The old Youghal Branch is still there if you know where to look for it. It’s a vestige from another time, which makes it all the more fascinating to me.
A few years back Irish Rail rebuilt and reactivated the line from Cobh Junction to Midleton, Co. Cork, but beyond there the line is dormant. The last move east of Midleton, occurred in 1988. And prior to that trains were—at best—infrequent.
Earlier this month, Ken Fox gave me a detailed tour of the old railway, much of which is now heavily overgrown.
To the untrained eye (no pun intended) there’s little to see in most places. You could easily miss the railway altogether.
Yet, below the weeds, bushes and detritus are rails and sleepers. It more than just track; signal cabins still stand at Killeagh and Youghal, as do the old stations at Mogeely and Youghal.
Mogeely has been cleared, and there’s plenty to explore around the old station area.
The old signal cabin at Youghal is covered up and forlorn, its bells ring no more. Exposed using a Fujifilm XT1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit lens.Irish Rail’s station at Youghal hasn’t seen a regularly scheduled passenger service in more than 50 years, although specials worked the line into the 1980s. Lumix LX7 photo.Ken Fox and I explored the hillside on the northeast side of the old yard at Youghal. I’d seen photos from this hillside back when the line was still active and I hoped to find this angle. Note the position of the station and signal cabin. Lumix LX7 photo.Killeagh is easily missed. The line is almost complete overgrown, yet the old cabin survives. Lumix LX7 photo.Irish Rail signal cabin at Killeagh. The line is to the left of the cabin. Believe it not, the tracks are still there! Exposed using a Fujifilm XT1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit lens.An old rail serving as a post at Killeagh. Exposed using a Fujifilm XT1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit lens.The area immediately around the station at Mogeely has been cleared of brush and debris. Exposed using a Fujifilm XT1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit lens.Mogeely looking west toward Cork. Exposed using a Fujifilm XT1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit lens.Mogul looking east. Hard to believe its been 28 years since a train last traveled these rails. Notice the old signaling rods. Exposed using a Fujifilm XT1 with Zeiss 12mm Touit lens.I made this view at Mogeely using my Lumix LX7.
I made these photos using my Lumix LX7 and Fujifilm XT1. Any favourites?
Tracking the Light is on autopilot while Brian is traveling.
