Cornwall Railway

Introduction

In 1859 this company opened a railway west from Plymouth (Cornwall Junction on the 1849 extension of the South Devon Railway) to Truro (Penwithers Junction on the 1852 West Cornwall Railway). Today it is part of the Cornish Main Line from Plymouth to Penzance.

It is almost entirely double track and the line features a number of fine viaducts, the most famous of which is the Royal Albert Bridge.

In 1876 a curve was put in at Plymouth to allow direct access to the present station (opened as Plymouth North Road in 1877).

In 1889 the line became part of the Great Western Railway.

In 1892 it was converted from Broad Gauge to Standard Gauge.

The original route from Wearde (west of Saltash) to St Germans was replaced in 1908 by a new alignment further inland (Saltash to St Germans Deviation (Great Western Railway)).





Dates

  /  /1859Cornwall Railway
Line opened from Cornwall Junction (near Plymouth [Millbay]) to Truro as Broad Gauge. Stations opened at Devonport, Saltash, St Germans, Menheniot, Liskeard, Respryn, Lostwithiel, Par, St Austell, Grampound Road, Truro. Truro to Penwithers Junction (to connect with the West Cornwall Railway) opened as Standard Gauge.
  /  /1859Cornwall Railway
Respryn closed shortly after opening and replaced by Bodmin Road to the north east.
  /  /1860Cornwall Railway
Doublebois opened.
  /  /1863Cornwall Railway
Burngullow [1st] opened.
  /  /1863West Cornwall Railway
Truro Newham closed to passengers. (Cornwall Railway opened as Standard Gauge 1859, Penwithers Junction to Truro converted to Mixed Gauge 1863.)
  /  /1863Cornwall Railway
Extended from Penwithers Junction to Falmouth [1st] . Truro to Penwithers Junction converted to Mixed Gauge and extension built as Broad Gauge. Stations opened at Perran, Penryn, Falmouth [1st] .
  /  /1864Cornwall Railway
Perran renamed Perranwell.
  /  /1889Cornwall Railway
Great Western Railway
Cornwall Railway absorbed by the Great Western Railway.
  /  /1892Cornwall Railway
Line converted from Broad Gauge to Standard Gauge.
  /  /1900Cornwall Railway
Keyham opened.
  /  /1901Cornwall Railway
Burngullow [1st] replaced by Burngullow [2nd] to the west.
  /  /1904Cornwall Railway
Wingfield Villas Halt opened.
  /  /1905Cornwall Railway
Dockyard Halt [Devonport] opened.
  /  /1905Cornwall Railway
Defiance Platform opened.
  /  /1906Cornwall Railway
Ford Halt opened.
  /  /1906Cornwall Railway
St Budeaux Platform opened.
  /  /1908Cornwall Railway
Saltash to St Germans Deviation (Great Western Railway)
Deviation opened inland of original route between Wearde Junction and St Germans.
  /  /1908Cornwall Railway
Probus and Ladock Platform opened.
  /  /1921Cornwall Railway
Wingfield Villas Halt closed.
  /  /1925Cornwall Railway
Penmere Platform opened.
  /  /1930Cornwall Railway
Defiance Platform closed.
  /  /1931Cornwall Railway
Burngullow [2nd] closed.
  /  /1941Cornwall Railway
Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway
Connection put in between the Cornwall Railway and Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway at St Budeaux Junction.
  /  /1941Cornwall Railway
Ford Halt closed.
  /  /1949Cornwall Railway
Devonport renamed Devonport Albert Road.
  /  /1949Cornwall Railway
St Budeaux Platform renamed St Budeaux Ferry Road.
  /  /1957Cornwall Railway
Probus and Ladock Platform closed.
  /  /1964Cornwall Railway
Doublebois closed.
  /  /1964Cornwall Railway
Grampound Road closed.
  /  /1968Cornwall Railway
Devonport Albert Road renamed Devonport.
07/12/1970Cornwall Railway
Falmouth [1st] closed. Falmouth [2nd] opened to the west.
05/05/1975Cornwall Railway
Falmouth [1st] re-opened, Falmouth [2nd] renamed The Dell.
  /  /1983Cornwall Railway
Bodmin Road renamed Bodmin Parkway.
  /  /1985Cornwall Railway
7.5 miles of line between Burngullow Junction and the former Probus and Ladock Platform are singled due to mining subsidence.
  /10/1988Cornwall Railway
Falmouth [1st] renamed Falmouth Docks and The Dell renamed Falmouth Town.
  /08/2004Cornwall Railway
Burngullow Junction to the former Probus and Ladock Platform re-doubled.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Plymouth to Truro

This junction was north of Plymouth Millbay, the western terminus of the South Devon Railway which reached Millbay in 1849. The junction was formed in 1859 when the Cornwall Railway opened, extending the line west to Truro (Penwithers Junction), although a reversal was needed in Millbay station to continue the journey west.
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See also
South Devon Railway


This junction opened as part of a west to east curve which allowed direct running west from Plymouth, (before it opened trains reversed at Plymouth Millbay).
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Looking west at Plymouth. The closed line to the left, (with the 'paperclip' sculpture on the dismantled viaduct), was the west to south curve of the ...
Ewan Crawford 19/11/2009
1 of 1 images.


This was the junction for a London and South Western Railway branch (later part of their main line). The signal box was on the north side of the line.
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See also
Devon and Cornwall Railway


This halt opened in 1904 and closed in 1921. It was directly west of Devonport Junction and on the former Cornwall Railway.
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This was the goods yard just south east of Devonport Albert Road. It was served from Devonport Albert Road Junction and was a short branch.
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This junction was just east of Devonport Albert Road. A short goods branch left the line running south east to Devonport Goods.
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This is a two platform station. The short Devonport Tunnel is just to the west and Devonport Albert Road Junction, for the later goods yard Devonport Goods which replaced a small yard to the west, was to the east.
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70806 on a track maintenance train from Bodmin Parkway back to Westbury at Devonport, Plymouth. This was once Devonport Albert Road when Kings Road at ...
Roger Geach 20/09/2015
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This is a double track 117 yard tunnel between Devonport and Dockyard stations.
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This is a two platform station to the east of the southern part of the Devonport Dockyard.
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This is a double track viaduct between Dockyard station and the former Ford Halt. It was originally a single track viaduct crossing the now infilled Keyham Lake.
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Engineering work at Keyham with the up line being replaced in November 2014. Camels Head viaduct known locally as shakey bidge is in the middle of the ...
Roger Geach 30/11/2014
Keyham Viaduct soars over the buildings below. The section of line heading west out of Plymouth crosses several substantial viaducts in quick ...
Ewan Crawford 20/11/2009
2 of 2 images.


This was a two platform halt east of the Devonport Dockyard and at the north end of the Keyham Viaduct.
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This is a three platform station with two main platforms on the mainline, the eastbound being an island with a looped line on the east side. The station is east of the north end of the Devonport Dockyard.
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This junction gives access to the Devonport Dockyard and its internal lines (the Keyham Dockyard Railway) from the north. The connection is just south of the Weston Mill Viaduct.
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This double track viaduct crosses the Weston Mill Lake (much of which has been reclaimed). The original viaduct was single track.
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This junction was put in in 1941 by the Railway Executive. It allowed a train from the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway to join the Cornwall Railway and reach the Devonport Dockyard.
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This is a two platform station to the east of the Royal Albert Bridge. St Budeaux Victoria Road, on the line to Bere Alston, is just to the north east. A little to the north west the Cornwall line crosses over the Bere Alston line.
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150266 arrives at St Budeaux Ferry Road with a Plymouth to Gunnislake service in January 2011. Once this was a double track main line between here and ...
Roger Geach 27/01/2011
UK Railtours' excursion from London Paddington to Bodmin Parkway and Par, behind 66 014 with 66 156 at rear, passing St. Budeaux Ferry Road station, ...
David Bosher 30/05/2015
2 of 2 images.


This famous single track viaduct designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel crosses over the River Tamar from St Budeaux Ferry Road (east) to Saltash (west). It has two large trusses crossing in the centre and is a 19 span bridge. It is 2,200 ft long, crossing the water at 100 ft. It originally carried a broad gauge line. The ends of the two truss sections are marked 'I. K. BRUNEL, ENGINEER ...

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The view from the rear of the 1A69 0835 Penzance to Paddington service crossing the Royal Albert Bridge from Cornwall into Devon behind 1061 'Western ...
Roger Geach 12/04/1974
A train on the western approach to IKB's Royal Albert Bridge in April 2012. ...
John McIntyre 22/04/2012
The Royal Albert Bridge viewed at night from the Saltash end of the parallel road bridge. ...
Ewan Crawford 16/09/2011
A 125 going east over the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash on the 3rd of May 2009. Part of the deck of the much newer road bridge is seen directly below ...
Neville Davies 03/05/2009
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This is a two platform station to the west of the Royal Albert Bridge. The main building is on the eastbound (Plymouth bound) platform. The line doubles to the immediate east of the station as it is single over the viaduct. There was a goods yard to the west.
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66709 passes through Saltash with a Westbury to Par engineers long welded rail drop, late on Saturday 14th January 2023.
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Roger Geach 14/01/2023
A Cross-Country Voyager passing Saltash on a late evening service from Gloucester to Penzance on 14th January 2023. ...
Roger Geach 14/01/2023
150101 pauses at Saltash en route to Liskeard on 16 September. The view is from the new(ish) footway on the Tamar Bridge and the girders seen here are ...
Ewan Crawford 16/09/2011
Hastings DEMU set 1032 with the Hertfordshire Rail Tours special 1Z20 The Gunnislake Goliath during a photostop at Saltash station on 21 ...
Ian Dinmore 21/12/1985
4 of 5 images. more


This is a double track viaduct (originally single) south west of Saltash station.
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This platform was named for HMS Defiance of 1861. She was the last ship of the line built for the Royal Navy. In 1886 Defiance was moored at Wearde Quay and became the Navy's torpedo and mining training school at Devonport. Defiance Platform opened in 1905 to serve the establishment, and was relocated in 1907 when the Saltash to St Germans deviation opened. The platforms were just east of ...

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57601 1Z57 1045 Cardiff - Par special at Wearde Quay, the site of Defiance Platform, on 16th August 2023. ...
Roger Geach 16/08/2023
The 2P13 1150 Penzance to Plymouth local is passing the site of Defiance Platform, also known as Wearde Quay locally. The undergrowth has been chopped ...
Roger Geach 27/06/2023
66104 pilots 66165, due to very low fuel, on the 6B99 Exeter Riverside to St Blazey empties seen passing Defiance platform near Saltash on 27th June ...
Roger Geach 27/06/2023
3 of 3 images.


This was the junction between the original course of the Cornwall Railway and the 1908 deviation, which ran further north, between Wearde and St Germans (Saltash to St Germans Deviation (Great Western Railway)). After opening of the deviation the east end of the original line was used to dismantle the timber viaducts and afterwards remained as a siding with a loop between the junction ...

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See also
Saltash to St Germans Deviation (Great Western Railway)


This Mail Apparatus was just west of Wearde Junction on the original course of the Cornwall Railway which was bypassed in 1908.
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This single track viaduct crossed the Forder Lake. It was replaced by the Forder Viaduct on the new alignment opened to the north in 1908.
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This single track viaduct crossed the Wivelscombe Lake. It was replaced by the new alignment opened to the north in 1908.
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This loop was to the west of the Wivelscombe Viaduct on the single track line between Saltash and St Germans. This portion was replaced by a double track deviation to the north in 1908. The loop was on the north side of the running line and there was a signal box on its north side.
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This single track viaduct crossed the River Lynher. It was replaced by the Nottar Viaduct to the north on the replacement double track alignment between Saltash and St Germans in 1908.
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This passing loop was between Lynher Viaduct [1st] and Boat House Viaduct. There was a signal box on the north side and a siding, making a trailing connection to the westbound line, on the south side.
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This single track viaduct crossed the River Tiddy just to the east of St Germans station. It was replaced by the St Germans Viaduct on the new double alignment (between Saltash and St Germans) just to the south. At the east end of the viaducts the old alignment is crossed by the newer one as the deviation generally runs to the north of the original Cornwall Railway.
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This is a two platform station. The goods yard was to the east. To the east of the station the original single track course of the Cornwall Railway (which crossed the Boat House Viaduct) was replaced by a new double track line over the St Germans Viaduct and through to Saltash in 1908.
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See also
Saltash to St Germans Deviation (Great Western Railway)
66190 with the early running 6V53, the 1511 ST Blazey - Exeter Riverside freight seen at Trerulefoot nr St Germans kn 16th August 2023, a day of sunny ...
Roger Geach 16/08/2023
With the temperature around 30C, 1924 and 47712 climb St Germans bank with the Statesman, 1Z28 0500 Shrewsbury - Penzance on 9th September 2023. ...
Roger Geach 09/09/2023
An old luggage van, converted into a camping coach, next to the up platform at St Germans on 8th October 2019.
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Alastair McLellan 08/10/2019
37674 and 37671 with 6S55, Burngullow to Irvine 'silver bullets', loaded with clay slurry photographed between Menheniot and St Germans, rural East ...
Roger Geach 25/10/1994
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This is a double track viaduct east of Menheniot.
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50013 crossing Tresulgan viaduct nr Menheniot with the 1358 Penzance to Bristol passenger and vans. A nice spring day in 1987. ...
Roger Geach 21/04/1987
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The Coldrenick or Coldrennick Viaduct is a double track viaduct just south east of Menheniot station.
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This is a two platform station. The goods yard was on the south side of the station, a siding making a trailing connection to the westbound line. The signal box was on the westbound platform. A station building survives on the eastbound platform. The village of Menheniot itself is about a mile away by road to the north.
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158822 Penzance to Plymouth service calls at Menheniot. The village of the same name is quite some walk away through country lanes! ...
Roger Geach 19/08/1997
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Seen from a distance, a class 150 Sprinter is crossing Bolitho viaduct near Liskeard in November 2011. ...
Roger Geach 25/11/2011
37674 on 6S55, the Burngullow to Irvine clay slurry 'silver bullets' at Bolitho, Liskeard on its long journey north in 1990. As can be seen, when the ...
Roger Geach 15/07/1990
The sun in the early morning is on the up side at Bolitho. 47808 has the Penzance to Glasgow service on the viaduct. Harvest time is over. ...
Roger Geach 05/09/1989
February 1978 was a cold winter in Cornwall. As 50003 heads light back to Plymouth at Bolitho, Liskeard, a dusting of snow can be seen. ...
Roger Geach 13/02/1978
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37669 heads back to St Blazey, crossing Liskeard viaduct, on 3rd September 1988. 37669 had been the standby loco at Plymouth. It had been used to drag ...
Roger Geach 03/09/1988
The magnificent Liskeard viaduct, carrying the Cornish main line, as seen from the Looe branch train that has just passed under this structure while ...
Mark Bartlett 15/06/2010
2 of 2 images.


Platform 3 at Liskeard with recently arrived service from the Looe Valey line on 8th October 2019. ...
Alastair McLellan 08/10/2019
45005 with the 1E21 1135 Penzance - Leeds seen at Liskeard on Sunday 22/12/1974. ...
Roger Geach 22/12/1974
158826 arriving at Liskeard on a rainy day in June 2002 with a Penzance - Plymouth service. [Ref query 1083] ...
Ian Dinmore 02/06/2002
150221 operating the Looe branch train, recently arrived at Liskeard in June 2002. ...
Ian Dinmore 01/06/2002
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Sunset on a winters day in 1975. Moorswater Viaduct seen from the overbridge by Coombe Junction. The line in the foreground leads to Moorswater dries. ...
Roger Geach 04/01/1975
1068 'Western Reliance' approaching Moorswater Viaduct, Liskeard, with the up milk in June 1976. This was 6A21, the 1640 St. Erth to Acton, and ran ...
Roger Geach 13/06/1976
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1068 'Western Reliance' heads past the site of Doublebois station with the 2B10 0842 Plymouth to Penzance service. Note the weld patch on the front of ...
Roger Geach 12/07/1976
Power on, climbing up the Fowey Valley in 1987, 50012 is about to pass the former station of Doublebois, which had closed way back in 1964. ...
Roger Geach 09/09/1987
1072 'Western Glory' near Doublebois with the 1V71 Bradford to Penzance Saturday 4th September 1976 1072. The diesel hydraulic came on at Plymouth. ...
Roger Geach 04/09/1976
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St Pinnock Viaduct, the highest in Cornwall, seen in February 2023. 66061 and 66138 late on a Westbury to St Blazey RHTT train. This is the viaduct ...
Roger Geach 04/02/2023
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34067 'Tangmere' 1Z39 Par to Bristol crossing Largin Viaduct on 2 August 2015. One of the classic Cornish main line locations. ...
Roger Geach 02/08/2015
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37675 has a Tavistock Junction to Fowey clay service heading over Derrycombe viaduct in April 1992. 11 August 2023 was due to be the final day the CDA ...
Roger Geach 16/04/1992
The view from below at Derrycombe viaduct as an unknown Western passes by on the 'up milk' in 1973. ...
Doug Nicholls /04/1973
50013 crossing Derrycombe viaduct with the morning Barnstaple to Penzance stopping service, which ran for a brief period in the 1980s. ...
Roger Geach 21/04/1987
3 of 3 images.


1063 'Western Monitor' has the 1B45 1130 Paddington to Penzance service on 6th April 1974, crossing Clinnick Viaduct in the Fowey valley or Glyn ...
Roger Geach 06/04/1974
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50043 working the 1030 Penzance to Edinburgh and Glasgow service has the power on for the clime up the Fowey Valley crossing Penadlake Viaduct. Tree ...
Roger Geach 29/08/1987
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43142 to London Paddington, arriving at Bodmin Parkway, formerly known as Bodmin Road, on 30th May 2015. The junction for the heritage Bodmin & ...
David Bosher 30/05/2015
47032 passes china clay hoods as it arrives in Bodmin with 1A49 1205 Penzance to Paddington service on Sunday 2 May 1976. At this time the station was ...
Roger Geach 25/01/2023
The Lea Valley Railway club ran a tour to Wadebridge using two Met Cam units that were unusual in Cornwall at the time. Here the units depart Bodmin ...
Roger Geach 30/04/1977
Bodmin Parkway in 1984, with the signalbox and down platforms in view. The station had been renamed from Bodmin Road the previous year and the ...
Roger Geach 30/03/1984
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1012 'Western Frirebrand' working 1B15 1030 Paddington to Penzance, passing Respryn just south of Bodmin Road, on Sunday, 7 May 1972. ...
Roger Geach 07/05/1972
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50007 approaching Lostwithiel on the 1030 Penzance to Liverpool on 21st April 1987. The Fowey branch is in the foreground ...
Roger Geach 21/04/1987
66190, working 6G09 1232 Goonbarrow Junction to Fowey clay, departs from Lostwithiel by the park and River Fowey on 12th September 2023. ...
Roger Geach 12/09/2023
The cement is in the yard at Lostwithiel, waiting to head for Moorswater behind ex Loadhaul 37516 in August 2000. Various operators have handled this ...
Roger Geach 03/08/2000
Diesel Hydraulic C-C D1057 'Western Chieftain' (later Class 52) calls at Lostwithiel with a westbound express in July 1964. ...
Brian Haslehust /07/1964
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50027 at Milltown viaduct near Lostwithiel in 1987. The train is the 1358 Penzance to Bristol Temple Meads. It is a bit of a walk from Lostwithiel to ...
Roger Geach 22/04/1987
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66190, on the 6G09 Goonbarrow Junction to Fowey clay, passing Treesmill not long after leaving Par for the short trip to Lostwithiel before running ...
Roger Geach 13/09/2023
Par station in April 1973. DMU P582 is on the up main, the wrong side for the sun. ...
Doug Nicholls /04/1973
66077 with the 6G09 1302 Goonbarrow Junction, Rock clay works, to Fowey Carne Point CDA clays seen at Treesmill near Par on 29th September 2022. ...
Roger Geach 29/09/2022
Quiet period at Par station, looking north east in the summer of 2002. ...
Ian Dinmore 01/06/2002
4 of 20 images. more






A 153 and a 150 prepare to set off from St Austell for Penzance together on 28 November 2014. Both the old and new footbridges are visible in this ...
Ken Strachan 28/11/2014
D1041 Western Prince arrives at St Austell in 1979 looking the worse for wear. Happily the locomotive was rescued following withdrawal by BR ...
Ian Dinmore //1979
The Network Rail Track Rationalization Team has obviously not visited St Austell, with a crossover on the left, and at least two sidings by the car ...
Ken Strachan 29/11/2014
A class 50 stands at St Austell in August 1981 with an up Motorail service to Kensington Olympia. ...
Ian Dinmore 18/08/1981
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37521 comes off the branch from Treviscoe at Burngullow in August 1999. The train is loaded with clay for the evening service to Bescot, 6M72. 37521 ...
Roger Geach 16/03/1999
37675 has arrived at Burngullow with a trip freight from St Blazey in 1991. Note the silver bullet wagons which conveyed clay slurry to Irvine. There ...
Roger Geach 16/09/1991
Burngullow looking east. The right hand line is for Penzance and the left for various works. The right line has subsequently been re-doubled through ...
Ewan Crawford /09/2002
On the right the Wednesdays only St Blazey - Penzance (Long Rocks) - St Blazey oil train scoots east back through Burngullow. On this occasion this ...
Ewan Crawford 18/11/2009
4 of 4 images.






50007 crosses the Coombe St Stephen Viaduct, west of Burngullow, with the 0933 Penzance to Newcastle service 23 4 1987. The viaduct was singled when ...
Roger Geach 23/04/1987
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At the east end of Truro in October 2015 with level crossing, signalbox and lower quadrant semaphore signals. ...
John McIntyre 12/10/2015
Station forecourt at Truro in October 2015. The original GWR buildings still evident although some modernisation has taken place with the ticket ...
John McIntyre 12/10/2015
A Falmouth branch train with 150246 departs from platform 1 at the west end of Truro on 14 October 2015. ...
John McIntyre 14/10/2015
On the left a Plymouth to Penzance stopping service departs from Truro while on the right in the bay platform the service to Falmouth Docks waits for ...
John McIntyre 14/10/2015
4 of 11 images. more