Westcorkrailway

Cork and Macroom railway Album covers the Macroom railway. Probably corks most obscure railway line. it includes some of his articles for railway magazine and newspapers amongst the most definitive collection of images on the line amongst a pletera of drawings and notes about the line Cork and muskerry light railway Coveres the muskerry line, another railway somewhat neglected by literature, again with a definitive collection of photos of the former railway line as well as relevant newspaper clippings. Cork and Youghal railway Vol 1. Covers the railway company that eventually became part of the GSWR. Some very nice early images as well as a savage documentation of its downgrade and eventual closure of all branches and mini railways of that line. there is also a lot of information about summerhill station. Also includes the railtour he helped make in 1985. Vol.2 shows newspaper clippings calling for upgrades, photos of the line during the 1990s including Youghal branch. Pretty definitive look at railways during the early 1990s Dublin an south eastern railway album Not much within ths one. Showing some of his own photogarphsof the harcourt street line, amongst other DSER lines during the early 1960s updates on the Dart and suburban services in the 1980s and a piece about cork at the end (this happens often!) Great northern railway abum Contains not as much GNR material as the title suggests. Really it’s a miscelanous of railway companies not covered in other albums Has clogher valley, C&L, SLNC, Lartigue, CDR, west clare, lots about bord na mona, British rail, preservation schemes in the UK and beyond (looking for inspiration for his own plans for a cork heritage line) Irish tourist railway album. Again, looking for inspiration. This album looks at heritage schemes I Ireland in the early 1990s. some beautiful old photographs of heritage railways in there early days including the construction of the Tralee and Blennerville, the DCDR opening ceremony and Cahir Rail Museum. The railways of West Cork Illustrated album no.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 These are the diary of Colm Credon tracking the end of the west cork railway. Some of these have not surived the flood as is evident when you open volume 1 which picks up in 1954 and is basically unreadable No. 1. Covers 1954 to 1957, the detail it goes into cannot be described. That driving trailer no.2 covers the early 1950s so it predates no.1 for some reason. Again, an unreasonable amount of detail which I have never fully read through due to the condition of the pages no. 3 covers 1957 to around 1960. One of the last slides showing the CIE closure announcements. Includes another pile of notes, statistics and photograph number 4 is missing. Probably destroyed in the flood no.5. shows a huge array of anti closure and closure related articles. The 2nd half also shows some of the traffic towards the end of the railway including the last GAA exurion and a decent account of the IRRS farewell special aswell as the last weeks of the railway. Also shows the strong opposition to the railways closure, which colm was a huge part of no.6 shows the early lfiting process and the beginning of crrsattempts at a heritage line. the end of the album looks at the railway line pre 1930s including the kisale branch, a full grade map and early photos for some reason. The naming changes to Cork bandon and south coast Railway CBSCR volume 1. Is full of the state of the west cork railway thoughtout the 1980s and also looks at some pre CIE era photos of the lne CBSCR volume 2 continues on from No.6. documenting the lifting of the line throughout the mid 1960s finally concluding in 1970 with only albert quay left. Also shows he munster area railtour he held in 1965. An album called cork city railways is not present. Likely destroyed. Great southern and western railway albums VOL.1 starts about 1967. Documents the closure ad lifting of the mallow to Waterford railway line as well as some weird odd explorations of strange lines. Including pats withdrawal, fenittrip, Fethard line lifing. Also documents the IRRS munster area tour to Castlemungret and webbs mills which he organished. Also some interesting pictures at the end of 90 and the kanturkbranch VOL.2 steps back in time and contains photos of some lines closed in the 1950s on the system, particulary on the Kerry road. His IRRS tours to castleisland and Waterford north are documented. He also had a railtour on the north Kerry road which simply attached a coach to the goods train!. There is also some superb photos of CIE in general from the 50s to the 80s mixed in there VOL.3 onl a few pages long. Showing GSRPS special at gortand a piece on railway accidents overall I would recommend everyone read the GSWR series . There is something there for everyone Cork blackrock and passage railway I suspect was one Colm’s favourite lines. his notes and photos in this album are once again pretty definitive particulary on the subject of the multiple terminus’s which he did a book on in approimatly 1985 I cannot go into more detail than this. If you want to find out what is in them for yourselves. Go and read/Look through them!

Can’t say I knew the man personally. He died in 2001 and I was born in 2003. He was a transport enthusiast for basically all his life. He wrote articles for railway magazine, had his own magazine called “the west cork railway observer” and essentially watched over the railway in its last years. post west cork closure he focused on the IRRS Munster area and essentially transformed it into the version we know today. All the info that @mol_PMB has is because of Colm organising that tour in 1966. He organised all of them. many of the photos you see are his, and his 2 running buddies Walter McGrath who wrote loads of railway articles and has 2 books “industrial railways of Ireland” and “cork trams” to his name. And the famous Joe st ledger. he did another magazine in the 1980s and started writing books then too. His Macroom book in 1960 was the first. Then a book about GAA excursions in 1984, then 3 books about the CBSC (1986, 1989, 1991) before his final book about the CBPR in 1993. He was working on an updated Macroom book, unfortunately this book never released. Cork enthusiasts often remember staying at his house in magazine road into the early hours purely discussion railways. he was at the centre of SORA, the attempt to save the west cork railway and he set up the CRRS to try and save Bandon tank 464 (£240 pounds short!) and tried for years to set up a heritage line in West Cork. I could go on. For me he’s simply the most interesting and single most important man when it came to railway enthusiasm in the far south. if the people want. I can make a guide to these manuscripts. What’s in each of them. Because the names don’t really line up with what’s inside sometimes!

These are my holy bible. I swear by them. Every time I open them up I find something new. Unfortunately some of these albums were damaged beyond repair in the 2009 cork floods. Regardless I find it more handy then the IRRS archive, and had completely forgotten to make a thread about it on here. it’s pure raw unedited notebooks. I know here like to criticise his books on the CBSC for there quality of edition but reading some of these you can see why somone with such passion found it hard to edit down. Look how much he had to cut out!

Saw this on on Facebook too. It’s a shame the green livery didn’t last a bit longer, it was super

Another mix of liveries at Cobh around 1947

Photos post ww2 become much easier to come by. But the introduction of colour during that time is brilliant. Particularly of the earliest years of CIE. https://ifiarchiveplayer.ie/monsignor-reid-collection-castlerea-train-station/ 1947 Colour footage of an oil burning loco with GSR liveried Coaches

I didn’t know the D class ever got to cork either….interesting!

This one is allegedly before the line opened…the train is for GSWR directors

These 2 locos are currently about the same distance away now as they were in this photo. 1875 built 90 with future roommate 1958 built C231. i have a picture of 2624 working in west cork, which became 6111 also preserved in Downpatrick. Can’t find it though! both of these rustons have survived. One is in Belturbet and the other is in Clonakilty

I since made a Facebook page on this subject. The wider audience of that platform should unearth some gems in the meantime here are a few more a railway station under construction! The BBSC station on Bantry pier built for the transfer of goods, and supposedly passengers to the Bantry bay steamship companies services to glengarrif, adrigole and Castletownbere. (The roads during this time were appalling) Would be in the early 1890s allegedly this was taken in Abbyleix. If it was then it would be similar to that of the Wexford service posted earlier. An early example of GSR travels. The “M” in the background gives me good reason to doubt though!

Another one from the nunn collection. Clonakilty mixed train 1924 just outside of Cork.

Visiting places like Tuam, Wellintonbridge, navan and seeing Baby GMs and A class on the DCDR. One can only imagine what it was like. If/When these stations re-open a lot of the character will naturally be stripped back. I guess that’s why my railway layout and purchases tend to be historic, to recreate something I can’t just go out and see!

I’m gonna register for it. Try my hand at some of this stuff. No prizes for guessing what!

Not my finest work, but twill do! A 3rd brakevan for myself

I found that thread about the oldest Irish railway photos spurring me to find some photos of Pre-1930s railway photos in Ireland. Some of which I have found fascinating. I hope a few more can contribute to this thread This one was posted on Facebook a few months ago. A MGWR on a Wexford train…can’t be too long after the amalgamation! another MGWR train at castlebar. The straight sided coaches are particularly old. Did this train run all the way to achill? Or did Westport act as a terminus? a CMDR Goods train, probobly just outside capwell terminus. (Nunn collection)

Yes those 2 lads. Interestingly, as the railway closed in 1931. This is only one of very few photographs of the Kinsale Line that are findable on the internet! I suspect collections of British officers who took up photography while stationed in the area. This method has uncovered photographs of the re-opening of the passage line post narrow gauge-ification anyhow. I’d love to see anymore absolutely ancient photographs of Irish railways

Goods shed now in situ

There is a lot of Info in this photograph dug up by local historian Fergal Browne. The photo was taken on July 4th 1859 at 12.30pm. It was taken at Clashmore - near Kinsale Workhouse - now the hospital. The two gentlemen with the tall hats and moustaches are Lt. Col N.Ludlow Beamish - Chairman is the Railway and H.William Woods - Secretary. The photo was taken by Mr. Haines, an amateur photographer. ‘Mr. Haines, a photographic amateur of considerable ability, next proceeded to place his instruments for the purpose of taking some views of the scene…. After a good deal of trouble in arranging the group properly – inducing timid young ladies to take their places in the foreground, and moving back some young gentlemen who were evidently determined that their ornamental features and figures should not be omitted, several views were taken from different positions’. While I’d agree there is probobly very few locals here. I suspect anyone who isint local is from London/UK!

Kinsale railway “cutting of the sod” ceremony 1859

I agree with you, but in certain other places the livery does come through!

I like the idea of a Sligo-Galway passenger Service… would Waterford-Westport/Ballina goods be re-routed down the corridor? Would require a run around at limerick Colbert ect. or they could run all rail freight to Foynes…

Learning CAD will make you want to chop your head off with a rusty hatchet, but it’s incredibly worthwhile skill. (and I’m in my early 20s, I’m supposed to be good with computers) I still have no idea how to print stuff. I just send a 3MF file to a friend of mine!

So I have written out some information on the world “Ballymartle” inherits. please note for any future historians: This is an alternate reality crackpot pipe dream, do not take it seriously. The kinsale branchline finished construction in 1865, The line was heavily subsidised by the Army who wished to make use of it for troop transport. Because of this. It was built to a very decent standard. The main differences between this version of the line and the real Kinsale line is the junction is at Ballinhassig, a Huge viaduct over the river owenabue and a kinsale station build right in the town. Ballymartle is built across the road from its real life counterpart. Ballymartle station was built to serve the village of Ballymartle which was a 50 minute walk away. A nearby firing range was established some years earlier so the station was built with facilities to accommodate troop transport from both Cork and Kinsale. Which did occasionally make use of the station. The war of Independence and Civil war damaged parts of the line and post reconstruction, the line and the station was under threat. The Cork Kinsale road was the longest stretch of paved road in the country at one stage. The bus could complete the service more directly and quickly. the Irish army had all but departed from Kinsale….But during the 60 odd years prior the railway had encouraged development. A small settlement had spurred around Ballymartle station including a shop/Pub. Later named after the townland “Ballynaloughy” in 1927 a quarry was established near Ballymartle station. 1928 a rail connection was established. Wagons of stone were propelled using the company’s own locomotive to Ballymartle. This quarry employed many locals and helped the railway survive the 1920s and 1930s. The post 1927 timetable was 2 passenger trains and 1 Goods Train. during the Emergency services were cut down to 1 mixed train a day. Post war the original timetable would return, a relief to many in the area as many of the West Cork Branches in this new era of CIE were clearly winding down. Baltimore-Skibbereen and the schull and skibbereen closed outright in 1947. The T&C lost its regular passenger and most of its goods, the Macroom line would close a few years later ect. Ballymartle would see its first deisal traction in 1950, the quarry strengthening its loco fleet with a Ruston 88DS to assist with the aging Ex Allmans Distillery peckett 0-4-0. With Steam Locomotives being displaced all over the country, the Kinsale branchline would see C class Deisal locos take over the Goods Workings from steam. The 2 passenger services direct to Cork remained Steam hauled, almost exclusively by Bandon Tanks. On the 31st of March 1961, a huge rationalisation of the West Cork Railway Took place which included the closure of the Skibbereen branch, closure of the T&C branch and reduction of the Clonakilty Branchline to Goods only. The Kinsale Branchline would be reduced to 2 mixed trains per day. This too would not suffice and in 1963 further reductions occurred. Many of the rural stations on the remaining network closed. The Clonakilty branchline closed entirely. The Kinsale Branchline was now reduced to 1 Goods Train Per day. The people of Ballynaloughy were not even given a bus service! The quarry had ceased in 1959 and the last stone left by rail in 1960. The main traction post 1962 was the GM 121 class, its reliability and haulage capacity was needed for the steep gradients of the kinsale line. Post 1963 occasional passenger specials would make there way down the Branchline, particularly mystery trains, seaside excursions and a few Enthusiast Excursions. It was clear the line was living on borrowed time and in 1967, it closed outright. The track lifting commenced but hit a snag and never resumed as due to local pressure. CIE committed to never selling the track bed. 1967 would also see the Passenger services West of Bandon Suspended. Bantry essentially being treated identically to youghal. The former Clonakilty Junction site had become a Beet Loading platform form local farmers during the season. Drimoleague, Dunmanway and Ballineen also remained open for goods, particularly beet. The West Cork network was constantly under threat 1989 saw the Bantry Line official closed, the last train running in 1987. Albert Quay would go into the 1990s as the only remaining section of the CB&SCR open..

That would be a nice resource on here. I’d gladly upload some of the stuff I have made as 3MF files if anyone wants. Think a selection of stuff free for anyone to print would be a revolutionary game changer for Irish modelling, particularly in the niche Pre-CIE stuff!

There is a free version of fusion 360 for personal use (even if they make it hard to find to try trick you into paying) and it’s done me wonders. I haven’t ventured into locos/Rolling stock yet. Only helping with the production of a Bandon Tank as of now. Always wanted to do a CBSCR short bogey coach in 3D. Some of I can keep honing in my skills I’ll be able to do it one day