Following arbitration the section was worked by the WCR. The operating situation agreed to was resolved on 1 January 1880 by running the network under a single operational management, the C&BR leasing the IVR until absorbing it in 1909 whilst concluding terms to absorb the WCR in October 1882. 12 May 1866 saw the opening of the independently operated Cork and Macroom Direct Railway (C&MDR) which initially used the terminus before almost immediately branching off on a line to . Toll charges and sharing difficulties led to C&MDR to use its own newly built terminus at from 27 September 1879 with the connection C&BR severed soon thereafter. The IVR completed an branch from to Bantry which it leased to the C&BR to operate from 1 July 1881. In 1886 Skibbereen became an interchange with the narrow gauge Schull and Skibbereen Railway. The Clonakilty Extension Railway (from Clonakilty Junction), , opened on 24 August 1886 and was operated by the C&BR. A long siding for a flour mill owned by the Bennett family at Shannonvale about north of Clonakilty was notable for being horse-operated. The siding was created in 1887 and extended to the mill shortly thereafter and remained horse operated until closure in 1961. Horse traction was used uphill, and trains were worked by gravity downhill. On 21 September 1887 a draft Bill was submitted to the company's board. The draft would give the C&BR powers to construct a line to avoid Gogginshill Tunnel, at an estimated cost of £10,702. Other powers to be granted included a connecting line to the Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway, extensions to Cork's quays, and closure of the Gas Works level crossing. Cork Corporation objected to the quay line and level crossing closure, and the connection to the Cork, Blackrock and Passage was defeated. The Cork Bandon and South Coast Railway Act, 1888 passed on 5 July, changing the name of the C&BR to the Cork Bandon and South Coast Railway (CB&SCR). Powers to build the line avoiding Gogginshill Tunnel were granted in this Act, but the line was never built. The Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Railway opened and operated as a independent branch from on the branch with stations at , and terminated at the seaside village at . 22 October 1892 saw the opening of an extension of the Bantry branch by by another company, the Bantry Extension Railway, through to the pier