Popular Kilmeaden railway welcomes 100,000th visitor
Welcoming the 100,000th visitor to the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway were, from left (back): Tosh Smith, Jo Crowe, Martin Crowe, Maria Kyte and (front): Roisin, Eadaoin and Padraig Crowe.
On Friday last, the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway recorded a significant landmark: welcoming its 100,000th visitor since its opening in June 2003.
The Crowe family of Doon, County Limerick were the lucky visitors who took to the rails while enjoying a holiday in the county.
On returning from the 4pm trip, Martin and Jo Crowe and their children Roisin, Eadaoin and Padraig were met by railway manager, Maria Kyte who informed them of the good news.
To mark the occasion, she presented each of the Crowes with a piece of Waterford Wedgwood.
The Waterford & Suir Valley Railway is a voluntary, community project which opened to the public five years ago as a tourist attraction.
The 40-minute trip runs on a section of the old Waterford/Dungarvan line – along a narrow gauge track from Kilmeaden to Bilberry, just outside Waterford city.
It takes in a scenic route with views across the Suir into County Kilkenny as well as a glimpse into Mount Congreve Gardens. A converted Irish Rail carriage serves as the ticket office, shop and coffee shop at the station.
“Welcoming the 100,000th visitor is yet another landmark date for the company,” said Waterford & Suir Railway Chairman Pádraig O’Griofa.
“Improvements are made each year to the service provided but the ultimate objective is to extend the track into Waterford city and operate a commuter service on a rail bus from the city to service future facilities along the route including the Water Haven development at Bilberry, Waterford Institute of Technology at Carriganore, Woodstown Viking Site, Mount Congreve Gardens and Kilmeaden Station.”
A registered charity, the railway is owned entirely by the community and run by a voluntary Board of Directors.
The tourist attraction has a full-time manager and ticket office staff. The train is operated by volunteer crew with the support of a mechanic, Mick Doyle and driver/maintenance man Tosh Smith.
The train runs hourly between 11am and 4pm (Monday to Saturday) and 12noon to 5pm each Sunday.
For further information, contact the station on 051 384058 or log onto www.wsvrailway.ie
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