Ballinascarthy

Ballinascarthy, Co.Cork, was a small village which was served by the 9 mile branch line to Clonakilty, opened by the West Cork Railway in August 1886 and latterly operated by the Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway. In December 1890/May 1891, Ballinascarthy became the junction for the branch line to Timoleague and Courtmacsherry, built by two small separate companies and also latterly operated by the CBSCR. The West Cork lines were eventually closed by CIE in March 1961. The station at Ballinascarthy had one platform on which the small wooden station building was sited, behind which was a terminating bay platform for Courtmacsherry branch trains. Opposite this bay platform was the small goods shed and yard. Today only the forlorn goods platform remains, the remaining station buildings having been obliterated by the re-aligned N71 road through the village.
This is the site of Ballinascarthy Station, looking north towards Drimoleague. Today the N71 road runs through what was the single platform and station building, demolished following closure in March 1961. A view looking south towards Baltimore from the site of Ballinascarthy Station. Out of view to the left is the original N71 road alignment through the village. The buildings in the distance belonged to the one time creamery which the Baltimore and Courtmacsherry branch line passed by. Today the former goods platform, just visible here, is the only reminder of the station at Ballinascarthy, located adjacent to the N71 road. This was the local creamery located adjacent to the former Ballinascarthy Station. The railway line passed to the right of the sheds seen here. The creamery is now a builders yard.
A few Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway mile posts, recovered from the former railway line, have been placed in the rear garden of the house in Ballinascarthy village. This the first road overbridge located south of Ballinascarthy Station on the line to Baltimore. This particular stone and brick built overbridge is typical of the type constructed by the Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway. This was the first level crossing on the Courtmacsherry branch south of Ballinascarthy Station. The stone walls marking the former trackbed remain, as well as the gate keepers house. The site of the former pedestrian side gate can also be seen. This is the view of the trackbed looking towards Courtmacsherry at the former level crossing south of Ballinascarthy Station. Old railway sleepers recovered from the lifting of the branch in 1961 have been used as a permanent fence across the line.