Bodmin and Wenford Railway

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Bodmin and Wenford steam railway)

Bodmin and Wenford Railway

Location
Place	Bodmin, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Terminus	Bodmin
Commercial Operations
Name	{{{linename}}}
Built by	Great Western Railway
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Preserved Operations
Operated by	Bodmin Railway Preservation Society
Stations	4
Length	6½ miles
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Commercial History
Opened	27th 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

Legend

Great Western Main Line to London

Bodmin Parkway

Transfer siding to Network Rail

Great Western Main Line to Penzance

Colesloggett Halt

limited service

Bodmin General

engine shed

Closed B&WR to Wenfordbridge

Boscarne Junction

Closed Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway to Wadebridge

NOTE: closed lines are now the Camel Trail cycle path

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.

1 Route
2 Stations
3 Locomotives
4 Signalling
5 Future plans
6 See also
7 External links

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 footpath towards Wadebridge In the future.

Class 10, no. D3452, at Bodmin General on 28th August 2003. 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.

Class 108 DMU, nos. 50980 and 52054, at Bodmin on 28th August 2003. These units were built by BR at Derby from 1958-61, and were one of the most numerous types of 'Heritage' DMUs.

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.
- 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.

Diesel Locomotives
- BR 0-6-0 Class 08 no. 08444 (ex-D3559)
- BR 0-6-0 Class 10 no. D3452
- BR Bo-Bo Class 20 nos. 20166 "River Fowey" and 20197
- BR Bo-Bo Class 33 no. 33110
- BR Co-Co Class 37 no. 37142
- BR Co-Co Class 47 no. 47306 "The Sapper"
- BR Co-Co Class 50 no. 50042 "Triumph"
Diesel Multiple Units
- BR Class 108 unit 50980+52054 and spare vehicle 51947

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.

The railway is currently planning to extend beyond its western terminus at Boscarne Junction towards Wadebridge alongside the Camel Trail. Phase one would see the line extended to Grogley. A number of issues would need to be resolved before works could take place. Although Sustrans are committed to hand back any land they hold for the rebuilding of a railway, they would require alternative arrangements to be made for those parts of the Camel Trail which could not be accommodated alongside the railway. It is also likely that some cyclists and walkers who use the trail would object to the return of a railway to the otherwise peaceful area.
Members of the railway have consulted and paid a visit to the Northampton & Lamport Railway which successfully operates a section of track alongside the Brampton Valley Way.
Bodmin & Wenford Railway "Trailway" proposal (PDF document)