The Schull & Skibbereen Railway

This is a straight reprint in softback of the Oakwood book first published in 1999 as a hardback, albeit with a new front cover image. Boyd’s book was built on a previous book on the subject by AT Newham, published in 1964. The Schull and Skibbereen Railway operated in Ireland’s West County Cork but is more aptly called a Tramway. The story of this light railway has been variously described as colourful, eventful and fascinating. Originally conceived of as two railways, botched construction began in 1885, and the line opened in 1886, only for service to be suspended in 1887 for a year. Although things settled down after 1916-1925, the railway was greatly affected by broader political events in Ireland. Although Ireland did not participate in WW2, the shortages it brought impacted the railway. It became part of CIE in 1945 amidst a fuel crisis, resulting in passenger services being withdrawn and abandoned in 1956. With nineteen chapters and four appendices