Dublin and Drogheda Railway

Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Map of 1844 main line
Iron Latticework bridge over Royal Canal built 1844 taken c1890
Overview
HeadquartersDublin
LocaleIreland
Dates of operation24 May 1844 (1844-05-24)–1875 (1875)
SuccessorNorthern Railway of Ireland
Technical
Track gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)
Previous gauge5 ft 2 in (1,575 mm)[a]
Length31.75 miles (51.10 km)(main line)
Other
Dublin to Drogheda
Overview
Termini
  • Dublin
  • Drogheda
History
Opened24 May 1844 (1844-05-24)
Technical
Line length31.75 mi (51.10 km)
Howth Branch
Overview
Termini
  • Donaghmede (Howth junction)
  • Howth
History
Opened30 May 1847 (1847-05-30)
Oldcastle Branch
Overview
Termini
  • Drogheda
  • Oldcastle
History
Opened17 May 1847 (1847-05-17)

Dublin and Drogheda Railway (D&D) was a railway company in Ireland which publicly opened its 31¾ mile main line between Dublin and Drogheda in May 1844. It was the third railway company in Ireland to operate passenger trains and the first to use the Irish standard 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) gauge. It later opened branches to Howth and Oldcastle. The opening of the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway (D&BJct) between the D&D at Drogheda and the Ulster Railway (UR) at Portadown in 1852 saw an almost continuous main line connection between Dublin and Belfast, which was resolved by the official opening of the Boyne Viaduct in April 1855. Amalgamations between these and other companies in 1875 and 1876 saw the creation of the Great Northern Railway of Ireland GNR(I).
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