The North Cornwall Railway
WADEBRIDGE TO PADSTOW
Leaving Wadebridge a passenger on the North Cornwall was treated
to views of the Camel Estuary as the line followed the coast. Mudbanks and
sandbanks showed at low tide, just water and the sand dunes on the Rock side of
the estuary at high water. Starting its final leg on an embankment, the line
soon settled down to a series of curves following the shore and passing the
site of the long disused Camel Quarry which, despite being closed before the
railway arrived, provided stone for the embankments. 30 and 25 chain curves
ensued until the line came to the wide expanse of Little Petherick Creek. This
was crossed on a 400 yards long, three span, viaduct which is still in use
today for walkers and cyclists as it is an integral part of the Camel Trail
that uses this section of the railway's trackbed.
The viaduct over Little Petherick Creek.
Photograph © Chris Knowles-Thomas.
Beyond the viaduct an
embankment took the line past Dennis Cove, creating a lake here, then after
some more tight curves of 15 chains radius the passed through a small cutting
to arrive at its final destination, Padstow, a few feet above sea level and 49
miles 63 chains from Halwill Junction.
Diagram based on one in An Illustrated History of the North Cornwall Railway
and reproduced by kind permission of Irwell Press.
Right: Padstow Station in 1950
Photograph reproduced by kind permission of David & Charles Ltd., Newton
Abbott.
Padstow .(link to map of
station area)
Right: A LSWR luggage label reproduced with thanks from the
Mike Morant collection.
A fine group of dignatories on Padstow platform. Was this taken on the opening day?
Photograph: Malcolm McCarthy collection.
A fine view of the "other side" of the station, its access road and the South Western Hotel.
Photograph: Malcolm McCarthy collection.
An overview of the station from an early postcard. The hotel dominates the background
whilst an
unidentified class O2 loco and train await departure from the sole platform.
Photograph: Malcolm McCarthy collection.
A closer view of the above photo, though presumably taken on a different day.
Photograph: Malcolm McCarthy collection.
S11 class 4-4-0 mixed traffic º 404 and train awaiting departure. Presumably the length of the
train has prevented the engine being behind the starting signal. 27th August 1908.
Photograph: Malcolm McCarthy collection.
Presumably a temporary arrangement! A rake of coaches berthed over the turntable!
Photograph: Malcolm McCarthy collection.
460 class 4-4-0 º465 waits by the quayside with a train of open wagons and vans.
Photograph: Malcolm McCarthy collection.
A view of Padstow station taken from above.
Photograph: old postcard.
Padstow station staff in the early 20th century. The nameboard is most likely to have been "borrowed"
from the side of a coach!
Photograph: Malcolm McCarthy collection.
T9 class º30704 at Padstow station during summer 1950, with the owner of
this photograph looking on.
Photograph © Roger Stiggers.
T9 class º30709 at Padstow station with the 3:13pm train to Exeter on
19th August 1958.
Photograph reproduced by kind permission of Joanes Publications.
O2 class º30236 at Padstow station with a train for Bodmin North on 13th
September 1958.
Photograph reproduced by kind permission of Joanes Publications.
U1 class mogul º31903 in Padstow station on 30th August 1961.
Photograph © Chris Knowles-Thomas.
West Country º34036 Westwood Ho leaving Padstow station with the
up Atlantic Coast Express in the late 1950s or early 1960.
Photograph courtesy of Bob Mason.
A window label that would be affixed to the droplight of a
carriage door to advise passengers of the destination of that particular
carriage. These were produced cheaply in their thousands and, as can be seen
here, could sometimes be either printed or trimmed crookedly!
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