Cornish Branches

[ainsworth74]

Still takes me eight and a half hours from york...

Well look on the bright side if it took at least eight hours from Paddington back in 1902 imagine how long it took all the way from York!

 

[caliwag]

True true...but I leave my horse at home now. No complaints love the journey.

 

[richw]

I believe the main line previously ran to Falmouth not Penzance, which is further tell tale signs at penweathers junction where the falmouth line is straight ahead and main line branches off to the right. link shows google satelite picture of junction for those unfamiliar
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=tru...near=Truro,+Cornwall,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=17

 

[LE Greys]

A rather wonderful description of how people used to get there in 1935.

http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r017.html

It's worth remembering most of the through coaches were Centenary Stock, so 9ft 7 wide.

 

[robertclark125]

BTW can I recommend the Video125 DVD "cornish Branches", filmed in 1990. It covers all the cornish branches, so should give you a good idea of them, including the freight only one to Fowey.

 

[caliwag]

Superb...thanks for posting that. I shall think on that when joining at Cogload from the North!

 

[D6975]

Probably 47 or 50, or maybe classes 35, 42, 43 or 52 until they were withdrawn. Not sure if Peaks were cleared for Falmouth.

Wouldn't have been a 35. Hymeks were are rare as hen's teeth in Cornwall.

 

[bailey65]

As far as I can work out, through trains from Paddington to Falmouth finished in 1978.

Falmouth has quite a big population, as big as truro that is probably why they upped the service and put a loop in.
According to wikipedia passenger numbers are up every year this branch is doing well.

 

[ainsworth74]

According to wikipedia passenger numbers are up every year this branch is doing well.

All the Cornish and Devon branches are doing well. They're very much a success story and FGW deserve some kudos for the work they're doing down there.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

I believe the main line previously ran to Falmouth not Penzance, which is further tell tale signs at penweathers junction where the falmouth line is straight ahead and main line branches off to the right. link shows google satelite picture of junction for those unfamiliar
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=tru...near=Truro,+Cornwall,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=17

West Cornwall Railway had their own terminus at Newham. You can see the overgrown track bed where their standard gauge railway crossed the Cornwall Railway's Broad gauge to Falmouth , turning right just above Penwithers Junction to Newham.

 

[Eagle]

All the Cornish and Devon branches are doing well. They're very much a success story and FGW deserve some kudos for the work they're doing down there.

How were they when Wales and West (latterly Wessex Trains) ran them, out of interest?

 

[richw]

West Cornwall Railway had their own terminus at Newham. You can see the overgrown track bed where their standard gauge railway crossed the Cornwall Railway's Broad gauge to Falmouth , turning right just above Penwithers Junction to Newham.

brilliant cheers, The bridge is still intact across the a39 at Arch Hill. I work on Newham industrial estate, so is rather interesting trying to pitch where the line ran.

 

[TEW]

How were they when Wales and West (latterly Wessex Trains) ran them, out of interest?

In terms of service all the branches now have there best ever service, with the exception of Newquay, which recently lost a service. St Ives is half-hourly, all day, every day. The only real change FGW have introduced is earlier Sunday services. Falmouth is now half-hourly, under Wessex it was roughly hourly but there were some longer gaps. Newquay has 6 trains a day, it was 7 until December 2011 when the first train of the day was withdrawn, previously it had 4. There are also now winter Sunday services/ Looe is now roughly hourly all day, previously there were some longer gaps in the service. Sunday services now run through to the end of October rather that September as well. Gunnislake has a roughly two-hourly service, previously there were some bigger gaps in the daytime.

 

[richw]

In terms of service all the branches now have there best ever service, with the exception of Newquay, which recently lost a service. St Ives is half-hourly, all day, every day. The only real change FGW have introduced is earlier Sunday services. Falmouth is now half-hourly, under Wessex it was roughly hourly but there were some longer gaps. Newquay has 6 trains a day, it was 7 until December 2011 when the first train of the day was withdrawn, previously it had 4. There are also now winter Sunday services/ Looe is now roughly hourly all day, previously there were some longer gaps in the service. Sunday services now run through to the end of October rather that September as well. Gunnislake has a roughly two-hourly service, previously there were some bigger gaps in the daytime.

In wales and west days none of the branches had sunday services during the winter,

 

[caliwag]

Falmouth has quite a big population, as big as truro that is probably why they upped the service and put a loop in.
According to wikipedia passenger numbers are up every year this branch is doing well.

Agreed, though the huge increase in student numbers (of which my son was one) has made a huge difference, to say nothing of revenue protection at Truro.
Some sort of annual student deal would be ideal for the line as students live at all points on the line...plainly getting on at Town or indeed Penmere platform and off at Penryn , is a winner for a student...quite rightly. It's up to the operators to assess this surely?

 

[Goatboy]

All the Cornish and Devon branches are doing well. They're very much a success story and FGW deserve some kudos for the work they're doing down there.

I have nothing but praise for what FGW are doing in Devon and Cornwall. Frequent services and very sensible prices mean I've gone from rarely ever using the train for intermediate length trips to using it as much as possible despite enjoying driving - it's just such good value for two of us to use the train in Devon and Cornwall that the only time I use the car now on a day out is when I'm travelling somewhere without a station.

Fantastic stuff. Rail in Devon and Cornwall is great value for money and cheaper - even with two people - than driving. Exactly what rail should be offering. I hope FGW retain the franchise.

Just such a shame that the value for money aspect is quite sharply reversed as soon as you go further North than Tiverton Parkway.

 

[aylesbury]

Spent a few days riding the branches in march and noted that every train very busy ,trains clean,on time and freindly staff.Falmouth an interesting journey although the docks very basic and not that busy .St Ives is the best for views ,Newquay worth a round trip and you never know whats happenning freight wise,reccomend the pub by the station at Par good food and ale.

 

[Greenback]

Spent a few days riding the branches in march and noted that every train very busy ,trains clean,on time and freindly staff.Falmouth an interesting journey although the docks very basic and not that busy .St Ives is the best for views ,Newquay worth a round trip and you never know whats happenning freight wise,reccomend the pub by the station at Par good food and ale.

I would second the recommendation of the pub by Par station. It is called The Royal Inn, I think, and we have stayed there twice now because it is so convenient for the station.

I'm happy to say that I have now travelled on the Cornish branch lines, and I wa spleasantly surprised at how well used they all are. Although you haven't mentioned the Looe or Gunnislake branches, I have always enjoyed my trips on both lines and would say that they are both well worth a visit.

 

[RPM]

Spent a few days riding the branches in march and noted that every train very busy ,trains clean,on time and freindly staff.Falmouth an interesting journey although the docks very basic and not that busy .St Ives is the best for views ,Newquay worth a round trip and you never know whats happenning freight wise,reccomend the pub by the station at Par good food and ale.

I've never noticed pub near Par station. Did you mean Liskeard?

 

[ainsworth74]

I've never noticed pub near Par station. Did you mean Liskeard?

Nope it's right here. I had to spend a couple of hours there whilst waiting for a train to Newquay and a very pleasant couple of hours it was. The land lady was good for conversation, the cider on tap was nice and they had a good range of crisps behind the bar. Only complaint was that they weren't serving any food whilst I was there (and that's a niggle more than anything!).

 

[RPM]

Nope it's right here. I had to spend a couple of hours there whilst waiting for a train to Newquay and a very pleasant couple of hours it was. The land lady was good for conversation, the cider on tap was nice and they had a good range of crisps behind the bar. Only complaint was that they weren't serving any food whilst I was there (and that's a niggle more than anything!).

Fair enough. Not like me to miss a pub. Was the cider Cornish Rattler?

 

[ainsworth74]

Was the cider Cornish Rattler?

Can't remember now unfortunately

 

[Cliveblackpool]

The Royal - leave Par station and walk uphill! IF you manage to miss it!! you will arrive at the New Inn Tywardreath 10 minutes later - but you won't be disappointed!!
Par Docks are sadly now closed. Some clay drying /transport is still active on the site. Haul road (lorries via Pinnock tunnel) is still in use to Fowey.

Falmouth - just shows by increasing services to half hourly, how it becomes more popular!
With Voyager type trains, it would be easy to reinstate through trains/s to London etc.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Falmouth - just shows by increasing services to half hourly, how it becomes more popular!

Yes, this was a forward looking decision to have made with such interesting city of Truro at the other end of the line, which gives tourism a boost in both directions and a much needed transport aid to the area residents.

Falmouth Docks station may well be "basic", but a very short stroll from there down to the roundabout then past the Falmouth Hotel (where we always stay at when there) leads you to Cliff Road with a very good sea frontage with views of Pendennis Castle. There are very good quality hotels and some good quality apartment blocks there. On the other side of the railway line is what my wife refers to as "Old Falmouth" with a completely different tourist scenario so beloved of boating enthusiasts.

 

[yorksrob]

Falmouth Docks station may well be "basic", but a very short stroll from there down to the roundabout then past the Falmouth Hotel (where we always stay at when there) leads you to Cliff Road with a very good sea frontage with views of Pendennis Castle. There are very good quality hotels and some good quality apartment blocks there. On the other side of the railway line is what my wife refers to as "Old Falmouth" with a completely different tourist scenario so beloved of boating enthusiasts.

Rather well sheltered for a basic station thanks to the retention of an old platform canopy.

Having holidayed in Cornwall over the past few years, I echo the sentiments of FGW doing a great job of marketing the routes with good offers and well maintained trains.

Talking of pubs near junctions, I was sitting with the family in the garden of the one next to Liskeard not long ago listening with great amusement to the landlord describing the relative attributes of his latest barmaid to one of his regulars in less than gallant terms

 

[Nat the Ned]

On the subject of through trains to Cornish Branchlines, due to a revised service and some unit shuffling on 1st January 2013, the 12:54 Plymouth to Gunnislake will be starting from CARDIFF CENTRAL. Basically The 09:00 Cardiff to Plymouth that normally runs before forming the 13:53 Plymouth to Penzance is running through to Gunnislake.

 

[ACE1888]

For anyone interested in the Cornish Branchlines, you can do it all easily in one day, took me 13 hours and one minute from start to finish...
Just an idea to do it in the summer months though
The day for you...
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4458408626215.2184027.1469636110&type=3

 

[Goatboy]

On the subject of through trains to Cornish Branchlines, due to a revised service and some unit shuffling on 1st January 2013, the 12:54 Plymouth to Gunnislake will be starting from CARDIFF CENTRAL.

Excellent, a 150 on a Cardiff to Plymouth trip. Totally suitable unit there FGW

 

[marky7890]

At the moment the 06:00 Penzance to Cardiff is a 150.

 

[Goatboy]

Out of interest are there any scheduled 158 services west of Bristol now (SWT excepted)?