Helston Railway Memories

Memories

Tony Pops Ralph

I travelled on this branch line in the early 50s! Caught the train in Helston to travel to Gwinear Road to get the main line connection to Penzance where I went to Grammar School. It was the best branch line in my opinion, especially when it went over Lowertown Viaduct!

Rosemary Nicholls

Hi my name is Rosemary Nicholls nee Davies. I lived at Wheal Rose and the railway bridge was at the bottom of our lane. I can remember seeing the train going over the bridge after it left Nancegollan station. My grandparents farmed at Trelin, Chynhale and grew spring flowers which were packed and taken to Nancegollan station. My mum would sometimes put some boxes underneath my pram and push me up there for a walk. On one occasion my pram ran onto the track and I was rescued by Mr.Barber, thank goodness!

After the train stopped running we would walk along the disused track to visit friends in Prospidnick.

Fond memories of the railway.

Brian Prater

Hi everyone my memories of the branch started at Gwinear Road watching the Prairies coming of the branch with the passenger train and also the pickup freight coming and going. Then standing on the road bridge at Nancegollan again freight and passenger all around the mid 50s to the 60s hope it’s of interest.

David Thomas

Someone once told me that the Helston schoolboys used to take the saucers from the Helston station refreshment rooms and throw them out of the train windows over the Cober viaduct to see if they could hit the pigs feeding in the valley below.

Gill N Michael

I was born at Winns Row in Helston, the garden of which backed onto the station yard, in 1942. My father, Percy Moyle was in the Army, called up for the Second World War. My mother used to take me on the train to Gwinear Road to meet him when he came on leave.

In the late 50’s I found myself back on the train going to school at Camborne Tech. via Gwinear Road to Camborne.

Wonderful track with great scenery.

Mary Holloway

I travelled to Camborne Tech every day on the train. The guards, Fred and Michael would get of the train at Truthall Halt and light the light in the little shed.

Jenny Dixon

What memories I remember going on a day trip to st Ives when I was about five , I thought it was amazing and vowed to go on my honeymoon on the train , well that didn't happen but I do have trains at the bottom of my garden going up and down to Windsor .Also I have steam trains every so often in normal times .

Wendy Bate

I caught the train each day to Cornwall Technical College in Pool. Changed for the main line train at Gwinear to Camborne, then walked down to the square and caught the bus to Tech. This was 1960/61. The train left at 7-45am from Helston and I got home at 5-30pm. We use to call the train, The Puffing Billy.