Launceston Steam Railway

Launceston station: Refreshments, shop, gifts, museum, workshop

The railway first reached Launceston in 1865 when the Launceston and South Devon Railway opened a broad gauge 7ft 0¼ inch line to Plymouth. It was later regauged to standard 4ft 8½ inches in the 1870s. Another line opened in July 1886 built by the North Cornwall Railway this went from Halwill to Padstow, giving a direct connection to London Waterloo. Each of the railways had their own station even though they were next to one another.  Trains were withdrawn from the Plymouth line on 31 December 1962 with the other route lasting until 3 October 1966.

Nigel Bowman purchased in 1965 the Hunslet steam locomotive "Lilian" from the Penrhyn Slate quarry, North Wales. Despite training to be a teacher Nigel found time to rebuild the locomotive and by 1968 it was in good working order, he enthusiastically decided he wanted to run his own railway. His first thoughts were to have a line where he was living at the time in Surrey, but the high price of land made this impossible. After looking at many possibilities Nigel discovered a site in Launceston which looked promising. As it was in a tourist area the local council supported the idea of a narrow gauge passenger railway. Twelve years elapsed before all the land required could be purchased from the many different landowners. 

On Boxing Day 1983 the first ½ mile of the railway was opened, it was laid along the trackbed of the former North Cornwall Railway. In 1995 the present terminus at Newmills was reached, there are long term plans to extend the railway a further two miles to Egloskerry.

Bodmin and Wenford Railway

 Address: General Station, Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 1AQ

Bodmin General Station: Refreshments, gift shop

Bodmin Parkway station: Refreshments, mainline connection

Construction by the Great Western Railway of the Bodmin branch line started in 1884 and was completed on 27 May 1887 to Bodmin Road (Bodmin Parkway). Another branch from Bodmin to Boscarne Junction opened in September 1888 connecting to the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway. Parts of these two branches now form the Bodmin and Wenford Railway today. Trains were hauled by steam until 1964 after this date diesel power was used. The line was closed to passengers by British Railways on 28 January 1967, with freight traffic continuing until 3 October 1983.

In 1984 the Bodmin Railway Preservation Society was set up to save the line. Two years later they had their first open day at Bodmin General station. The Cornish Steam Locomotive Preservation Society joined them at Bodmin when they moved their base from Bugle in 1987.

A passenger service started once again in 1990 with trains going from Bodmin General to Bodmin Road which had been re-named Bodmin Parkway. Volunteers had built a new intermediate station called Colesloggett Halt. Six year later the line was extended by adding a branch to Boscarne Junction.

Bodmin General is styled as a 1950s station with authentic posters, old fashioned seats and lamps. The station building is attractive being built from locally sourced brown stone.

There are five steam locomotives available at the railway they are No.4247 GWR 2-8-0T, No.4612 GWR 0-6-0PT, No.5552 GWR 2-6-2T, No.6435 GWR 0-6-0PT and No.30587 LSWR 2-4-0WT. Three diesel locomotives and one DMU are available, these are often used on the first train of the day and on Saturdays.

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