Cornwall Freight Branches

[DarloRich]

I was recently on holiday on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall and had one day spare to potter about. I covered Newquay, Looe, Falmouth St Ives and Penzance.

What is the current state of the china clay industry in the SW?

How well used are the lines to :

Goonbarrow
Burngullow/Drinnick Mill/Parkandillack
Fowey
Par Docks
Moorswater
Falmouth Docks branch (lifted?)

I did see one train of CDA hoppers pottering about between Goonbarrow and Fowey but nothing else. Are the other lines moribund now?

 

[berneyarms]

Why don't you do a search on Realtime trains for those locations - that will tell you all the scheduled movements.

Also the Cornish Railway Society website has lots of photos and news stories on movements in the southwest.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/

 

[DarloRich]

Why don't you do a search on Realtime trains for those locations - that will tell you all the scheduled movements.

Also the Cornish Railway Society website has lots of photos and news stories on movements in the southwest.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/

That is a really good website but a lot of the information on those lines is historic so I thought I would ask here and see what we could draw out

 

[The Planner]

Scheduled movements, doesnt mean they run.

 

[berneyarms]

Scheduled movements, doesnt mean they run.

Indeed not but it will give some idea of what could run!
Doing a search for various locations for the past week will give an indication of what has run.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That is a really good website but a lot of the information on those lines is historic so I thought I would ask here and see what we could draw out

Plenty of regular present day photographic updates of China clay workings on the Cornish site.

 

[DarloRich]

Plenty of regular present day photographic updates of China clay workings on the Cornish site.

OK great i will look again. I had only found historic information which was very interesting but not current - can you offer any local knowledge?

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The connection to Falmouth Docks has been lifted unfortunately. I traversed the branch a few weeks ago and the redundant track panels were stacked up, awaiting disposal. The Cornwall Railway Society has a feature on happier times with a trial coal train in 1996 and the splendid steam shunting locomotives which lasted until 1986.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/falmouth-docks.html

The line to Par Docks is still in situ, including the level crossing at Par Green, but it is quite heavily overgrown. The harbour is now closed to shipping sadly, and the remaining clay-drier is on borrowed time. It is also depressing to see the large Blackpool driers alongside the main-line at Burngullow abandoned - the sidings here used to be very busy and English China Clays had their own diesel shunting locomotives. The CRS had a 'Grand Day Out' in Nov 2013 visting various installations - this is a pretty good summary of the position today. Sadly , however, Goonbarrow Jcn Signalbox is due to close next year.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/a-day-on-the-clay.html

 

[jopsuk]

the china clay industry has been in decline for many years. High production costs, most of the remaining deposits are beneath the slag heaps and the clay villages. The business has been winding down for a long time, so the associated transport infrastructure is dwindling too.

 

[Ash Bridge]

It seemed to go into more rapid decline after the French company Imerys took over ECC in the late 1990s

 

[cogload]

But but but....the clay tips have an awful lot of sand, aggregate and other minerals which are required in the building industry. Which is one reason why a loading pad is being built at Treviscoe...

Watch this space.

 

[furnessvale]

But but but....the clay tips have an awful lot of sand, aggregate and other minerals which are required in the building industry. Which is one reason why a loading pad is being built at Treviscoe...

Watch this space.

I believe DBS are already running 2 trains a week of granite from clay tips to Bow, London and are set to increase.

 

[DarloRich]

did i not read somewhere that for every ton of kaolin extracted 5 tons of rock is also extracted - that must have a use somewhere!

 

[Ash Bridge]

did i not read somewhere that for every ton of kaolin extracted 5 tons of rock is also extracted - that must have a use somewhere!

Keep it handy for future use at Dawlish

 

[furnessvale]

did i not read somewhere that for every ton of kaolin extracted 5 tons of rock is also extracted - that must have a use somewhere!

According to the DBS press release about the Burngullow traffic I mentioned above, between 5 and 9 tonnes of spoil per tonne of Kaolin.

 

[83G/84D]

I was recently on holiday on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall and had one day spare to potter about. I covered Newquay, Looe, Falmouth St Ives and Penzance.

What is the current state of the china clay industry in the SW?

How well used are the lines to :

Goonbarrow
Burngullow/Drinnick Mill/Parkandillack
Fowey
Par Docks
Moorswater
Falmouth Docks branch (lifted?)

I did see one train of CDA hoppers pottering about between Goonbarrow and Fowey but nothing else. Are the other lines moribund now?

Par harbour sees a weekly train of NACCO wagons tripped from St Blazey yard either on Wednesday or Thursday mornings. A good oportunity to see a shunter close and open some old style wooden crossing gates as the train crosses a road to go down to (and return from) the harbour!

The train is usually down there for several hours not returning sometimes until after lunchtime.

Goonbarrow sees around two or three trains a day (Monday to Friday) with one in the early morning and one mid-afternoon except when loading takes place at Treviscoe/Parkandillack.

The loco is usually a DBS 66. On Friday evenings a rake of empty CDA's from Fowey are returned to St Blazey yard for the weekend then on Monday morning that rake either goes to Goonbarrow or Parkandillack (via a run-round at Lostwithiel)for loading depending on traffic requirements.

Burngullow to Parkandillack traffic varies from week to week, sometimes there is only one train a week other times there are up to three.It all depends on requirements of the customers of Imerys, what ships are in at Fowey and tide / sailing times.

A rake of NACCO's usually loads at either Parkandillack or Crugwallins on the day loading does not take place at Par Harbour (so either a Wednesday or Thursday). The train originates at St Blazey early morning and usually returns by no later than mid-afternoon.

Moorswater is not currently in use but there are rumours that it may be re-activated.

There is no other local freight traffic in Cornwall since the fuel traffic to Long Rock depot ceased (it is now delivered by road), however fuel is still delivered by rail to St Blazey albeit on an overnight train (Tuesday/Wednesday) from Newport which mainly consists of clay wagons.

Hope that helps.

 

[brillopad]

It seemed to go into more rapid decline after the French company Imerys took over ECC in the late 1990s

The local joke is that 'Imerys' is an anagram of 'Misery'.

 

[jopsuk]

did i not read somewhere that for every ton of kaolin extracted 5 tons of rock is also extracted - that must have a use somewhere!

Not sure where you read that... because it's more like a 1:10 ratio (I worked in the Par Moor laboratories for a year as part of my degree).

 

[bramling]

The connection to Falmouth Docks has been lifted unfortunately. I traversed the branch a few weeks ago and the redundant track panels were stacked up, awaiting disposal. The Cornwall Railway Society has a feature on happier times with a trial coal train in 1996 and the splendid steam shunting locomotives which lasted until 1986.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/falmouth-docks.html

The line to Par Docks is still in situ, including the level crossing at Par Green, but it is quite heavily overgrown. The harbour is now closed to shipping sadly, and the remaining clay-drier is on borrowed time. It is also depressing to see the large Blackpool driers alongside the main-line at Burngullow abandoned - the sidings here used to be very busy and English China Clays had their own diesel shunting locomotives. The CRS had a 'Grand Day Out' in Nov 2013 visting various installations - this is a pretty good summary of the position today. Sadly , however, Goonbarrow Jcn Signalbox is due to close next year.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/a-day-on-the-clay.html

With Par Harbour being in decline, how much use does the Par-Fowey private road get? (I'm referring to the Imerys road which runs on the route of the former railway, via Pinnock Tunnel).

Is there any possibility this could become a cycle path at some point in the future?

 

[DarloRich]

Also the Cornish Railway Society website has lots of photos and news stories on movements in the southwest.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/

that is a great website BTW - thanks for pointing me in their direction.

 

[berneyarms]

that is a great website BTW - thanks for pointing me in their direction.

You're welcome.

I subscribe to the RSS Feed on the news page - you'll get updates each day which are a mix of historical and current news from the region.

Otherwise just go to the news page each day.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/headlines---latest-reports-and-photographs

They have some great contributors.

 

[Greybeard33]

The line to Par Docks is still in situ, including the level crossing at Par Green, but it is quite heavily overgrown. The harbour is now closed to shipping sadly, and the remaining clay-drier is on borrowed time.

Par harbour sees a weekly train of NACCO wagons tripped from St Blazey yard either on Wednesday or Thursday mornings. A good opportunity to see a shunter close and open some old style wooden crossing gates as the train crosses a road to go down to (and return from) the harbour!

The train is usually down there for several hours not returning sometimes until after lunchtime.

With Par Harbour being in decline, how much use does the Par-Fowey private road get? (I'm referring to the Imerys road which runs on the route of the former railway, via Pinnock Tunnel).

Is there any possibility this could become a cycle path at some point in the future?

I drove through Par several times this week while in the area on holiday (not on a Wednesday or Thursday, unfortunately). I would certainly not describe the Par Harbour branch (as observed from the level crossing) as "quite heavily overgrown". A little grass and rust, admittedly, but the track looked adequately serviceable.

The private haul road from Par to Fowey looked in good order, insofar as it could be seen from the adjacent public road. Not knowing anything of its history (until I later read this thread), I did a double take when I first saw it. Are there any other similar British examples of a former rail line that has been converted to a private haul road (i.e. excluding busways and cycleways)?

 

[berneyarms]

Some photos uploaded onto the Cornwall Railway Society site this morning may be of interest:

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.o...s-current-collection-a-fascinating-miscellany

 

[bramling]

I drove through Par several times this week while in the area on holiday (not on a Wednesday or Thursday, unfortunately). I would certainly not describe the Par Harbour branch (as observed from the level crossing) as "quite heavily overgrown". A little grass and rust, admittedly, but the track looked adequately serviceable.

The private haul road from Par to Fowey looked in good order, insofar as it could be seen from the adjacent public road. Not knowing anything of its history (until I later read this thread), I did a double take when I first saw it. Are there any other similar British examples of a former rail line that has been converted to a private haul road (i.e. excluding busways and cycleways)?

The nearest example I can think of is the section of the Manifold Valley Railway through Swainsley tunnel, between Butterton and Wetton Mill, but that's a public road, and been so for very many years.

There are quite a few sections of old formations that have become farm tracks, including one or two that include a tunnel (for example Severn Bridge Tunnel).

 

[LateThanNever]

I drove through Par several times this week while in the area on holiday (not on a Wednesday or Thursday, unfortunately). I would certainly not describe the Par Harbour branch (as observed from the level crossing) as "quite heavily overgrown". A little grass and rust, admittedly, but the track looked adequately serviceable.

The private haul road from Par to Fowey looked in good order, insofar as it could be seen from the adjacent public road. Not knowing anything of its history (until I later read this thread), I did a double take when I first saw it. Are there any other similar British examples of a former rail line that has been converted to a private haul road (i.e. excluding busways and cycleways)?

Marsh Barton in Exeter has a surprising amount of converted railways into roads - which is why their Park and Ride bus has to be a single decker and fairly skilfully transitioned under an existing railway bridge!

 

[Cliveblackpool]

The line to Par Docks is still in situ, including the level crossing at Par Green, but it is quite heavily overgrown. The harbour is now closed to shipping sadly, and the remaining clay-drier is on borrowed time. It is also depressing to see the large Blackpool driers alongside the main-line at Burngullow abandoned - the sidings here used to be very busy and English China Clays had their own diesel shunting locomotives. The CRS had a 'Grand Day Out' in Nov 2013 visting various installations - this is a pretty good summary of the position today. Sadly , however, Goonbarrow Jcn Signalbox is due to close next year.

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/a-day-on-the-clay.html

I remember visiting the huge 'Rocks Dryers' at Goonbarrow. Sounds like the clay industry is shrinking fast.
If Goonbarrow Junct is closed the Newquay branch will effectively become a very long siding. How the branch has gone downhill since 1980. St Dennis Junct closed, Newquay Signalbox and all sidings crossovers and run round loop cut up leaving just one platform. Friday evenings and Summer Saturdays long trains would work the branch. A DMU used to maintain a 'local' service stopping all stations for part of Saturday. Passing 2 or 3 trains on the branch was not uncommon. (St Blazey, Goonbarrow and St Dennis) At Newquay you could leave the Station and pass another train on the viaduct.
Also Par Harbour had 2 rail connections up the the 60's. Par Harbour box gave direct access from the mainline, close to the low bridge used by the footpath by the small car park.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I remember visiting the huge 'Rocks Dryers' at Goonbarrow. Sounds like the clay industry is shrinking fast.
If Goonbarrow Junct is closed the Newquay branch will effectively become a very long siding. How the branch has gone downhill since 1980. St Dennis Junct closed, Newquay Signalbox and all sidings crossovers and run round loop cut up leaving just one platform. Friday evenings and Summer Saturdays long trains would work the branch. A DMU used to maintain a 'local' service stopping all stations for part of Saturday. Passing 2 or 3 trains on the branch was not uncommon. (St Blazey, Goonbarrow and St Dennis) At Newquay you could leave the Station and pass another train on the viaduct.
Also Par Harbour had 2 rail connections up the the 60's. Par Harbour box gave direct access from the mainline, close to the low bridge used by the footpath by the small car park.

The idea of reinstating a loop on the branch resurfaces every so often, as does the rather more radical (and expensive) idea of diverting the branch to St. Austell rather than Par. A loop to allow a more intensive service would be a good idea, though it would go rather underused outside of the summer months, which presumably has an adverse effect on any cost/benefit analysis.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

The idea of reinstating a loop on the branch resurfaces every so often, as does the rather more radical (and expensive) idea of diverting the branch to St. Austell rather than Par. A loop to allow a more intensive service would be a good idea, though it would go rather underused outside of the summer months, which presumably has an adverse effect on any cost/benefit analysis.

A good point!
At present the loop is still operational at Goonbarrow Junction.
I would like to see a little investment , eg motorizing the points and controlling the loop from Par.
'cost/benefit analysis'
When comparing the huge outlay of maintaining 20 miles of track and 7 stations, running the trains, drivers guards time, imo the cost of the above would in comparison be a relativity 'small' investment!
If trains run on time etc. A loop would allow more flexibility in giving a better timetable.

 

[jopsuk]

the rather more radical (and expensive) idea of diverting the branch to St. Austell rather than Par.

Hmm. close the dock branch, use that to connect to the mainline towards Par, add suitable loops, run a regular Newquay-St Austell-Truro-Falmouth services?

 

[Harbornite]

I thought I'd mention that the Moorswater branch will be in use once again as Colas have won a new freight flow from the LaFarge cement plant at Moorswater to Aberthaw.

In preparation for a new traffic flow between Aberthaw and Moorswater to be operated by Colas Rail Freight, a light loco training and gauging run was carried out between Tavistock Junction and Moorswater on 28 June 2016. Colas deployed Class 70 No. 70809 for the job and is seen deep inside the Lafarge Moorswater complex during gauging. This is the first time a Class 70 has ever operated over the Liskeard to Moorswater line. The new traffic flow is due to commence in a couple of weeks time.

http://www.railway-centre.com/june-2016.html

 

[Ash Bridge]

Excellent news!