10. Kingdown Cornish Fieldcourse-29.06.81

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1981 > 10. Kingdown Cornish Fieldcourse-29.06.81

Having finished my academic year at college I attended an A-Level geography field course to Cornwall with Kingdown School in Warminster. In between the fieldwork being undertaken, I did manage some railway (and ferry!) related activity.

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Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.

St. Austell signal box (closed) (GWR, 1906)
St. Austel signal box is a 1906 GWR Type 7C structure dating from 1906. When I took this photograph in 1981 it had been closed for a year thus creating a block section between Par and Burngullow. Interestingly, by pure chance during my last visit to the area in 2017 I stood in what was a very similar spot to take a photograph replicating this one, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/24717826404/st-austell-signal-box
Keywords: St. Austell signal box GWR, 1906

Ex GWR cast & wrought iron spear fencing, St. Austell station
A couple of relics from GWR days adjacent to the recently closed St. Austell signal box. As well as the superb cast sign with its archaic wording notice the wrought iron spearhead fencing. This design was the equivalent of our modern-day palisade I suppose and I know what I would rather see!
Keywords: Ex GWR cast & wrought iron spear fencing St. Austell station

Ex GWR roundel, footbridge, St. Austell station
Many railway companies were very keen to remind their customers of their identity and made somewhat extravagant statements that would have been costly at the time of construction. A good example is seen at St. Austell station. As well as being constructed out of both wrought and cast iron the footbridge is festooned with some delightful details such as the early example of a GWR roundel and a date indicating construction in 1882.
Keywords: Ex GWR roundel footbridge St. Austell station

Truro signal box (GWR, 1889)
With its level crossing located between the platform end and the signal box this spot at Truro is a busy one similar to the layout just north of Exeter St. David's station. I took this photograph that shows the change over of shift at 14.00 with the signalmen descending the steps as he comes off-shift. The box is a GWR Type 7A structure dating from 1889. At the time of writing (2022) the box is still in use but the inevitable plans have recently been announced for the resignalling of the entire route from Plymouth westwards so its time is clearly numbered.
Keywords: Truro signal box GWR, 1889

Truro signal box (GWR, 1889)
Truro signal box looks superb in the summer sunshine located to the immediate east of the station that was to my left as I took this photograph. The 1889 structure is still in use today but time has been called with the plans to re-signal the entire route west of Plymouth now about to take place. Whilst the box still exists, I suspect that the four 1970s-era cars do not! The lineup includes a Daf 33, a BLMC Landcrab, an early Mk. 1 Golf and a Skoda Estelle.
Keywords: Truro signal box GWR 1889

CCC cast signpost
Forgive the inclusion of the first of three non-railway photographs but ones that are of equal historical interest in my opinion at least! When travelling around the lanes of Cornwall undertaking various fieldwork activities I came across many old Cornwall County Council road signs. This particular example was somewhere on the minor road between the King Harry Ferry and the village of Veryan. Only local knowledge will tell me if it still exists today without following every road in this area on StreetView!
Keywords: CCC cast signpost

Loading King Harry Ferry
The King Harry Ferry is a vehicular chain ferry that has been in existence since 1888 which crosses the Carrick Roads that is part of the estuary of the River Fal. Back in 1981 ferry Number 6 is seen being loaded ready to cross to the western side of the estuary. This particular ferry was built in 1974 and was designed to carry twenty-three to twenty-eight cars. It stayed in operation until 2007 when ferry Number 7 replaced it. The blue Ford Fiesta 1.3 Ghia about to board the ferry was less than a year old when this photograph was taken, it was last on the road in 1995.
Keywords: Loading King Harry Ferry

On-board, King Harry Ferry
The King Harry Ferry is almost loaded and ready to sail the short distance across the River Fal at Trelissick. The drivers of the motley collection of vehicles will be grateful that the ferry is running as it saves a long and slow alternative journey of twenty-eight miles via Truro. The smoking and newspaper-reading driver of the Bedford TK will face quite a challenge when he disembarks the ferry with a very steep climb from the estuary requiring every bit of his truck's meagre 72bhp! The Morris Ital next to the truck will not do much better one suspects!
Keywords: On-board King Harry Ferry

Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.