The Muskerry Tram Turntable

The Muskerry Tram Turntable. . The restored turntable in front of you is a replica of the original and stands in the recently rediscovered brick lined ‘pit’ where trains would have once been turned around before heading back to Cork., The Cork and Muskerry Light Railway was built in 1887 primarily to bring tourists to Blarney Castle. The line ran from Cork to Blarney, a distance of 18 miles. The railway had a 3ft gauge which classified it as a narrow gauge railway., In 1887 a 1st class return would cost you 1’8 (1 shilling 8 pence) or a 3rd class return 10 d (10 pence). The railway (or ‘Muskerry Tram’ as it was known locally) was hugely successful and after only one week the train was packed to capacity with over 2,000 passengers!, At its height the line operated nine steam locomotives. Names of locos were City of Cork, Coachford, St. Annes, Blarney, Donoughmore, Muskerry (originally The Muskerry), Peake, Dripsey, Blarney (Second)., The railway was mainly a tourist route but was also used by local businessmen and by farmers to carry livestock and produce., The line lasted through World War I unscathed but suffered serious damage during the Irish Civil war in 1923 when an important bridge was destroyed. In 1925 the railway was purchased by Great Southern Railways (Ireland) and was eventually closed in December. Many of the original railway station buildings can still be seen. Behind you is the station and platform (Erin Gift Store) and you are actually standing on one of the track beds.