Cornwall Railway
Encyclopedia
The Cornwall Railway was a broad gauge
railway from Plymouth
in Devon
to Falmouth
in Cornwall
, United Kingdom
. The section from Plymouth to Truro
opened in 1859, the extension to Falmouth in 1863. The original section remains open as part of the London
to Penzance
main line, the Truro to Falmouth line being operated as a branch.
The first proposal for a railway to Falmouth came from London in 1835. Falmouth at that time was an important port for the Post Office Packet Service
but the idea of such a long line was too complex and poorly thought out to succeed. A new proposal was advanced in 1839, this time led by Cornishmen, to link with other railways in Devon.
William Moorsom
was appointed as engineer and he surveyed a line from Falmouth to Torpoint
where the Hamoaze
would be crossed by a train ferry
to join the South Devon Railway
which was proposing to construct a line to there from Exeter
. At this period no train ferry had ever been constructed and this was a serious contention when Parliament was considering the railway's bill.
An Act of Parliament was eventually obtained on 3 August 1846 under the guidance of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
, who had replaced the train ferry with a novel bridge at Saltash, higher up the River Tamar
.
The passing of the Act was soon followed by an economic depression caused by the railway mania
. Although work on construction had started at various places, it was suspended in 1848.
The Associated Companies of the South Devon Railway
, Bristol and Exeter Railway
and Great Western Railway
had already provided much of the finance in return for a guarantee of a broad gauge line into Cornwall, and they again bailed out the Cornwall company to enable a new start to be made in 1852. A further lack of funds before the line was completed allowed the Associated Companies to tighten their grip on the company and force them to postpone the opening of any section until the line was laid across the bridge at Saltash
, despite the line between Truro
and Lostwithiel
being ready to receive tracks much earlier. This financial arrangement also meant that the Cornwall Railway would be leased to the Associated Companies from opening day and operated by a Joint Committee of directors from the three companies plus the Cornwall Railway itself.
HRH Prince Albert opened the Royal Albert Bridge
at Saltash on 2 May 1859, and the line itself was opened on 4 May.
The inhabitants of Falmouth soon put pressure on the company to extend the line to their town as originally intended. In order to pay for this yet more money was needed from the Associated Companies, who forced the original short-term lease to be converted into one for 1,000 years. The extension opened on 24 August 1863. After the West Cornwall Railway
was converted to broad gauge
in 1867 the Truro to Falmouth line tended to be operated as a branch, with the trains from London Paddington station operating to Penzance
instead.
The Bristol and Exeter Railway
and South Devon Railway
amalgamated with the Great Western Railway
in 1876 which left this company as the majority vote in the Joint Committee. The Cornwall Railway made moves to amalgamate also, but this was not achieved until 1 July 1889. In the meantime there was a long-running dispute between the Cornwall and the Great Western over the cost of replacing Brunel's original and distinctive timber viaducts
with more permanent masonry structures. The lease precluded the conversion of the line to standard gauge
(which by this time had reached from London as far as Exeter), and the Cornwall Railway refused to pay for the widening of the viaducts during rebuilding to accommodate a double line of standard gauge tracks (it had been built as a single-track line).
Following the amalgamation, plans were put in place for the gauge conversion
, which took place over the weekend of 21 May 1892.
During the following years all the viaducts were replaced, those between Saltash and St Germans being replaced by a deviation line, the remainder being either rebuilt in situ or having a replacement viaduct built immediately alongside. Because of this, many of Brunel's original piers still remain today. Other original structures which are largely intact are the Royal Albert Bridge
, many smaller masonry bridges, and the stations at Liskeard
and St Germans
. The stations standing at Par
and Saltash
were also built by the Cornwall Railway, although these were later constructions. The footbridge at St Austell
is a rare example of a Great Western Railway footbridge that still retains a roof. On the Falmouth extension there is an original goods shed
at Perranwell
and a group of 20 workers' cottages at Falmouth
.
Apart from a short branch at Keyham
opened on 20 June 1867 to serve the naval dockyards
, no branches were ever built by the Cornwall Railway. Independent railways did however form junctions: the West Cornwall Railway
to Penzance
(1859), Lostwithiel and Fowey Railway
(1869), and the Newquay and Cornwall Junction Railway
(1869). Other lines were proposed but failed during the economic depression following the collapse of the Overend, Gurney and Company
bank, notably the Saltash and Callington Railway, and the Bodmin and Cornwall Junction Railway. The Cornwall Loop was opened at Plymouth on 17 May 1876 to avoid reversing trains in the terminus at Millbay
. It was mainly used by London and South Western Railway
trains at first but later found use for fast passenger and perishable goods trains.
Note that stations opened after 1889 were opened by the Great Western Railway or British Railways.
The locomotives were provided under a contract with Messrs Evans, Walker and Gooch
. This enabled the expensive equipment to be provided without a huge capital outlay.
The South Devon Railway took over the contract in 1867 and worked both of the companies' lines and also that of the West Cornwall Railway with one common pool of engines, although throughout both contracts the Cornwall Railway was responsible for ordering its own engines and was charged for their costs. The locomotives bought for the Cornwall Railway were:
. These workshops also had equipment for preparing timber for the viaducts and permanent way.
At the opening of the line there was provided 8 first class, 18 second, 16 third, and 4 composite carriages; in 1861 a post office sorting carriage was provided. These were all six-wheel vehicles. By 1889 there was 1 less second class but 3 more third class carriages plus 6 luggage vans. Initially 30 mineral and 20 cattle trucks were provided, along with 8 brake vans, 10 carriage trucks, 8 ballast trucks, and 2 timber trucks. By 1889 this fleet had grown to 421 vehicles. There were also 15 vans for carrying meat, and 9 horse boxes.
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
railway from Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
to Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The section from Plymouth to Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
opened in 1859, the extension to Falmouth in 1863. The original section remains open as part of the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
main line, the Truro to Falmouth line being operated as a branch.
History
Post Office Packet Service
The Post Office Packet Service dates to Tudor times and ran until 1823, when the Admiralty assumed control of the service. Originally, the Post Office used packet ships to carry mail packets to and from British embassies, colonies and outposts. The vessels generally also carried bullion, private...
but the idea of such a long line was too complex and poorly thought out to succeed. A new proposal was advanced in 1839, this time led by Cornishmen, to link with other railways in Devon.
William Moorsom
William Moorsom
Captain William Scarth Moorsom was an English soldier and engineer. He was born in Whitby to a military family, being the son of an admiral, and trained at Sandhurst, becoming a captain in the 52nd regiment...
was appointed as engineer and he surveyed a line from Falmouth to Torpoint
Torpoint
Torpoint is a civil parish and town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite the city of Plymouth across the Hamoaze which is the tidal estuary of the River Tamar....
where the Hamoaze
Hamoaze
The Hamoaze is an estuarine stretch of the tidal River Tamar, between the River Lynher and Plymouth Sound, England.The Hamoaze flows past Devonport Dockyard, which belongs to the Royal Navy...
would be crossed by a train ferry
Train ferry
A train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
to join the South Devon Railway
South Devon Railway Company
The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
which was proposing to construct a line to there from Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
. At this period no train ferry had ever been constructed and this was a serious contention when Parliament was considering the railway's bill.
An Act of Parliament was eventually obtained on 3 August 1846 under the guidance of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
, who had replaced the train ferry with a novel bridge at Saltash, higher up the River Tamar
River Tamar
The Tamar is a river in South West England, that forms most of the border between Devon and Cornwall . It is one of several British rivers whose ancient name is assumed to be derived from a prehistoric river word apparently meaning "dark flowing" and which it shares with the River Thames.The...
.
The passing of the Act was soon followed by an economic depression caused by the railway mania
Railway Mania
The Railway Mania was an instance of speculative frenzy in Britain in the 1840s. It followed a common pattern: as the price of railway shares increased, more and more money was poured in by speculators, until the inevitable collapse...
. Although work on construction had started at various places, it was suspended in 1848.
The Associated Companies of the South Devon Railway
South Devon Railway Company
The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
, Bristol and Exeter Railway
Bristol and Exeter Railway
The Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
and Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
had already provided much of the finance in return for a guarantee of a broad gauge line into Cornwall, and they again bailed out the Cornwall company to enable a new start to be made in 1852. A further lack of funds before the line was completed allowed the Associated Companies to tighten their grip on the company and force them to postpone the opening of any section until the line was laid across the bridge at Saltash
Saltash
Saltash is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a population of 14,964. It lies in the south east of Cornwall, facing Plymouth over the River Tamar. It was in the Caradon district until March 2009 and is known as "the gateway to Cornwall". Saltash means ash tree by...
, despite the line between Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
and Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel is a civil parish and small town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom at the head of the estuary of the River Fowey. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,739...
being ready to receive tracks much earlier. This financial arrangement also meant that the Cornwall Railway would be leased to the Associated Companies from opening day and operated by a Joint Committee of directors from the three companies plus the Cornwall Railway itself.
HRH Prince Albert opened the Royal Albert Bridge
Royal Albert Bridge
The Royal Albert Bridge is a railway bridge that spans the River Tamar in the United Kingdom between Plymouth, on the Devon bank, and Saltash on the Cornish bank. Its unique design consists of two lenticular iron trusses above the water, with conventional plate-girder approach spans. This gives...
at Saltash on 2 May 1859, and the line itself was opened on 4 May.
West Cornwall Railway
The West Cornwall Railway was a railway company in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, formed in 1846 to operate the existing Hayle Railway between Hayle and Redruth and extend the railway to Penzance and Truro....
was converted to broad gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
in 1867 the Truro to Falmouth line tended to be operated as a branch, with the trains from London Paddington station operating to Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
instead.
The Bristol and Exeter Railway
Bristol and Exeter Railway
The Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
and South Devon Railway
South Devon Railway Company
The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
amalgamated with the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
in 1876 which left this company as the majority vote in the Joint Committee. The Cornwall Railway made moves to amalgamate also, but this was not achieved until 1 July 1889. In the meantime there was a long-running dispute between the Cornwall and the Great Western over the cost of replacing Brunel's original and distinctive timber viaducts
Cornwall Railway viaducts
The large number of Cornwall Railway viaducts were necessitated by the topography of Cornwall, United Kingdom, where hills and areas of high ground are separated by deep river valleys that generally run north or south...
with more permanent masonry structures. The lease precluded the conversion of the line to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
(which by this time had reached from London as far as Exeter), and the Cornwall Railway refused to pay for the widening of the viaducts during rebuilding to accommodate a double line of standard gauge tracks (it had been built as a single-track line).
Following the amalgamation, plans were put in place for the gauge conversion
Gauge conversion
In rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks...
, which took place over the weekend of 21 May 1892.
During the following years all the viaducts were replaced, those between Saltash and St Germans being replaced by a deviation line, the remainder being either rebuilt in situ or having a replacement viaduct built immediately alongside. Because of this, many of Brunel's original piers still remain today. Other original structures which are largely intact are the Royal Albert Bridge
Royal Albert Bridge
The Royal Albert Bridge is a railway bridge that spans the River Tamar in the United Kingdom between Plymouth, on the Devon bank, and Saltash on the Cornish bank. Its unique design consists of two lenticular iron trusses above the water, with conventional plate-girder approach spans. This gives...
, many smaller masonry bridges, and the stations at Liskeard
Liskeard railway station
Liskeard station serves the town of Liskeard in Cornwall, England. The station is west of Plymouth on the Cornish Main Line and it is the junction for the Looe Valley Line.-History:-Cornwall Railway:...
and St Germans
St Germans railway station
St Germans Station serves the village of St Germans in Cornwall, UK. The Station is operated by First Great Western and west of Plymouth.It is situated immediately west of the large St Germans viaduct.Both platforms have step-free entrances...
. The stations standing at Par
Par railway station
Par Station is a railway station serving the village and port of Par, Cornwall, England in the United Kingdom. It is the junction for the Atlantic Coast Line to Newquay. The station is operated by First Great Western, and served by trains operated by both First Great Western and...
and Saltash
Saltash railway station
Saltash railway station serves the town of Saltash in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south side of the town between the Royal Albert Bridge over the River Tamar and Coombe Viaduct which spans a small tributary of the same river...
were also built by the Cornwall Railway, although these were later constructions. The footbridge at St Austell
St Austell railway station
St Austell Station serves the town of St Austell, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station is operated by First Great Western, as is every other station in Cornwall....
is a rare example of a Great Western Railway footbridge that still retains a roof. On the Falmouth extension there is an original goods shed
Goods shed
A goods shed is a railway building designed for storing goods before or after carriage in a train.A typical goods shed will have a track running through it to allow goods wagons to be unloaded under cover, although sometimes they were built alongside a track with possibly just a canopy over the door...
at Perranwell
Perranwell railway station
Perranwell station is on the Maritime Line from Truro to Falmouth Docks, the services are operated by First Great Western.-History:The station was opened with the Cornwall Railway Falmouth extension on 24 August 1863...
and a group of 20 workers' cottages at Falmouth
Falmouth Docks railway station
Falmouth Docks station in Falmouth, Cornwall is the terminus of the Maritime Line to Truro, the services are operated by First Great Western.-History:...
.
Apart from a short branch at Keyham
Keyham railway station
Keyham railway station is a suburban rail station in the city of Plymouth, England. It is served by First Great Western services between Plymouth and Gunnislake and a very few on the Cornish Main Line to Saltash and beyond....
opened on 20 June 1867 to serve the naval dockyards
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
, no branches were ever built by the Cornwall Railway. Independent railways did however form junctions: the West Cornwall Railway
West Cornwall Railway
The West Cornwall Railway was a railway company in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, formed in 1846 to operate the existing Hayle Railway between Hayle and Redruth and extend the railway to Penzance and Truro....
to Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
(1859), Lostwithiel and Fowey Railway
Lostwithiel and Fowey Railway
The Lostwithiel and Fowey Railway opened in 1869 as a broad gauge railway and links the port of Fowey in Cornwall with the Cornish Main Line at Lostwithiel...
(1869), and the Newquay and Cornwall Junction Railway
Newquay and Cornwall Junction Railway
The Newquay and Cornwall Junction Railway was a broad gauge railway intended to link the Cornwall Railway with the horse-worked Newquay Railway. It opened a short section to Nanpean in 1869, the remainder being built by the Cornwall Minerals Railway who took over the company in 1874...
(1869). Other lines were proposed but failed during the economic depression following the collapse of the Overend, Gurney and Company
Overend, Gurney and Company
Overend, Gurney & Company was a London wholesale discount bank, known as "the bankers' bank", which collapsed in 1866 owing about 11 million pounds, equivalent to £981 million at 2008 prices.-Early years:...
bank, notably the Saltash and Callington Railway, and the Bodmin and Cornwall Junction Railway. The Cornwall Loop was opened at Plymouth on 17 May 1876 to avoid reversing trains in the terminus at Millbay
Plymouth Millbay railway station
Plymouth Millbay railway station was the original railway terminus in Plymouth, Devon, England. It was used for passenger trains from 1849 to 1941.- History :...
. It was mainly used by London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
trains at first but later found use for fast passenger and perishable goods trains.
Stations
- Plymouth (Millbay)Plymouth Millbay railway stationPlymouth Millbay railway station was the original railway terminus in Plymouth, Devon, England. It was used for passenger trains from 1849 to 1941.- History :...
(Joint with the South Devon RailwaySouth Devon Railway CompanyThe South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
) - Wingfield Villas Halt (1904–1921)
- DevonportDevonport railway stationDevonport railway station serves the Devonport area of Plymouth, Devon, England. The station is west of Plymouth railway station on the Cornish Main Line. It is operated by First Great Western.-History:...
(1859) - Dockyard HaltDockyard railway stationDockyard railway station is a First Great Western suburban station on the Cornish Main Line in Devonport, Plymouth, United Kingdom. As the name implies it serves Devonport Dockyard...
(1905) - Ford Platform (1904–1941)
- KeyhamKeyham railway stationKeyham railway station is a suburban rail station in the city of Plymouth, England. It is served by First Great Western services between Plymouth and Gunnislake and a very few on the Cornish Main Line to Saltash and beyond....
(1900) - St Budeaux PlatformSt Budeaux Ferry Road railway stationSt Budeaux Ferry Road station is a suburban rail station in St Budeaux, Plymouth, England. It is served by First Great Western services during the rush hour only - the vast majority of services pass through non stop due to the proximity of Victoria Road station...
(1904) - SaltashSaltash railway stationSaltash railway station serves the town of Saltash in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south side of the town between the Royal Albert Bridge over the River Tamar and Coombe Viaduct which spans a small tributary of the same river...
(1859) - Defiance Platform (1905–1930)
- St GermansSt Germans railway stationSt Germans Station serves the village of St Germans in Cornwall, UK. The Station is operated by First Great Western and west of Plymouth.It is situated immediately west of the large St Germans viaduct.Both platforms have step-free entrances...
(1859) - MenheniotMenheniot railway stationMenheniot railway station serves the village of Menheniot in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station is operated by First Great Western.- History :The station opened with the Cornwall Railway on 4 May 1859...
(1859) - LiskeardLiskeard railway stationLiskeard station serves the town of Liskeard in Cornwall, England. The station is west of Plymouth on the Cornish Main Line and it is the junction for the Looe Valley Line.-History:-Cornwall Railway:...
- Doublebois (1860)
- Bodmin RoadBodmin Parkway railway stationBodmin Parkway railway station is a station on the Cornish Main Line and serves the nearby town of Bodmin, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station is west of , in the civil parish of St Winnow....
(Temporarily located at Respryn in 1859 until the permanent station was completed at Glynn) - LostwithielLostwithiel railway stationLostwithiel railway station serves the town of Lostwithiel in Cornwall. First Great Western operate the station along with every other station in Cornwall.The station is on the banks of the River Fowey in Cornwall...
(1859) - ParPar railway stationPar Station is a railway station serving the village and port of Par, Cornwall, England in the United Kingdom. It is the junction for the Atlantic Coast Line to Newquay. The station is operated by First Great Western, and served by trains operated by both First Great Western and...
(1859) - St AustellSt Austell railway stationSt Austell Station serves the town of St Austell, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station is operated by First Great Western, as is every other station in Cornwall....
(1859) - Burngullow (1863)
- Grampound Road (1859)
- Probus and Ladock Platform (1908–1957)
- TruroTruro railway stationTruro Station serves the city of Truro, Cornwall, UK. It is the situated on the Cornish Main Line and is the junction for the Maritime Line to Falmouth. The station is operated by First Great Western....
(1859, joint with the West Cornwall RailwayWest Cornwall RailwayThe West Cornwall Railway was a railway company in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, formed in 1846 to operate the existing Hayle Railway between Hayle and Redruth and extend the railway to Penzance and Truro....
) - PerranwellPerranwell railway stationPerranwell station is on the Maritime Line from Truro to Falmouth Docks, the services are operated by First Great Western.-History:The station was opened with the Cornwall Railway Falmouth extension on 24 August 1863...
(1863, originally Perran) - PenrynPenryn railway stationPenryn station is on the Maritime Line from Truro to Falmouth Docks, and serves the town of Penryn, Cornwall. The services are operated by First Great Western.-History:The station was opened by the Cornwall Railway in 1863...
(1863) - Penmere PlatformPenmere railway stationThe Penmere railway station serves the northern part of Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is on the Maritime Line from to . The services are operated by First Great Western and the station is within walking distance of the top of The Moor in the centre of the town.-History:The station was...
(Opened 1925) - Falmouth (The Dell)Falmouth Town railway stationFalmouth Town station is the most central railway station in Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is on the Maritime Line, from . It is unstaffed but operated, along with the trains, by First Great Western...
(Opened 1970) - FalmouthFalmouth Docks railway stationFalmouth Docks station in Falmouth, Cornwall is the terminus of the Maritime Line to Truro, the services are operated by First Great Western.-History:...
(1863)
Locomotives
Daniel Gooch
Sir Daniel Gooch, 1st Baronet was an English railway and transatlantic cable engineer and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1885...
. This enabled the expensive equipment to be provided without a huge capital outlay.
The South Devon Railway took over the contract in 1867 and worked both of the companies' lines and also that of the West Cornwall Railway with one common pool of engines, although throughout both contracts the Cornwall Railway was responsible for ordering its own engines and was charged for their costs. The locomotives bought for the Cornwall Railway were:
- Eagle class 4-4-0ST passenger locomotivesSouth Devon Railway Eagle classThe Eagle class were sixteen 4-4-0 saddle tank broad gauge locomotives operated on the South Devon Railway, Cornwall Railway and associated adjacent railways...
- Castor (1865 – 1882) GWR no. 2121, originally intended to be named Fal
- Cato (1863 – 1877) GWR no. 2118
- Eagle (1859 – 1876) GWR no. 2106
- Elk (1859 – 1877) GWR no. 2107
- Gazelle (1859 – 1865) GWR no. 2110
- Lynx (1859 – 1876) GWR no. 2109
- Mazeppa (1859 – 1885) GWR no. 2111
- Pollux (1865 – 1892) GWR no. 2120, originally intended to be named Tamar
- Wolf (1859 – 1878) GWR no. 2115
- ex-Carmarthen and Cardigan RailwayCarmarthen and Cardigan RailwayThe Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway was a broad gauge railway from Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, to Newcastle Emlyn, Wales. Part of the route is now used by the Teifi Valley Railway and the Gwili Railway.Despite the name, the line never reached Cardigan...
4-4-04-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
ST passenger locomotive- Magpie (1872 – 1889) GWR no. 2135
- Dido class 0-6-0ST goods locomotives
- Argo (1863 – 1892) GWR no. 2151
- Atlas (1863 – 1885) GWR no. 2152
- Dido (1860 – 1877) GWR no. 2143
- Hero (1860 – 1887) GWR no. 2144
- ex-Great Western Railway Sir Watkin class 0-6-0ST goods locomotivesGWR Sir Watkin ClassThe Great Western Railway Sir Watkin Class were 0-6-0T broad gauge steam locomotives with side tanks. They were designed for working goods trains through to the underground Metropolitan Railway in London. This class was introduced into service between December 1865 and the last was withdrawn at the...
- Bulkeley (1872 – 1890) GWR no. 2157
- Fowler (1872 – 1887) GWR no. 2158
- Buffalo class 0-6-0ST goods locomotivesSouth Devon Railway Buffalo classThe ten Buffalo class locomotives were 0-6-0 saddle tank broad gauge locomotives operated on the South Devon Railway, Cornwall Railway and West Cornwall Railway...
- Dragon (1873 – 1892) GWR no. 2164
- Emperor (1873 – 1892) GWR no. 2167
- Hercules (1872 – 1889) GWR no. 2163
Carriages and wagons
Carriages and wagons were bought by the Cornwall Railway and maintained at workshops established at LostwithielLostwithiel
Lostwithiel is a civil parish and small town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom at the head of the estuary of the River Fowey. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,739...
. These workshops also had equipment for preparing timber for the viaducts and permanent way.
At the opening of the line there was provided 8 first class, 18 second, 16 third, and 4 composite carriages; in 1861 a post office sorting carriage was provided. These were all six-wheel vehicles. By 1889 there was 1 less second class but 3 more third class carriages plus 6 luggage vans. Initially 30 mineral and 20 cattle trucks were provided, along with 8 brake vans, 10 carriage trucks, 8 ballast trucks, and 2 timber trucks. By 1889 this fleet had grown to 421 vehicles. There were also 15 vans for carrying meat, and 9 horse boxes.
See also
- Disused railway stations (Plymouth to Penzance Line)Disused railway stations (Plymouth to Penzance Line)There are seventeen disused railway stations between Plymouth in Devon and Penzance in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The remains of nine of these can be seen from passing trains...
- Cornish Main LineCornish Main LineThe Cornish Main Line is a railway line in the United Kingdom, which forms the backbone for rail services in Cornwall, as well as providing a direct line to London.- History :...
- Maritime LineMaritime LineThe Maritime Line is a railway line that runs in the valley of the River Fal from Truro to Falmouth on the south coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom.-History:...
Further reading
- Cornwall Railway Company and other records at The National Archives