Saturday 1 September 2018

Launceston Steam Railway

I'm just back from a trip to Cornwall, where I managed to get to the Launceston Steam Railway for the first time since my childhood. This is a preservation era line built to 2' gauge on a standard gauge trackbed and using (mainly) "Quarry Hunslet" locos rescued from the Welsh slate quarries.

IMG_5459

Despite its "modernity" I love the way that this little railway has developed a character of its own, from the "tramway" style carriages to the buildings made with traditional materials, quirky track layout, and the clutter around the workshops.

IMG_5479

The ride is not very long, but long enough and very pleasant.

IMG_5481

Even the loco shed and the water crane seem to have a particular character - simple and purposeful structures with a little style.

IMG_5466

IMG_5448

A tantalising view of a more substantial loco shed, reached by a steep and sharply curved kick-back track from another steep and sharply-curved siding.

IMG_5449

Old farm buildings have been re-purposed as museum/storage/workshop spaces reached by the steep curved siding and various spurs. Yet these delightfully dilapidated MOD wagons are stored off the tracks...

IMG_5467

Well worth a visit, and with a train ticket you get a discount on a cream tea in the cafe...!

2 comments:

KEV. Robertson. said...

Lovely- thank heavens for Preservation Societies.

Andy Leaning said...

I spent the last weekend of August in Cornwall and took the opportunity to explore the Pentewan Railway. Not a lot left of it now but when running it was a (the only?) narrow gauge line in Cornwall. It carried China line from St Austel down to Pentewan Harbour. Thinking of building an 009 layout of it. Wish I'd checked Launceston!