Glanmire Road

Glanmire Rd Station in Cork City, was opened by the Great Southern & Western Railway in 1855 as the terminus of the mainline from Dublin, and was later expanded and rebuilt to accommodate the Cork & Youghal Railway which ran east to Youghal and Cobh following the GSWR's takeover of these lines in 1865. The large brick station building, complete with its excellent curved train shed, has recently been renovated. The Cobh and Midleton (Youghal line) services terminate at the bay platforms at the west end of the station. Also at the west end of the station is the large engine shed, now used as stabling sidings for the Mk4 rolling stock on the Cork line. The south side the station is flanked by the former freight yard and goods loop, which is now no longer in use. At the north end of the station is the 1355 yard long Cork Tunnel, the 2nd longest in Ireland. At one time a connecting line ran from Glanmire Rd Station to the closed 1961 Albert Quay Station via the Cork City Tramway on the south side on the River Lee, it was last used by freight in 1976 and is now lifted.
201 Class locomotive No.214 in Irish Rail's orange livery prepares to depart Cork on a Dublin bound train at the north end of Glanmire Rd Station, photograph in 2003. Another February 2003 scene sees 181 Class locomotive No.190 stands with 1960s built cravens coaches at the east end of Glanmire Rd before heading a service to Tralee. The wooden carriage sheds on the left were later demolished. In 2003 freight container trains were still serving Cork. In the evening sunlight, 071 Class locomotive No.079 is seen shunting bogey flat wagons in the yard at Glanmire Rd. The last container trains ran to Cork in 2005, with cement traffic ceasing in 2009. The northern end of the curved trainshed at Glanmire Rd Station. This end of the station is little used, with main buildings located at the eastern end of the structure. A Dublin bound Mk4 set and a 2600 Class railcar await departure.
This is the southern end of the station at Glanmire Rd Station, where 201 Class loco No.234 is seen on the rear of an evening service from Cork to Dublin. To the left of the loco is the large mechanical signal cabin. Close up of the coupling aparatus between 201 Class 224 and the Spanish built CAF Mk4 rolling stock at Glanmire Rd Station. Trains and boats call together adjacent to Glanmire Rd; visible along the quays of Cork City is the Fastnet Line's ship 'Julia', which operates between Cork and Sawnsea in Wales. Shunters' gloves, seen at Glanmire Rd Station, a location that was once a hive of train shunting.
Diesel railcars are seen standing at the Cobh and Youghal (Midleton) platforms at the east end of Glanmire Rd Station. The track leading in the bay platforms has been cut back away from the station building in recent years. GlanmireRoad 20090924 015 CC JA A comparison between the 1990s generation of Irish Rail diesel railcars, with 2600 Class railcar No.2611, and newer 2700 Class railcar No.2703. No.2611 is seen departing on a service to Cobh. 2612 is seen on the rear of this 2-car 2600 railcar heading for Cobh, seen passing the old signals at the eastern end of Glanmore Rd.
2600 Class railcar No.2611 stands at Glanmire Rd Station with a service to Mallow. This train runs non stop to Mallow as presently no stations remain open between Cork and Mallow. In contrast to the semaphore signals, No.2616 passes beneath the colour light signal gantry on a service to Mideton or Cobh. A view within the curved trainshed at Cork's Glanmire Rd Station, complete with tail lamp and coffee. This is the arrival side of the station, located on the down line. This is the departure platform at Glanmire Rd, located on the up side of the station. The wooden structure on the left is the original Great Southern & Western Railway signal cabin.
Another view of this former signal cabin located on the up platform at Glanmire Rd, which was replaced by a larger 110 lever structure at the eastern end of the station. This is the 110 lever Glanmire Rd signal cabin, which once boasted the largest mechanical frame in Ireland. Today it only controls a limited number of points and signals at the rationalised station and yard. The Great Southern & Western Railway's locomotive depot at the east end of Glanmire Rd Station, adjacent to the freight yard, as seen in early 2003. Once a hub for a remarkable collection of steam locomotives, Glanmire Rd locomotive depot is now a shadow of its former self, with only a few diesel railcars and a locomotive on show. 2700 Class railcars Nos.2718 & 2716, and 201 Class 222 stand outside the shed.
The 1355 yard long Glanmire Rd tunnel, located on the northern approaches to Cork City. The colour light signals replaced machanical signalling at Glanmire Rd in 1987. Another view of the impressive ship 'Julia' operated by Fastnet Line, as seen from the up platform at Glanmire Rd Station.  The IE nameboard, displaying Kent Station Cork, so named after an Irish patriot in 1966. The ex Great Southern & Western's Bury single 2-2-2 steam locomotive No.36 is seen preserved within Glanmire Rd Station. Built in 1847, No.36 is the oldest preserved loco in Ireland. The interior of the recently refurbished 1890s built Glanmire Rd Station building, complete with County Cork GAA colours.
The exterior of the brick built Glanmire Rd Station, built in the 1890s by the GSWR. The two storey structure was originally a railway hotel. The Cork hybrid railcar set, made up of 2600 and 2700 Class units Nos.2608+2716, stand at Glanmire Rd's platform No.3 with a service to Cobh. Both units retain their original 'Commuter' livery. The 2700 unit, No.2716, standing at the bay platforms at the eastern end of Glanmire Rd Station. Its sister 2700 railcar units have since been withdrawn from service. 071 Class loco No.079 is seen at Glanmire Rd having arrived on the RPSI '171 for 171' railtour from Dublin (Pearse). The railtour was run to raise funds for the RPSI's restoration project for its Great Northern S Class 4-4-0 No.171.
Loco No.079 is seen using the single track avoiding line at the rear of the trainshed at Glanmire Rd as it runs around the '171 for 171' railtour. The loco is heading for the fuel depot at the eastern end of the station. Behind the loco is the Fastnet Line's ship 'Julia'. The contrast between the old 'Commuter'  and the newly applied silver and green 'Intercity' liveries on the 2700 and 2600 Class railcars at Glanmire Rd. The hybrid set and the recently repainted 2600 Class No.2602 are seen at Glanmire Rd, along with 'Julia'. No.2602 would shortly depot on a working to Cobh. Loco No.079 is now seen having returned from its refueling and is now hooked onto the RPSI's '171 for 171' railtour at Glanmire Rd. The Mk4 set beside the RPSI special would shortly depot for Dublin.
An elevated view of Glanmire Rd Station, showing the curved train shed, as well as the avoiding line around the back of the station. This view is from the footbridge spanning the former Cork & Youghal Railway terminus at Summerhill, which closed in 1931. A contrast of ends between the modern streamlined Mk4 DVT No.4001 and 1976 built General Motors 071 Class loco No.079 at Glanmire Rd.