With the forthcoming modernization plan, I intend to photograph the Cornish boxes next spring.
I last did this in 1982, so an update is now due!
I understand the existing working boxes are:
Lostwithiel
Par
Truro
Liskeard
Roskear Jct
St Erth
Penzance
St Blazey
Goonbarrow.
In addition, which closed boxes still remain where the structures can be photographed?
Some thoughts on these.
The boxes at Lostwithiel, Par, Truro, Liskeard, Roskear and Penzance can all be photographed easily. Lostwithiel and Truro are well sited and can be photo'd from the platforms at those stations; in addition both are next to level crossings as is the box at Roskear Junction (which, if you are not familiar with the area, can be found at Stray Park Road, Camborne: approx. postcode TR14 8UN). Roskear also has a footbridge right next to the box but views of the box from the bridge are not that good IIRC.
The box at St. Erth can only (AFAIK) be photo'd from the station platform unless you are lucky enough to get a shot from a passing train. The view from the station will be a side-on one though. Penzance can be photo'd with ease thanks to the footpath which runs next to the sea wall opposite the box.
St. Blazey and Goonbarrow are the two trickiest ones to photo. The box at St. Blazey has undergrowth opposite the box. There is a footpath crossing on the curve round to Par station from St. Blazey but I have found in the past that any attempt to obtain a view from there is unlikely to succeed so a view from a train is probably your best bet when said train stops to collect the token for St. Blazey to Goonbarrow.
Goonbarrow is probably also easiest to photo from a train when the token is collected for Newquay but again I have found from experience that a decent photo from a train is tricky. Unfortunately any attempt to obtain a view from opposite the box is likely to be hampered by the fact that much of the land opposite the box is marshy: I did try it once and eventually got through but it took ages as, from what I recall, picking out the safe bits to walk on is not too easy.
I am also hoping to take another trip down Cornwall at some point before the closure of Truro, Par & Lostwithiel. As I write this post I wonder if a sustained heatwave might make the marsh opposite Goonbarrow SB a bit easier to navigate?
Dave
