Mallow–Tralee line


The Mallow-Tralee railway line runs from Mallow to Killarney and Tralee Casement. Intermediate stations are Banteer, Millstreet, Rathmore, and Farranfore.
A peculiar arrangement at Killarney is in place, in which trains from Mallow enter Killarney, which is a dead-end. Trains continuing to Tralee, then have to reverse until they reach the junction, before changing direction again to continue westwards.
The length of the branch be 62¼ miles. The line from Mallow to Killarney was noted for severe gradients compared to the line from Dublin to Mallow though the Killarney expresses of 1899 were timed to achieve the section at westbound and eastbound.

History

The Killarney Junction Railway completed the construction the line from to the holiday resort of Killarney in 1853. The Tralee & Killarney Railway opened the extension from Killarney junction to Mallow in 1859. The Great Southern and Western Railway who had invested in both companies absorbed them both in 1860.
At Tralee there were small sidings that were convenient to those of the narrow gauge Tralee and Dingle Light Railway. There was also links beyond the road to the marshalling yards, the branch to Fenit, and the Limerick–Tralee line.

Rolling stock

Kerry bogies were specifically intended for passenger services on the line. There was a trial of a Drumm Battery Train with temporary charging points set up on the line, line would have been in the late 1930s or 1940s. Class 22000 ICR railcars first began passenger services on the line in September 2008.

Branches

Castleisland

The long Castleisland branch connected to the main line at Gortalea at a junction facing Tralee. It closed in 1974. Alexander McDonnell designed a combined engine and carriage to work the branch.

Kenmare

The branch to Kenmare was about long and was opened on 4 September 1893.

Newmarket

There was a branch to Newmarket from Banteer with an intermediate station at Kanturk. The line opened on 1 April 1889 which closed to passengers on 27 January 1947 and completely on 1 January 1963, though other sources say 4 February 1963.

Valentia

The branch to led to the terminus that was further west than any one in Europe.

Rail Air Link

This line is connected with Kerry Airport at Farranfore which is a direct rail air link in Ireland.