireland.[4] This line also carried mail from the UK and Ireland to the Americas via Cobh.[5]
The society laid its first track in 2000 and by the end of 2003 it had laid over 8 km of track from Kilmeaden to Gracedieu Junction. It ran its first public trains in May that year.
In 2004, a further 2 km of track were laid as far as Bilberry. In 2008, the railway carried its 100,000th passenger, and in 2010 opened a maintenance and storage shed for its rolling stock. In 2016, the WSVR received planning permission for a new station building at Kilmeaden.
In March 2017, the Waterford Greenway opened on the 46 km of track bed built for the Waterford to Dungarvan rail line with walkers and cyclists sharing much of the last 10 km with the heritage railway as it heads towards Waterford City. Kilmeaden station is a meeting point with users of the Greenway and visitors to the railway availing of the station's facilities.[6]
The railway is a registered charity, with a voluntary board of directors, with the purpose of preserving a part of Waterford's industrial heritage and educating visitors on its history.[7] In 2016, the railway carried over 24,000 passengers and by 2018 this number had risen to just under 30,000.[citation needed]
The Whistlestop Cafe and facilities were completed in 2020, partly funded by the 'Dormant Accounts Fund', which helps meet the needs of the growing number of visitors to the Greenway. It is one of the last rest points with facilities between Kilmeaden and Waterford City.
Route
Railway Postage Stamp
The route is on the track bed of the former 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge Waterford, Dungarvan & Lismore Railway, which was opened in 1878[8] and closed in 1967, though a section remained open until 1987 for magnesite ore processing at the Quigley Plant in Ballinacourty.[9] This plant closed in 1982 though occasional weed spraying trains ran on the line up until May 1990. The WSVR uses the original railway station at Kilmeaden however the original goods yard is now a private dwelling.[10]
The Dan Donovan Tunnel under the Waterford Bypass was specifically built to facilitate the line's continued operation towards Waterford City.[11]
Though the line extends as far as a new platform at Bilberry just to the east of Waterford City, scheduled trains mostly run as far as Gracedieu Junction before turning back. Pre-booked trains do run the full length of the line to accommodate groups arriving by coach at the Bilberry coach and car park, the railway can be contacted to make such arrangements. Apart from the passing loop in Kilmeaden, the line is single track for the length of the route though a second passing loop is being considered by the Lime Kilns at Killoteran near Mount Congreve.
Rolling stock and infrastructure
Kettering Furnaces No. 3
In January 2024, The National Trust gifted 0-4-0ST steam locomotive "Kettering Furnaces No.3" to the charity. The locomotive was built in 1885 by Black, Hawthorn and spent its working life on the Kettering Ironstone Railway until it closed in 1962. The locomotive was donated to the Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum where it was preserved until it was gifted to WSVR in 2024. The charity intends to restore the locomotive for use in Waterford with the work undertaken at an engineering works in the UK. [12]
Current rolling stock consists of three diesel locomotives and two purpose-built semi-open bogie passenger carriages.[13][14] A number of permanent way wagons are kept inside the shed at Kilmeadan. Two other Bord na Mona diesel engines are stored for restoration. The rolling stock received a new livery in 2020 as part of a rebranding exercise. At Kilmeadan Station, an ex-Irish Rail grounded MkII carriage, No. 4106, is used as a ticket office and refreshment room.[15] Discussions are underway with Bord na Mona to acquire two more functioning locomotives for preservation which are no longer required by the semi-state organisation following the end of peat production in 2021.[16]
Lifting track at Rosbercon Station for reuse at the WSVR
In late 2020, with the support of Wexford County Council and Irish Rail, the engineering team were able to salvage track from Rosbercon (New Ross) station being lifted as part of the preparation for the Waterford to New Ross Greenway.[18] This track is due to be used for the creation of an additional passing loop which is expected to be necessary for the preparations to return steam to the line with the recent successful efforts to source a suitable locomotive for restoration as funds become available.[19] The charity is attempting to source additional infrastructure including a water tower and turntable.
In 2021, work was completed to connect the station to the nearby village of Kilmeaden by an extension of the Greenway undertaken by Waterford Council.[20]
In 2024, the charity will begin fund raising to restore the locomotive gifted to it by the National Trust as part of the restructuring of the Penrhyn Castle Museum.
The possibility of rebuilding a signal box is also being considered with Irish Rail having donated lever mechanisms from the Abbey Junction Signal Cabin[21] which was demolished in 2023 to make way for the new station in Waterford City. Planning permission was granted in 2024 for the Signal Cabin and an extension to the Engine Shed.[22]
Volunteers
The railway is operated by over 50 trained volunteers of differing ages and interests and is governed as a charity by a board of volunteer directors. [23] These volunteers are assisted by a smaller number of paid staff. New volunteers are always welcome especially those with an interest in diesel engines, general engineering and industrial heritage.
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