Parkandillack branch (2)

Parkandillack branch 2
Working southwards from St Dennis Junction

Extensive reference has been made to the details on this branch by Maurice Dart in the Middleton Press book - 'West Cornwall Mineral Railways'. Highly recommended reading.

Finally, on the main road between Indian Queens and St Dennis, the Domellick overbridge. with it's mileage marker which looks like 294 miles and 44 chains. Copyright Dave Anthony 31st March 2020

Thetrackbed viewed from the Domellick overbridge. Copyright Dave Anthony

The rail over bridge which carried the St Dennis branch, grid ref: SW 943588. Copyright Dave Anthony

Gothers Siding - no pictures at prestent

Whitegates siding - no pictures at present

Parkandillack (Trelavour)

During the 70's an incident occurred at Parkandillack where a train apparently ran away during a shunting operation and careered off the end of the truncated line towards St Dennis Junction.

Picture taken by Fred Elton - from the Roger Winnen Collection. This is at the end of a siding at Parkandillack which formerly, until 6th February 1966 formed a through route between Parkandillack and St Dennis Junction. The course of this line can clearly be seen bearing away to the right and then curving towards the left heading towards St Dennis Junction.

Picture by Fred Elton, from the Roger Winnen Collection

Against the familiar background of the Parkndillack works a class 47 is clearly seen providing motive power. 1970's Picture by Fred Elton, from the Roger Winnen Collection

The location of the incident can be clearly ascertained from the picture below - the straight section of track was once the line towards St Dennis Junction.

The name Parkandillack refers to the dries alongside which can be seen 37411. Trelavour Kiln is located in the middle distance beyond Parkndillack Drier but on the same alignment. 27th September 1993 37411 departs with a very small load of two Polybulk wagons. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

37411 proceeds up a gradient of 1 in 40/50 to a mini summit before dropping down towards Treviscoe. 27th September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Recent 2015 views taken at Parkandillack by Craig Munday

Parkandillack with 66078 8th September 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

66078 hides away under cover at Parkandillack 8th September 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

The driers and stores have been at Parkandillack for many years, however, unfortunately the green and pleasant fields opposite have been engulphed by the controversial Incinerator plant. 8th September 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

Another view at Parkandillack with 66078 There is still a very remote possibility thyat the former line to St Dennis Junction and Newquay might be re-instated. 8th September 2015 Copyright Craig Munday

Treviscoe / Kernick

KERNICK
Kernick lies between Drinnick Mill and St Dennis. The installation owed its existence to the 'Carpella Break'. In 1909 there was a dispute between the GWR and the local clay company about mineral rights beneath the railway: the clay company won its case and the line was severed, leaving two 'stubs' -one up from Burngullow to Treviscoe and one down from St Dennis to Drinnick. A signal box was opened at Parkandillack to regulate the northern stretch. It had 5 levers and operated 4 signals together with one end of a loop siding. This was not enough for the traffic, so a box was opened at Kernick in 1913 (see picture). Kernick box was unique in Cornwall and possibly elsewhere in that it had no levers. The box contained the electric staff instruments, but the points and signals were worked by 3 ground frames. There was a signal post at each end of the layout, each bearing two arms, one for up and one for down. Therefore there were up and down home and starting signals, but only two posts.
The Carpella break was restored in 1922 and Parkandillack box closed. Kernick survived until 1950. Relief signalmen hated the place because of all the running around necessary to operate staff instruments and the various ground frames, in all weathers!

Roy Hart Many thanks Roy

For a picture of Kernick Box, courtesy of Cornish Memories please click here :- http://cornishmemory.com/item/WMA_P1_1_083#.VrnM2RrxpTY.mailto

37671 at Kernick. Treviscoe 6th September 1989 Copyright Roger Geach (Looks like it been snowing, but its like this all the time, difficult light conditions for a camera but here perfectly exposed)

37669 passes light engine a member of staff contemplating the view as he rests against to barrier. 21st September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

-- and this is his view, marvelous isn't it? 21st September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Local shunting, as needed was carried out by a variety of privately owned vehicles - these were named after ladies who worked for ECC the time. Here is 'Elaine'. 21st September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Here is 'Elaine' manfully setting about a line of CDA's. 21st September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

Here it looks as if 'Elaine' is about to get crushed by big brother!! 21st September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Little Treviscoe

Typical Clay Country. Mountains of waste, deep pits often with lovely blue lakes at the bottom, industrial buildings, wires, barriers and a single track railway. The scene from the Burngullow side of Treviscoe bridge. 1992 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

This smart little bridge lies on a road near Treviscoe which has recently been closed and the position is barely acceible on foot. 21st September 1993. Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

A view from the bridge above showing, in the distance the village of Treviscoe and to the right the sidings at Little Trevscoe. 21st September 1993. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

It's the same bridge featured in the two pictures above as a 37 takes a loaded train of CDA's towards Burngullow. December 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Drinnink Mill

45407 Crosses the main road at Drinnick Mill on its way back from Parkindillack on a Railtour. March 2007 This location is clearly visible on the aerial view below.Copyright R Winnen

Drinnick Mill. Courtesy Google Earth 2001. The main line of the railway be seen coming from Burngullow centre botton and exiting this view top left. At about the centre of this view can be seen a facing junction with the line from Burngullow. This branch, off to the right, runs down quite steeply to Nanpean sidings or wharf. On route it makes a trailing junction with a line which passes under the main line and extends down to the one time site of the ECC Power station and proceeds SE to further dries and storage facilities. The area being known as Carloggas or Drinnick Mill Low Level Lines.

Drinnick Mill Signal Box (Closed in May 1966) was sited on the right hand side of the main running line from Burngullow to Parkandillack (and one time to St Dennis Junction) just after the divergence of the branch down to Nanpean Wharf. Below are tokens which would have been issued from that box covering the main line in either direction.

Token from the David Hibberd Collection

Drinnick Mill - the main line on to Treviscoe and Parkandillack is to the left. The line to the right goes down to Nanpean Wharf. 31st December 1992. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

A closer view of the junction above, 31st December 1992. Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

A further study of the building above. 31st September 1992. Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

Looking back up the branch, the line to the left climbing towards the junction with the main Parkandillack line, that to the right leading to Carloggas passing under the main line. 31st December 1992 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Nanpean Wharf 31st December 1992. Note the high level and closeness of the wharf platform. This prevented the majority of DMU's from entering the platform - and for those which did nobody could leave that side other than through an open window! 31st December 1992 Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

Nanpean Wharf. This picture taken on the 29th October 1996 These tanks had lain for a long time disused in the sidings at Burngullow, they were then transferred to this location for continued storage. Copyright Julian Stephens

Standing on the bridge shown below the view looking towards Nanpean Wharf, the line seen is that connecting Nanpean Wharf with Carloggas driers and Power station. The chord which connects Nanpean Wharf to the 'main line' is the line climbing away from the wharf junction and climbing to the right. 23rd April 1977 Copyright Roger Winnen

'Turning about' from the previous photgraph, again from the bridge shown below we see Drinnick Mill Low Level or Carloggas with the former Power Station on the right. This was taken during an official walk over the branch on the 23rd April 1977. Copyright R. Winnen.

On to the low level lines.

The bridge which carries the main line on towards Parkandillack, which is to the right. Looking through the bridge to the right the sidings once served the Power Station. 31st December 1992 Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

The power station siding again. Looking on down through the extensive storage areas which lay beyond. 31st December 1992. The Tiger wagon seen parked on the Power Station siding is cripple having a cracked frame - it was probably scrapped on site. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Continuing to proceed SE along Drinnick Mill low level we see, in the distance Dinnick Mil Nos 7 & 6 kilns. December 1993. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Turning about and looking North East towards the main line bridge in December 1993. The main line bridge can be seen in the distance, the position of the elevated power station siding is evident. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

The derilct works at Drinnick Mill low level in December 1993. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Covered loading area alongside Drinnick Mill Number 7 drier. Decemebr 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

The covered loading area alongside Drinnick Number 7 Buell dryer. December 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

The end of the line at North Carloggas on 31st December 1992. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Near High Street

Near High Street on the Parkandillack branch, in typical 'Clay country' 37413 Light diesel heads for Parkandillick 5th April 1993 Copyright Roger Geach

Carpella

Lanjeth Level Crossing

On a cold winters day 37673 at Lanjeth Level Crossing. 29th December 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

Crugwallins

Crugwallins 27th September 1993 37675 has left its train of CDA's on the main branch line and is backing in to Crugwallins to increase its load. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

At Crugwallins. CDA's await collection . The shunter awaits further duties. 27th September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

The works shunter, now fired up, is using its muscle to sort the CDA's. Clay inside the store is clearly visible. 27th September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

In this view, in addition to the photographers car (Looking nice and clean) can be seen William Cookworthy and beyond, on a slightly higher elevation the remainder of the CDA's which had been left parked on the branch line. 27th September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

West Burngullow Dries

Passing the chimney of West Blackpool Drier can be seen 37675 Willliam Cookworthy with another load of CDA's down the branch. 27Sep93 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

Burngullow Main line

Burngullow on the 27th September 1993. 37675 William Cookworthy with CDA's in tow approaches off the Parkandillack line. The main line has already been singled and the signalbox closed - it was later destroyed by fire. Remains of the the old Burngullow station closed 14th August 1931 lie at the deviation of the main and branch lines. Copyright Sid Sponheimer

William Cooksworthy found China Clay in Cornwall, and developed a way to process it into fine porcelain pieces. The St Austell deposits have now been worked for over 200 years and are the largest in the world. Around 120 million tons of china clay have been produced since William Cookworthy's first discovered it at Tregonning Hill in 1746, but reserves are sufficient for at least another hundred years. Here the locomotive 37675 named in his honour continues on alongside the main line towards the Burngullow storage area 27th September 1993 Copyright Sid Sponheimer

37674 bearing the large 'T' livery leaves the distinctive towers at Burngullow behind and heads away for the branch. Note, on the right the main line and the point where the double track line became single for the next seven miles to Probus. Thankfully the line has now been redoubled. 20th June 1996 Copyright Sid Sponheimer.

37674 continues up the branch to collect its next load of clay. 20th June 1996. Copyright Sid Sponheimer