3 January 2025 ‘Steam in Cornwall’ by SLS Librarian Gerry Nichols

Gerry started his presentation by showing several photos of Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge seen through the ages, the earliest showing a flotilla of Naval ships just beyond the bridge and the latest showing the new Tamar Road bridge alongside. We then proceed to Saltash station where a local push-pull local (pannier tank in middle of the consist) departing for Plymouth. Moving on to Liskeard with a brief stop at Menhieniot we were then taken down the Looe branch line hauled by a GWR small prairie which was the favoured motive power on local trains. Back on the main line a GWR grange was on a down passenger train. At Bodmin Road a ‘down’ train headed by a ‘Western’ diesel was waiting to depart. Also noted Bullied pacific No 34002 ‘Salisbury’ was on a ‘special We then travelled on the branch line to Bodmin General behind a small prairie. Travelling west on the main line we arrive at Lostwithiel for the Fowey branch where GWR 0-4-2 No 1419 was spotted. Continuing west we reach Par where a diesel 08 shunter was seen. We then travelled on the Newquay branch through St Blazey and Goss Moor terminating at Newquay. A couple of 16xx panier tanks were on a ‘clay hoods’ train and a diesel class 37 on clay hoods train in the Luxulyan valley. We then take a different route back to the main line through St Dennis, St Column Major and Perranporth. At Truro we travel down the Falmouth branch stopping at Perranwell on the way. At Penwithers Junction N Castle Class ‘Nunney Castle’ was spotted. Continuing down the main line to Gwinear Road where we take the branch to Helston. Onto St Erth and we take the picturesque line to St Ives. Back at St Erth we travel west through Marazion and Long Rock to terminate at Penzance where a passenger train with a warship at thehead which had just arrived.
Gerry then switched his attention to the Southern region of north and east Cornwall. Starting at Bere Alston (Devon) we travelled behind a T9 No 30338 to Gunnislake and Callington where an Ivatt 2 tank no 41316 waiting to depart. We then moved to North Cornwall, starting at Halwill Junctiion (also in Devon) where a passenger train headed by Bullied pacific No 34002 arrived with a service from Padstow. Leaving Halwill we passed through Dunsland Cross and Holsworthy to Bude where a N class and T9 was observed with a T9 on the turntable. We were then taken along the Padstow line from Halwill Jct towards Padstow stopping at Launceston where the Atlantic Coast Express arrived from Padstow. Moving on through Tressmeer to Camelford where an air smoothed Bullied was spotted along with a Wickam Trolley. At Delabol a N class was on a goods train. Various locos were observed at Padstow including N class,T9 and a couple of Beattee well tanks.and a pannier tank in the engine shed. On the Bodmin and Wenford branch an 02 was observed at Bodmin North. Returning back to Boscarne Jct N class No31849 on a goods to Wenford Bridge. The presentation was finished with a photo of class 0298 at a level crossing in the Wenford line.