Hayle Railway

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The Hayle Railway was an early Cornish railway, built to standard gauge, and opened in 1837. It ran between the harbours of Hayle and Portreath, via Redruth, and incorporated four cable-worked inclines, 3 of which were later by-passed. The fourth was a significant structure required to descent to the harbourside at Portreath, and worked into the 1930s; its remains can still be seen. The inclines meant that passenger services over the route were limited, for reasons of safety.

In 1852 the West Cornwall Railway purchased the Hayle Railway, and incorporated much of the route into the Truro-Penzance line. However, this required a new station at Hayle, and other sections of the line were also abandoned for more suitable routes.