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.

Right: A LSWR luggage label reproduced with thanks from the Mike Morant collection.

U1 class mogul Nº31903 in Padstow station on 30th August 1961.
Photograph © Chris Knowles-Thomas.

T9 class Nº30709 at Padstow station with the 3:13pm train to Exeter on 19th August 1958.
Photograph reproduced by kind permission of Joanes Publications.

O2 class Nº30236 at Padstow station with a train for Bodmin North on 13th September 1958.
Photograph reproduced by kind permission of Joanes Publications.

A window label that would be affixed to the droplight of a carriage door to advise customers 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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