Ballineen

The large village of Ballineen, Co.Cork, was located on the former Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway's main line from Cork to Bantry. The line through Ballineen was first built by the West Cork Railway in June 1866, and was latterly operated by the CBSCR. The station, known officially as 'Ballineen & Enniskean', replaced two separate stations which served these villages in May 1891. The station, along with the West Cork lines were eventually closed by CIE in March 1961. Today the 1890s built station remains, along with the up & down platforms, though they are covered over. At the west end of the station is the corrugated iron goods shed and platform, now used by a local golf club. The now derelict and original 1866 built station also survives, located on the western outskirts of the village.
Ballineen Station, looking west towards Bantry. The main station building remains, as do the platforms, the edges of which can still be discerned. A view looking east towards Cork at Ballineen Station, with the former up & down platforms still visible. The up platform on the right once accommodated a wooden waiting shelter, long since disappeared following closure in March 1961. The main station building at Ballineen, as viewed from what was the former down platform. Dating from May 1891, this station replaced two earlier ones serving Ballineen and Enniskean villages. This is the building as viewed from the station forecourt. The structure still retains its wooden gable end boards. The building is now used by the local community.
The water crane for steam locomotives remains in situ on the former up platform at Ballineen Station. The corrugated iron goods shed and platform survives at the west end of Ballineen Station, seen here. The structure is now used by the local golf club. Located in the former goods yard at Ballineen Station, now the golf course, is the edge of the former cattle loading bank seen here. This is the single storey station building which belonged to the original Ballineen Station, located on the west side of the village towards Bantry. Opened in June 1866 by the Cork & Bandon Railway, its successor the Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway replaced this station in 1891 to serve both Ballineen and Enniskean villages.