Launceston Steam Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Launceston Steam Railway |
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| Locale | Launceston, Cornwall, UK |
| Terminus | Launceston |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | North Cornwall Railway |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Owned by | The Spice Settlement Trust Co. Ltd |
| Operated by | The Spice Settlement Trust Co. Ltd |
| Stations | 4 |
| Length | 2+1⁄2 miles (4 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 1 ft 11 1⁄2 in (597 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 21 July 1892 |
| Closed | 30 January 1967 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1965 | Steam locomotive Lilian rescued |
| 1983 | Launceston Steam Railway opened |
| 1995 | Extension to Newmills opened |
The Launceston Steam Railway is a fun and exciting narrow gauge railway located in Cornwall, England. It runs from the historic town of Launceston all the way to Newmills. At Newmills, you can visit a farm park. The railway is about 2+1⁄2 miles (4.0 km) long. It is built on the path of an older, bigger railway line called the North Cornwall Railway.
Contents
History of the Railway
This section tells you how the Launceston Steam Railway came to be. It started with bigger trains and later became the special narrow gauge line we see today.
Early Railways in Launceston
Long ago, two different railway companies built lines to Launceston. The first was the Launceston and South Devon Railway. It opened in 1865, connecting Launceston to Plymouth. This line later became part of the Great Western Railway.
Then, in 1886, the London and South Western Railway opened its own line. This line eventually reached Padstow in the 1890s. It later became part of the Southern Railway. Both companies had stations side-by-side in Launceston. The Great Western station closed in 1962, and the Southern station closed in 1966.
Bringing Steam Back to Life
In 1965, a young trainee teacher named Nigel Bowman did something amazing. He saved a steam locomotive named Lilian from an old quarry in North Wales. He then worked hard to fix her up at his home.
Nigel wanted a place for Lilian to run. After looking at a few spots, he chose Launceston in 1971. It took several years to buy the old railway path. Finally, on Boxing Day in 1983, the first 1⁄2 mile (0.8 km) of track opened. The railway slowly grew longer. In 1995, it reached Newmills, making it 2+1⁄2-mile (4 km) long, which is its current length.
Exploring the Route
The Launceston Steam Railway starts at a new station. This station is just west of where the old railway station used to be. The old station area is now an industrial estate.
Launceston Station and Beyond
Launceston station is the main hub of the railway. This is where you'll find the train sheds and workshops. From the station, the line goes through a deep cut in the ground. It passes under a road bridge and a water channel (called a mill leat).
Next, the train crosses the River Kensey on a two-arch bridge. After that, the line goes onto a raised path called an embankment. It crosses another bridge over a farm track before reaching Hunt's Crossing. There are plans to add a passing loop here, which lets trains go in opposite directions.
Towards Newmills
After Hunt's Crossing, the line crosses two more farm paths. Then it reaches Canna Park. This was the end of the line for a while before the railway was extended to Newmills.
From Canna Park, it's a short ride to Newmills, the final stop. Right next to Newmills station, you'll find the Newmills Farm Park. It's a great place to visit after your train ride!
Meet the Locomotives
The Launceston Steam Railway uses different types of locomotives. The steam engines pull all the passenger trains. The other engines, which run on fuel or batteries, are used for maintenance work.
Steam Engines: The Stars of the Show
These are the beautiful steam locomotives that pull the passenger trains. They are old but well-loved machines!
| Name | Builder | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lilian | Hunslet Engine Company | 1883 | The first engine saved by Nigel Bowman. It got a new boiler in 1993 and was overhauled in 2016. |
| Covertcoat | Hunslet | 1898 | A cab and tender were added at Launceston. |
| Velinheli | Hunslet | 1886 | Privately owned. A new boiler is being built for it. |
| Dorothea | Hunslet | 1901 | Restored over 22 years. Started passenger service in 2012. |
| Perseverance | C. Parmenter | 2004 | Rebuilt with a new chassis in 2010. |
Other Locomotives: Working Behind the Scenes
These engines are used for maintenance and other tasks around the railway.
| Number | Builder | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | English Electric | 1930 | On display in the museum. |
| Motor Rail | 1933 | ||
| N. Bowman | 1986 | An inspection trolley. | |
| Launceston Steam Railway | 2004 | Another inspection trolley. | |
| Launceston Steam Railway | 2010-17 | A newly built diesel railcar. |
Visiting Locomotives: Special Guests
Sometimes, other locomotives visit the Launceston Steam Railway for special events.
| Name | Builder | Year Visited | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lilla | Hunslet | 1998 | |
| Pearl 2 | A. Civil | 2001 | |
| Dame Ann | Exmoor Steam Railway | 2004 | |
| 19 | Sharp Stewart | 2009 & 2019 | From the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. |
| Gertrude | Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. | 2009 | |
| Lyd | Boston Lodge Works | 2010 | |
| Roanoke Engineering | 2010 & 2011 | A unique tram locomotive. |
Passenger Carriages and Wagons
The railway has four passenger carriages. These were all built right on site! Their designs are based on carriages from other famous railways.
Besides the passenger carriages, there are also several wagons. These include old box vans from the Royal Naval Armaments Depot, slate wagons, and tipping wagons. They are used for carrying materials and for maintenance work.
