The History of the Railway at a Glance

  • Cork and Youghal Railway company granted legislative sanction to construct rail links between CorkCity and the East Cork town of Youghal in 1854
  • First section of rail line opened between Midleton and Dunkettle in 1859 by the Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of Carlisle
  • Official opening of the Cork to Youghal passenger line on 23 May 1860 serving Dunkettle, Little Island, Queenstown Junction, Carrigtwohill, Midleton, Mogeely, and Killeagh en route.
  • Carriages arriving in Cork drawn over temporary tracks by horses until the opening of the official City terminus at Summerhill in 1861
  • Queenstown branch line opens in 1862
  • 1866, the Cork & Youghal railway Company find themselves in financial difficulty and are forced to sell their railway shares to the Great Southern & Western Railway (GSWR)
  • Youghal Junction line constructed to connect Grattan Hill Junction on the Youghal line with the GSWR station at Penrose Quay in 1868
  • Summerhill continued to be used as the City Terminus from trains arriving from Youghal until the opening of a main line station on the Glanmire Road in 1893 when it was abandoned.
  • Connection made with the Youghal line at the Water Street Junction to the east of the Glanmire Road Station.
  • Youghal relegated to the position of branch on the Cork to Queenstown Direct line in 1896
  • Passenger service to Youghal finally abandoned on 2 February 1963
  • Goods services continue until June 1978, with harvest-time beet transported by rail until 1981
  • Summer Sunday excursions to the seaside from the City continued until they were finally abandoned by C.I.E (Córas Iompair Éireann), and the final passengers travelled the Youghal line in 1987
  • While much of the track has been lifted, Youghal station has never been officially declared closed.

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