Kilmacthomas Viaduct

STIG83

Was wondering does anyone know the best way to get up onto the railway viaduct in Kilmac? have always wanted to walk along it, is it open to the public tho??

Junior

STIG83 wrote: »

Was wondering does anyone know the best way to get up onto the railway viaduct in Kilmac? have always wanted to walk along it, is it open to the public tho??

No it's not really, the easiest way is to go in by the Garda station and start walking out the railway.

STIG83

Thanks Junior, i wont get hassle off the guards cos ill be walking behind the station do you think?

carlovian1

STIG83 wrote: »

Thanks Junior, i wont get hassle off the guards cos ill be walking behind the station do you think?

haha i doubt they'll even notice you i haven't been on the track in years, always loved it up there !!

STIG83

So i took the plunge and went for a walk on the viaduct yesterday evening, the views are unreal from it, should have went up there years ago!! here a few photos i took. think ill tackle the tunnel in stradbally next

carlovian1

great pictures stig - its really nice and peaceful up there isn't it

STIG83

I saw parts of kilmac i never seen before!!

carlovian1

STIG83 wrote: »

I saw parts of kilmac i never seen before!!

haha that must've been some walk stig cos there isnt much in kilmac, although that being said i miss the place !!

wellbutty

You'll have to do the Durrow viaduct next

http://ims0.osiemaps.ie/website/publicviewer/main.aspx#V1,633900,598803,6

Typhoon.

has anybody been through the tunnel here

been meaning to go for a long time but havent gotten the oppertunity. Is it still open or has it been blocked up?

mike65

I did many many (many) years ago, no idea if its possible today.

Junior

I think it still is, there's another viaduct over near stradbally as well which is quiet impressive, if not as big as the kilmac one.

tazwaz

hi, just wondering how long the walk is, as in how many miles please? would you be able to cycle it or would that be too much hassle (getting bike over gate etc)

STIG83

U can still go to the tunnel in durrow, u can get on to it near the coast road between stradbally and dungarvan, u walk across ballyvoile bridge to get to it, unless there another way, id recommend one tip for anyone going there: Wear wellies!! parts of it are very wet near the tunnel entrance!! i got soaked last time i did it!!:rolleyes:

caroj

STIG83 wrote: »

U can still go to the tunnel in durrow, u can get on to it near the coast road between stradbally and dungarvan, u walk across ballyvoile bridge to get to it, unless there another way, id recommend one tip for anyone going there: Wear wellies!! parts of it are very wet near the tunnel entrance!! i got soaked last time i did it!!:rolleyes:

Cool, I pass that way regular and to drive under the viaduct at Durrow is spectaculor. I often see tourists slowing down their car to get a better look at the Ballyvoile Bridge, probably wondering where the hell is it coming from/going to .

I remember back in the mid nineties when in my teen's, I walked some of the railway at Kilmac. I do remember people saying it was forbidden to walk the track and the guard's would be after you . It was probably put out to deter anti-social behaviour on it.

Who does own the line - is it CIE or have parts of it been bought by landowners?

ttm

I havn't really followed the story that closely but afaik the council want to open the line up as a public foot path and the local farmers (guess whats comming next.......) are trying to stop it.

Last I heard was this

Edit> appologies didn't see the orignal date on this thread when I replied

STIG83

caroj wrote: »

Cool, I pass that way regular and to drive under the viaduct at Durrow is spectaculor. I often see tourists slowing down their car to get a better look at the Ballyvoile Bridge, probably wondering where the hell is it coming from/going to .

I remember back in the mid nineties when in my teen's, I walked some of the railway at Kilmac. I do remember people saying it was forbidden to walk the track and the guard's would be after you . It was probably put out to deter anti-social behaviour on it.

Who does own the line - is it CIE or have parts of it been bought by landowners?

More than likely its the counciland farmers who have it, would be nice to see something done with it, there was talks of making it a walking track, but landowners are kicking up over it, did you ever go up on the bridge in kilmac? here some photos of the tunnel

caroj

I would think the landowners are probably concerned if someone fell and got hurt on their property they can be sued, so most farmers have public liability insurance and as we all know insurance is expensive.

I know of a case where a member of a shooting party had an accident with a gun (no-one died), sued the landowner whose field he was crossing, he received a significant compensation settlement, so massive issues around it all.

I remember years ago visiting my aunt in the Uk, her friend was a farmers wife (they were actually an Irish couple, Cork born, she was Catholic, him Protestant, their families disowned them when they married in the 1970's, so they left for the UK, bought a farm and settled there! People had funny ideas back then) anyway, through their farm, there were all these walking paths & right of way's, so ramblers always passing through their farm yard. Wouldn't happen here!

ttm

caroj wrote: »

I would think the landowners are probably concerned if someone fell and got hurt on their property they can be sued, so most farmers have public liability insurance and as we all know insurance is expensive.

I know of a case where a member of a shooting party had an accident with a gun (no-one died), sued the landowner whose field he was crossing, he received a significant compensation settlement, so massive issues around it all.

I remember years ago visiting my aunt in the Uk, her friend was a farmers wife (they were actually an Irish couple, Cork born, she was Catholic, him Protestant, their families disowned them when they married in the 1970's, so they left for the UK, bought a farm and settled there! People had funny ideas back then) anyway, through their farm, there were all these walking paths & right of way's, so ramblers always passing through their farm yard. Wouldn't happen here!

afaik the farmers don't own the land the railway ran over or the bridges or the tunnel. I can't say for sure in Waterford but I know that the land for the railway tracks around New Ross was compulsory purchased so the landowners were paid for the land, I can't imagine it would be any different anywhere else in the country.

If the farmers did own the land then obviously they can stop the council turning it into a public walking route.

dayshah

ttm wrote: »

afaik the farmers don't own the land the railway ran over or the bridges or the tunnel. I can't say for sure in Waterford but I know that the land for the railway tracks around New Ross was compulsory purchased so the landowners were paid for the land, I can't imagine it would be any different anywhere else in the country.

If the farmers did own the land then obviously they can stop the council turning it into a public walking route.

The objectors/farmers don't own the land.

ttm

dayshah wrote: »

The objectors/farmers don't own the land.

While that seems obvious I didn't like to post something I couldn't be 100% sure of. So who does own it and whats the legal status of anyone currently walking the course of the old railway track?

yoyo83

I must take a trip down there soon always want to walk the bridge in kilmacthomas looks amazing, i would have loved to see a train pass by, must have made some noise back in the day! pity its closed now

Beeker

Anyone know what happened to the plan to open the old line as a walk/cycle way from Waterford to Dungarvan?

STIG83

Beeker wrote: »

Anyone know what happened to the plan to open the old line as a walk/cycle way from Waterford to Dungarvan?

http://www.munster-express.ie/local-news/council-wins-landmark-railway-walk-ruling/

I would love to see something like what is in Kilmeaden happen in Kilmac, there some great scenery when you walk along the viaduct.

Beeker

STIG83 wrote: »

http://www.munster-express.ie/local-news/council-wins-landmark-railway-walk-ruling/

I would love to see something like what is in Kilmeaden happen in Kilmac, there some great scenery when you walk along the viaduct.

Link wont open

STIG83

Beeker wrote: »

Link wont open

Sorry, if you check post 16, there a link there too

STIG83

Did it open for you Beeker?

Beeker

STIG83 wrote: »

Did it open for you Beeker?

No, blank page:(

STIG83

Beeker wrote: »

No, blank page:(

Strange that is, i opened it bout 15 minutes ago and it worked

STIG83

http://www.munster-express.ie/front-page-news/general-stories/hearing-date-set-for-railway-line-dispute/

Beeker

STIG83 wrote: »

http://www.munster-express.ie/front-page-news/general-stories/hearing-date-set-for-railway-line-dispute/

Perfect! Thanks Stig:)