There are over a dozen active heritage and narrow gauge railways in Ireland. In the article I briefly described the most important of them. The list does not include the miniature railways.
Heritage railways in Ireland
Cavan and Leitrim Railway – a narrow gauge railway in Dromod. The train runs at the small transport museum near the Irish Rail station in Dromod. The museum was founded in 1993. The museum exhibits old wagons, old buses, old fire brigade car, light aircraft, etc. On selected days visitors can ride a historic railway on a short, only six hundred-meter long section of the former railway line closed in 1959. Trains are hauled by a steam or diesel locomotive.
Cavan and Leitrim Railway – official website
Difflin Lake Railway – a narrow gauge railway Difflin Lake Railway in Oakfield Park near Raphoe in County Donegal. The length of the route is 4,5 kilometers along a lake surrounded by forests. The trains runs on Saturdays and Sundays, passing by the Castle Folly, the Tree Circle with the Orb . It is a privately owned estate and railway,
Difflin Lake Railway – official website
Fintown Railway – a narrow gauge railway (914). A restored section of the former County Donegal Railway. The 5 kilometers long route leads right along the shores of Loch Finn. Passengers travel in historic diesel railcar. The railway is located in County Donegal, right next to the border with Northern Ireland. There are plans to extend the route by another 8 kilometers.
Fintown Railway – official website
Lartique Monorail – faithful replica of the unique passenger monorail running between Listowel and Ballybunion in County Kerry between 1888 and 1924. The original monorail was hauled by a steam locomotive and ran on a nine-mile route. The length of the active section of the replica is approximately 500 meters. Monorail runs on selected holidays and every day from April 1 to mid-August. On the station Listowel you can visit a small museum of this railway line.
Lartique Monorail – official website
Stradbally Woodland Railway – a narrow gauge railway (914 mm) at Stradbally Hall in Stradbally, County Laois in Ireland. The line runs for 1km through a beautiful woodland on a loop line. The journey takes about 10 minutes. Diesel or steam hauled. The oldest established heritage railway in Ireland. The line was constructed in staged between 1969 and 1982 by volunteers.
Stradbally Woodland Railway – official website
Waterdord & Suir Valley Railway – one of Ireland’s most famous heritage railways. Vintage trains run from Kilmeaden (10 kilometers from Waterford) to Bilberry. The scenic route is approximately 10 kilometers long, and most of it runs along the Suir River. The train passes, among others, the ruins of Kilmeaden Castle and the private gardens of “Mount Congrave”. Kilmeaden station was once part of the Waterford to Dungarvan railway line, closed to passenger traffic in 1967. Renovated and reopened in 2003, it is now very famous among British railway enthusiasts. There are plans to extend the line to Waterford and towards Dungarvan. Diesel hauled.
Waterdord & Suir Valley Railway – official website
West Clare Railway – a narrow gauge railway (914 mm) in Moyasta Junction, County Clare. The steam trains ran on a route approximately 2.5 kilometers long. Probably closed until further notice. Check the official website.
West Clare Railway – official website
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