I’ve covered all of the stations on the Plymouth to Launceston railway, and now we are at the end of the line, Launceston.
As I have said, I thought that the stations on this line were in Devon and Cornwall. It turns out, Launceston was the only on in Cornwall. The previous station, Lifton, was still just in Devon.
The top map show the station was north of the town, sitting far above where the main A30 now is. In the bottom map, it’s clear where the terminus was for the Plymouth to Launceston line (in green). The other line (in yellow) was the North Cornwall Railway, which was run but eh LSWR. If coming from Plymouth, you had to change to head further into Cornwall.
The station was opened with the extension to the Plymouth to Tavistock line in 1865. For a time, the GWR line from Plymouth was none as the north station, with the LSWR station just to the south and where separate, however, from August 1915 it was operated under common management.
Overview of Launceston
This over view of the station was taken from the Dockacre Road area, looking north. It shows the layouts of both companies, including their individual signal boxes, which were current at the time. Image by Launceston Railway Circle.
A very early view of the station this time looking south. Image by Lens of Sutton.
Here is a more unusual view of Launceston WR/SR goods yard showing an SR calls N loco on a west bound freight and the WR branch in the foreground. Image by Anthony Kingdom.
Photos of Launceston
This was an image of the first train to Launceston, taken on the 1st July 1865. A special train of 14 coaches, hauled by two SDR ‘Hawk’ class locomotives, ‘Dart’ and Giraffe’. They left Plymouth Millbay at 10:45 and gained an additional coach at Tavistock. Photographer unknown.
We open with a general view of Launceston station, taken some time in the 1930s. You can see the joint signal box, and trains running for the GW/SR routes. Image by Lens of Sutton.
What a beautiful sight, loco No 5532 at rest outside the engine shed in 1959. Image by R. S. Carpenter.
Locomotives at Launceston
Right from the start of the line, here is a broad gauge 4-4-0 ST of the South Devon Railway, no 593 “Castor” at Launceston Station during the late 1860’s. Jameson
Not the greatest of photos, but an up train departure from Launceston north in 1949 whilst wagons of sawn timber occupy the dock line. Image by C. Barrett.
Taken during the 1950s, here is a lovely shot of Launceston Station. The arrival of No 4591 on the WR branch train from Plymouth on a sunny day in August. Another member of its class shunts goods in the former GWR station on the left. Image by Real Photos Co Ltd.
Her we see No 5567 taking on water following its arrival with the mid morning train from Plymouth. Another 45XX class couples to the other end as it prepares to return the stock on the next service back to Plymouth. Taken 20th December 1955. Image by Hugh Ballantyne.
No 4583 was photographed in June 1956 taking water after its 31 miles journey from Plymouth. The use of the through platforms facilitated the transfer of parcels, as well an easy change for passengers. Image by J. W. T. House/C. L. Caddy.
Just outside of Launceston, the route passed under the ex-LSWR Padstow line on the approach to the station, about half a mile from the terminus. No 5569 was pictured on the 1st July 1961. A connecting line was available from a 22nd September 1943 and was used for regular passenger trains from the 30th June 1952. Image by A. G. Thorpe.
The Staff and Goods Yard
Here are the Launceston Station staff, thought to have been taken shortly before World War II. The are, from left to right; Rear Row: Jim Walters – District Inspector, Oscar Kitts – Passenger Guard (GWR), Sid Webber – Passenger Guard (GWR), Jack Osbourne – Parcel Porter, Harry Nelder – Signalman, Fred Combe – Porter, Dick Parkhouse – Goods Porter, Jack Endacott – Clerk (Chaplins), Albert Vodden – Goods Guard, Bill Manning – Relief Signalman, Ted Anders – Checker, Fred Wright – Porter, Jack Chilcott – Goods Guard, Mr Passmore – W. H. Smith Bookstall Manager, Mr Palk – Cattle Inspector (District).
Front Row: Hughie Godbeer – Signalman, Horace Martin – Shunter, Harry Bishop – Porter, Fred Manning – Goods Clerk, Francis Parkhouse – Goods Clerk, Walter Greenslade – Station Master, Claude Sowden – Booking Clerk, Monty Phillips – Booking Clerk, Tiny – Station dog, Sydney Mitchell – Parcels Porter, Charlie Bradford – Checker, Wesley (Ginger) Sleep – Porter. Image by C. Barrett Collection.
This was the former GWR station, that was later used as a goods office during 1959. Loco No 5532 waits with a train in the SR station to the right of the image. Image by R. S. Carpenter.
This was lineside of the former Launceston passenger station during 1959, showing its use as a goods depot and office. Image by Lens of Sutton.
Another lineside view of the former passenger station, again in 1959. Image by Lens of Sutton.
Not the End Just Yet
There is Launceston Station in all it’s glory, a beautiful terminus for the branch lien from Plymouth, and a gateway to Cornwall. The wonderful pictures above are when it was in its heyday, so sadly, the next blog post will be after the closure and what it looks like today. I know, I’m not looking forward to it either.
So, to cheer us all up before I close this blog post, here is some great movie footage of Launceston, in the golden age of steam. I’ll hand over to dad and his original narration.
As always, thank you to Anthony Kingdom and Middleton Press for use of the images from their books about the Plymouth to Launceston Railway.
