Photographic Archive

The Society’s photographic archives cover a wide variety of railway subjects.

How to view the photos

The Society’s photographic archive holds over 28,000 historical images illustrating Irish Railways from the 1890s to 1990s, featuring steam & diesel locomotives, trains, architectural station buildings, track-diagrams, coaches and wagons. The collection is accessible online to our members via our FLICKR website.

Please send a message via FlickrMail stating your name and IRRS membership number to obtain access.

How to view our films

Our YouTube channel features over 60 archival films of Irish railways recorded by enthusiasts during the 1950s to 1990s.

Feature-length films are shown each March in-person and online at our Annual Film Show.

GNR steam locomotive No. 45 on summer excursion train at Bangor West, 13th July 1961 © IRRS Archive
CIÉ steam locomotive No. 552 working a sugar-beet train at Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork, 30th December 1960 © IRRS Archive
CIÉ diesel locomotive A59R departing Belfast’s Great Victoria Street on 10th May 1969 © IRRS Archive
GNR steam locomotive No. 174 outside Amiens Street engine shed, Dublin, 18th September 1960 © IRRS Archive
CIÉ locomotive No. 64 working an IRRS special to Tullow at Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, September 1957 © IRRS Archive
Irish Sugar Company locomotive No. 1 outside Thurles beet factory, Co. Tipperary, 10th November 1951 © IRRS Archive
GSWR track-diagram of Clonmel Station, Co. Tipperary, circa 1925 © IRRS Archive
Waterford & Tramore Railway locomotive No. 486 and her engine-driver pictured at Manor Station, Waterford, summer 1936. © IRRS Archive

How you can help

The Society welcomes bequests that could augment our existing photographic and film archives. Please contact info@irrs.ie regarding any prospective donations.