Cork and Muskerry Light Railway
Encyclopedia
The Cork and Muskerry Light Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Cork
, Ireland
. The first part of the railway opened in 1887 and closed in 1934. A major reason for building the railway was to exploit tourist traffic to Blarney Castle
.
. The initial lines westwards from Cork to Blarney
and Coachford
opened in 1887 and 1888 respectively, the railway was built close to the south bank of the River Lee
as far as a station at Coachford Junction, 6½ miles west of Cork. From Coachford Junction the branch to Blarney was 2 miles, the line to Coachford 9 miles.
Throughout the railway's existence, the line was equipped with nine steam locomotives. The line was built to a track gauge of 3 feet (914 mm).
. The line was opened in 1893. It was legally a separate company (the Donoughmore Extension Light Railway Company, incorporated in 1889) but always worked as an integral part of the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway.
, but experienced serious damage during the Irish Civil War
of 1922-23. The destruction of a bridge over the River Lee seriously undermined the railway's viability; the railway was repaired and incorporated into Great Southern Railways (Ireland) in 1925.
Road competition started to seriously affect the railway in the 1920s. The railway closed on 29 December 1934.
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The first part of the railway opened in 1887 and closed in 1934. A major reason for building the railway was to exploit tourist traffic to Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland, and the River Martin. Though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the current keep was built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond, and dates from 1446...
.
Initial route
The railway operated from its own station at CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. The initial lines westwards from Cork to Blarney
Blarney
Blarney is a town and townland in County Cork, Ireland. It lies north-west of Cork and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.-Tourism:Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in County Cork...
and Coachford
Coachford
Coachford is a village west of Cork City, in County Cork, Ireland. It is located on the north side of the River Lee. Coachford got its name from Áth an Chóiste as there used to be a narrow ford across a stream...
opened in 1887 and 1888 respectively, the railway was built close to the south bank of the River Lee
River Lee (Ireland)
The Lee is a river in Ireland. It rises in the Shehy Mountains on the western border of County Cork and flows eastwards through Cork City, where it splits in two for a short distance, creating an island on which Cork's city centre is built, and empties into the Celtic Sea at Cork Harbour on the...
as far as a station at Coachford Junction, 6½ miles west of Cork. From Coachford Junction the branch to Blarney was 2 miles, the line to Coachford 9 miles.
Throughout the railway's existence, the line was equipped with nine steam locomotives. The line was built to a track gauge of 3 feet (914 mm).
The Donoughmore Extension
An 8½ mile long extension was built north-westerly from St Annes (on the Blarney branch) to DonoughmoreDonoughmore
Donoughmore is a parish in County Cork which lies 25 km west north west of Cork city in Ireland.-Amenities:Donoughmore has two primary schools. Scoil Iósaif and St. Lachteen's...
. The line was opened in 1893. It was legally a separate company (the Donoughmore Extension Light Railway Company, incorporated in 1889) but always worked as an integral part of the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway.
Final years
The line was comparatively unaffected by World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but experienced serious damage during the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
of 1922-23. The destruction of a bridge over the River Lee seriously undermined the railway's viability; the railway was repaired and incorporated into Great Southern Railways (Ireland) in 1925.
Road competition started to seriously affect the railway in the 1920s. The railway closed on 29 December 1934.
See also
- Cork, Blackrock and Passage RailwayCork, Blackrock and Passage RailwayThe Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Cork, Ireland. It was originally opened in 1850 as a broad gauge railway between Cork and Passage West, but was converted to 3' gauge in 1902. An extension southwards from Passage West to Crosshaven opened in 1904...
- List of narrow gauge railways in Ireland
- Schull and Skibbereen RailwaySchull and Skibbereen RailwayThe Schull and Skibbereen Railway was a minor narrow gauge railway in County Cork, Ireland. It opened in 1886 and closed in 1947. The track gauge was 3 feet . The formal name of the company was The West Carberry Tramways and Light Railways Company Ltd.-Route:The S&S' main line was 15½ miles long...