Dublin and South Eastern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Dublin and South Eastern Railway (DSE) was an Irish gauge
railway in Ireland from 1846 to 1925.
It was incorporated by Act of Parliament
in 1846 as the "Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin Railway Company". In 1860 it was renamed the "Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway Company" and on 31 December 1906 it was renamed again as the DSE. Amongst the lines forming the DSE was the Dublin and Kingstown Railway
, which was authorised in 1831 and opened in 1834 – the first public railway in Ireland. The Kingstown – Dalkey section
was operated by atmospheric traction
for a short while. The railway formed part of the Royal Mail
route between London
and Dublin via Dun Laoghaire railway station
at Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire
).
One DSE steam locomotive
is preserved: a 2-6-0
goods locomotive No. 15 (later Great Southern Railways
No. 461) owned by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
at Whitehead, County Antrim
.
(renamed after Padraig Pearse in 1966) and a terminus at . Apart from the main line to there were also branches to Shillelagh
and . Sections were opened as follows:
Irish gauge
Irish gauge railways use a track gauge of . It is used in* Ireland * Australia where it is also known as Victorian Broad Gauge* Brazil where it is also known as Bitola larga no Brasil....
railway in Ireland from 1846 to 1925.
It was incorporated by Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in 1846 as the "Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin Railway Company". In 1860 it was renamed the "Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway Company" and on 31 December 1906 it was renamed again as the DSE. Amongst the lines forming the DSE was the Dublin and Kingstown Railway
Dublin and Kingstown Railway
The Dublin and Kingstown Railway , which opened in 1834, was Ireland’s first railway. It linked Westland Row in Dublin with Kingstown Harbour’s West Pier in County Dublin.-History:...
, which was authorised in 1831 and opened in 1834 – the first public railway in Ireland. The Kingstown – Dalkey section
Dalkey Atmospheric Railway
The Dalkey Atmospheric Railway was an extension of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway to Atmospheric Road in Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland. It used part of the Dalkey Quarry industrial tramway, which was earlier used for the construction of Kingstown Harbour...
was operated by atmospheric traction
Atmospheric railway
An atmospheric railway uses air pressure to provide power for propulsion. In one plan a pneumatic tube is laid between the rails, with a piston running in it suspended from the train through a sealable slot in the top of the tube. Alternatively, the whole tunnel may be the pneumatic tube with the...
for a short while. The railway formed part of the Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
route between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Dublin via Dun Laoghaire railway station
Dun Laoghaire railway station
Dún Laoghaire/Mallin railway station , serves Dún Laoghaire in County Dublin, Ireland.The station has been named Mallin Station since 1966, after Michael Mallin, although it is usually referred to simply as Dún Laoghaire. It features two through platforms and one terminal platform...
at Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
).
One DSE steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
is preserved: a 2-6-0
2-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This arrangement is commonly called a Mogul...
goods locomotive No. 15 (later Great Southern Railways
Great Southern Railways
The Great Southern Railways Company was an Irish company that from 1925 until 1945 owned and operated all railways that lay wholly within the Irish Free State .-Formation:...
No. 461) owned by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
Railway Preservation Society of Ireland
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is an Irish railway preservation group operating in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1964. The Society has its headquarters at Whitehead, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and a base at Mullingar, County Westmeath...
at Whitehead, County Antrim
Whitehead, County Antrim
Whitehead is a small seaside town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, lying almost midway between the towns of Carrickfergus and Larne. It lies within the civil parishes of Island Magee and Templecorran, the barony of Belfast Lower, and is part of Carrickfergus Borough Council...
.
Openings
The DSE had two main stations in Dublin on separate lines: Westland RowDublin Pearse railway station
Dublin Pearse, also known as Pearse Station , located on Westland Row in the Southside in Dublin, Ireland, is Ireland's busiest railway station and an important commuter terminus for the Dublin area.-Services:...
(renamed after Padraig Pearse in 1966) and a terminus at . Apart from the main line to there were also branches to Shillelagh
Shillelagh, County Wicklow
Shillelagh is a village located in County Wicklow, Ireland.The town was planned as part of the FitzWilliam estate in the 17th century. Nearby Coolattin House was the seat of the Fitzwilliam Estate. Tomnafinnoge Woods is the largest remaining oak forest in Ireland...
and . Sections were opened as follows:
- Dublin to Kingstown Pier: 17 December 1834.
- Kingstown Pier to KingstownDún LaoghaireDún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
(location of current station): 13 May 1837 - Kingstown to : 19 March 1844 1
- Sandycove to DalkeyDalkeyDalkey is suburb of Dublin and seaside resort in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County, Ireland. It was founded as a Viking settlement and became an important port during the Middle Ages. According to John Clyn, it was one of the ports through which the plague entered Ireland in the mid-14th century...
(atmospheric station): 19 August 1843 1 - Dalkey (atmospheric station) to : 10 October 1855
- Dalkey to : 10 July 1854 2
- Bray to (Murrough): 30 October 1855 3,4
- Wicklow Junction to (Kilcommon): 20 August 1861
- Rathdrum to OvocaAvocaAvoca is the name of many places:In Ireland:*Avoca, County Wicklow, the village*River Avoca, in County WicklowIn Australia:*Avoca, New South Wales*Avoca, Tasmania*Avoca, Victoria*Avoca Beach, New South Wales*North Avoca, New South Wales...
(Avoca): 18 July 1863 - Ovoca (Avoca) to : 16 November 1863
- Enniscorthy to WexfordWexfordWexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
(Carcur): 17 August 1872 - Wexford (Carcur) to Wexford NorthWexford railway stationWexford railway station serves the town of Wexford in County Wexford, Ireland. The station consists of a single platform, and up until April 2008 the station was devoid of a passing loop, although sidings existed, used in recent years by occasional permanent way trains...
: August 1874 - branch to New RossNew RossNew Ross is a town located in southwest County Wexford, in the southeast of Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of 7,709 people, making it the third largest town in the county after Wexford and Enniscorthy.-History:...
: 1887 - City of Dublin Junction Railways: 1 May 1891
- extension from New Ross to Waterford: 1904. This extension connected with the Great Southern and Western RailwayGreat Southern and Western RailwayThe Great Southern and Western Railway was the largest Irish gauge railway company in Ireland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
, which in turn connected with trains for the south of Ireland.
- These two sections were opened as the Dalkey Atmospheric RailwayDalkey Atmospheric RailwayThe Dalkey Atmospheric Railway was an extension of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway to Atmospheric Road in Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland. It used part of the Dalkey Quarry industrial tramway, which was earlier used for the construction of Kingstown Harbour...
- A deviation between BallybrackBallybrackBallybrack or Ballybrac is a suburb of Dublin, located in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown county. It is south of Killiney and northeast of Loughlinstown....
and Bray was opened on 1 October 1915 due to coastCoastA coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
al erosionErosionErosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere... - From Wicklow Junction to the Murrough station was bypassed when the line was extended to Rathdrum (Kilcommon). It remained in use as a freight station and saw occasional passenger services.
- There have been numerous deviations between Bray and Wicklow due to coastal erosion.
Statistics
- Rolling stock: 60 locomotives; 253 coaching vehicles; 1,005 goods vehicles. Locomotives painted black picked out with red bands and gold lines; passenger vehicles crimson lake with gold lines
- Route mileage: 161 miles (259.1 km)
- Hotels: Marine Station Hotel at Bray and the Grand Central Hotel at Rathdrum, south of Wicklow.
- Passengers carried in 1911: 4,626,226
- The information in this section is from The Railway Year Book 1912 (Railway Publishing Co)