Mallow

Mallow, north Co.Cork, was first served by rail when the Great Southern & Western Railway reached the town in March 1849 with their extension of the final section of the Dublin to Cork main line. In 1853, Mallow became the junction for the line to Killarney and eventually to Tralee. The Tralee line diverges from the Cork main line just south of the station beyond the 1923 built viaduct across the Blackwater River. In May 1860, the GSWR opened a line between Mallow and Fermoy, where it later in 1872 connected with the Fermoy & Lismore railway, eventually forming the lengthy Mallow to Waterford line. The line to Fermoy and Waterford diverged at the north end of the station, however this line was closed in 1967 and the last remnants of it at Mallow were lifted in 2006. The freight yard was established on the former goods yard on the up side of the station in the 1970s, but has since been closed with the withdrawal of the Dublin-Cork freightliner trains. Mallow was also home to the Irish Sugar factory, which was served with beet by rail until 2005.

Mallow retains its GSWR station buildings, these include the south signal cabin, the last one surviving of originally three at the station, its main building on the down platform and its 19th century platform canopies. The once covered footbridge also been preserved on the down platform.
In the summer of 2002, 201 Class loco No.229 shunts Guinness wagons in the freight yard, while 141 Class No.176 stands with the cravens to Tralee. Today, both the freight yard, and loco hauled stock are gone. 141 Class locomotive No.176, dating from 1962, prepares to depart Tralee with a service to Tralee, consisting of the 1960s built Craven coaches. No.176 was eventually withdrawn and scrapped in 2006. 201 Class loco No.228 prepares to depart Mallow with a northbound Cork to Dublin express, consisting of Mk3 coaching stock. Mallow, looking north towards Dublin from the up platform. The tracks diverging to the right once formed the line to Waterford via Fermoy, which opened in May 1861 and was closed in March 1967. The remaining stub of the Waterford line seen here was removed in 2005, and the site is now large car park.
This is the well known covered footbridge at Mallow Station. By 2002 it was out of use, and was soon to be stripped back to its scaffolding. Another shot of the covered footbridge at Mallow Station, dating from the line's opening in 1849. This structure now resides at the south end of the down platform. 201 Class loco No.228 is seen again at Mallow with a Dublin bound train, this time its green and silver 'Intercity' livery. Stabled in former freight yard at Mallow is 071 Class loco No.075, awaiting its next turn of duty. No.075 was built by General Motors at La Grange Illinois, USA, in 1976. The loco has since been repainted into the black & silver livery.
A rake of loaded keg wagons, seen stabled in the former freight yard at Mallow Station. These wagons would travel to the North Esk yard east of Cork City. Unfortunately this traffic has been withdrawn and there are no longer any freight workings to Cork. The siding at the north end of Mallow's former freight yard is now used by engineering trains, where 071 Class loco No.088 is seen stabled with a loaded ballast train. No.081 stands at the south end of Mallow Station with the Modern Railway Society of Ireland railtour to Tralee. The railtour was formed of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland's ex British Rail built Mk2 stock. To the right can be seen part of the original footbridge. The MRSI railtour awaits the road south to Tralee, while a 22000 Class railcar approaches with a stopping service. On the left is the Great Southern & Westtern Railway signal cabin.