Railway lines in Kerry, 1906
Detail from a map dating from 1906 showing railway lines in Kerry at that time.
Railway lines in Kerry, 1906
Railway lines in Kerry, 1906
Detail from a map dating from 1906 showing railway lines in Kerry at that time.
The Coming of the Railways
The railways arrived in Kerry in the 1850s.
A number of lines were established and a network of tracks spread across the county reaching as far as Dingle, Caherciveen and Kenmare. The trains may have been slow compared to modern trains but they were much quicker than the horses and carts people had used until then.
Tralee and Dingle Light Railway
The old and the new
This railway route was carved out of the mountain, parallel with the old road and overlooking the Atlantic ocean. The section pictured was part of the line that ran to Caherciveen.
© Lawrence CollectionThe old and the new
© Lawrence Collection
© Lawrence Collection
The old and the new
This railway route was carved out of the mountain, parallel with the old road and overlooking the Atlantic ocean. The section pictured was part of the line that ran to Caherciveen.
© Lawrence CollectionThe Tralee and Dingle Light Railway had one of the most beautiful but dangerous routes in Ireland. It hugged the sides of mountains, travelled through tunnels and over bridges.
The tracks climbed steeply in parts followed by rapid descents. The line was 31 miles long (50 kms.), with 6 miles (9.5 kms.) of branch line to Castlegregory.
The Tralee and Dingle Railway
The Tralee and Dingle Railway in 1951. It ceased operating two years later in 1953.
The Tralee and Dingle Railway
The Tralee and Dingle Railway
The Tralee and Dingle Railway in 1951. It ceased operating two years later in 1953.
There were a few serious accidents on the line. In May 1893, the train went out of control on its journey to Dingle.
The engine became detached and crashed down a hill near Camp. Three crew members died. The carriage carrying passengers hung dangerously over the edge of the line but did not fall and no lives were lost. The engine had been pulling seven wagons of pigs on their way to a fair in Dingle. The pigs did not all survive the crash.
Tralee and Dingle Steam Railway
Tralee and Dingle Railway was Europe's most westerly line. It operated from 1891 until 1953.
Courtesy Tralee TourismTralee and Dingle Steam Railway
Courtesy Tralee Tourism
Courtesy Tralee Tourism
Tralee and Dingle Steam Railway
Tralee and Dingle Railway was Europe's most westerly line. It operated from 1891 until 1953.
Courtesy Tralee TourismThe line was not profitable and gradually services were cut. Fuel shortages during World War II caused further cutbacks and from 1947 onwards there was only one train per month on the Dingle cattle fair day. The line finally closed
Closure of Cahirciveen Railway Line, 1960
By 1960, many of Kerry's railway lines had closed. The Tralee and Dingle Light Railway closed in 1953. The Line from Farranfore to Cahirciveen closed in 1960. The photograph above shows the last train out of Cahirciveen.
Courtesy of Patricia O'Sullivan
A section of the line was restored between Tralee and Blennerville. It opened as a tourist attraction in 1993 making it possible for people to experience travel on a steam train.