Bodmin and Wenford Railway
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| Location | |
| Place | Bodmin, Cornwall, United Kingdom |
| Terminus | Bodmin |
| Commercial Operations | |
| Name | Bodmin and Wenford Railway |
| Built by | Great Western Railway |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved Operations | |
| Operated by | Bodmin Railway Preservation Society |
| Stations | 4 |
| Length | 6.5 miles (10.5 km) |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| Commercial History | |
| Opened | 27 May 1887 |
| Closed | 1983 |
| Preservation History | |
| 1984 | Bodmin Railway Preservation Society formed |
| 1986 | First open day at Bodmin General Station |
| 1987 | Cornish Steam Locomotive Preservation Society move to Bodmin |
| 1989 | Light Railway order granted |
| 1990 | Passenger trains to Bodmin Parkway commence |
| 1996 | Railway reopens to Boscarne Junction |
The Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway (BWSR) is a heritage railway, based at Bodmin in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is unique in that it is served by high-speed trains from London Paddington which stop at Bodmin Parkway railway station, whence BWSR trains depart.
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[edit] Route
The route from Bodmin General to Bodmin Parkway is 3.5 miles one way, and Bodmin General to Boscarne is 3 miles so it's a 13 mile round trip on the country's steepest heritage standard gauge incline (1 in 37/40 ruling for 3 miles. It was originally opened by the Great Western Railway in 1887.
The route first crosses the River Fowey by a five-arch viaduct, and then climbs up towards Bodmin Moor. The one intermediate halt is at Colesloggett Halt, built by the BWR in 1993 to serve a Farm Park (now closed), provides access to a network of footpaths through the Cardinham Woods, belonging to the Forestry Commission. The trip takes 25 minutes (although the downhill run on return takes less time).
Upon reaching Bodmin General station, trains reverse to take the line to Boscarne Junction. This lies on the former London and South Western Railway route to Wadebridge and Padstow, which now forms the Camel Trail alongside the River Camel. The railway has aspirations to extend alongside this foot/cyclepath towards Wadebridge in the future.
[edit] Signalling
The entire railway is currently (as of 2007) operated on the 'One Engine in Steam' principle. There is no operational lineside railway signalling or operational signalboxes. The light railway order under which the line operates only permits the railway to have one locomotive or train running. On this principle, collisions are impossible, because there should be no other train on the operational line to collide with. The train driver does carry a staff, not only as authority to be the only engine running, but also because it is the key that unlocks the numerous ground frames controlling points.
The railway is currently installing signalling and equipping signal boxes to permit the running of more than one train. This would also assist in future expansion plans.
[edit] Locomotives
- Steam Locomotives
- GWR 4200 Class 2-8-0 No. 4247. Operational and a regular on passenger trains, boiler ticket expires in 2011.
- GWR 4575 Class 2-6-2T no. 5552 In Service, boiler ticket expires in 2013.
- GWR 0-6-0PT 5700 Class no. 4612. In service, boiler ticket expires in 2011.
- Bagnall 0-4-0ST "Alfred" and "Judy". Out of service.
- Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 19. In service after overhaul.
- Beattie Well Tank 2-4-0WT No. 30587. In service and used occasionally on passenger trains, boiler ticket expires in 2012.
- LSWR 4-4-0 Class T9 No 120. The "greyhound" is on long-term loan from the National Railway Museum, due to a shortage of space at York. it is hoped that the loco will be overhauled to working order.
- J94 Hunslet 0-6-0ST No. 2766. Undergoing restoration.
- Bagnall Fireless 0-4-0F No. 3121. Awaiting a major restoration.
- SR West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34007 "Wadebridge". Returned to traffic in 2007 after rebuild, boiler ticket expires in 2017, currently on loan to the Mid Hants Railway for the year 2007.
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- This locomotive was withdrawn from traffic in 1968, and was sold to English China Clays plc for further service. It spent much of its working life at Fowey Docks, shunting china clay trains, before it was bought for preservation in 1989.
- Diesel Multiple Units
- BR Class 108 unit 50980+52054 and spare vehicle 51947
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- These units were built by BR at Derby from 1958-61, and were one of the most numerous types of 'Heritage' DMUs.
[edit] Stations
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- Bodmin Parkway
- Colesloggett Halt
- Bodmin General
- Boscarne Junction
- Grogley Halt - Possible future station
- Wadebridge Guineaport - Possible future station
[edit] RailTrail Project
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The railway is currently planning to extend beyond its western terminus at Boscarne Junction towards Wadebridge alongside the Camel Trail. Known as the RailTrail project, phase one would see the line extended to Grogley Halt and phase two to Wadebridge Guineaport.[1]
A separate company (Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway Company) has been set up. It is responsible to the Directors of the Bodmin and Wenford Railway for the promotion and management of all aspects relating to the RailTrail project.
In areas where the width of the trackbed does not allow both a railway and footpath side-by-side, short diversions are proposed. For example at Grogley the Camel Trail could be re-routed along a former "headshunt" which was part of the original railway before it was replaced by a later deviation.
The railtrail project is viewed by some [1] as somewhat controversial [1]due to the following concerns.
- Sustrans and the cycling/running/walking/equestrian community have objected to these plans for the RailTrail project claiming they do not provide significant evidence for providing a wide enough multipurpose trail[citation needed]. They feel the Camel Trail is currently too narrow at the Boscarne junction terminus due to the railway. Due to this narrowing of the trail it can become extremely congested and quite dangerous during busy times.[citation needed]
- Environmentalists have expressed concerns about the impact that the RailTrail project would have on the SSSI and SAC of the Camel valley. [2]
- People living in the Guineport area of Wadebridge [1] have expressed concerns about having a rail terminus situated there. The concerns are due to space for a platform and car parking. [1]
The decision of North Cornwall District Council to support the project was "a close fought battle" only winning by the casting vote of cllr Graham Fanks-Martin.[3][4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Full Steam Ahead For RailTrail?. The Cornish Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
- ^ Full Wildlife Lovers' Fears at Train Service Return. The Cornish Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
- ^ Full Railway Gains Council's Support. The Cornish Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
- ^ Camel Rail Plan Wins Support - by a Whisker. The Cornish Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
[edit] External links
- Bodmin & Wenford Railway website
- Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway Company
- Map and aerial photo sources for: Bodmin Parkway station (grid reference SX110640) and Boscarne Junction (SX041674)
