Gauge: Monorail
The Listowel & Ballybunion Railway was an Irish monorail and ran from Listowel, in County Kerry, to Ballybunion a distance of 9 miles. The line opened to passengers in March 1888. It closed in 1924 following damage in the Irish Civil War of 1922-23.
A short section of the line has been reconstructed in Listowel in conjunction with a museum.
The Listowel & Ballybunion Railway was an Irish monorail built to the system developed by Charles Lartigue (1834-1907) and ran from Listowel, in County Kerry, on the Great Southern & Western Railway’s main line, to Ballybunion a distance of 9 miles. This form of construction was considerably cheaper than a conventional railway. Trains ran on a single rail three feet above the ground on a triangular trestle which included side rails on which small wheels ran each side to keep the train vertical. All the coaches and wagons were divided into two sections either side of the rail, and the weight had to be balanced. Three locomotives were built by the Hunslet Engine Works in 1887, incorporating a firebox and boiler each side of the central rail. The line opened to passengers in March 1888. It closed in 1924 following damage in the Irish Civil War of 1922-23.
A short section of the line has been reconstructed in Listowel in conjunction with a museum.
| Number / Name | Manufacturer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunslet Engine Co. No.431 of 1887 | 0-3-0 | |
| 2 | Hunslet Engine Co. No.432 of 1887 | 0-3-0 | |
| 3 | Hunslet Engine Co. No.433 of 1887 | 0-3-0 |
