The Pontsmill branch.
Credits, Many thanks to all contributors - please see a list on the home page.
No this isn't the Pontsmill branch - but the first two wagons behind 25095 photographed at far away Winnick quay are destined for Pontsmill via St Blazey 21st June 1983 Copyright Roger Geach
St Blazey Bridge crossing
St Blazey Bridge Level Crossing on 4th July 1979. Here we see the unusual sight of 25 155 'propelling' a train of wagons towards Ponts Mill This rare event captured by Mike Roach Copyright
Looking from the Pontsmill branch out onto the Newquay branch - St Blazey Bridge Crossing is just around the corner. 10th April 1994 Copyright Sid Sponheimer
A passenger service from Newquay to Par rolls along near the junction for Ponts Mill on the 4th July 1979. Copyright Mike Roach. Note the girders spanning the waterway.
Craig writes - This is at Pontsmill. Under the YTS scheme of 1985/86 we were given the massive privilege of working alongside all sorts of railway folk, including train crew at St Blazey. One day I was taken to Pontsmill by driver Percy Wherry on 08801. We were locked in while 37205 passes with clay hoods, Copyright Craig Munday
A view of the Newquay branch line starting its climb up the Luxulyan valley, Meantime the Pontsmill branch drops down towards the dries. The bridge which the DMU is seen crossing in the picture above is that towards the centre of the picture near the top. The steam which flows under this bridge runs between the Pontsmill and Newquay branches at this location. 10th April 1994 Copyright Sid Sponheimer
A picture by Sid Sponheimer taken on 10th April 1994 of the entry to Ponstmill Dries. The siding leading directly ahead at one time continued up the Luxulyan valley floor to serve driers and quarries. In more recent years it terminated about two hundred yards behind this point and was used for wagon storage. It has also been visited by several railtours. Copyright
Copyright from the Maurice Dart CD Clay Lines Disc Part 1 with his permission. Available from Wheal Martyn Museum
Copyright from the Maurice Dart CD Clay Lines Disc Part 1 with his permission. Available from Wheal Martyn Museum
Copyright from the Maurice Dart CD Clay Lines Disc Part 1 with his permission. Available from Wheal Martyn Museum
This picture is one of many on Maurice Dart's China Clay lines part 2 CD, a fascinating collection of pictures. Beyond Pontsmill the lines continued up the valley. Copyright Maurice Dart. The CD is obtainable from Wheal Martyn Museum, for details see the home page.
A view of the Pontsmill driers taken after closure. 10th April 1994. Copyright Sid Sponheimer
A rake of thirteen vans stands at Pontsmill on the siding outside the drier. 7th September 1975 Copyright Roger Winnen
A quiet moment at Pontsmill caught by Jim Lewis in November 1969. Copyright
PONTS MILL workings CLASS 37 David Stannard
A programme of refurbishment of the CDA wagon fleet around the turn of the Millennium saw weekly late-Monday morning trip workings between St Blazey yard and a temporary maintenance facility on the site of the old Ponts Mill clay dries.
These were normally worked by one of the St Blazey Class 08 yard pilots and, with no runaround facilities on what remained of the branch, saw the CDAs for refurbishment propelled to the site behind a guards van, with the exchanged wagons and brake van hauled back on return.
Noted whilst on holiday in Cornwall in late June/early July 2000 were:
Monday 26/06/00 08941 (BR blue livery) dropped off 1 CDA and collected 2 refurbished wagons
Monday 10/07/00 08953 (Railfreight grey livery) dropped off 2 CDAs and collected 2 refurbished wagons
In between however on Monday 03/07/00 then apparently most unusually a Class 37 which was at St Blazey in connection with Moorswater cement duties was utilised for the trip working, with 37174 dropping off 2 CDAs and collecting 1 refurbished wagon.
Photographs of 08953 and 37174 at Ponts Mill are attached, along with a shot of 37174 approaching Middleway crossing with the return working to St Blazey.
37174 seen at Pontsmill on the 3rd July 2000 Copyright David Stannard
37174 shunting at Pontsmill on the 3rd July 2000. Copyright David Stannard
37174 departs Pontsmill on the 3rd July 2000. Copyright David Stannard
37174 reaches Middleway Crossing on the 3rd July 2000. Copyright David Stannard
08953 propels two CDA;s for repair into Ponts Mills on the 10th July 2000. Copyright David Stannard
08953 at Ponts Mill on the 10th July 2000. Copyright David Stannard. Not quite sure what the shunter is looking for, has he dropped his wallet or is he looking for the rails!!
08953 shunting at Ponts Mill on the 10th July 2000. Copyright David Stannard
Was this the last ever working of stock for repair to Pontsmill - has anybody got a closure date for this event!
Many thanks to David Stannard.
Many thanks to David Stannard.