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Pentewan Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Luke Bridges, Jun 17, 2011.

  1. Luke Bridges

    Luke Bridges New Member

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    Does anybody on here have info or photos from this 2' 6" railway ?
    There doesn't seem to be much info on the web about it though.

    All i know about this line, is that it was built in 1829 and used gravity and horses then later in 187? finally got steam traction.

    http://www.pentewanoldcornwallsociety.com/#photos - Has a photo of a loco with crew and a sunday school outing

    The other strange fact about this line is that there was only 1 passenger carriage.

    I've also read conflicting stories about its closure.
    One reads that it closed in 1915 or 1916 and its track taken to France for the war.
    The other goes that the line closed from st austell to pentewan, except for around pentewan harbour and warehouses, which closed in the 1970's.

    On site all that is known to survive is an old engine shed, some points, not a lot or straight track, a weighbridge and until recently there was believed to be a simplex sitting in the engine shed.

    So does anyone know anymore ?

    Has anyone ever though of preserving it ?
     
    Luke Bridges, Jun 17, 2011
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  2. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    ilvaporista, Jun 17, 2011
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  3. Dumphrey

    Dumphrey New Member

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    You could try getting hold of a secondhand copy of this or try through your local library:
    The Pentewan Railway, by M.J.T. Lewis Twelveheads Press (Under consideration for reprinting)
    ISBN 0 906294 04 5 (Hardback), 0 906294 05 3 (Card covers) Published 1981
    A narrow gauge railway serving the china clay industry of Cornwall and the Georgian harbour of Pentewan, rebuilt in the 1870s by the international engineer John Barraclough Fell.

    or: Rail & Sail to Pentewan; Drew same publisher.

    This site gives a little more regarding the Port.
    http://www.irishseashipping.com/photofeatures/heritage/cornwall/pentewan160205/pentewan160205.htm


    There were four locos used on this 2'6" gauge line which closed in 1919:
    Pentewan 0-6-0 tender M. Wardle 461 of 1873 w/d. 1886 scr. 1896
    Trewithan 0-6-0 tender M. Wardle 994 of 1886 scr. 1901 (used tender of the above)
    Canopus 0-6-2ST M. Wardle 1547 of 1901. to WD West Drayton 1916?
    Pioneer 2-6-2T Yorks. Eng. Co. 757 of 1903 pur. 1913 (Built for the Chattenden & Upnor Rwy.)

    There are illustrations & notes of the MW locos on pp. 6 & 7 of Fred Harman’s monograph on Manning Wardle – vol 1.

    Ian
     
    Dumphrey, Jun 17, 2011
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  4. Richieboy

    Richieboy New Member

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    A quick Google search reveals a number of links and comments, especially on the aditnow forum?

    Also a couple of images are about of the loco and coach, also some wagons.

    Interesting looking 2-6-2, very nice.

    http://www.archive-images.co.uk/index.gallery.php?gid=8&img=20

    The 0-6-2 seems to have been an interesting loco too, can't find a pic of that at the moment though.

    R
     
    Richieboy, Jun 17, 2011
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  5. Dumphrey

    Dumphrey New Member

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    0-6-2T picture in Harman
    Ian
     
    Dumphrey, Jun 17, 2011
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  6. Roger Dimmick

    Roger Dimmick Member

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    Roger Dimmick, Jun 17, 2011
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  7. kscanes

    kscanes Resident of Nat Pres

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    That's because it was freight only, never a commercial passenger carrying railway. The sole carriage was for the exclusive use of the owner.

    Really the first is true. Later there was a concrete operation at the docks called the Pentewan Dock & Concrete Co which used a 2'6" gauge railway to bring sand in from the beach. From 1938 they bought three Ruston diesel locos - two of which survive in preservation.


    Not a lot left to "preserve", though I believe most of the trackbed is traceable - as a cycle path if memory serves. I have never heard of any schemes to re-open it in some form - which is surprising really, it isn't far from the beaten track, the area is not unattractive, and it is reasonably touristy.
     
    kscanes, Jun 17, 2011
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  8. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    That's a little beauty. Pity it didn't survive to the present day.
     
    Spamcan81, Jun 17, 2011
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  9. Luke Bridges

    Luke Bridges New Member

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    Luke Bridges, Jun 17, 2011
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  10. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    Definately have a go and preserving that! Surely a good candidate and potential in Corwnwall!

    Whats all this about a simplex being found in the engine shed??
     
    SpudUk, Jun 22, 2011
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  11. Dumphrey

    Dumphrey New Member

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    For those interested & who don't routinely see it, "Railway Bylines" July issue has a two page spread on this topic with photos of Canopus & Pioneer with THE Coach. They are pics that have been previously published but I don't know where or when.

    Ian
     
    Dumphrey, Jun 25, 2011
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