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.

Initial route

The railway operated from its own station at Cork. 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 Donoughmore Extension

An 8½ mile long extension was built north-westerly from St Annes (on the Blarney branch) to Donoughmore. 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 I, 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 incoporated into Great Southern Railways 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 Railway
• List of narrow gauge railways in Ireland
• Schull and Skibbereen Railway

References

Further reading