Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway

The Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway was a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railway in County Cork, Ireland. It was originally opened in 1850 as a 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) railway between Cork and Passage West, but was converted to 3 ft (914 mm) gauge in 1902. An extension southwards from Passage West to Crosshaven opened in 1904. The railway closed in 1932 and has since been replaced by a public pathway and nature area.

The railway operated along the west bank of the River Lee and Cork Harbour from Cork to Blackrock and Passage West. Thereafter the 1904 extension headed inland towards Carrigaline before running alongside the south bank of the Owenabue River to Crosshaven.

Stations were :

The initial, northern, part of the railway (Cork to Passage West) was less than 7 miles (11 km) long; it opened on 8 June 1850. The station at Cork was originally located at City Park, but relocated to Albert Park in 1873 (close to the Albert Quay station of the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway). Three steam locomotives were built. The company also operated ferries, but lost a considerable part of the traffic from Cobh following the opening of a direct railway from Cobh to Cork in 1862.

The 7 miles (11 km) of track provided insufficient revenue for the company. To improve profitability, the company decided to build a 9½ mile extension to Crosshaven. To reduce construction costs, the extension line would be built to narrow gauge and the original section converted. The last broad gauge train operated in October 1900.

Four new narrow gauge locomotives were built for the line by Neilson Reid in Glasgow. Upon rebuilding to narrow gauge, the section between Cork and Blackrock was converted to double track - unique on an Irish narrow gauge railway. The CB&PR had a busy commuter traffic (to and from Cork).

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