Menheniot railway station

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Menheniot
Location
Place	Menheniot
Local authority	Caradon, Cornwall
Coordinates	50°25′37″N 4°24′37″W / 50.42694, -4.41030Coordinates: 50°25′37″N 4°24′37″W / 50.42694, -4.41030
Operations
Station code	MEN
Managed by	First Great Western
Platforms in use	2
Live departures and station information from National Rail
Annual Rail Passenger Usage
2004/05 *	5,782
2005/06 *	4,453
History
Key dates	Opened 4 May 1859
National Rail - UK railway stations
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
* Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Menheniot from Office of Rail Regulation statistics.
UK Railways Portal

Menheniot railway station serves the village of Menheniot in Cornwall, UK. The station, along with all others in Cornwall, is operated by First Great Western.

Contents 1 History 2 Accidents 2.1 December 1873 2.2 February 1897 2.3 November 1897 3 Services 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links

[edit] History

The station opened with the Cornwall Railway on 4 May 1859.^[1] It was described at the time as "of small extent, consisting of a departure station, a stone building, having a projecting roof thrown over the platform for the protection of passengers. At the 'arrival' side of the line a stone erection, with a covered seat, has been provided, but no enclosed room".^[2] The following year saw two cottages built for the use of the railway staff working here.

The "stone erection" is still in existence, used as a waiting shelter.^[3]

The Cornwall Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 July 1889. The Great Western Railway was nationalised into British Railways from 1 January 1948 which was privatised in the 1990s.

[edit] Accidents

[edit] December 1873

On 2 December 1873 two goods trains arrived at the station where they could pass each other before resuming their journey on the single tracks towards St Germans and Liskeard. The crossing loop was not at that time equipped with starting signals. The train for the latter had a clear line and so the signalman called out "All right Dick," to the guard. Unfortunately the guard for the other train was also called Dick and so told his driver to start, but the line was not clear as another train was already on the way down from St Germans. Luckily the train crews survived the resulting collision.

The accident illustrated the need for starting signals, block working, and some interlocking between the starting signals and the block instruments.^[3]

[edit] February 1897

An accident occurred on 9 February 1897 during the reconstruction of Coldrennick Viaduct, which is situated just outside the station. A gang of 17 workmen were suspended below the viaduct on a platform when it broke away, throwing 12 of the men 140 feet to their deaths. Two of the gangers were criticised for not fixing safety chanis and using poor quality wood for the platforms.^[4]

[edit] November 1897

Another accident happened on 15 November 1897 during the reconstruction of nearby TreviddoViaduct. On this occasion a rope gave way while five men were hoisting a wooden beam up onto the new viaduct. One of them let go of his rope too soon, this meant that the wood swung free and knocked two of them gang to their deaths.^[4]

[edit] Services

Menheniot is served by a limited number of the First Great Western trains on the Cornish Main Line between Penzance and Plymouth, including a few that run through to London Paddington station.^[5]

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
St Germans		First Great Western		Liskeard

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• The records of the Cornwall Railway can be consulted at The National Archives at Kew.

[edit] External links

• British Railway Stations - Menheniot

v • d • e Railway stations in Cornwall and West Devon Cornish Main Line: Penzance • St Erth • Hayle • Camborne • Redruth • Truro • St Austell • Par • Lostwithiel • Bodmin Parkway • Liskeard • Menheniot • St Germans • Saltash • St Budeaux Ferry Road • Keyham • Dockyard • Devonport • Plymouth St Ives Bay Line: St Erth • Lelant Saltings • Lelant • Carbis Bay • St Ives Maritime Line: Truro • Perranwell • Penryn • Penmere • Falmouth Town • Falmouth Docks Atlantic Coast Line: Par • Luxulyan • Bugle • Roche • St Columb Road • Quintrell Downs • Newquay Looe Valley Line: Liskeard • Coombe Junction Halt • St Keyne Wishing Well Halt • Causeland • Sandplace • Looe Tamar Valley Line: Plymouth • Devonport • Dockyard • Keyham • St Budeaux Victoria Road • Bere Ferrers • Bere Alston • Calstock • Gunnislake Heritage Railways Bodmin & Wenford: Bodmin Parkway • Colesloggett Halt • Bodmin General • Boscarne Junction Launceston: Launceston • Hunts Crossing • Canna Park • Newmills