User:SeoR/Sandbox/Dublin and Lucan Tramways

Dublin and Lucan Steam Tramway

The Lucan steam tram, c. 1892

The Dublin and Lucan Steam Tramway (DLST), authorised by an Order in Council under the Tramways Act, which commenced in 1880, opened, mostly on a roadside reservation, to Chapelizod in June 1881, Palmerstown in November 1881, and to Lucan in 1883.

In 1900, under a new Order in Council, the DLST was electrified and regauged from 36 to 42 and renamed the Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway Company (D&LER).

Legally a railway, it was taken over and supported by the government during World War I under the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA). However, this ended in 1921 and facing increasing competition from the Tower Bus Co., the D&LER's financial position deteriorated.

In 1925, after their failure to be amalgamated into the GSR under the Railways Act 1924, the line was closed, going into liquidation. Following discussions, and enabled by two acts of Saorstat Eireann, the D&LER was bought up by the DUTC. The lines were regauged to Dublin's 5 ft 2-3/16 in (1580-mm) gauge only as far as Lucan, a new line was fitted in Chapelizod, and it reopened as a DUTC route in 1928.

Extensions beyond Lucan

Lucan and Leixlip Steam Tramway

The Lucan, Leixlip and Celbridge Steam Tramway Company was established to build lines from the Lucan terminus to Leixlip and Celbridge (branching off just outside Leixlip). The Lucan and Leixlip Steam Tramway (L&LST) extension was built, and operated between 1890 and 1898. After it went into liquidation, its assets were sold at auction on 1 August 1899, including around 6160 yards of rails, two bogie passenger carriages, two other passenger carriages, two goods wagons, a locomotive engine, a water ram in the River Liffey and much other material

Lucan and Leixlip Electric Railway

A new line was laid close to the original steam line, over a decade later, under an Order in Council, the Lucan and Leixlip Electric Railway Order, 1910, by a completely new company. Despite the name, this does not seem to have followed the full distance to Leixlip but rather only the 0.5 miles (0.80 km) to the Spa Hotel at Doddsborough. This was opened as an electric line in 1910, and was leased to the (D&LER) in August 1911.

When the DUTC bought up the insolvent D&LER, they also purchased the L&LER from its shareholders, and although required to refit and reopen it in like manner, following objections from Dublin County Council the extension beyond Lucan was not reopened.

Interconnection of the Lucan / Leixlip and city trams

The Lucan tram & terminus (left) & DUTC tram & terminus (right), Phoenix Park Gate

While not originally connected, the Dublin terminus of the Lucan line was 12 yards from the Park Gate terminus of the DUTC lines, on Conyngham Road, and the two were connected after the purchase by the DUTC.