The Last Train



Logline:

A nostalgic look back at the life of the railway in Abbeyleix, concentrating on the last train that left Abbeyleix in January 1963 and the individuals who took that journey.

Synopsis:

Officially opened in May 1967, linking Abbeyleix with Kilkenny, Mountrath, Waterford and eventually the rest of Ireland, the railway was to bring great changes to the town of Abbeyleix, both good and bad. Suddenly, the great towns and cities were within reach and this was to bring great commercial and economic benefit. But it also led to the demise of the horse drawn coach services and stations in the town, such as the de Vesci Arms. It was also to usher in a new era of mass emigration, something which was to continue throughout the second half of the 20th century. Opened by the Kilkenny Junction Railway, by the beginning of the 20th century the station was run by the Great Southern and Western Railway. It was absorbed into the Great Southern Railways in 1925. The station was then nationalised, passing on to the Coras Iompair Éireann as a result of the Transport Act 1944 which took effect from 1 January 1945. With the onset of the motor vehicle in the 1950’s and 1960’s and the severe fall in revnue, many railway lines were closed throughout the island. Land was given back to the farmers, often at a cost to the company. Many consider this one of the great tragedies for the Irish transport, its environment, its culture and heritage. Abbeyleix Railway station was closed in 1963, the same year as the formation of the Railway Preservation Society. This is the story of last train that left Abbeyleix on that fateful day in 1963, told by the individuals who were on that train. It is also the story of the railway in Abbeyleix and throughout the island of Ireland. Their consolidation in the mid 1800’s, the affect they had on society and economics and their eventual demise. Finally, it is the story of the great work being done by the Railway Preservation Society, and other smaller Railway Clubs throughout the island, such as the one based in the Heritage House in Abbeyleix.

Located in:
Laois

Type

Documentary

Genre

Factual

Status

Pre-Production

Network

Creator

nickcarswell



Last Update: 17/05/10 @ 17:55

The Last Train - First steps

For our first major location scout I had a poke around the excellent Abbeyleix Heritage House, with plenty of examples of photography from the era of the railways, and even model railway tracks which will hopefully provide plenty of vivid and colourful shots for the film. I then met Ronnie Bramley for a chat and a stroll around the town. Plenty of stories and memories close at hand, easily stirred by the sights of the old school, the station house, and what remains of the lines where the railway track once stood. "You can't stop progress" was a phrase we found ourselves coming back to, whether in terms of the historic railway itself, the new Cork road busy with weekend traffic (we visited the site of the Old Cork Road which lies abandoned alongside the current N9), and even the new motorway due to open in two weeks. A quick stop into the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel for a refreshing soft drink and to examine their own photographs of the railway hanging in the sunlight of the conservatory, and more chat about Ronnie's recollections of the Last Train that left Abbeyleix back in 1962. We talked about what the railway meant to him as a young boy, and to the town in general, and how its absence affected the town. There's a certain air of timeliness as Abbeyleix is shortly to be bypassed by the new motorway, and in times of all this progress, its important to remember the way things once were. That's the whole point I guess. We'll be back for some scenic photography and lighting/camera tests before we commence shooting some interviews for The Last Train.

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