Irish Railways: 047 Silvermines traffic Foynes branch - 1987 part1

This footage from June 1987 captures the once common sight of ore traffic from Silvermines in Co. Tipperary leaving Limerick for the rail facilities at Foynes Port for onward shipment for processing abroad. The freight service on this day was hauled by CIE 1955 Metropolitan Vickers built 001 class locomotive 047. 047 was last recorded in service in November 1993 and subsequently withdrawn by Irish Rail in 1994. A small spur to the mine at Silvermines was constructed in 1966 off the Nenagh branch with the first rail haulage to Foynes commencing in 1968. The mine closed completely in 1993 bringing to an end this j unique ore traffic to Foynes. Rail traffic to Foynes ceased completely in 2001 following a downturn in the rail haulage market and the line subsequently mothballed. In 2022 the Irish Government announced the rebuilding of the railway to Foynes Port with an expected reopening date in 2026. Time will tell what new freight flows will be secured for the line once reopened. https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/about-...