Time Capsules
Viaduct on the Valencia Harbour branch, Ireland
I think this was at a place called Camp, where there was a serious accident in the late 19th century, due to a speeding train and a sharp curve. If I'm right, the route was realigned over this viaduct built in 1893. After World War II the railway, constructed to the 3 foot gauge with stiff gradients of 1 in 29 or 1 in 30 in places, was noted for its once-monthly double-headed cattle trains from Dingle to Tralee. The line was closed in 1953: what a tourist route it would make today! One locomotive survives to run on a section of the Castlegregory branch, but this has none of the drama of the main line over the hills.
Ed.: initial title was 'Viaduct near Castlegregory Junction', changed 11/04/2010
View Large VersionPicture added on 02 March 2010
Kerry railways. I'm now having doubts about the above image. It seems rather elaborate for the Tralee and Dingle Railway and I imagine it would have been illustrated in the relevant books had it been. The viaduct I now think may be one of the structures on the Valencia Harbour branch, which was operated by the CIE from Farranfore until closure in 1961. This line, which featured the most westerly station in Europe, Valencia Harbour, was described by Rev A W V Mace in 'An Irish Journey - 1' in The Railway Magazine, May 1955, 297-304. And there is a photo taken by Mace of a train on a very similar viaduct. I'm sorry if I've misled anyone who is interested in the Tralee & Dingle Light Railway: to compensate I've come across some illustrations of it on this site: www.tdlr.org.uk/pixold1.htm
Added by Martin Bodman on 30 March 2010
Farranfore-Valencia Harbour Branch. My memory has played tricks after 50 years. This is Gleensk Viaduct on the now closed line to Cahirciveen and Valencia. It still exists today - see this recent shot on the Geograph site: www.geograph.ie/photo/581489. More details in a link, or for the dedicated enthusiast the line has its own history - Patrick O'Sullivan, The Farranfore to Valencia Harbour Railway. Volume One: Planning, Construction and an outline of Operation. The Oakwood Press, 2003. The branch was 39.5 miles long and would have made a wonderful tourist route but is probably too remote to be viable
Added by Martin Bodman on 14 April 2010
I have often driven round the Ring of Kerry and looked up at the sides of the mountains where you can still see some of the route and remains of the old line.What a wonderful view across the Bay one would see when travelling along. It would easily rival some of the great scenic routes of the world especially at sunset as you wound slowly westward.Would'nt it be wonderful if that that section of the line could be restarted.
Added by Bart Byrne on 22 August 2010
Ireland
The car in the above shot was our family Standard 8, shipped across on the Fishguard-Rosslare ferry