There’s little doubt that should the railway journey from Bray to Greystones suddenly pop up somewhere along the Orient Express route, most passengers would gasp with delight.
Greystones suddenly pop up somewhere along the Orient Express route, most passengers would gasp 
with delight.And rightly so. It’s a stunning journey, full of beauty, birds, and more than a little heart-pounding, cliff-edge bouncing.
Built between 1847 and 1856, this particular stretch of railway – serving what was then called Delgany Station – was a major feat of engineering. And back-breaking work, given that much of the track was brought through the cliff rather than over it.
As the Greystones Archaelogical & Historical Society geeks state, ‘the crucial factor in Greystones’ development came in the mid-19th century, with the opening of the railway. Although the station itself was not built until 1859, the line from Bray to Wicklow was completed four years earlier, opening in October 1855 with what was dubbed the ‘experimental trip’.
crucial factor in Greystones’ development came in the mid-19th century, with the opening of the railway. Although the station itself was not built until 1859, the line from Bray to Wicklow was completed four years earlier, 
opening in October 1855 with what was dubbed the ‘experimental trip’. The man largely responsible for the Greystones railway was, of course, the spectacularly-named Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who drew up plans for the tunnels under Bray Head little more than a decade after the line was opened. A firm called Messrs Crowe & Sons secured the contract for both Greystones and Wicklow stations, for £3,000. The dangers of this new mode of transport hit home with the Brandy Hole railway disaster of August 9th, 1867, in which two people were killed and several injured.
course, the spectacularly-named Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who drew up plans for the tunnels under Bray Head little more than a decade after the line was opened. A firm called Messrs Crowe & Sons secured the contract for 
both Greystones and Wicklow stations, for £3,000. The dangers of this new mode of transport hit home with the Brandy Hole 
railway disaster of August 9th, 1867, in which two people were killed and several injured. For those of you tempted to walk just above the railway line, you can get a good idea of just how wonderful that trek is right here. Oh, and you can take a steam train ride from Dublin to Greystones right now, right here. And two 1990s train rides through Greystones here. You can also see some of the extra shots from this gallery right here.
you can get a good idea of just how wonderful that trek is right 
In the meantime, we’ve been busy gathering all the archive pics relating to this little wonder. And if you haven’t taken this Class A train journey yet, bejiggers, take a look at Skycam Ireland’s footage of The Sea Breeze chugging along to Heaven Central in July 2017…
Greystones Train Station Early 20th Century Colourised
Greystones Railway Station 1906
Greystones Railway Station 1920. Source Derek Paine
South Beach Boxes & Railway
Hinde oversees the south end of The Long Tunnel
North Beacher Michael Byrne gets to work on the Mile Long Tunnel. Source Derek Paine
Dublin & South Eastern Railway creosoting yard near the north beach
Engine and trucks removing rock along the Cliff Walk
South Beach Tracks Trouble 13th Nov 1901
The north entrance of the long tunnel 1917
The north entrance of the long tunnel 1917
The Greystones-to-Bray tunnels. Source Derek Paine
Wexford to Dublin Mail Train at Greystones 1919
Great Western Railways luggage tag
Third Class Ticket Westland Row to Greystones 2nd July 1958 Source: Derek Paine
1st Class Train Ticket from Greystones to Bray 17th July 1918
Train Timetable Summer 1959
Railway Preservation Loco
Harbour & Steam Train. Source Derek Paine
Church Road 1910. Source: Derek Paine
Steam Train at Watson & Johnson’s. Source Niall Farrell
Steam Train Greystones MON 17APR17 13
The Greystones 150 heading through Newcastle
Railway Station 1980s Pic Niall Farrell
Ammonia train 1986. Pic: Albert Bridge
Old railway bridge 1912, before double deckers…
Replacing the railway bridge. Source Derek Paine
Horse taxis at the ready. Source Derek Paine
When it was almost all fields. Source Derek Paine
Trouble at sea. Or thereabouts.
Viaduct damage after April 23rd 1865 accident
Rock fall being cleared from Ram’s Scalp. Source Derek Paine
Brandy Hole tunnel Bray Head. Pic: Lawrence Collection
The steam engine and steam winch used. Source Derek Paine
I Hear That Train A-Comin’. Source Derek Paine
Greystones Station, built in 1856 by Crowe & Sons
Not sure when it was posted, but, arrived last Tuesday
Tears Of My Tracks. Source Derek Paine
Inspector W. McGarry at the long tunnel’s north end
The wooden viaduct later at the centre of the 1860s collapse
Ruins to the left of the Brandy Hole tunnel. Source Derek & Gary Paine
Steam digger at the long tunnel’s south end 1914
Railway company’s beach stabilisers. Source Derek Paine
Ennis Gap Bridge 2007. Source Derek Paine
Greystones Railway Station 1950s. Source Derek Paine
Stone Me!
Greystones Railway Station by Val Byrne
Back when trains were trains…
Railway Hotel (now The Burnaby)
Greystones Railway Turntable in operation
Early train station taxi rank. Source Derek Paine
Locomotive & Maintenance Workers – Full Steam Ahead. Source Derek Paine
Steam Train Arriving… Source: Gary Paine
Greystones Railway Station with Val and Carol Couchman
Greystones Railway Hotel 1890
Greystones Railway Hotel postcard Sean Tierney
Railway Hotel & main street
Sam French (who would later become a lawyer and local historian) with his sister Henrietta at Greystones Railway Station
Greystones Railway Station circa 1900 with third goods tracks
Waiting room on the right, plus stables
Greystones Railway Station – note Grand Hotel laundry basket bound for Dublin
Greystones Railway Station – goods yard on left
Frank Doyle & John Gunning
Railway Bridge 7th Feb 1999 feat Frank Doyle
Greystones Railway Bridge 7th Feb 1999 Pic Frank Doyle (2)
Greystones Railway Bridge 7th Feb 1999 Pic Frank Doyle
Railway Bridge Repairs 7th Feb 2015 Pic Patrick Neary
Cliff Walk First Railway – Bridge Disaster
A 1978 train passes the 1923 derailment spot
Greystones Railway Station Pic Patrick Neary
Train shuttle to Greystones pre-Dart
Steam Train 21st April 2014
Barry Gammell & Liam Foley outside Greystones Train Station
Greystones South Beach and Railway Robert French
Greystonse Misty Railway Tracks 06apr15
Modern Life Is Goodish May 2017
Out of the mist… April 2015
South Beach Colour Scheme, baby!
Dart Bray Head Cliff Walk Pic Nicky Cox June 2016
Train To Greystones Vintage Postcard. Artist R. O’D. Source ebay JAN21
2 comments
Pity you can’t do a “then and now” shot of the North Beach “Railway company’s beach stabilisers.”
I enjoyed all the pictures. Thanks.