List of Irish railway accidents explained

This sortable table is intended to list railway accidents in the Republic of Ireland, and before its formation accidents in the provinces of Leinster, Munster and Connacht, plus the counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan. It is currently limited to accidents where at least one train occupant was killed. It does not include acts of terror, nor accidents in Northern Ireland. __TOC__

Irish railway accidents with one or more train occupant fatalities

The 'TRA link' column gives a link to the accident's page on The Railways Archive web site, though some may not yet be fully detailed.

Date	Fatalities	Passenger fatalities	Injuries	Location	Description	TRA link	Company
	1	0	?	Bansha, County Tipperary	Passenger train derailed on poor track^[1]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=1854	W&L
	16	15	8	Straffan, County Kildare	1853 Straffan rail accident Freight train hit rear of broken-down passenger train	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=19	GS&W
	2	0	6	Between Clonmel and Kilsheelan, County Tipperary	Derailment of passenger train^[2]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=1932	W&L
	1	1	0	Near Mallow, County Cork	Freight train broke into three portions; two collided, killing pig drover travelling as a passenger^[3]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=2086	GS&W
	5	0	?	Dunkitt, County Kilkenny	Passenger train misrouted into sidings & hit ballast train^[4]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=2166	W&K
	1	0	?	Carrigans, County Donegal	Mail train hit cow and derailed^[5]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=2235	L&E
	2	2	34	Ballinasloe, County Galway	Passenger train derailed due to excess speed on poor track^[6]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=2651	MGW
	2	2	25	Bray Head, County Wicklow	Sudden subsidence resulted in collapse at the Brandy Hole Viaduct; passenger train derailed	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BoT_BrayHead1867.pdf	DWW
	1	1	28	Dundalk, County Louth	Collision on flat crossing	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=3965	DBJ, INW
	1	0	1	Longpavement, County Limerick	Tyre of locomotive wheel broke, causing derailment of mixed train^[7]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=4124	W&L
	1	1	7	Castlebar, County Mayo	Empty cattle train struck rear of mixed train^[8]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=4151	MGW
	1	1	7	Dalkey, County Dublin	Passenger train derailed on unlocked facing points^[9]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=4409	DWW
	1	1	16	Glenageary, County Dublin	Wagons broke away from freight train and struck passenger train^[10]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=4509	DWW
	5	3	70	Curraheen, near Ballincollig, County Cork	Derailment of passenger train on poor track^[11]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=4569	C&MD
	1	0	?	Ballyhaise (then called Belturbet Junction), County Cavan	Mixed and cattle trains collided	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=4697	GN
	1	0	3	Bantry, County Cork	Runaway train struck buffers^[12]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=5461	CBSC
	3	0	13	Curraduff, County Kerry	Runaway train crashed over bridge into river	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=5814	T&D
	1	0	1	Between Avoca and Rathdrum, County Wicklow	Head-on collision of freight train and empty passenger train^[13]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=5919	DWW
	1	1	?	Lispole, County Kerry	Part of passenger train overturned by wind^[14]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=6105	T&D
	3	0	0	Tralee, County Kerry	Runaway freight train crashed through buffers^[15]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=1360	GS&W
	1	1	15	Between Ballymoe, County Galway, and Castlerea, County Roscommon	Passenger train struck axle from platelayer's trolley and derailed^[16]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=278	MGW
	1	0	7	Kilrane, near Rosslare Harbour, County Wexford	Locomotive collided with passenger train	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=856	GS&W
	1	0	2	Maynooth, County Kildare	Mail train struck wagon standing foul of line	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=992	MGW
	1	0	1	Felthouse Junction, County Wexford	Derailment of freight train	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=656	GS&W
	2	0	0	Dundalk, County Louth	Passenger train collided with wagons	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=590	GN
	1	1	96	Lombardstown, County Cork	Passenger train derailed; excess speed on poor track^[17]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=932	GS&W
	1	0	2	Birdhill, County Tipperary	Locomotive of mixed train derailed and overturned^[18]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=319	GS&W
	2	2	6	Kinsale, County Cork	Runaway freight train collided with stationary mixed train	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=869	CBSC
	6	0	10	Kiltimagh, County Mayo	Head-on collision after ballast train passed signal at danger^[19]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=857	GS&W
	1	0	5	Enniscorthy Tunnel, County Wexford	Collision between locomotive and permanent way trolley		D&SE
	4	4	9	Owencarrow, County Donegal	Owencarrow Viaduct Disaster—part of passenger train overturned by wind while crossing viaduct	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=91	L&LS
	2	0	0	Farranfore, County Kerry	Bridge washed away by flood; freight train derailed^[20]		GS
	1	0	?	Straboe, near Portlaoise, County Laois	Mail train passed signal at danger and hit failed cattle train^[21]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=6645	GS
	3	2	?	Donegal, County Donegal	Passenger train left station without train staff and collided head-on with freight train^[22]		CDRJC
	2	0	0	Cahir, County Tipperary	Runaway freight train derailed and fell through bridge^[23]		CIÉ
	1	0	4	Dundrum, County Dublin	Passenger train, delayed by cow on line, was struck from behind by second passenger train mistakenly signalled into section^[24]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=6653	CIÉ
	2	2	29	Gormanston, County Meath	Runaway empty passenger train collided with second empty train, which struck passenger train	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=6326	CIÉ
	5	4	30	nr Gorey, County Wexford	Train derailed from bridge damaged by road vehicle^[25]	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docSummary.php?docID=1358	CIÉ
	18	16	75	Buttevant, County Cork	Buttevant Rail Disaster Express sent into sidings as points not interlocked	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=6320	CIÉ
	7	7	55	Cherryville Junction, County Kildare	Collision into rear of broken-down train	http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/eventsummary.php?eventID=6321	CIÉ
	?	?	70	Claremorris, County Mayo	Collided with cattle on the line		CIÉ
	1	1	?	Ballycumber, County Offaly	Derailment of passenger train^[26]		IÉ

See also

• Railway Accident Investigation Unit
• Armagh rail disaster
• Owencarrow Viaduct Disaster
• Lists of rail accidents
• List of rail accidents by country

References

• Book: Mac Aongusa, Brian . Broken Rails – Crashes and Sabotage on Irish Railways . 2005 . Currach Press . Blackrock . 1-85607-925-2 .
• Book: Vincent, Benjamin . . Ward Lock . 1910 . 1146–1151 .
• Book: Whitaker . Sir Cuthbert . Cuthbert Whitaker . . J Whitaker & Sons . 1931 . lii .

Notes and References

1. Report to the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council For Trade and Foreign Relations of the Proceedings of the Department Relating to Railways for the Year 1852. In The Sessional Papers Printed by Order of the House of Lords or Presented by Royal Command in the Session 1852−3: Volume LXVI. p. 246. Google Book Search. Retrieved on 20 June 2010.
2. Mahon. G.R. . Autumn 1955. Irish Railways in 1854. Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 4 . 17 . 54–67 .
3. Mahon. G.R. . Autumn 1956. Irish Railways in 1855. Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 4 . 19 . 156–87 .
4. Report to the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council For Trade and Foreign Relations of the Proceedings of the Department Relating to Railways for the Year 1856. In Accounts and Papers Session 30 April–28 August 1857. p. 49. Google Book Search. Retrieved on 20 June 2010.
5. Book: Patterson, Edward M.. The Great Northern Railway (Ireland) . 2003 . Oakwood Press . Usk. 0-85361-602-7. 228–9.
6. Mac Aongusa, p. 246.
7. Mahon. G.R. . February 1979. Irish Railways in 1875. Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 13 . 78 . 335–46 .
8. Book: Shepherd, W.E.. The Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland: An Illustrated History. 1994 . Midland Publishing . Leicester. 1-85780-008-7. 80.
9. Mahon. G.R. . June 1982. Irish Railways in 1877—2. Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 14 . 88 . 365–78 .
10. Mahon. G.R. . October 1983. Irish Railways in 1878—3. Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 15 . 92 . 133–9 .
11. Web site: Dean, Fred Sr. . Cork & Macroom Direct Railway . 17 August 2009 .
12. Book: Shepherd, Ernie . Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway . 2005 . Midland Publishing . Leicester . 1-85780-198-9 . 98–9.
13. Book: The Dublin & South Eastern Railway: An Illustrated History. Shepherd. Ernie. Beesley. Gerry. 1998 . Midland Publishing . Leicester. 1-85780-082-6. 136.
14. Book: The Dingle Train. Rowlands. David. McGrath. Walter. Francis. Tom. 1996 . Plateway Press . Brighton. 1-871980-27-5. 18.
15. Newham. A.T. . October 1991 . The Tralee Accident, April 24, 1901 . Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 9 . 51 . 189–90 .
16. Mac Aongusa, p. 70.
17. Currivan. P.J. . January 1980. The Lombardstown Accident, 1912. Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 14 . 82 . 188–202 .
18. O'Rourke. A.J. . June 2007. The Wreck of the Darkie. Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 23 . 163 . 101–4 .
19. Web site: Comer. Michael. The Kiltimagh Railway Disaster of 1916. 23 May 2007. 2006.
20. O'Meara. J. . June 1995. The War Years 1939–45: Part 1. Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 20 . 138 . 188–202 .
21. Mac Aongusa, pp. 161–69.
22. Web site: County Donegal Railways Joint Committee . 15 March 2005 . Irish Railway Record Society . 17 August 2009.
23. Mac Aongusa, pp.180–89.
24. Murray . D . October 1991 . Collision at Dundrum, 1957 . Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 17 . 116 . 434–41 .
25. Web site: Córas Iompair Éireann. Irish Railway Record Society. 23 May 2007. 7 January 2004.
26. February 1992. Derailment at Ballycumber. Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society . 18 . 117 . 478 .