List of heritage railways in the Republic of Ireland explained

There are a small number of heritage railways in the Republic of Ireland, reflecting Ireland's long history of rail transport. Some former operations have closed, and aspirant operations may have museums and even rolling stock, but no operating track. There are also working groups, which may run heritage rolling stock on main lines.

Heritage railways

Operating

Some of the main preserved or restored railways include:

Fintown Railway, based in Fintown, County Donegal, which runs along the length of Lough Finn to Glenties Line for about a mile
Listowel and Ballybunion Railway, a section of the Lartigue Monorail system, has been restored for visitors in Listowel, County Kerry
Stradbally Woodland Railway, County Laois
Waterford Suir Valley Railway, County Waterford, running a narrow gauge railway for 10km (10miles) from Kilmeaden Station along the former mainline route from Waterford to Mallow. It operates alongside the Waterford Greenway and is Ireland's longest heritage line.

Under development / suspended

Connemara Railway, based at Maam Cross, County Galway, not open to the public, sometime operating a temporary narrow gauge railway, later fitting standard gauge track (operation not apparent from last ref. check)^[1]
West Clare Railway – installation intact but closed 1 June 2022 until further notice^[2]

Defunct

Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway in County Offaly, run by Bord na Móna, near Shannonbridge, closed 2008
Tralee and Dingle Light Railway, between Tralee and Dingle, which operated 1993–2013

Railway museums

Castlerea Railway Museum, County Roscommon
Cavan and Leitrim Railway, County Leitrim
The Donegal Railway Heritage Centre in County Donegal, commemorating the operations of the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee which once had two narrow gauge railway systems

Preservation groups

Preservation groups in the Republic of Ireland include:

The Irish Steam Preservation Society, based in Stradbally, County Laois, which operates the Stradbally Woodland Railway with vintage steam and diesel locomotives.
The Irish Traction Group, based in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, which has a diesel locomotive collection at the site by the Limerick - Waterford railway route. ITG also run regular railtours around the country, sometimes with older (but still in regular use) Iarnród Éireann locomotives and rolling stock.
The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, an all-island body, with bases in County Antrim and Dublin, and a museum in the former; holds a full operating licence and operates heritage-themed excursions on the main lines in both jurisdictions.

Notes and References

Web site: Connemara Railway. 2022-01-25.
Web site: 2022-06-01 . 2022 Opening Times – Closed to the public until further notice.. West Clare Railway. Steam and Diesel Trains. Near Moyasta, Kilrush, Kilkee . 2023-08-06.