INFORMATION FOR THE VISITOR

RCD’s Overview

Trains on this heritage railway are centred on Bodmin General Station, where trains leave initially to Bodmin Parkway and back, and then to Boscarne Junction and back. A limited number of trains run per day, but the service is extensive in terms of the number of days that trains run (around 210 day per year). The entire trip is 13 miles long, taking in attractive Cornish countryside. The railway intends to add a platform at Bodmin General Station in the near future, which will facilitate the running of more trains per day. The railway is not far from Padstow and the Cornish coast, and can readily be included by those visiting this popular area of Cornwall. 

The support group is the 'Bodmin Railway Preservation Society' (see 'Information on the Suport Group' below).

Happening This Month:

• Go to 'Homepage' and click into 'Railway Club Calendar'

Key Facts (where and when)

Extent of Railway (where to where):

Bodmin General, to Bodmin Parkway and Boscarne Junction (Cornwall)

Principal Visitor Centre:

Bodmin General Station

Period of Operation*

- February and March (Selected days)

- April to July, and October (Most days, except some Mondays and Fridays)

- August and September (Daily, except Mondays)

- December (Special event trains)

[* This is a summary. Please go to the railway’s website for definitive operating days] 

Key Facts (what you’ll see)

Services usually steam or diesel?

Predominantly steam. Occasionally diesel (some Saturdays)

Type of Steam / Diesel Locomotives Used:

Steam tank engines, and ex main line BR locomotives

Length of Line:

6.5 miles

Time taken for a round trip:

50 minutes (to Bodmin Parkway), 40 minutes (to Boscarne Junction)

Number of trains per day:

Typically 3 to Bodmin Parkway, 2 to Boscarne Junction in each direction

Number of Stations:

4 stations

Prices:

Adult Rover: £22. Senior/Concession: £21. Child Rover: £11. Family: From £49

Time to allow for Visit:

2 hours

Museum:

No

Shop/Cafe:

Yes/Yes

Picnic/Play areas:

Picnic benches at Bodmin General station

Preservation Established:

1984

Car Park Facilities:

Limited parking free at Bodmin General station

Key Facts (Galas/Events/Dining)

Dining Trains:

- No, but food can be booked for trains                                                                               

Event Trains:

- Santa by Steam: December 

Principal Galas:

- Steam Gala: June

- Mixed-Traffic Gala: October 

Experiences:

- Steam Footplate Days / Diesel Driver Experience Days

Contacts

Email:                                                                  enquiries@bodminrailway.co.uk

Telephone:                                                           01208 73555

Website:                                                               www.bodminrailway.co.uk

Social Media:                                                       www.facebook.com/bodmingeneral

                                                                              Also on Twitter and Instagram

INFORMATION FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

Brief History of the Railway and its Preservation  

The railway runs along former GWR branch lines radiating from Bodmin General Station, south east to Bodmin Parkway Station on the Plymouth - Penzance main line (a station located about 3 miles to the south east of Bodmin) and west towards but not reaching Wadebridge. The line from Bodmin General to Parkway was built in 1887. In this area of Cornwall the London and South Western Railway was also active, owning a mineral line from Wenford to Wadebridge, and a passenger line from Bodmin (where it had its own station) to Wadebridge which converged with each other a few miles west of Bodmin at a place called Boscarne. Later in 1895 the LSWR opened a through route from Exeter via Okehampton and Launceston to Wadebridge and Padstow. The GWR then built a line from its Bodmin General Station to connect with all the LSWR lines at Boscarne (named Boscarne Junction). From that time onwards the GWR ran trains from Bodmin Parkway to Wadebride via its own station at Bodmin General, and the LSWR (later Southern Railways) ran its trains from its own Bodmin station to Wadebridge and on to Padstow. Such a duplication of services would not survive the 1960s closure period. By 1967 all the passenger services from Bodmin Parkway to Padstow had been closed. However, the needs of freight meant the retention of the Bodmin Parkway - Bodmin General - Boscarne Jct - Wenford line, for China Clay purposes. This closed in 1983. In 1984, the Bodmin Railway Preservation Society was formed. It managed to reopen the section of line from Bodmin General to Bodmin Parkway in 1990, and from Bodmin General to Boscarne Junction in 1996. The old line from Boscarne Junction to Wenford is now part of the Camel Trail (walking and cycle path).

Principal Aspiration

To build a second platform at Bodmin General to enable more trains to be run.

Steam Operational Locomotives:

Bagnall 0-6-0 Saddle Tank J94 - No.75178 (2766)

Diesel Operational Locomotives/DMU:

(1) BR Class 08 shunter No. D3359/08444

(2) BR Class 47 - No. D1787/47306 'The Sapper'

(3) BR Class 50 - No. D442/50042 'Triumph'

(4) Sentinel Shunter - No. S10029 'Denise'

Steam Locomotives Under Overhaul:

(1) GWR Class 45xx 2-6-2 Prairie Tank (Churchward) - No. 5552

(2) GWR Class 64xx Pannier Tank (Collett) - No. 6435 (awaiting overhaul)

(3) Bagnall 0-4-0 Saddle Tank - No. 2572 'Judy'

Diesel Locomotives Under Overhaul:

(1) BR Class 37 - No. D6842/37142

(2) Heritage DMU Class 121 'Bubble car' - No. 121020

Stored/ Under Restoration/ Out of Service:

- GWR Class 8750 (57xx subclass) 0-6-0 Pannier Tank (Collett) - No. 4612

- Bagnall 0-4-0 Saddle Tank - No. 2962 ('No. 19')

- Bagnall 0-4-0 Saddle Tank - No. 3058 'Alfred'

- BR Class 10 shunter - No. D3452

- Heritage DMU Class 121 (bubble car) - No. 121020

INFORMATION ON THE SUPPORT GROUP

Name of Support Group:

Bodmin Railway Preservation Society

Annual membership fee:

Adult: £24. Senior: £20. Junior: £13. Life: £400

Benefits of membership:

-          50% travel discount on all regular train services

-          10% discount on fares for special trains, events and experiences

-          10% discount in the railway shop (excluding model railway)

-          10% discount at Bodmin General Coffee Shop

-          Magazine, ‘Bodmin & Wenford Railway News’ issued 3 times per year

How to Join:                                   Go to www.bodminrailway.co.uk/support-us/brps-membership

What They Say About Volunteering:

Without the help of our volunteers, our railway could simply not operate. All roles at the railway are open to volunteers, from office and station duties, booking office, shop and buffet, train crews, Permanent Way and Signal & Telegraph work, and the maintenance, repair and restoration of carriages, wagons, and locomotives. Volunteering with us offers a fantastic opportunity to try your hand at something different, learn new skills and experience life behind the scenes at a heritage railway and much-loved visitor attraction. Better still, you’d be helping us to ensure that our heritage railway survives for another generation.

How to Volunteer:                                 Go to www.bodminrailway.co.uk/support-us/volunteering

How to Donate:                                     Go to www.bodminrailway.co.uk/support-us/donations-legacies

WHY JOIN: Help the railway build a second platform at Bodmin General to enable more trains to be run.

INFORMATION ON OTHER SOCIETIES WITH RELATED INTEREST

Those interested in this railway may also be interested in the following railway societies also listed on this

website:

Traditional Railway Societies:

- Great Western Railway Society

- South Western Circle

- Cornwall Railway Society

- Plymouth Railway Circle

Model Railway Clubs:

- Bodmin & District Model Railway Club