Truro to Falmouth Branch Railway 2012

On 25 May 2012, Ted Baker and I set out for a return journey along the Truro to Falmouth branch line railway, located in Cornwall in the UK.

This line, known as the MARITIME LINE, celebrated 150 years of existence in 2013 having been completed in 1863.

When this delightful line was built along the valley of the river Fal by the Cornwall railway, it was completed to a 7ft 1/4 In gauge in keeping with Brunel's broad gauge which, at that period, dominated this region of the UK.

The main line opened from Plymouth to Truro on the 4 of May 1859 and the extension to Falmouth on 24 August 1863.
The Cornwall railway was converted to standard gauge, 4ft 8 1/2 In, in 1867 however the MARITIME LINE continued as an isolated broad gauge branch until it was taken over by the Great Western Railway on July 1 1889. Following take over by the GWR, plans were set in motion for the subsequent conversion of the line to standard gauge, which took place over the weekend of 21 May 1892.

Today the railway provides a vital community service to the area and traffic volumes have been on the rise now for a number of years after a period of decline in the 1970s.

On the day of Ted and my visit, we were blessed with fine weather and not too many passengers.

The music soundtrack on this video, like many of my others, features work created by my brother Robert Beadon.

I hope you enjoy this video.