Rathkeale

Ranelagh & Rathmines Station, is located within the southern suburbs of Dublin City on the Dublin & Wicklow Railway's 1859 built Harcourt St to Bray line. The station was a later addition to the line, opening in July 1896, and was generally known simply as 'Ranelagh'. It originally had all timber platforms, but the majority of the up platform was renewed with concrete by CIE in 1943. It had typical Dublin Wicklow & Wexford Railway style corrugated iron station buildings on each platform with the signal cabin being part of one; it was taken out of use in 1928. Access to the station was gained from Dunville Ave and the booking and station masters office was on the up side at street level. A white tiled subway provided access to the down side with wooden stairs leading up to both platforms.

The Harcourt St line was closed in Decembert 1958 by CIE, however it reopened in the form of a Luas tram line in 2004. During construction work for the new line, the original D&WR white tiled subway was partly revealed, this being the only remains of the original station. Ranelagh & Rathmines Station/Stop now has a new guise as 'Beechwood'.
Rathkeale Station, looking west towards Tralee in 1987. The stone built station building with single platform, goods shed and signal cabin can be seen. ©Hassard Stacpoole Rathkeale Station, looking east towards Limerick, again in 1987. The disconnected track once served the goods yard on the right. The small road overbridge has long since been demolished. ©Hassard Stacpoole The former goods shed, no longer connected to the main line, and derelict signal cabin are seen at Rahtkeale Station in 1987. The station opened with the line to Newcastle West in January 1867. ©Hassard Stacpoole The western approach to Rathkeale Station in 1987, with disconnected track on the right once serving the goods shed. The disused gantry crane for containers, installed in the 1960s, can also be seen. ©Hassard Stacpoole
The derelict 1860s built Great Southern & Western Railway signal cabin at Rathkeale Station, complete with lever frame in 1987, now long since demolished. ©Hassard Stacpoole Rathkeale Station, looking west towards Tralee in 1989, one year after the track was lifted. Today, the main N21 dual carriage way now runs to the right of the hedge. ©Hassard Stacpoole Rathkeale, which nowadays retains its station building and goods shed. It should be noted however that the station building was moved from its original location due to the N21 road construction, and thus it faces the west, with the goods shed in its original position. Just west of Rathkeale Station is this metal plate bridge which spans the River Deal, alongside the N21.
The trackbed on the River Deal bridge, west of Rathkeale Station. The track along the North Kerry line was finally lifted in 1988, and nowadays much of the route is part of the scenic Great Southern Trail walk.