Driver’s Eye View - Bodmin & Wenford Railway - Part 1 - Bodmin General to Bodmin Parkway
The Bodmin & Wenford Railway is located on England’s South West Peninsula in the county of Cornwall. We received a warm, friendly welcome from the volunteers and staff who kindly allowed me to place cameras on locomotive No.4612, a GWR 5700 Class Panier Tank. In this the first of a 2 part series we take a return trip between Bodmin General and Bodmin Parkway over one of the most steeply graded routes to be found on any British heritage railway.
Map at 00:31 - This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.Attribution: Wikishire
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Other Maps - Google Maps and Google Earth.
Route generated with Route Generator.
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To learn more about this railway please click on this link -
The track gauge is 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) and the video was filmed on 15thAugust 2019
Bodmin & Wenford, Cornwall's Friendly Railway (England)
I arrived at Bodmin the day before I was due to meet a friend for a trip on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. My wife decided to visit the town’s shops, so I wandered up to the station for a look around, as luck would have it the last train of the day was due. A 5700 Class GWR Panier Tank No.4612 approached with its train, assisted at the rear by a Class 33 diesel locomotive No.33110. I captured its arrival and subsequent shunting on video. Before I left the station I asked a friendly young lady in the main office if it would be possible to mount a tiny camera on the engine the following day, she looked at the crew roster and said she would ask on my behalf.
I turned up the following day to see our train being prepared. The lady I’d spoken to the previous day met the driver as he readied his locomotive to be couple to its train. After a short conversation I was given the thumbs up by the driver and his young fireman to mount a camera allowing me to share the unique view normally reserved for the footplate crew. The friendly welcome didn’t stop there, as my companion visiting from Australia’s Puffing Billy Railway was issued with a footplate pass. After being treated to a tour of the loco shed, we boarded the train for a trip over the line.
A ride over this line is unusual in that it involves traversing both arms of a “Y” shaped route starting at Bodmin General, first off we follow the route to Bodmin Parkway where we meet up with the Cornish mainline before returning to Bodmin General, ready for a return trip to Boscarne Junction.
This video shows a trip over the line from the locomotive, passenger and line-side perspective. For viewers who enjoy a full “Driver’s Eye” video of the entire route, I’m working on it and it should be available shortly.
The warm welcome extended to our party is typical of the welcome visitors can expect. No visit to Cornwall would be complete without a ride on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway.
For more information, please click on this link -
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The track gauge is 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) and this video was filmed on 15th August 2019
Bodmin & Wenford Steam Railway Bodmin General Station Cornwall England UK
April 2016
Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Discover the excitement and nostalgia of steam travel with a journey back in time on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway - Cornwall's only full size railway still operated by steam locomotives.
Relax in style and enjoy a leisurely 13 mile round trip through beautiful countryside, taking in the sights, sound and smells of a bygone age, as the era of a Cornish branch line in the 1950s reveals itself during the course of your journey.
Bodmin & Wenford Railway, March 2019, Part 2: Bodmin Parkway Branch
Having taken water at Bodmin General, 75178 returns to the head of the train and we depart Bodmin General station once again, this time taking the other fork and heading down to Bodmin Parkway station, where the BWR joins the Cornish Mainline. A quick stop at Colesloggett Halt en route and we arrive at Bodmin Parkway, where old meets new as our locomotive is running round an IET arrives opposite. Finally we head back up the bank, working hard until we arrive back at Bodmin General station. A lovely branh line through lovely scenery.
Videos from my April 2019 visit to Cornwall will be uploaded every Thursday at 1800, hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss any!!
Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Footplate ride 21st June 2016
Bodmin & Wenford Railway, March 2019, Part 1: Boscarne Junction Branch
With a couple of days spare at the beginning of a week off, I packed my tent into my car and set off down into Cornwall. On my journey I stopped off in the town of Bodmin, and the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. Having parked up I walked to the station where my train was ready and waiting. After a quick look around the station the whistle was blown and we set off towards Boscarne Junction, War Department 75178 at the helm as we descend the bank. Upon arrival our locomotive runs round the train and gets ready for the climb back up to Bodmin General station. Once we make it back to the top our locomotive runs to the water tower, and part 1 comes to a conclusion.
Videos from my April 2019 visit to Cornwall will be uploaded every Thursday at 1800, hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss any!!
Bodmin & Wenford Railway Part 1, May 2018
Travelling down into the depths of Cornwall we arrive at Bodmin Parkway station, awaiting the arrival GWR No. 4612 with the service from Bodmin General. Once the train arrives we watch the locomotive run round and we depart back up to Bodmin General, with gradients as steep as 1 in 37 the locomotive has to work hard to pull the train up to the summit, at Bodmin General we observe the locomotive running round and we take a look around the station, to end this video we run down the other branch line to Boscarne Junction, where the video ends.
Part 2 will be uploaded next Tuesday at 1800, hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss it! Also why not take a look around any any of the other videos on the channel, with the biggest year yet on the channel it really is the place to be.
Bodmin & Wenford Railway - Sunday 11th March 2012
Over the weekend of 10th & 11th March 2012, The Bodmin & Wenford Railway held a Half Price weekend to start the new season. The timetable was red which had 1 locomotive running 3 trains towards Bodmin Parkway and 2 towards Boscarne Junction.
The locomotive that ran during the day was --
GWR 2-8-0T 4247
Having heard that 4247 was running in its new BR black livery I made my way down to Bodmin for the day to see for myself, the day had fine weather with some sunny intervals. It was another great visit, the railway is becoming a particular favourite of mine and I'd recommend it to anyone!
Shots in the video are -
- 4247 at Sunnybank heading towards Bodmin Parkway
- 4247 departs Bodmin General for Boscarne Junction
- 4247 is seen at Crabtree Lane
- 4247 Arrives & Departs Colesloggett Halt
- 4247 passes Colesloggett Halt with the return to Bodmin General
- 4247 arrives into Bodmin General
- 4247 takes on water at Bodmin General
- 4247 departs Bodmin General for Bodmin Parkway
- 4247 at Charlies Gate with the last service to Bodmin General
Bodmin & Wenford Railway
A few shots of Bodmin Central Station
The Bodmin & Wenford Railway (BWR) is a heritage railway, based at Bodmin in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has an interchange with the national rail network at Bodmin Parkway railway station, the southern terminus of the line.
Chopping coal on steam train Bodmin & Wenford Railway Cornwall England UK
April 2016
Bodmin & Wenford Railway - 26 May 2015
Another stunning trip on my favourite line, such stunning views and great gradients which proves for some ace sounds.
Bodmin & Wenford Railway 2015-08-31
The Die Bodmin and Wenford Railway fährt ab Bodmin General auf zwei Strecken.
Nach Bodmin Parkway fährt die Bahn 17 Minuten. Theoretisch kann man hier von der großen Bahn umsteigen, wenn der Fahrplan besser abgestimmt wäre.
Wir fahren die Stecke nach Boscarne Junction. Die Fahrtzeit beträgt 15 Minuten.
The Die Bodmin and Wenford Railway fährt ab Bodmin General auf zwei Strecken.
Bodmin and Wenford Railway runs from Bodmin General on two routes.
To Bodmin Parkway the train needs 17 minutes. You can change here from the main railway line when the timetable would be better organized.
We drive the train to Boscarne Junction. The journey takes 15 minutes.
Driver’s Eye View - Bodmin & Wenford Railway - Part 2 - Bodmin General to Boscarne Junction
With lovingly restored GWR, 5700 Class Panier Tank No.4612 simmering at the head of 4 chocolate and cream BR Mk1 carriages we are ready to set off along the branch line from Bodmin General to Boscarne Junction. The ruling gradient is similar to that experienced on the route to Parkway station, with an almost continuous falling gradient of 1 in 40. At Boscarne Junction our little engine runs round its train ready to return up the challenging gradient to Bodmin General.
Map at 00:31 - This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.Attribution: Wikishire
link -
Other Maps - Google Maps and Google Earth.
Route generated with Route Generator.
Link -
To learn more about this railway please click on this link -
The track gauge is 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) and the video was filmed on 15thAugust 2019
THE BODMIN & WENFORD RAILWAY 'BRANCH LINE' DAY: 2nd July 2016
The Bodmin & Wenford Railway is a twin branch line railway that runs for 7 miles from Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General in Cornwall. Running through the glorious cornish countryside, the heyday of West Country branch services is recreated during one of the line's regular 'Branch Line' days when we see GWR 64xx
0-6-0PT 6435 auto-pannier with BR (WR) Auto-Trailer W232W and GWR 56xx 0-6-2T South Wales Coal Tank 5619.
CAB RIDE IN CLASS 50 50042 TRIUMPH ON THE BODMIN & WENFORD: Part I: Bodmin Gen - Colesloggett Halt
Filmed from the cab of Class 50 50042 Triumph, we enjoy a cab ride from Bodmin General to Colesloggett Halt on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway on 25th June 2011. With thanks to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway and filmed with full permission of the crew and General Manager.
Bodmin & Wenford Railway EE Running Day 5/5/2018
Bodmin & Wenford Railway ran A special intensive timetable day of EE thrash, using class 50 - 50042 Triumph & class 37 - 37142
Bodmin & Wenford Railway 24th June 2014
During my holiday in South Devon, I went to Bodmin & Wenford Railway for my very first visit to the railway. I was quite impress with the line with there gradients and the feel of an GWR branch line.
The loco was running was the trustly Pannier 4612 hauling the train service. The shots includes at Bodmin Parkway, Bodmin General, Crabtree Lane and a few on board shots.
Enjoy
Bodmin & Wenford Railway
Hello
Here is some video of my trip to Cornwalls only full size steam railway with the track being a 13 mile round trip. Also you will see video of inside the restored signal box and the linkages. Enjoy and thanks for watching!
Bodmin and Wenford Railway - Spring Steam Gala - 04/05/14
The Bodmin and Wenford Railway held their annual Spring Steam Gala over the first bank holiday weekend in May (3rd - 5th). This would see an intensive timetable, with a lineup of four different locos announced. One of them would be 34007 'Wadebridge', a former resident of the line, making it's first appearance back there for several years. 34007 was based at the line after arriving from Barry, and returned to steam in 2006 after a huge restoration project, which took over 25 years to complete. The Unrebuilt Pacific would run alongside the resident locos.
The line-up for the Gala was:
- SR Westcountry Pacific No. 34007 'Wadebridge' (Mid Hants Railway)
- LSWR T9 4-4-0 No. 30120
- LSWR Beattie Well Tank 2-4-0 No. 3298
- GWR Pannier 0-6-0T No. 6435
Since I was down in the South-West that weekend, I decided to pay a visit on the Sunday (May 4th). The shots are shown in chronological order.
- 34007 and 6435 arrive at Bodmin Parkway with the 11:30 from Bodmin General.
- 34007 tackles the steep climb to Bodmin General, heading past Charlie's Gate, Cardinham Woods and Coleslogett Halt (taken on board the train).
- 34007 and 30120 head past Crabtree Lane, with the 12:54 from Boscarne Junction.
- 3298 approaches Bodmin General, with the 13:28 from Bodmin Parkway.
- 34007 and 30120 pass Beacon Road, with the 13:54 from Boscarne Junction (recovering from a signal check).
- 30120 couples behind 6435 at Bodmin General, in readiness for the next service.
- 30120 and 6435 depart Bodmin General, with the 14:30 service to Bodmin Parkway.
- A few shots of 3298, before departing with the 15:00 to Boscarne Junction.
- A few detailed shots of 34007, waiting in earnest for it's next duty.
- 30120 draws up to the buffers at Bodmin General, with the 14:58 from Bodmin Parkway.
- 34007 heads away from Bodmin Parkway (with 6435 at the rear) with the 15:58 to Bodmin General.
This was the first time that I filmed on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway, and I found it very enjoyable. The intensive timetable worked very well, with most trains full and standing. It was nice to see 34007 at somewhere other than the Mid Hants Railway. I might pop back for a similar event in the near future.
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