Skibbereen

The large west Co.Cork town of Skibbereen was first served by rail when the Illen Valley Railway constructed a line from Drimoleague to here in July 1877. The Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway took over the IVR and extended the line south from Skibbereen to reach Baltimore in May 1893, and after which the route was effectively worked as branch from the main line at Drimoleague. In September 1886, the Schull & Skibbereen Tramway built a 3ft gauge line west from here to connect with Schull. The S&ST was the first to close in January 1947, with the Baltimore branch closing along with the rest of the west Cork lines in March 1961.

Today, the single storey 1877 built station building remains at Skibbereen, located north of the town. The building is now part of an adjacent garage, and its single platform also remains, though filled in. Until the early 2000s, the signal cabin was located at the north end of the station, but was demolished to accommodate the town's bypass road. On the north side of this road is the large corrugated iron goods shed, now used as offices, as well as the former water tower complete with tank. The lattice built railway bridge across the Illen River at the south end of the station also survives. After crossing the main street of the town via a level crossing, the railway entered a cutting which since closure has been converted into a road.
The former station at Skibbereen, looking south towards Baltimore. The single storey station building survives as part of a car garage. Until the late 1990s, the signal cabin once stood at this end of the structure, but was demolished to makeway for the new road in the foreground. A view looking along what was the single platform at Skibbereen, looking north towards Drimoleague. The line from Drimoleague to Baltimore, along with the rest of the West Cork railway system, was closed by CIE in March 1961. The edge of the single platform at the former Skibbereen Station. The station site is partially seperated by the new bypass for the town. The station building at Skibbereen, as viewed from the garage forecourt. The structure dates from July 1877. This side of the station was where the Schull & Skibberreen Tramway operated from until its closure in January 1947.
This is the northern end of the former station site at Skibbereen, which has partially been obliterated by this roundabout which connects with the town's bypass road. The Schull & Skibbereen Tramway diverged to the left here to follow the N71 road to Schull, visible in the distance. The somewhat long goods shed at Skibbereen survives, located at the northern end of the station. The shed, nowadays used as an office, also retains its former platform. Adjacent to the former goods shed at the northern end of Skibbereen Station is the now preserved goods crane. In the background is the old water tower. The water tower at Skibbereen Station survives remarkably intact, complete with tank. The site of the adjacent locomotive shed is now a modern fire station.
The builders stamp, complete with date, on the water tank at the former station at Skibbereen. At the south end of Skibbereen Station is the former lattice railway bridge which carried the line across the River Illen. The River Illen bridge at the south end of the former Skibbereen Station. The bridge structure is now part of an adjacent restaurant. This is the former railway trackbed just south of the River Illen Bridge in Skibbereen town. The building on the left is the old Lady's Well Brewery store which was once served by a siding. The line continued straight ahead passing to the right of the stone built tarrace in the background.
This is the site of the former 'Main Street' level crossing, where the railway line crossed the principal road through Skibbereen town. This view is looking south towards Baltimore, the trackbed having been converted into a road. Another view of the approach to former Main Street level crossing in Skibbereen town, looking north towards the station and Drimoleague. The gap between the original buildings where the railway passed through is quite evident, having been filled in by the pitched roof structure. To the right is a mural of the former level crossing site as it was in railway days. A mural depicting one of the Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway's 4-6-0 tank locos, No.463, passing the adjacent Main Street level crossing in Skibbereen. There was also a footbridge which allowed pedestrians to cross the railway line when the gates were closed. This is the narrow rocky cutting on the south side of Skibbereen town, which until 1961 the railway line to Baltimore passed through. After closure it was converted into this one way street.