CRS Railtour on the **
Portreath Branch!
Paddy Bradley
Portreath Branch!
Paddy Bradley
Directors on Portreath branch Hayle Rly PC dated 4th August 1904. Copyright Paddy Bradley Collection. -- This marvellous picture of what might have been the first railtour in Cornwall, almost certainly on the Portreath branch. This is long before the days of 'Petticoat Government' so it must have been a pleasure outing along the branch. Take a look at the passengers dressed in all their finery. There appear to be nine ladies three young men and two children. The driver poses on his steed. From the steps leaning against the wagon which is fitted with 'dumb buffers', this is obviously a posed photograph, and what a gem. Perhaps the party were just about to disembark for a walk to the beach or had just returned from an outing there. The date on the postcard is 4th August 1904.
A much appreciated comment from Roy Hart who had an early view of this photograph.
This photo was taken at the approach to the summit of Portreath incline. I think 'Directors' is someone's guess, or a joke, as the occupants of the wagon are mostly female. I'd say directors of any company at that time were exclusively male!). There appears to be only one male present over the age of about 15. This is some sort of social gathering (note the ladder up to the wagon) and is perhaps the GWR doing a favour for the Bassets, who owned all the land around there.
The incline summit is in the distance around the curve. The winding engine is off the picture to the left.
I would date this around 1900. Note that the wagon has 'dumb' buffers. The engine is an early 0-6-0 saddle tank from Carn Brea shed.
The Portreath branch was most certainly not authorised for passenger trains (though there were excursions in Hayle Railway/ WCR days, when rules were lax) so for this to happen in the GWR era, you needed big influence!
Roy Many thanks Roy
This photo was taken at the approach to the summit of Portreath incline. I think 'Directors' is someone's guess, or a joke, as the occupants of the wagon are mostly female. I'd say directors of any company at that time were exclusively male!). There appears to be only one male present over the age of about 15. This is some sort of social gathering (note the ladder up to the wagon) and is perhaps the GWR doing a favour for the Bassets, who owned all the land around there.
The incline summit is in the distance around the curve. The winding engine is off the picture to the left.
I would date this around 1900. Note that the wagon has 'dumb' buffers. The engine is an early 0-6-0 saddle tank from Carn Brea shed.
The Portreath branch was most certainly not authorised for passenger trains (though there were excursions in Hayle Railway/ WCR days, when rules were lax) so for this to happen in the GWR era, you needed big influence!
Roy Many thanks Roy
Re the double asterisk in the heading ** re railtour I can only add - if only!! Th CRS have done walks over bits of the branch which are still accessible.
If you wish to see our collection on the Portreath branch and Poldice tramway please click here.
If you wish to see our collection on the Portreath branch and Poldice tramway please click here.
Winnen's Westerns
Penzance
Roger Winnen
Penzance
Roger Winnen
D1068 Western Reliance with the Royal Mail at Penzance. 12th June 1975 Copyright Roger Winnen. Note the lamp 'going spare' on the platform!!