Cork-Blackrock-Rochestown-Passage West-Glenbrook-Monkstown-Raffeen-Carrigaline-Crosshaven
Now ..and then
Part of the Albert street station in Cork is still standing and much of the route has been restored as a public footpath. The station was separate from but close to the terminus for both the Bandon and Macroom railways and not terribly far from the main and surviving station. In 1912 a 'Cork City railway' was opened to link the railways but the CB&P had been converted to narrow gauge by then. The line skirted the 'marina' for about a mile and then turned south east through a cutting near Dundannion castle and reaching Blackrock station in a cutting. This station is well preserved. The line continues on the south east course to Rochestown after crossing the Douglas River over a viaduct which was demolished during the civil war at a time when Free State forces were landing at Passage to retake Cork from the anti-treaty forces. This bridge was restored and can be walked now and an additional bridge has been built to carry the footpath over the N25 Cork southern by-pass.After Rochestown station which exists as an unadorned island platform the line continued along the shore of Lough Mahon. Most of this stretch is a pleasant and popular walkway along the shore. Passage had two stations; an original terminus by the docks and a later long curved platform when the line was extended. After leaving this platform southbound trains made their way slowly and with much bell-ringing for 75 yards along the main street before disappearing into the 535 yard tunnel from which the train emerged at Glenbrook. From here to beyond Monsktown the line hugged a very narrow shoreline and in many places a concrete embankment had to be built for it. Monsktown station stood beside a small pier from which a ferry operated to Cobh (Queenstown). After Monkstown the line turned inland following the small estuary to the small station at Raffeen where it left tidal water briefly and turned uphill and southwards towards Carrigaline. The track ran a couple of hundred yards east of the main street in Carrigaline, with station situated north of the Ringaskiddy Road. South of Carrigaline station the line began to curve eastwards again turning to follow the Owenboy river downstream to Crosshaven. A good deal of the trackbed is preserved here as it ran alongside the road on what is now a wide and scenic route. Just before reaching the terminus the line had to cross a ravine on a four span girder bridge.
