Railways in Crisis

In 1924 the Railways Act brought about the amalgamation of those companies operating exclusively within what was now the Irish Free State. So serious were the economic prospects that the largest company, the Great Southern & Western (GSWR), had given notice in 1923 of its intention to close down, but it now became the major partner in the new Great Southern Railways (GSR).

Cutbacks and rationalisation of the system, aimed at eliminating duplication, followed. With the onset of the depression of the 1930s and the Economic War with Britain the market for transport services was severely curtailed. In consequence several main lines were reduced to single track and minor lines lost their passenger services, some closing completely. The GSR nevertheless undertook an ambitious programme of equipment renewal, culminating in the construction at Inchicore (1939) of three 'Queen' class 4-6-0 express steam locomotives which were the largest and most powerful ever to run in Ireland. They had little opportunity, however, to show their paces before The Emergency  almost brought the railway system to a standstill due to lack of coal supplies. Substitutes, such as peat or anthracite briquettes or 'duff' (coal dust) created more problems than they solved. North of the border, following partition, the railways had suffered a similar decline.