Carrigrohane Straight - Tramway

Tramway

In the 1880s, the building of the Muskerry Tram increased the importance of the Straight. The city terminus was on the present site of Jury's Hotel, while the line ended at Blarney, Donoughmore and Coachford. Along its route there were twenty one stations, one of which was at Carrigrohane at the western end of the Straight, and a second one at Leemount Cross.

It used to be said that passengers on the Muskerry Tram, or the "Hook and Eye" as it was sometimes called, could pick blackberries from the carriages as the train was moving, such was its speed. The tickets had to be checked in one carriage, and then, while the train was still moving, the ticket collector had to move to the next carriage along the outside. This procedure was very dangerous because of the rocking and swaying of the carriages.

One of the most unusual incidents of the history of the Muskerry Tram was a crash with a steamroller in 1927. The steamroller was involved in the resurfacing of the Carrigrohane Straight, when tram and steamroller collided. The tram was de-railed, a few people fainted, but nobody was hurt. The Muskerry Tram was eventually closed down in December 1934.