Midleton

The large Co.Cork town of Midleton was first served by rail as early as 1859, when the Cork & Railway opened their line between Cork City and Midleton. The C&RY then extended the line east from Midleton to the seaside of town of Youghal in 1860. By 1866, the Great Southern & Western had taken over the C&RY. Regular passenger services over the Cobh Junction to Youghal line ceased in 1963, but remained in use of occasional Sunday excursions until the late 1970s. By the early 1980s goods services had ceased completely, after which only infrequent passenger specials ran to Youghal, the last being to Midleton in 1988. The Youghal line lay derelict for 21 years until 2009, when the line reopened as far as Midleton. Midleton Station has up & down terminal platforms, with the 1860s built single storey brick station building located on the up side, along with the GSWR built signal cabin, beyond which was the former goods yard. On the down side was the site of the original C&YR works, now a carpark. A modern footbridge is located at the western end of the station. The western approach to the station is marked by the level crossing on the R626 road. Currently no immediate plans exist to reopen the rest of the line to Youghal, this section remaining derelict.
141 Class loco No.168 pauses at Midleton Station with a Cork to Youghal goods train in May 1978. The station at this time remained largely intact, despite having been closed to regular passengers in 1963. ©Jonathan M.Allen Midleton Station in 2006, after the overgrown tracks at the then derelict station was cleared. Note the semaphore signal appears to have been shortened since 1978. The refurbished Midleton Station just prior to passenger services recommencing to Cork. The Great Southern & Western signal cabin has been restored after many years of dereliction. In 1977, 001 Class loco No.009 is seen at Midleton Station with a Youghal bound goods train made up of 4-wheeled wagons. Note the GSWR nameboard on the up platform, now long since removed. ©Jonathan M.Allen
By 2005 the Youghal line had been derelict for almost 20 years, with Midleton Station becoming heavily overgrown. The Great Southern & Western Railway name board, as well as the wooden platform veranda had been removed. The now restored 1860s built station building at Midleton, which has now had its wooden verandra reinstated during the rebuilding of the line. The then derelict station building at Midleton in 2005, as viewed from the forecourt. The windows were covered with corrugated iron sheeting. The station building at Midleton, now fully restored as part of the station's rebuilding. Note the wooden railway style roof surround has been retained.
Another shot the station buildings at Midleton when derelict in 2005, looking east towards Youghal. Note the platform railings on the right. The present platform wall is built of brick and is much higher. By summer 2009 both up & down platforms at Midleton Station has been rebuilt and the station building almost fitted out for the recommencement of services to Cork. 141 Class loco 168 arrives at the up platform at Midleton Station with a goods train from Youghal bound for Cork City in May 1978. The signal cabin was still in regular use at this time. ©Jonathan M.Allen By 2005 the disused Youghal line had become heavily overgrown at the eastern end of Midleton Station, with the GSWR signal cabin boarded up in a forlorn state.
Vegetation clearance along the line to Midleton revealed the track at the eastern end of the station in 2006. Although the cabin had lost much of its original features, the Great Southern Railway bi-lingual name board remain in situ. Present view shows the restored Midleton signal cabin at the east end of the station, where the two lines serving the up & down platforms terminate. The cabin has gained a new wooded structure. The 1860s brick built signal cabin at the eastern end of the up platform at Midleton Station. The GSWR semaphore signal had not seen any use for many years. Midleton Station signal cabin, shortly after the overgrown line was cleared of vegetation. The cabin controlled he most prominant passing point on the line to Youghal.
The now restored GSWR signal cabin at Midleton Station, whose brick base has been tidied up. The cabin has received a new wooden structure, complete with steps and windows. Close up of the semaphore signal arm once located at the east end of Midleton Station. The glass from the spectacle had been removed. The Great Southern Railway, or later CIE, bi-lingual nameboard mounted on the then derelict signal cabin at Midleton Station. It was removed when the cabin was restored. Approaching Midleton level crossing is 001 Class No.009 with a Cork to Youghal bound goods train in April 1977. ©Jonathan M.Allen
The CIE bracket semaphore signal on the western side of the level crossing were still in situ at Midleton in 2006, almost 20 years after the last trains ran. The standard CIE bracket semaphore signal on the western approach to Midleton Station, by 2006 missing its smaller arm reading to the loop. Today the level crossing on the R626 has been reinstated, now guarded by modern automatic lights and barriers. This view, as the previous three, is looking west towards Cork. Two tracks once again run into Midleton Station, serving the up & down terminal platforms. Locomotive hauled trains however can not run round as no loop has been built here.
The modern automatic level crossing on the R626 road at the west end of Midleton Station. The barriers here extend the width of the road. The crossing keepers house adjacent to Midleton level crossing was still occupied in 1978, as 141 Class 168 heads out of the station with a goods train from Youghal. ©Jonathan M.Allen The small derelict crossing keepers house, adjacent to the level crossing at the west end of Midleton Station, as it was in 2005. The building has since been demolished. A small concrete bridge, located on the western side of Midleton level crossing. The structure has since been replaced by a discreet modern structure.
he Cork & Youghal Railway station masters house at Midleton, now a private residence. The lane on the left once gave access to the former goods yard. No.168 is seen again in May 1978 with a short goods train passing beneath the GSWR footbridge at Midleton Station. In the early 1980s the footbridge was dismantled and moved to a suburban station in Dublin where it is still in situ. 168 was built in 1962 by General Motors, and was withdrawn and scrapped in 2008. ©Jonathan M.Allen The first member of the 2600 Class railcar fleet, No.2601, arrives at Midleton Station with a midday service from Cork, while 2700 Class No.2704 stands with an Irish Railway Record Society special. Railcars Nos.2704 & 2602 are seen side by side at Midleton, as viewed from the station footbridge. Note the different roof profiles on the units.
2600 Class railcar units Nos.2601+2602 head out of Midleton Station with a service back to Cork City, seen approaching the level crossing. 001 Class loco No.057 is viewed from the goods loading bank as it heads away from Midleton Station with an summer excursion for Youghal in July 1978. The wooden built ramp on the left was used for loading sugar beet. ©Jonathan M.Allen Points giving access to the goods siding at the east end of the former yard at Midleton Station, as it was in 2009. The yard fell into disuse in the early 1980s. A two lever ground frame once controlled the points at the eastern end of the goods yard at Midleton Station. Two interesting crossovers existed at this end, for access to the loop and goods sidings.
The very rusted two lever ground frame at the eastern end of the derelict goods yard at Midleton Station. One wonders when these were last pulled. As already mentioned, this whole area was cleared as part of the reopening to Midleton. This is the divide between the reopened line and that of currently remaining disused section to Youghal, with the overgrown track terminating in the foreground.