Merlin the Steam Loco celebrates 150 years of Railways in Cork

                                                                    Photo shows the train at Kilbarry with Francie Cullinane and Jim Ryan, Inspector, Cork.

 A special steam excursion to mark the 150^th anniversary of the arrival of the Railway in Cork in 1849 was held on 16^th October 1999.  Pulled by Loco No. 85, Merlin, it ran from Limerick Junction to Cork, stopping at Mallow and Kilbarry enroute.  At Mallow, Mr. Joe Sherlock, Chairman of Mallow UDC, reminded the audience of the importance of Rail Travel.  A special plaque was unveiled by Michael McDonnell, Group Chief Executive to mark the occasion.  The train then continued on to Kilbarry, just above Blackpool on Cork’s northern suburbs.  The significance of this was that Kilbarry was the original terminus for the Cork – Dublin line, until the tunnel was opened in 1855.  There members of the Blackpool Historical Society joined the train, including Francie Cullinane, formerly of Cork Goods.

The train then proceeded down the steep incline of the tunnel, and arrived at Kent Station, where the new Railway Museum was officially opened.