1845 Lord Bandon Calling on British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, at Downing St., London to Fix Bantry as Packet Station for America and the West Indies. 1845 Abandonment of Plan to Bring Railway to Berehaven. 1853, Courthouse Meeting Dunmanway to Review Baronial Liabilities from Proposed Railway from Bandon to Drimoleague with a Proposed Branch to Clonakilty. Projected Drop in Freight Costs from Bantry or Skibbereen to Cork from 20 shillings a Ton to 6 shillings 2 pence. 1884 Traffic on System Including Bantry. Opening of Line to Bantry 1881.

1845 Lord Bandon Calling on British Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, at Downing St., London to Fix Bantry as Packet Station for America and the West Indies. 1845 Abandonment of Plan to Bring Railway to Berehaven.

1853, Courthouse Meeting Dunmanway to Review Baronial Liabilities from Proposed Railway from Bandon to Drimoleague with a Proposed Branch to Clonakilty.

Th system of building a new railway was broadly similar to a motorway scheme. The promoters would set up a company with a list of those who agreed to subscribe. The subscribers were typically those from a landed interest, businessmen and professionals. The list throw up surprises. Many are wealthy local Catholics. Dr. Burke of Bantry on one list subscribed for £2,500 of share when a dispensary doctor might have been making £80 a year. A specialist firm of engineers would set out the route and canvass local opinion with a series of meetings, then an agreed scheme was completed specialist legal firms in Dublin and London would promote a Parliamentary Bill. If approved the Railway Company would be entitled to compulsory purchase powers with a compensation mechanism in default of agreement.

That still provided the legal basis for compensation for public work schemes.

When the line to Bantry was eventually built tenants on the Bandon Estate in Durrus had to pay a supplement on their rent known as the Baronial Guarantee