Bodmin & Wenford Railway
This is Cornwall’s only preserved standard gauge railway and it run’s through some delightful Cornish scenery.
The Railway is a typical Cornish branch line. Great Western tank engines are the source of power to be seen here but diesel traction is also used, particularly on Saturdays
The main station on the line is at Bodmin General. The engine sheds are here, as well as a Souvenir shop and refreshment room in the restored station buildings.
Boscarne Junction provides a direct link with the “Camel Trail” (the cycle and footpath running to Padstow along the route of the old Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway.)
At the southern end lies Bodmin Parkway station which is shared with network rail on the main rail line from London to Penzance and has a beautiful walk along the old carriage drive to the Lanhydrock House 1.5 miles away.
Trains operate from March to December – daily from 26th May to 30th September and there are lots of Special Events.
This railway has some cracking gradients the steepest being 1in37 with many others around the 1in40 region…..get the combination right and your in for some cracking action……… The now disused line to Wenford Bridge was famous for the Beattie well tanks 3 of which were shedded @ Wadebridge. They were ideal locos for the very tight curves on the branch to Wenford and became synonymous with the short china clay workings.
A Geoff Silcock 2 day charter with the newly restored Ex LSWR T9 30120 (Built in 1920 @ Eastleigh) in Early BR black livery, she was paired up with 2 Mk1's sandwiched between 2 box vans to simulate a local Cornish service. These locos were regular performers on the final leg of the Atlantic Coast Express into Padstow, so it was a nice touch to spend some time with her in Cornwall. I could only manage the second day as we were on our annual October break with the kids, but the sun shone and im very satisifed with my results. I make no apologies for the number of shots taken from the field at Charlies gate, the light & Clag was so good but each shot was taken from a different angle........Many Thanks to our 2 crews, Tony Hallworth, Shawn Kay (who fired all day!), Trevor Knight and Courtney Berryman. Thanks guys you put on a terrific show for us!
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A Don Bishop organised charter with Ex LSWR (SR) 0-4-2 Beattie Well Tank 30587. The theme was to recreate the classic Wenford Bridge short mixed freight's including the china clay plank wagons.....A 3am start from home was made even worse by dreadful weather enroute but as dawn broke over Bodmin moor i was greeted with a lovelymisty sunrise. The first 2-3 hours of the charter were basked in lovely Autumn sun, the afternoon though went dull. For the last shots of the day we went back down the Boscarne branch to Westheath and waited & waited aaannnndd waited, finally we got our break in the cloud and got 4 final runs in lovely light. All in all a cracking day with thanks to our crews & Don for organising the day. Oh and the pasties @ Lunchtime were stonking!! I hope you enjoy the shots.
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