Lewis's Topographical Dictionary - Waterford City

The quay, in the centre of which is the custom-house, neat and commodious building, presents a very brilliant appearance at night, having two ranges of gas- lights, of which that on the verge of the quay is provided by the Harbour Commissioners out of the fees and emoluments of the water-bailiff's office, by agreement with the corporation; the benefit of these lights has been experienced in the very high degree by the vessels loading and unloading at night. The commissioners have established a quay and river watch, which has been very useful in the protection of the property and the preservation of human life: it appears that, since its establishment in 1822, not less than 300 persons have been saved from drowning; and scarcely a night passes, when it is dark and boisterous, without a life being saved. They have also made a complete survey, and published a chart, of the coast for 12 miles to the east and west of Hook lighthouse, for the purpose of making Waterford more this known to mariners as an asylum harbour.

A dredge-vessel is at work, to clear the mud from the quays and river, and render the accommodation to the shipping still better than heretofore. The port affords peculiar facilities to steam-vessels of the larger class, which, from the great depth of water in the river, are not obliged, as in most other parts, to wait at the harbour's mouth for high water, but can approach the quay at any period of the tide. The commissioners have placed vessels or hulks about 60 or 70 feet from the edge of the quay, with a strong gangway or bridge from 10 to 12 feet wide, and fenced with iron railings, reaching from the hulks to the quay, which, having one extremity resting on the hulk, rises and falls with the tide by this means the steamers can discharge or receive a cargo even at low water, without the labour of throwing out or taking up an anchor, merely by making fast to the moorings close to the hulks.  Steam-vessels of a superior class sail regularly, three times in the week, with goods, passengers, and live stock, to Bristol and Liverpool; and, being able to enter or leave the river at any state of the tide, have an opportunity of arranging their time of saih'ng so as to take advantage of the time of high water in other less favoured ports hence, passengers are not more than one night at sea, the passage being usually made, except in extreme cases, in 18 or 24 hours. The geographical situation, with the natural and acquired advantage of the port, and the moderate rate of duties, render it a very desirable station for the East India and China free trade, which was lately introduced, the Messrs. Kehoe having imported tea direct from China.

The harbour is 42 leagues from the Land's End, in Cornwall, to the lighthouse on the peninsula of Hook, which lies N.½ E. When making for it from the south or east, it is necessary to keep Slievenaman, a remarkable mountain inland, N. E. ½ N., or the Great Salter Island E. S. E., till the lighthouse is seen on the east side of the harbour: Hook Point must be kept at the distance of a cable's length, to avoid falling into irregular streams of tide that run near it; the west side of the harbour is deep along shore as far as Credan's Head, and shews a red light at Dunmore pier. Passing the Hook, anchorage may be obtained with a flood tide or leading wind at Passage.

In 1845, an act was passed for the construction of a railway from this city to the city of Limerick this is a new undertaking, to supply a line for which an act was passed in 1826, but which was not carried into effect.  Part of the present line is to be constructed for the joint use of this and the Great Southern and Western railway.  The main line is nearly 77 British miles long, and a branch to the upper part of Waterford one mile; the capital of the company is fixed at £750,000, with a power of raising £250,000 by loan.  In 1845, also, an act was passed for a railway from Waterford to Kilkenny, with a branch to Kells, in the county of Kilkenny: the length of the main line of this undertaking will be 31 miles; the capital is fixed at £250,000, with power to raise an additional sum of £83,000 by loan.