The Midland Great Western Railway
The Midland Great Western Railway
The Railway Stations of Westmeath
Athlone MGWR Station
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This fine station building, to the design of J. S. Mulvany opened in 1851. It is a fine example of early Irish railway architecture. It closed in 1985 when the station for Athlone was transferred to the newly renovated Great Southern and Western Railway station, which had closed in 1927. |
Passengers arrived in at first-floor level and descended to street level. The building originally housed a railway hotel as well as the station.
Athlone: Great Southern & Western Railway Station
This elegant Italianiate station with its entrance through a recessed loggia of three arches was built to the design of George Wilkinson who is perhaps best known for his design of Irish Work-houses. From 1859-1927 it served as the GSWR station. It then became a goods station with the passenger traffic transferred to the MGWR station. In 1985 it was re-opened and became the railway station for Athlone replacing the MGWR station which closed down
Castletown
Opened in 1851 and closed in 1963, this catered for both passenger and goods transport. The first station-master who was appointed in 1851 was paid £40.00 p.a.
Clonhugh
This station which had two platforms was opened in 1855 and closed in 1947. It was the cause of a long running dispute between the local landowner, Lord Greville and the MGWR. Lord Greville insisted 1853 during the planning for the railway.
Moate
The station at Moate opened in 1851 and closed in 1987, the station-house was a modest single storey structure, as well as passenger services the station had both goods and cattle sidings.
Mullingar
This station, to the design of J. S. Mulvany, who also designed both the Broadstone Station in Dublin and the MGWR Station in Athlone was described by Jeremy Williams, in his A companion to architecture in Ireland 1837-1921 as: “the quirkiest 19th century railway station in Ireland, designed to fit between two railway mlines, one curving and the other straight, to meet in front of the main pavillion
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Streamstown Junction This station had a block post from 1851, opened as a junction in 1863 and closed, after a century of service, in 1963. Streamstown served as a junction with two lines – the Dublin-Gaway line and the Streamstown-Clara line. |
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