Cahirciveen

Caherciveen, or sometimes spelt Cahirsiveen, was the second last station on the former scenic Farranfore to Valentia Harbour branch in Co.Kerry. Cahersiveen is a small town and the majority of branch line services terminated there, with only a limited number of trains continuing the last few miles to the harbour opposite Valentia Island. All station buildings at Caherciveen have been demolished since closure in 1961, but a small railway corrugated iron shed used by local merchants still stands at the site of the level crossing off one of the roads in the town. A long viaduct just north of the station site remains, crossing the wide estuary. Former C Class Metrovick No.227 was moved here as a static exhibit and numbered C202 and given a 1950s silver livery. Sadly No.227 was heavily vandalised and had to moved from the site at Caherciveen.
This is the lengthy viaduct at Cahirciveen which spans the wide Valencia River. The viaduct remains in situ, though derelict. The line through Cahirciveen closed in 1961. This is another view of the viaduct at Cahirciveen, looking towards Farranfore. Unfortunately no trace of the station at Cahirciveen remains today. This is ex-CIE C Class Metro-Vick diesel, No.C227, and later NIR No.106. The locomotive was placed here as a static exhibit adjacent to the former Caherciveen Station site, and was repainted in the 1950s silver livery and given the false number C202. This is the right hand side controls of C227 (C202), the cab of which was easily accessable to the public. This shot shows the forward/reverse and brake levers on the left. On the the right is the accelerator wheel, above which is the horn.
Rust had already appeared on the loco's silver livery when photographed in 2003, a feature of which plagued the locomotives during the 1950s and early 60s. Unfortunately C227 was to be heavily vandalised after this photo was taken, so much so the loco was removed to Waterford.