Train Track Trails and Trafalgar Arundell Arms Lifton

The English County with its historic connection to the very days of the birth of steam power is alive and thriving it seems still in the 21^st century?

A quiet relaxing weekend in the country east of the River Tamar so very much in Devon was my base. However just a mile or so away on the west of the Tamar is Cornwall and its capital Launceston. As it’s referred to, rather than county town.

Here I stumbled upon a delightful narrow-gauge steam railway tucked away behind a modern business, industrial and workshop factory area of the town.

Mebyon Kernow or son of Cornwall, Richard Trevithick was the leading player in the development of railway steam power way back in 1804, when his very first steam locomotive pulled coal wagons along a tramway at a coal mine in South Wales.

Some 200 plus years later a group of enthusiasts from several young women, so stero-types go out of the window here. Mind you a few older greying coal dust covered men and the women all worked well together to get the 11am train ready to leave on time from Launceston station.

Girl power…one of the volunteers getting the engine ready for the first run of the day.

Hard to believe but this track was once used by express trains that had travelled from London Waterloo to the Cornish coast. The original station was on the site of the industrial estate itself. However, the current railway buildings although in the Victorian style were erected in the 1980’s.

The trains now run on the former North Cornwall Railway line for the 12minute journey to the hamlet of Newmills. April to October are the main months of operation.

Train driver Nigel Bowman, right and railway boss keeping to the time-table at Launceston.

Here dozens of children with their parents descended from the train to the large playpark. Where they could burn off that youthful energy as their older mothers and fathers enjoyed the quieter sanctuary of the little café that overlooks the whole playing area.

The neat station at Launceston tucked away behind an industrial estate.

A quick shuffle of the tiny engine from one end to the other for the return trip back to Launceston. The now nearly empty train headed back down the wooded Kensey Valley track puffing and whistling as it went.

Train track trails around Cornwall

This engine was a workhorse or rather for its size could be called a ‘work pony’! It plied its trade hauling slate wagons around the area around Penrryn Quarry in North Wales. As well as the souvenir and ticket shop there is a neat little retro café and in some adjacent buildings a collection of transport and engineering items spread over several floors.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway engine has been the star this year at Launceston on the train track trails.

One Indian Hill railway engine from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway has been the ‘star’ operating there this season.  It is hoped it will stay for yet another year. But it was not running on the day of my visit but I did get a sneak peek in the engine shed.

A saddle-tank engine that once went to war is now operating at Bodmin.

The more grown up version of a steam railway can be found just along the A30 road at Bodmin and the Bodmin and Wenford railway.

Bodmin General station is where Cornwall’s only full-sized steam heritage railway runs from.  It has two routes departing from its Victorian station buildings near to the town centre, to both Boscarne and to Bodmin Parkway. The total track length is 6 1/2 miles, with Bodmin General acting as the central junction connection point.

A busy Bodmin General Station.

Generally, the service runs one way out of the station to Boscarne and returns back to Bodmin General and then takes the other route out to Bodmin Parkway, which is on the British national train network operated by Great Western Railway.

Heritage railway meets the main line at Bodmin Parkway station Cornwall.

Therefore, it would be possible to catch a train from there switching platforms for direct trains to London Paddington or head west down as far as possible to Penzance!

Volunteers work behind the scenes caring for the engines in the collection.

Both of these Cornish heritage train lines are run by enthusiastic volunteers whom without their efforts of train driving or acting as guards and ticket collectors the trains and fare paying passengers would not get very far. Plus, with a larger team of behind the scenes members whom carry out the essential maintenance of the rolling stock and of the lines themselves.

The kitchens at Lanhydrock House near Bodmin Cornwall are very interesting to visit.

The National Trust’s Lanhydrock House and wooded estate grounds are not far from the Bodmin Parkway station. Just over a mile and half mile walking to it by taking the former carriage-drive route to the house. It is sign posted from the station.

Lanhydrock House near Bodmin Cornwall.

A return to Parkway later for a steam or sometimes diesel-powered ride back to Bodmin General. The bulk of the services run from April to October but there are other services outside those months.

Walking is a good option and with over 50 rooms to explore and even the vast below stairs kitchen’s in this large house tell their own marvellous story of those servants that worked there. A contrast between upstairs and down stairs in the house and outside the estate with ancient woodlands and riverside walks it is a lovely place to explore should the house be closed as it is on certain days.

The kitchens at Lanhydrock House near Bodmin Cornwall are very interesting to visit.

Taxis can be booked and could whisk you back to either station from the house and would cost around £12 to get back to Parkway.

For my two night stay I used the historically interesting Arundell Arms Hotel in the village of Lifton. Situated just off the A30 on the Devon side of the river Tamar.

Lifton Devon break. Trains and tracks Cornwall.

The hotel played a part in the vital link of the Trafalgar Way the route that the news of Nelson’s death was relayed from Falmouth to the Admiralty in London in 1805.

Lt John Richards Lapenotiere of HM Schooner Pickle on Monday 4^th November travelled in 37 hours a distance of 271 miles changing horses of his post-chaise 21 times in order to get the first news of the victory but to also tell of the death of Admiral Lord Nelson too.

A replica of HM Schooner Pickle.

The horses hired in Launceston took the route through Lifton and onto Oakhampton and many other messages followed over the next month using this very same route until the first ships returned from Cape Trafalgar carrying Nelson’s body.

With Lifton’s role of providing fresh horses and hospitality it has a special place in that route’s story.

Lifton, train tracks trails and Trafalgar.

Noted as a popular fishing school and hotel it recently won the best Fishing Hotel award and has been a premier fishing destination hotel since the 1930’s.

Lifton is also located fairly close to the edge of Dartmoor so there are some excellent hiking and biking trails options too.

This rural border location where you can explore train track trails, Trafalgar and trout!