One of the strangest grave markers in Dublin lies in the “Stranger’s Bank” at the old Saint Mary’s Abbey in Howth. This section of the cemetery was usually used to bury unidentified victims of disasters at sea.
During the building of the Dollymount to Howth tram line in the 1890s, a young Englishman, track-layer died suddenly on it. He left no clue as to his origins or surname.
Vincent Caprani in his book A View from the Dart (1986) fleshed out the story:
Unable to contact his family (if he had any), his tramway mates had him rest in the strangers plot and they fashioned a ‘tombstone’ for him from a piece of grooved tram rail. This humble yet enduring ‘monument’ … to my mind one of the most poignant grave markers in Ireland.
It is sill there to this day.
Grave to the ‘Unknown Tram Man’. © 2007 Bernd Biege
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Nudder great post.
I used to live in the Gem in Howth and the tram went up the back of our yard. When I was small I wanted to be either a tram driver or a bishop. Fell short on both accounts.
http://photopol.com/james_st/gem.html
You’re right about the poignancy.