Chasewater - Newquay preservation attempt

Being of a GWR fan I take interest in various lines and one of my favourites is the Chasewater to Newquay line which the GWR opened its self in the early 1900’s, built to ensure the LSWR couldn’t get any further in to Cornwall, using part of the industrial line built in the 1850’s. One of best bits was the use of GWR 1898 architecture in the station buildings. Perranporth station building was a rather interesting Island platform version of the style, with the canopy extending around the building, sitting on a wooden platform with a subway, which was rare for a countryside station. It was also by the 1950's a strong outpost for 45xx/4575 'small parires', although I seen a image of a 28xx on a recovery operation.

Any enough being boring, according to ‘Steam Railway’ when they were musing about railway preservation schemes which have failed and it stated that this line was subject to such a attempt. Anyone know what the ideas were and why it floundered?

 

A little bit silly wasn't, they could passed it one to someone else.

Acording to a book I have on the Devonport railways, the diesel at St Agnes was damage in a crash and was withdrawn. Its cassis was twisted - or something - so it proberley wise it plinthed now!

So it failed on planning issues? A list will have to be made of all failed railways and see it lessons could be drawn from them so the same mistakes are not repeted. Although sometimes it bleeding stupied ones!

 

I don't think it was a planning refusal, but the English Tourist Board (if that is the right name) refused to make a grant, so the instigator of the project threw his toys out of the pram. To be fair, I'm not sure that anyone else could have done much with the old Lostwithiel goods shed - the main issue is transport with such a large building - but the chance should have been offered.

Sadly, quite a few preservation items have been lost after having been 'saved' - in 1971 or so the Swansea and Mumbles tramcar in Leeds, and in 1966 BR managed to scrap the 0-6-0 Ben Alder. Anyway mustn't rake up old embers!

John

 

Went on holiday with parents to Perranporth in 1946. Recollection is that access to the platform was gained via a stairway built into the bridge. Could you confirm this (or otherwise), please?

 

Middleton's press book "Branch Lines around Newquay" says it was a sub way and the OS map shows a seprate 'area' (?) which lines up with rather then the road bridge to the north.

 

The promotor of the scheme was one Chris Tankard, I believe, who started other preservation schemes and used to write irate letters to the railway Magazine criticising the world in general for not supporting him. I think he started a society to preserve a GW 2-8-0 tank as well. I believe he may still be around on the fringes of the traction engine world as I saw a letter from him to "Old Glory" a year or two ago.

 

He was an early member of the 'King Preservation Society' too & IIRC the secretary or treasurer in the early '70s..