Toldish Tunnel facts for kids
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Cornwall, England |
| Coordinates | East Portal: 50°24′14″N 4°55′20″W / 50.4039°N 4.9223°W West Portal: 50°24′09″N 4°55′43″W / 50.4025°N 4.9285°W |
| Status | Non active |
| Operation | |
| Owner | Joseph Treffry |
| Operator | Treffry Tramways |
| Character | freight |
| Technical | |
| No. of tracks | single track |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (narrow gauge) |
The Toldish Tunnel was an important part of an old railway system in Cornwall, England. It was built by a man named Joseph Treffry and opened in 1849. This tunnel was part of his "mineral tramway," which was a special railway line designed to carry heavy minerals like tin and copper from mines. The line ran from Newquay to St. Dennis.
In 1874, another company, the Cornwall Minerals Railway, took over the line. They wanted to make the railway bigger and better. They extended the line from Newquay all the way to Par railway station. For this new, longer line, they needed to use larger passenger trains. These trains required a wider track, known as "standard gauge."
The Toldish Tunnel was too narrow for these new, wider trains. It would have been too difficult and expensive to make the tunnel wider. So, instead of widening it, the company decided to build a new section of track that went around the tunnel. This meant the Toldish Tunnel was closed and no longer used from June 1, 1874.
What the Toldish Tunnel Looks Like Today
Even though it's not used anymore, you can still find the Toldish Tunnel. The entrance on the western side has been partly blocked with bricks. The area leading up to it, called a cutting, is now filled with water.
The tunnel itself goes from east to west. The eastern entrance is quite overgrown with plants, but it still seems to be in good condition. It's a cool piece of history that shows how railways used to work in Cornwall.
