10 Best: Irish Train Rides By Pol O'Conghaile

Waterford & Suir Valley Railway
It's a small train. And a small track. But the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway is a big idea -- a community heritage project taking passengers for a jaunt along the old Waterford to Dungarvan line. The station is Kilmeaden, the ticket office is an old train carriage and several dinky carriages are tugged along a hidden stretch of the River Suir by a Simplex locomotive that helped excavate the Channel Tunnel. It shuts on September 30, but there's a 'spooky express' for Halloween.

Details: Tel: 051 384058; wsvrailway.ie
Journey time: 50 minutes.
Price: €8.50/€4.