Ireland formerly had numerous narrow-gauge railways, most of which were built to a gauge of . The last (non-preserved) line to close was the West Clare Railway in 1961 (though it has been partially preserved).
railways
Northern Ireland
Operating Foyle Valley Railway Museum Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway
Defunct Railway Opened Closed Length NotesBallycastle Railway 1880 1950 Ballymena and Larne Railway 1877 1950 Ruling gradient: 1 in 36Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway 1875 1940 Highest railway in Ireland at Bessbrook and Newry Tramway 1885 1948 Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway 1883 1933 Clogher Valley Railway 1887 1942 Giant's Causeway Tramway 1883 1949 ElectricGlenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company 1873 1884 Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway 1853 1953 Crossed into County Donegal, IrelandPortstewart Tramway 1882 1926 Strabane and Letterkenny Railway 1909 1960 Crossed into County DonegalWarrenpoint and Rostrevor Tramway 1877 1915 Damaged during storm, not restored
Republic of Ireland
Operating Cavan and Leitrim Railway Fintown Railway Stradbally Woodland Railway Tralee and Dingle Light Railway (Under repair) Waterford and Suir Valley Railway West Clare Railway Note: The peat processing State enterprise, Bord na Mona, also operated narrow-gauge industrial (staff-only) railways on multiple bogs, and some may still be extant.
Defunct Railway Opened Closed Length Notes Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway 1990s 2008 tourist attraction Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway 1902 1932 1850: Cork and Muskerry Light Railway 1887 1934 County Donegal Railways Joint Committee 1892 1960 1863: Dublin and Lucan tramway 1880 1897 Galway and Salthill Tramway 1879 1918 Schull and Skibbereen Railway 1886 1947 Tralee and Dingle Light Railway 1891 1953 West Donegal Railway 1860 1892 merged into Donegal Railway Company
gauge railways Cork Electric Tramways and Lighting Company; opened 1898, closed 1931
gauge railways Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway; opened 1900, closed 1925
gauge railways Steam Train Express (located in the Emerald Park (formerly Tayto Park) theme park); opened 2015 (operating)
gauge railways The St James's Gate Brewery narrow-gauge tramway, constructed 1873, closed 1975
gauge railways
Northern Ireland Bellevue Park Railway (located in Bellevue Park); opened 1933, closed 1950 (defunct - park still operating)
Republic of Ireland Difflin Lake Railway (located in Oakfield Park); opened 2003 (operating)
Monorails Listowel and Ballybunion Railway; opened 1888, closed 1924; partially preserved
See also
History of rail transport in Ireland List of heritage railways in Northern Ireland List of heritage railways in the Republic of Ireland British narrow-gauge railways Donegal Railway Heritage Centre
References