Cork’s railways were once vastly more complex than they are today.
Over a three-day span beginning 7 May 2016, I was given a thorough tour of Cork’s historic railways that included: a walking tour of the route of the old Cork City Railway; a cycle tour of the route of the Cork, Blackrock & Passage; and a detailed look at the numerous railway terminals that once served this southwestern Irish city.
I made numerous photographs composed to document railway settings as they are today. In many instances service was discontinued decades ago and the lines lifted and so the role of the railway is more conceptual than literal.
Thanks to Ken Fox, Donncha Cronin, Brian Sherman, Kevin Meany and Richard Lee for their expert guidance and historical knowledge.
I arrived by Irish Rail’s Mark4 from Dublin. This view of Cork’s Kent Station (Glanmire Road) was made from the foot bridge over the right of way of the line to the old Summer Hill Station. I featured Kent Station in my book Railway Depots, Stations and Terminals.I’ve always liked Kent Station’s Victorian-era curved train shed. Exposed with a FujiFilm X-T1 digital camera.Irish Rail 201-class diesel 220 at Kent Station Cork on 7 May 2016. Lumix LX7 photo.Old footpath over the line to Summer Hill Station. Kent Station is 180 degrees behind this view.Site of Summer Hill station that once handled trains working the line toward Cobh.Detail of the iron work on the foot bridge near Summer Hill station.Kent Station viewed from the Glanmire Road bridge. The earlier Penrose Quay station was located to the right of the curved shed.Donncha Cronin holds a vintage photo of the Capwell Station at the old station building (now used by a Bus Eíreann maintenance depot). Historically, Capwell was the terminus for the Cork & Macroom Railway.Panoramic composite of the old Capwell Station (centre).Old railway gate at the site of Cork, Blackrock & Passage’s Albert Road Station. Lumix LX7 photo.Cork, Blackrock & Passage Railway’s Albert Road Station.The former offices for the Cork, Bandon & South Coast Railway near Albert Quay in Cork City.Quayside trackage on the Cork City quay.Right of way of the old Cork City Railway.Right of way of the old Cork City Railway.Perhaps one of the last vestiges of track relating to the Cork City Railway located near Albert Road in Cork.Perhaps one of the last vestiges of track relating to the Cork City Railway located near Albert Road in Cork.The old train staff that had been used to authorize train movements on the Cork City Railway. Photo courtesy of Kevin Meany.Site of the old Western Road station (now a hotel).Cork, Blackrock & Passage was originally a broad gauge line, later converted to a largely double track 3 foot gauge suburban railway (similar in concept to the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn). Now a popular urban cycle path, seen here at Blackrock.Site of Blackrock Station on the Cork, Blackrock & Passage Railway.Near Monkstown Station on the Cork, Blackrock & Passage Railway right of way.Near Monkstown Station on the Cork, Blackrock & Passage Railway right of way.Ken Fox studies a sign illustrating the history of the Cork, Blackrock & Passage at Carrigaline, Co. Cork.A sign illustrating the history of the Cork, Blackrock & Passage at Carrigaline, Co. Cork.Site of the Crosshaven terminus of the Cork, Blackrock & Passage suburban narrow gauge.Irish Rail’s footbridge at Glounthaune Station. Lumix LX7 photo.Glounthaune Station.An Irish Rail 2600-series railcar passes the old container terminal at North Esk, last served by Irish Rail in summer 2005.
