Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway

54°35′42″N 5°54′54″W / 54.595°N 5.915°W / 54.595; -5.915

Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway
Overview
Native nameIarnród Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Acomhal Bhéal Feirste (Irish)
StatusClosed
LocaleNorth of Ireland (geographically, not the nation)
History
Opened1849
Closed1853

Dublin and the Belfast Junction Railway (D&BJct, Irish: Iarnród Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Acomhal Bhéal Feirste) was an Irish gauge (5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)) railway in Ireland. The company was incorporated in 1845 and opened its line in stages between 1849 and 1853, with the final bridge over the River Boyne opening in 1855. It linked the Ulster Railway (UR) from Belfast to Portadown and Dublin and Drogheda Railway (D&D) from Drogheda to Dublin, completing the missing link in the Belfast–Dublin line.

Tanderagee railway station in 1981.

History edit

The Boyne Viaduct at Drogheda was not built until 1854–55, at a cost of £124,000, to the design of Sir John Macneill, who was the consulting engineer for the D&BJct.[1]

Route edit

The D&BJct line from Drogheda to Portadown connected the Ulster Railway's ArmaghPortadown – Belfast Great Victoria Street original line with the Dublin and Drogheda Railway's Dublin Amiens Street – Drogheda line, forming the main line between Dublin and Belfast.

Aftermath edit

In 1875, the D&BJct merged with the Dublin and Drogheda Railway (D&D), forming the Northern Railway of Ireland.[2] This was in turn one of the companies that amalgamated to form the Great Northern Railway of Ireland in 1876.

References edit

  1. ^ Holohan, Michael. "Drogheda Port. A Detailed History". Drogheda Port website. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
  2. ^ Friel, Charles P. "Railways in Craigavon". Journal of the Craigavon Historical Society. 2 (2). Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.

Sources edit