Treamble & Gravel Hill
Roy Hart
Roy Hart
Comment from Roy Hart
The Treamble branch is always quoted as closing in 1956 'last revenue-earning traffic 1949'. The reason for this unusual terminology is that the branch was used for the storage of wagons after 1949. Some are visible on one of the website pictures. See below.
My understanding is that the Gravel Hill extension was laid in 1888, but without parliamentary sanction (new railways required an act of parliament). Perhaps the Cornwall Mineral Railway was just chancing it. Records seem to agree that Gravel Hill mine was abandoned in 1882, so was the railway a wild-west style attempt to revive the mine?
The OS 25 inch map for 1906 shows not the slightest trace of any railway to Gravel Hill. My guess is that the tracks lasted for no more than a year or two. It needs to be borne in mind that OS maps were not revised systematically - hence something which caught the surveyor's eye in one year, may be gone in the next.
Many thanks Roy
The Treamble branch is always quoted as closing in 1956 'last revenue-earning traffic 1949'. The reason for this unusual terminology is that the branch was used for the storage of wagons after 1949. Some are visible on one of the website pictures. See below.
My understanding is that the Gravel Hill extension was laid in 1888, but without parliamentary sanction (new railways required an act of parliament). Perhaps the Cornwall Mineral Railway was just chancing it. Records seem to agree that Gravel Hill mine was abandoned in 1882, so was the railway a wild-west style attempt to revive the mine?
The OS 25 inch map for 1906 shows not the slightest trace of any railway to Gravel Hill. My guess is that the tracks lasted for no more than a year or two. It needs to be borne in mind that OS maps were not revised systematically - hence something which caught the surveyor's eye in one year, may be gone in the next.
Many thanks Roy
Wagons stored on the Treamble branch. - just visible to the right.
Liskeard for Looe
Gareth Thornton Andrew Triggs & Roger Winnen
Gareth Thornton Andrew Triggs & Roger Winnen
Hi Keith, Not sure how well these have come out but here are a couple of shots of 37609 at Liskeard on its way to Looe tonight.
All the best Gareth Many thanks to you Gareth
All the best Gareth Many thanks to you Gareth
37609 at Liskeard on its way to Looe. 22.53 Spot the dog 'spotter' 3rd October 2017 Signalman Gareth Thornton
37609 at Liskeard on its way to Looe. 22.53 3rd October 2017 Signalman Gareth Thornton. The gentleman in the red hoodie is none other than Nathan Stockman who is bending down to untie his dog, seen in the picture above, from the fence. Nathan's picture of the train at Newquay appears in our collection for 5th October. Well done to all you enthusiasts anyway.
171004a 37609 Stabled at Penzance prior to returning to Exeter Riverside at 22.43hrs Copyright Roger Winnen
171004b 37609 broadside at Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen
171004c 37609 Stabled in the sidings at Penzance Station after arriving from Exeter Riverside via Looe and Newquay. Copyright Andrew Triggs
171004g 37609 at Penzance Copyright Steve Widdowson
171004d A close up view of the mighty machine 37609. Copyright Andrew Triggs
171004e 37609 at 19.57 on Wednesday evening at Penzance. Copyright Jamie Dyke
171005a Just after Midnight 37609 roars through St Austell Station with the returning test train to Exeter Riverside. Notice the old footbridge illuminated by the platform lights. A dramatic photograph. Copyright Craig Munday
Did anyone photograph it at Looe or Newquay on route!!
Exeter
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius