The Great Southern & Western Railway route from Killorglin to Valentia Harbour was built in 1893 as an extension of the Farranfore to Killorglin line extending the rail line by 27 miles (43.4 km) to a then impoverished and isolated region which was one of the most remote parts of Ireland with no infrastructure, massive poverty, and hunger.

The South Kerry Railway Route was the most westerly railway line in Europe heading West through what can easily be described as some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery as it climbed through Kerry’s mountainous countryside along the Iveragh Peninsula with views of the Atlantic across the majestic Dingle Bay for over 60 years.