Timoleague

Timoleague, west Co.Cork, was a large village first served by rail in December 1890 when the Ballinascarthy & Timoleague Jct Railway constructed a branch line to here from the Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway's Clonakilty branch. In May 1891, the B&TJ's counterpart, the Timoleague & Courtmacsherry Extension Railway, extended the Timoleague branch to reach the small fishing village at Courtmacsherry. Latterly operated by the CBSCR, the branch featured a section of one of Ireland's few standard gauge tramways, running alongside the R601 road between the two villages. Regular passenger services on the branch ceased in 1947, but it remained in use for regular goods, sugar beet and excursion traffic until completely closure of the West Cork lines by CIE in March 1961. Today no trace of Timoleague Station remains, which once consisted of corrugated iron building, water tank and single platform. The station site, located adjacent to Timoleague Abbey, is largely now a car park.
The site of Timoleague Station, looking south towards Counrtmacsherry. The site was unsual in been located adjacent to the historic ruined Timoleague Abbey. The former goods yard was located on the left and the line continued straight ahead towards the narrow tarrace houses in the distance. The site of Timoleague Station, looking north towards Ballinascarthy. A row of late 1960s built bungalows now occupy the site of the single platform and one time corrugated iron station building. This was the site of Timoleague No.1 level crossing, located at the north end of the station. Here the railway crossed the main R600 road from Bandon to Timoleague. The line passed through the farm gates on the opposite side of the crossing. This is the trackbed at the southern end of Timoleague Station, as it nears the former No.2 level crossing. There was also a minor crossing here for accessing the entrance into the abbey on the left.
A view looking back towards the station at the south end of Timoleague. After closure in March 1961, the railway trackbed was converted into this roadway seen here. The station site is out of view behind the tall abbey wall. This was the site of Timoleague level crossing No.2, looking south towards Courtmacsherry. Here the railway line continued straight ahead to run as a tramway alongside the road to the fishing village of Courtmacsherry. Another view of the former Timoleague No.2 level crossing, located on the south side of the town, adjacent to the abbey. The level crossing here was unsual in been only protected by a gate on its eastern side. The southern approach to Timoleague on the Courtmacsherry road. In this view looking towards the town, the railway ran along the right hand side of the road. Both road & rail crossed the Timoleague Estuary by a causeway and bridge.
Just south of Timoleague, the railway briefly left the road to cross a section of the estuary via this small narrow causeway, which today now forms a scenic walkwat between the town and Courtmacsherry. A mock signal has been installed here in keeping with the railway heritage. Another view looking along the trackbed of the former Timoleague & Courtmacsherry Railway, just south of the town. Opened in 1895, it was closed in March 1961 by CIE.