Castleisland Railway

As Michael O’Donohoe understood well, railways hold a wealth of history.  His research papers include notes plotting the history of the Castleisland line from the incorporation of the Castleisland Railway Company in 1872 to the opening of the line in 1875, its suspension in 1947 and absolute closure in 1975.

 

Extract from a lengthy list of subscribers 1871
Extract from a lengthy list of subscribers 1871

 

Another document records the dates of railway construction in Kerry.

 

Act of Parliament June 1872
Act of Parliament 1872

 

Monumental engineering project

 

The scale of the nineteenth century engineering project in Castleisland is illustrated in the notice of arrival in port in September 1874, on board the Lord Rollo and the Elizabeth, of 10,000 redwood sleepers for delivery ‘to Mr Collier, for Castleisland Railway’.1

 

May 1872 work to commence immediately
May 1872: work to ‘commence immediately’

 

Material includes a letter from the Irish Railway Record Society dated 7 June 1995 in which details of the Castleisland station masters were provided with a sketch of the line’s history:

 

Castleisland station: Mr Peter Rossney (sic) was the first stationmaster. He resigned on 15 Nov 1903.  Michael Ambrose was appointed next day but died on 3 April 1904. Thomas Rosney was appointed on 22 April and moved on 1 July 1907 being replaced the same day by Thomas Carty. On 22 Nov 1909 he was replaced by Thomas Rosney, who moved again on 9 Jan 1912 when Denis O’Brien was appointed. He moved on 4 June 1924. He was replaced by Thomas O’Connor ... By the late 1920s Castleisland became a Class 4 station ... it had previously been a Class 2 station. Gortatlea became a halt under Castleisland on 16 Jan 1939, and subsequently came under Tralee. No date for this is extant, but 1947 might be a suitable guess as the branch lost its regular service then.

 

How many people from the locality remember the old Passenger Terminal on the Tralee Road side of the Railway Yard and seen here as depicted on Divane's 2008 Calendar. Photo from Timothy Murphy's Collection
How many people from the locality remember the old Passenger Terminal on the Tralee Road side of the Railway Yard and seen here as depicted on Divane’s 2008 Calendar.  Photo from Timothy Murphy’s Collection

 

A number of dates were given for its closure:

 

Closure date is given variously as 27 Jan 1947 and 10 Mar 1947. The former is probably the date on which passenger services were suspended due to the fuel crisis, the latter the date on which the suspension was made permanent. After this time only monthly cattle specials ran for Castleisland Fair until 7 Jan 1957 when a regular daily goods was instituted ... the branch was not finally closed until October 1975.

 

sleepers for sale 1969
Discarded: Sale and Abandonment in the 1960s and 1980s

Abandonment Order 12 Septmber 1986

 

‘Distressing and heartrending scenes’

 

The railway line holds a latent history but gentle enquiry opens up a wealth of stories.  A news item from 1903 reminds of the pain of emigration:

 

Emigration in 1903
News report 1903. Today’s travel and communication processes make it easier to cope with emigration

 

An incident from 1886 recaptures the touring Gennett’s Circus. Peter Canty, a telegraphist at Gortatlea station, whose father was station-master there, and his brother signalman, was prosecuted for firing at a man in Castleisland during the circus festivities.2

 

A happier tale was that of Master John Haniver, the engine driver’s son, who earned himself a clerkship:

 

Success of engine driver's son in 1903.

 

Just one more tale among many from Castleisland’s industrial past.

 

castleisland railway

 

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1 Tralee Chronicle and Killarney Echo, 15 September 1874.
2 Peter claimed his shot was in self defence. In court he stated that Gortatlea station had suffered attacks of vandalism and prosecutions had been brought against the perpetrators, for which the Canty family had been boycotted.