Bodmin and Wenford Railway

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Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway
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, from whence BWSR trains depart. 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.

[edit] Stations

• Bodmin Parkway
• Colesloggett Halt
• Bodmin General
• Boscarne Junction

[edit] Locomotives

GWR 0-6-0PT '5700' Class, no. 4612, at Bodmin General on 28th August 2003. This locomotive was built at Swindon in 1942, and saw service in the Swindon and Bristol areas until it was withdrawn from traffic in 1965. It was bought by the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in 1981, but was gradually stripped for spare parts. It moved to Bodmin in 1987, and was restored to working order, entering traffic in 2001.

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 This locomotive was withdrawn from traffic in 1968, and was sold to English China Clays plc for further service.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 2-6-2T 4500 Class "Small Prairie" no. 5552 In Service
  • GWR 0-6-0PT 5700 Class no. 4612
  • LSWR 0298 Class no. 30587
  • SR 4-6-2 "West Country" Class no. 34007 "Wadebridge"(Away)
  • Bagnall 0-4-0ST "Alfred" and "Judy"
  • Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 19

• 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

[edit] Future 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)

[edit] See also

• Bagnall 0-4-0ST "Alfred" and "Judy"

[edit] External links

• Bodmin & Wenford Railway website.
• Map and aerial photo sources for: Bodmin Parkway station (grid reference SX110640) and Boscarne Junction (SX041674)

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