Limerick and Ennis Railway - progress report, 1858

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Sduddy
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Limerick and Ennis Railway - progress report, 1858

Post by Sduddy » Fri Dec 04, 2020 4:25 pm

I like this account of the progress of the Limerick and Ennis Railway, published in The Clare Journal, Thur 18 November 1858:
This Railway is now progressing fast towards completion, having heavy waggon trains running nearly along its entire line, from Limerick to Clare bridge within two miles of Ennis.
At Clare bridge the massive wooden frame work is nearly completed, and will be soon ready to receive the iron lattice frame, which is to span the breadth of the river. This bridge, when completed, will be upwards of 170 feet in length, and will be one of the finest lattice bridges in the Kingdom, being built on the plan of Sir John McNiel’s lattice bridge on the Dublin and Drogheda Railway, which spans the canal on the North Strand, near Dublin. The frame work, which is supported by four upright piers, rising from the bed of the river, is of the most massive and durable description.
The stranger as he passes this bridge, and proceeds along the line from Ennis probably meets a train of eight waggons, each wagon carrying five tons burden, with sand and gravel for filling stuff, drawn from Sandy-bridge, within three miles of Limerick, from which place they generally draw three or four loads every day.
Leaving the Clare station-house, a plain small building, the line extends over a level of some length, and Knocknamana (or Clare Hill) Bridge is seen in the distance which you approach through a very deep cutting, several hundred feet in length, and which must have been a work of immense labour. The bridge spans the deepest part of the cutting, and stands at an altitude of near forty feet from the level of the railway. The piers of the bridge are of hewn stone, while the arch is of brick work, but seems very durable.
After passing Clare hill bridge, still going from Ennis towards Limerick, there is a great descent in the line at Carnella, where it slopes at an inclination of one foot in about 70, rather too great an inclined plane, as the waggon trains coming from Limerick are frequently obliged to stop at the foot to take in steam in order to ascend it. The soil about here is ill calculated for building, an instance of which is presented in the structure of a simple unpretending arch beneath the railway for the passage of cattle from one field to another, but which, we were assured, piles had to be driven to the depth of 100 feet in order to secure a foundation.
The line here runs through a country which is bounded by a line of hills, undulating on every side and presenting a charming landscape. One of the hills is crowned by the Castle of Dromoland - (the cradle of the O’Brien race,) the woods and lawns of which extend to the right giving a most picturesque effect to the scene, while the high cultivation that prevails gives to the whole a very pleasing effect.
We next come to Manus bridge, built entirely of stone, which here likewise spans a deep cutting, and rises at a considerable elevation from the rails.
From thence the line proceeds over a stratum of lime-stone, and at Doreen excavations were made at the immense amount of expense and labour having in one place to cut through the solid rock to the depth of 13 feet, presenting one of the difficulties which the engineers had to contend with along the line; for a while in some places a foundation could scarce be obtained, even with piers and fascines, in other places excavations to the depth of several feet had to be made in the solid rock.
From hence the line still leads through a highly cultivated fertile country, leaving Castle Fergus with its fine old green mantled tower on the right, and proceeds towards Ardsollas bridge and station house, near which is an immense narrow embankment, that rises to a height of upwards of thirty feet from the level ground, the sides of which are merely supported by a wall of dry stone work, without mortar, that rises nearly perpendicular on both sides, at an angle of about 80 degrees; so that the line at a distance looks like a high wall running across the valley. In consequence of having recently given way in some places, it has been found necessary to strengthen it with wide abutments, composed of loose stone, so as to prevent the sides from bursting.
At Ardsollas there is a pretty station-house, and a bridge has been thrown across the road which here runs aslant the railway. The bridge, which is of course built diagonal, is of brick, the piers and coping of hewn stone. The brick arch is certainly defective and is not calculated to support the enormous weight of trains passing over it.
This, and the perpendicular high dry stone embankment, are two defects, which will have to be remedied, and can be done at a comparatively small expense.
The extreme narrowness of the line is also a great defect. Being only fifteen feet on the surface, and therefore, no matter how great the necessity must be, it is limited to a single line all through. For as the railway is at present laid down, an additional line would be attended with an enormous expense.
In other respect the works seems pretty durable, and well calculated for traffic, when the defects of Ardsollas-bridge, and its brick arch, together with the high embankment at Ardsollas are remedied, both of which should be built of hammered hewn stone, well cemented with lime. The Railway, it is thought, will open in March next.
Sheila

Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

Re: Limerick and Ennis Railway - progress report, 1858

Post by Sduddy » Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:20 am

The further progress of the railway line was reported in The Clare Journal. The line to Ennis was completed by July 1859, and the people of Ennis and Limerick enjoyed taking excursions on the train.

Thur 25 Nov 1858:
Limerick and Ennis Railway. The Government Engineer, Captain Taylor, was yesterday engaged visiting the railway between Limerick and Ennis.
Mon 10 Jan 1859:
Limerick and Ennis Railway. This Railway on this day week, will commence running passengers and luggage from Limerick to Clare Castle, from whence they will be conveyed by cars to Ennis, a distance of only two miles.
We hope, however, shortly to have to report the completion of the entire line “through” to Ennis. The erection of the bridge over the Fergus, is progressing satisfactory towards completion, and promises, when finished, to be a splendid specimen of engineering skill; the works connected with it are very heavy, and in value an immense amount of labour, and expenditure of capital.
Altogether, on a review of the progress of the works, we hope, in a few weeks, to have the pleasure of announcing to our readers the opening of the entire line “through” to Ennis. A matter which must be of immense advantages to the town.
In the meantime, we would like to see some progress making in the erection of the Terminus, the contracts for which were completed some months ago.
Thur 23 Jun 1859:
Limerick and Ennis Railway. Our readers will be pleased to hear that the remaining portion of this line from Clare Castle to Ennis, including the fine bridge over the Fergus, has received the sanction and approval of the Government Inspector, and that on next Monday the trains will run into Ennis. We cannot but congratulate the Company on the successful completion of their line, knowing the difficulties that had to encounter in running a railway over a portion of the country intersected by large bogs in some places, and a rocky strata in others, the excavations through which were works of great difficulty besides having to throw large bridges over two rivers, one of them no less than the mighty Shannon itself, being, we believe, the first and only railway viaduct that spans its waters, while the bridge over the Fergus, near Ennis, is a splendid work also, and so constructed, with its shifting arch, as not to impede the navigation of the river. This completion and extension of the Railway will be attended with increasing traffic, and we have no doubt, when fully established, it will be one of the best paying lines in the kingdom.
The Ennis Terminus, which is near completion, we feel rather disappointed in, and regret it is not nearer to the town with a frontage facing the jail road, where there would be a pleasing view of the environs of Ennis, instead of as at present opposite a dreary black bog. At all events, it might have been built nearer to the road, and have a handsome front and colonnade facing the town – for we think Ennis entitled to the complement – and thus become one of our public buildings, and a place of fashionable resort for the respectable inhabitants. We do not expect a Terminus as grand as the Limerick Junction, which almost reminds one of the Burlington Arcade, London; but still we think an improvement necessary in the situation of the Ennis Terminus, and as well-wishers, and because we believe it would serve the interests of the company, we look forward to see our well-meant hint carried into effect, by having an addition to the present Terminus, commencing at an angle from the present one, and which could be effected at a comparatively trifling expense.
Mon 4 Jul 1859:
Limerick and Ennis Railway. We congratulate the inhabitants of Ennis on the opening of the entire line of railway from Ennis to Limerick, which commenced running on Friday last. To the traders and public generally of our town, cheap and quick communication must be an immense advantage, and it, therefore, gives us great pleasure to announce, the the trains now leave Ennis for Limerick three times a day, viz: - at 6 o’clock in the morning, at 8.5 a.m.; and at 5.40 p.m. While trains leave Limerick for Ennis at 8.5 a.m.; 2 o’clock, p.m.; 7.30 p.m.
Mon 18 Jul 1859: Time Table Limerick and Ennis Railway.
The Time Table of the Limerick and Ennis Railway was changed on Saturday, July 16, and now runs as follows: 1st Train leaves Ennis at 8 o’clock, a.m.; 2nd Train at 12, noon; 3rd Train, at 5, p.m. First Train leaves Limerick at 10, a.m.; 2nd Train at 3, p.m.; 3rd Train at 7, p.m.
Mon 22 Aug 1859:
Great Excursion Train from Limerick to Ennis. On yesterday a vast number of the citizens of Limerick availed themselves of the opportunity offered by the Railway of visiting Ennis. In the evening a train of 14 carriages left the town, bearing back to Limerick the numerous visitors, whose conduct all through was marked by the greatest order and decorum.
Mon 29 Aug 1859:
Excursion Train from Ennis to Limerick. Yesterday an excursion train left this town for Limerick, and in consequence of the very low rates, 2s 6d first; 1s 6d second; 1s third class, a great number of townspeople availed themselves of it, in order to return the visit which the citizens of Limerick paid Ennis the other day.
Sheila

Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

Re: Limerick and Ennis Railway - progress report, 1858

Post by Sduddy » Tue Dec 15, 2020 2:59 pm

The Clare Journal, Mon 10 May 1860:
The Telegraph at Ennis. The stranger who visits the Terminus of the Ennis and Limerick Railway, will observe a small office-like apartment, situate about the centre of the building, with a door opening on the Platform; on entering which, he will see a plainly-fitted up room divided by a wooden partition, in which is a small window, or aperture, and a door leading into an inside apartment, where in one corner, stands a small press, like a cupboard, about three feet high, on the top of which is placed, what looks like a small clock, with an index on a dial, to which the communicating wire is attached by which messages are conveyed. This is the wonderful electric telegraph, which in silence makes its magic influence felt throughout the world.
We congratulate the inhabitants of Ennis and its neighbourhood on the establishment of the Telegraph between our town, and, by means of Limerick, with the rest of the world, which, on last Tuesday, was finished and completed, and on that day, for the first time, messages passed along its wires, transmitting communication between Ennis and England. Its advantages to the merchants, traders, and professional men are so manifest that they require no comment.
Great praise is due to the Magnetic Telegraph Company and its active superintendent, Mr. T. H. Sanger, and Mr. Watlock, the district engineer, for the promptitude and activity shown in its completion.
Sheila

Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

Re: Limerick and Ennis Railway - progress report, 1858

Post by Sduddy » Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:57 am

The Clare Journal, Mon 30 Oct 1865, reported some more on the operating of the Telegraph machine at Ennis Railway Station:
Female Labour. We are glad to perceive that the enlightenment of the present day has so far advanced as to be able to accomplish the wonderful work of making the softer sex useful as well as being ornamental. The telegraph office of the railway station of this town, which is a branch of the British and Foreign Magnetic Telegraph Company, is at present in charge of a young lady who seems to be as conversant with the intricate tinkling of that wonderful machine, and as adept at deciphering it, as the best initiated of the opposite sex.
Sheila

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