Boscarne to Wadebridge
Andrew Jones

This section has been compiled based on the considerable  efforts of Councillor Andrew Jones to at least retain the Boscarne to Wadebridge section of the rail route  and make it available for use by pedestrians, bicycles and horses.  Thankfully that aim has been achieved and perhaps, one day we may see trains return to this section once more  from the extended Bodmin and Wenford Railway.
We cover the (a) The last trains, (b) The demolition works and (c) An article by Andrew Jones plus a small portion of the large file of letters as a result of Andrews efforts.

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Meet the man and his wife. Andrew and Diane on safari, far away from the Boscarne - Wadebridge Railway.

The Last
​Trains to Wadebridge
17th December 1978

From Six Bells Charter Railtour Files
17th December 1978
Bodmin Lions Club
         The Last Train to Wadebridge
DMU's Used2x 3-car Met-Camm sets (B803+????)Route :
DMURoute
Two return runs Bodmin Road to Wadebridge. 

Timings (Booked Only)
(from Roger Geach)
  Bodmin Road dep 10.00  & 14.00
Wadebridge    dep 11.00 & 15.00

Andrew writes :- On the last day my wife and I positioned ourselves at different points, dashing back and forth to cover as much as possible. I covered the last trip whilst my wife took a few line side shots. All passengers at Bodmin Rd joined the train on the down mainline platform, the train then crossed over and gained access from the up line on the Plymouth side of Bodmin Rd.  Many thanks to you both.

On a bitterly cold morning the train, comprising of two DMU's B804 & B803 runs into Bodmin Road. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

The train stands at the down platform at Bodmin Road. 17th December 1978 Copyright Roger Winnen

With the ground disc signal pulled off the first of the two specials to Wadebridge starts to leave the main line. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

The Lions Club, last trains to Wadebridge. 17th December 1978. Copyright Anne Rawle

The LIons charter at Bodmin Parkway. The line serving the platform had been taken out of use on the 27th March 1968. This picture taken on the. 17th December 1978. Had the main line connection remained at the east end of this loop it would have proved very useful in following years. Copyright Andrew Jones

Crossing the viaduct over the river Fowey 9now just a small stream) at the commencement of the climb to Bodmin General. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

The first train at Bodmin General en route to Wadebridge. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

Two photographers witness the passing of the penultimate train to Wadebridge from the short, and short lived, timber platform at Boscarne Junction. The low level platform erected to serve the railbus connection to Bodmin North, some one and a half miles distant, can clearly be seen. 17th December 1978 Copyright Roger Winnen

The penultimate train in the Camel Valley on route to Wadebridge. 17th December 1978 Copyright Andrew Jones.

A photograph from the train as it passes down the Camel Valley just after Grogley Halt. 17th December 1978 Copyright Roger Winnen

Scenes at Wadebridge - the last trains.

The penultimate train stands at Wadebridge 17th December 1978 Copyright Roger Winnen.

The penultimate train stands at Wadebridge - one wonders if the very young man in the picture remembers the event. In the distance can be seen the road bridge over the Camel. 17th December 1978

Unit B803 stops at the Padstow end of the platform. Various members of the party inspect the remains of the station, careful on that crossing, it looks very slippery! 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

The last train stands at Wadebridge station with St Minver band in attendance. This included CRS member Jerry Chandler. 17th December 1978

The platform thronging. Great excitement at Wadebridge station as the last train stands at the platform. A sad day - 17th December 1978 Copyright Andrew Jones

The penultimate train seen alongside the goods shed. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

Wintertime long shadows cross the goods yard at Wadebridge. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

A general view of participants exploring before the penultimate train departs. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

Looking back from the penultimate train at those left behind. 17th December 1978 Copyright Andrew Jones

Lineside view at Polbrock of the very last train approaching. 17th December 1978 Copyright Ann Rawle

The penultimate train heads back towards Bodmin. 17th December 1978 Copyright Andrew Jones.

A view back from the last train leaving a few spectators on the now distant platform at Grogley Halt. 17th December 1978 Copyright Andrew Jones

The guard gives the thumbs up, perhaps rather inappropriate for the last train! Behind the gates have closed and a few spectators linger to witness the departing train. 17th November 1978. Copyright Andrew Jones

A cab view at Boscarne Junction. To the left, To Dunmere Halt & Bodmnin North, also the Wenford branch. The the right for Bodmin General and ultimately Bodmin Road. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

The final run to Wadebridge

The second & final run to Wadebridge passes the trackless Padstow platform at Bodmin Road. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

The last train nears Boscarne Exchange Platform. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen.

Looking very smart in the winter sunshine B803 leads the formation towards Wadebridge. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

Departing Boscarne for Wadebridge. 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

The END. The final train leaves Wadebridge. 17th November 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

Wadebridge 17th December 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

It's still frosty on the distant hills as the very last train of all heads back towards Bodmin. 17th December 1978 Copyright Roger Winnen

These rails will never be polished again. 17th November 1978. Copyright Roger Winnen

Demolition in progress

A view from the buffers at Wadebridge station of the demolition in progress. One wonders if the buffers were kept complete with a view to their future use elsewhere? Picture by Andrew Jones Copyright

Demolition in progress outside the goods shed at Wadebridge. Copyright Andrew Jones.

A panorama of the destruction at Wadebridge - the demolition team have moved in. The date is?? Copyright Andrew Jones

The demolition team walk out on the track at Wadebridge.. Prior to the lifting of the North Cornwall line there were two parallel single track from here. Copyright Andrew Jones

The demolition team has reached and proceeded beyond Pendavey Bridge. Copyright Andrew Jones

A striking p[icture from Polbrock Bridge - demolition gang have moved on towards Grogley leaving complete lengths of rail to be picked up later , possibly towed along over the still present sleepers. Copyright Andrew Jones

The demolition nears Grogley, it would appear that the rails are being cut with an oxy-acetylene cutter. Andrew expresses surprise that they didn't simply undo the fishplates. DATE. Copyright Andrew Jones.

We move on to Grogley now where the track is still in situ. However the contractors tractor has been vandalised - the tyres have been let down. Andrew hastens to point out that he was not guilty!. DATE Copyright Andrew Jones

In this picture near Nanstallon it would appear that the contractors are removing recovered sleepers, chairs and rail piecemeal loading them onto a lorry for transport in the Wadebridge direction. DATE Copyright Andrew Jones

Andrew writes :- Nanstallon, Contractors unfortunately doing their job. DATE Copyright Andrew Jones

Saving
Boscarne to Wadebridge
rail route
Andrew Jones

Had it not been for the efforts of Andrew Jones the current footpath, bridleway and cycleway along the course of the old railway route between Boscarne and Wadebridge would likely never have been saved.
Andrew is Councillor on  St Breock Parish Council.  Lets let him tell the story in his own words.
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Preserving the route of the Bodmin to Wadebridge Railway
​                                                    by Andrew Jones
 
 
 
    How can you write anything positive, when posting photographs about the demolition of a branch line?
        The Bodmin to Padstow, line should never have closed. Politically, it was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Well used, right up to passenger closure in 1967, the line lingered on, as a freight outpost, into Wadebridge, until 1978. (the Padstow section was lifted, in 1967, some say, with indecent haste.)
          It was during the freight period 1967-1978, that I decided, before all was lost, to catalogue the remaining infrastructure, somewhat obsessive you might say! I actually know, how many sleepers there were, dates of rail-chairs and even the number of track sections laid.
        I had hoped, that the embryonic Bodmin preservation society, would some how, perhaps by magic, manage to finance, the complete purchase to Wadebridge, but given the immense effort and expense already committed, the Dunmere to Wadebridge section could have pushed their limited resources and even jeopardised the whole project.
       It would be very easy, in retrospect, to look at the costs, in 1978 and assume that the £26,000 scrap value of the 5 mile section of track, was a reasonable price to pay and again the total land value, excluding the Wadebridge Station site, of approx £4,000 should have been within reach.
       In 1978, you could buy an average, 3 bedroomed house for approx £4,000, in 2016 terms, this equates to approx £200,000, so with a little maths, the total scrap and land costs, if purchased today, would easily have exceeded £1,000,000.
        Recently, in the railway press, the Gloucester Railway has quoted the rebuild cost, for the 2 mile stretch of railway, to Broadway, using volunteer labour, at £2,000,000 a mile.
        This illustrates the mountain to climb, when applied to railway preservation.
       Now add the next mountain. What happens, if the route of the railway, has not been safeguarded.
There is absolutely no doubt, that the Victorian railway legacy, was squandered during the 1960’s.
      The visionary entrepreneurs of the 1800’s, provided a massive integrated, transport system, opening up routes, which would be unthinkable, let alone affordable, in 2016.
     Witness the wholesale closure and removal of the North Cornwall Line. Serving an area of low population, it provided a social need, both for employment and the greater community at large.
      The fact, the railway line, was only built, in the first instance, so that the LSWR could gain access to Cornwall and compete with its rival, the GWR, thus providing this impoverished area, with a lucky break, has been largely forgotten!

First step, 'testing the water' so to speak, find out who is interested. Andrew placed an advert in the Cornish Guardian - this appeared in the paper on Thursday 13th March 1980

The response was pretty rapid. A letter dated the very next day from The British Horse Society.

The Ramblers Association were also quick to reply - where better place to ramble?

Letter from British Rail Property Board dated 24th April 1979

Letter from the British Rail property Board dated 26th March 1980

Andrew wrote the Area Manager for Cornwall Railways, the late Arthur Eplett

Letter from BR Property Board dated 24th April 1980

This sign once stood roadside on the approach to Grogley Halt. It was rescued by somebody an for a small sum now hangs safe and sound in Andrew's kitchen. It is Andrew's wish that once trains return to Grogley that this sign, or a similar replica can be re-instated on the posts vacated 50 years ago. Let's hope that this is sooner rather than later.. Copyright Andrew Jones.

Another route lost!!
The North Cornwall line was another prime candidate for conversion to a cycle/walkway once the track had been lifted.  However, sadly, this has never been done and the route sold off piecemeal, embankments removed, cuttings filled and grassed or built over. One or two reminders that a rail route once ran this way - see the pictures below.   Ah well, Sobeit.  Andrew certainly deserves congratulations for all his endeavors - perhaps one day trains will return to the outskirts of Wadebridge - we can only help

A rail over road bridge at Port Isaac Road, fortunately this has been listed. 1990. Copyright Andrew Jones

The preservation notice in 1990. Copyright Andrew Jones.

Many thanks to Andrew Jones