Extending the Railway to Carlow

First Contracts Awarded

The first two contracts on the Great Southern and Western Railway Carlow line were awarded on November 21st, 1844 to Messrs McCormick and Dargan. They had already satisfactorily completed work on the Drogheda Railway.

Carlow Railway Station Platform

View showing the canopy over the platform at Carlow Railway Station.

Carlow County Library

Carlow Railway Station Platform
Carlow County Library

Carlow Railway Station Platform

View showing the canopy over the platform at Carlow Railway Station.

Carlow County Library

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The amount totalled £61,000. It covered everything on the first twenty miles of the line except for rails and sleepers. The average cost per mile would not exceed £9,000. Sir John Macneill's original estimate amounted to £11,000 per mile and therefore it was expected that the entire project would be within budget. Mr. Fagan, of Bridgefoot Street, and Messrs Cameron and Ballintine were also awarded contracts for about 400,000 sleepers.

On Wednesday 11th October 1846 the Chairman of the Great Southern and Western Railway travelled on a special train to Carlow, in order to inspect progress on the line. He was accompanied by the Earl of Roden, George A. Hamilton M.P., Edward Grogan, M.P. and several other gentlemen. The engine was driven by J. Durance who was head of the locomotive department. The gentlemen inspected the extensive works and they expressed their full approval of the project. Afterwards they repaired to the station house where they met with the superintendent Mr. J.B. Price. Following refreshments, the party returned to Dublin. The trip took one hour and twenty minutes.

Passenger income was reported to be "increasing daily". It was anticipated that the opening of the traffic department would double the company receipts.

Carlow Railway Terminus

When the Railway Terminus at Carlow had been completed it was described, in the 6th June, 1846 issue of the Carlow Sentinel, as "an elegant and suitable building" in the Elizabethan style, which combined "architectural beauty with practical usefulness". The same architectural style was used for all the other stations on the line. It was designed with the comfort and convenience of passengers in mind. The size of each station was in accordance with the anticipated traffic.