Headford Junction

Headford Junction Station, Co.Kerry, on the Mallow to Tralee line, is where the 1893 built branch line to Kenmare diverged from the main line. Never a profitable line, the Kenmare branch closed to all traffic in January 1959, the tracks been lifted the following year. Headford Jct Station itself only served a sparsely populated area, and was closed in October 1963, but the station remained a block post until the closure of the signal cabin in the mid 1970s. Today, only the platforms and derelict signal cabin remain, along with the typical Kerry line station masters house, now a private residence. The Kenmare branch platform also remains on the south side of the station.
Headford Junction Station, looking west towards Tralee, with impressive County Kerry scenery in the background. Both the disused up & down platforms remain. The south facing side of the down platform at Headford Jct was for the terminating branch services from Kenmare, which ceased on the 31st December 1959. This was the site of the station buildings at Headford Junction, which were demolished after the station closed to passengers in 1960. On the overgrown up platform at Headford Jct is a memorial to an ambush which to place at the station during the Irish war of independance in 1921.
The memorial to the ambush which took place at Headford Jct on the 21st March 1921. Eleven British soilders were killed when the troop train they travelling in was attached by IRA's Flying Column of Kerry's No.2 Birgade. Three cilivilians and two IRA members were also mortally wounded. Headford Jct, looking towards Tralee from the west end of the station. The signal cabin, covered in ivy, is on the right, its roof just visible. The Kenmare branch diverged to the left of the track and heading in a southwards direction. The ivy covered brick built Great Southern & Western Railway signal cabin at Headford Jct, located opposite the junction site for the Kenmare branch, opened in 1893 and closed in 1959. The signal cabin and loop at Headford remained in use until the mid 1970s. This is the typical small crossing keepers house at the first level crossing south of Headford Jct on the branch line to Kenmare.
A view looking south towards Kenmare from the first level crossing south of Headford Junction. One of the concrere gate posts remains in situ on the right. The concrete gate post complete with metal hook at the first level crossing south of Headford on the Kenmare branch. A view looking north back up towards the juncton at Headford on the main Mallow to Tralee line. The Kenmare branch was completely lifted by the end of 1960.