Farranfore to Valencia Harbour Railway


The Farranfore to Valentia Harbour Railway was 39.5 miles long single-track broad gauge railway line that operated from 1892 to 1960 along Dingle Bay's southern shore in Ireland. It was the most westerly railway in Europe.

History

The Great Southern and Western Railway Company opened the 12.5 miles long rail link between Farranfore and Iveragh Road in Killorglin with the Irish gauge of 5 ft 3 in on 15 January 1885. The line was extended by 27 miles to Valentia Harbour commencing in 1890 and formally opened on 12 September 1893. The branch line left the Tralee-Mallow main line at Farranfore and headed west through some of Ireland's most spectacular scenery as it climbed through County Kerry's mountainous countryside, along Dingle Bay's southern shore. It served as the main transport system for the Iveragh Peninsula for 75 years. The last train departed Killorglin on 30 January 1960, and the line was closed on 1 February 1960.
The Laune Viaduct in Killorglin, two tunnels and the Gleensk Viaduct are still standing. Most of its other buildings have been demolished and their sites were used for other purposes. It was announced in June 2013 that the section of the disused and disassembled railway linking Cahirciveen to Reenard would be signed over by Irish Rail’s parent company, CIÉ to Kerry County Council for building the 3.57 miles long Fertha greenway, a combined walking and cycling path which features on Lonely Planet’s best things to do in time.

Railway stations