Lartigue Monorail & Museum
Located in Listowel, County Kerry, the Lartigue Monorail offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to experience a unique form of rail travel.
The original steam-powered monorail (designed by Frenchman Charles Lartigue) ran for nine miles between Listowel and the seaside resort of Ballybunion. Operating from 1888 to 1924, it carried passengers, livestock and freight along a rail supported on A-shaped trestles.
Nowadays, your visit includes a short demonstration journey on a full-scale diesel-powered replica of the original monorail. During the journey, you will experience the unique features of the monorail and will observe its ingenious switching system. Before or after your journey, you can visit the Lartigue Museum to watch film of the original Lartigue and see models, displays and memorabilia of the Lartigue and main-line railways.
The friendly staff, consisting mainly of volunteers, will be on hand to provide information and answer your questions.
The original GW&SR (later CIE) goods shed for the main Limerick-Tralee Line has been restored and converted into a museum and interpretative centre for the Lartigue Monorailway.
It also acts as the entrance hall and ticket office. The museum contains memorabilia, including photographs, posters, tickets, signs, lamps and newspaper articles, relating to the Lartigue and mainline railway.
