Items added on 28th January 2017 Those added most recently come first

50 years ago today Saturday 28th January, 1967
The last timetable workings took place of the Bodmin Road to Padstow service.

With this in mind I decided to visit the former line in various places to see what remains to this day. With no trains in West Cornwall I used the replacement bus service to Truro which connected with the Cross Country Truro-Manchester Piccadilly service. Arriving at Bodmin Parkway I made use of the Route 11 service from Liskeard to Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow
Roger Winnen

170128d Bodmin Parkway today much altered from 50 years ago. The branch trains used the left side platform as the Bodmin & Wenford does today. Copyright Roger Winnen

170128e After the closure of the branch, a bus replacement service began to operate, Western or Southern National, Western Greyhound and now Plymouth City Bus. Service 11 from Liskeard to Padstow. Copyright Roger Winnen

170128f Bodmin General Station where I had a friendly invite to have look around this Heritage Line, this being a non operational day. Copyright Roger Winnen

170128g Wadebridge Station now the John Betjamin Centre, perhaps one day we might see trains once more in Wadebridge! Copyright Roger Winnen

170128h Here we see Padstow Station buildings being restored and extended for the Padstow Town Council and for a museum. Copyright Roger Winnen

More Pictures on the Features Page

HST Movements at Truro during the blockade for engineering work
Andrew Triggs

170128a 43185 Great Western viewed from the level crossing on the rear of the 1C04. Copyright Andrew Triggs

170128b Departing ECS to Highertown Tunnel prior to working the 13.39 to Paddington. Copyright Andrew Triggs

170128c We have now arrived at Platform 3 awaiting to depart at 13.39. Copyright Andrew Triggs

Plain Line Pattern Recognition train.

Friday 27th Jan and Network Rails Plain Line Pattern Recognition train (PLPR) was photographed for us by its Colas driver Alan Peters as it stands in Bristol Temple Meads station before its departure to Tyseley.
The train was Top and Tailed by Europhoenix 37611 (BR Blue unbranded) and DRS 37601, she was travelling from Bristol via Severn Tunnel Junction, Didcot and Leicester before its arrival at Tyseley.
Many Thanks Alan.

Europhoenix 37611 (BR Blue unbranded) stands in Bristol Temple Meads station. Copyright Alan Peters.

Padstow
50 years ago
Mike Roach

​28 JANUARY 2017 marks 50 years since the last trains ran from Padstow to Bodmin Road, and up to Bodmin North as well. This was a Saturday. There were no trains on the Sunday. There were 3 Southern National buses advertised on the Sunday. Not all trains travelled the full 16.5 miles from Padstow to Bodmin Road. Some travelled Padstow - Bodmin General only; some Wadebridge - Bodmin Road, and some Padstow - Wadebridge There were only 2 trains each way up to Bodmin North Halt in the last timetable. 

Bodmin Road

Bodmin Road It's August 1961. A main line down train stands at the platform. This 5573 has just brought in a train from Wadebridge, run round, taken water and is ready for the return journey. Copyright Mike Roach

Two years later. 4655 has run round its train and steam is being raised ready for the climb to Bodmin General. Note the Water Crane with its long gantry spanning the tracks to provide watering for both branch and up main line trains. Note also the bags of parcels dumped on the platform, perhaps security didn't need to be as it is nowadays. 9th September 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

Bodmin General

Bodmin General 4655 9th September and 4655 has made the bank up from Bodmin Road. A collection of vans waits sorting alongside the goods shed. 9th September.1963 Copyright Mike Roach

Boscarne Exchange Platform

Boscarne Exchange Platform - a winter scene 6th February 1976 Copyright R.Winnen

Nanstallon Halt

The Royal Duchy Railtour at Nanstallon. on the 30th April 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen

There was once a manned crossing at the north end of Nanstallon Halt Copyright Julian Stephens

Grogley Halt

Grogley Halt 1st June 1974 Copyright Trevor Tremethick

Wadebridge

Steam and diesel in attendance at Wadebridge 27th April 1963 Copyright Mike Roach

Padstow

Padstow station 4th January 1964 Copyright Mike Roach

Now a quick look at the other two stations closed on the 3rd January 1967

Bodmin North was briefly served by a railbus from Boscarne Exchange Platform but in the end even this arrangement ceased with two trains a day on the Bodmin Road to Padstow service revesring at Boscarne Junction to run up to Bodmin North before continuing on to Padstow.

Dunmere Halt

Dunmere Halt in July 1962 Copyright Mike Roach

Bodmin North

Bodmin North in December 1963 Copyright Mike Roach