Darrins Photography

CORNWALL

The Journey Down

The Stations That We Will Be Stopping At

Back in September I decided I would go down to Cornwall for a two week break, I thought the best time to go would be Saturday 13th October as on the 15th it would have been my and my late wife’s 24th wedding anniversary. I also decided I would leave the car at home for once and go down by train here's my diary of my time in the beautiful county of Cornwall.

DAY 1

First Great Western, Route 13

I caught the 07.13 train from Newbury to Reading, then I boarded the 07.57 service to Penzance.

The journey would take 5 hours 42 min to do the 344 miles, once I left Reading the train took me through Didcot. Swindon, Chippenham, Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Taunton, Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Plymouth, Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Par, St Austell, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, St Erth, and Penzance

Looking Across The Exmouth Estuary

I saw some lovely scenery on the way, first was Bath with its buildings made out of Bath Stone, Bristol Temple Meads Station that was designed by the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel; it was built between 1839-1841. The most beautiful bit had to be between Exeter and Newtown, where the line hugs the coast.
This part is known as the Dawlish sea wall, there are photos of some trains on the tracks being covered with sea water by breaking waves in stormy weather

The Dawlish Sea Wall On A Calm Day

When you leave Plymouth you cross the river Tamar by the Royal Albert Bridge or as it's sometimes known as the Brunel Bridge. The Bridge was designed once again by Isambard Brunel, it was opened by Prince Albert in 1859.

About To Cross The Royal Albert Bridge With Saltash And Cornwall Waitng On The Otherside

When you get to the other of the Bridge you are in Saltash and Cornwall, another stunning view is when you enter Truro station via the 20 pier viaduct which is 92 feet high and 1,329 feet long, as you cross the viaduct you get a great birds eye view of Truro Cathedral which was built between 1880-1910. As you near the final destination of Penzance you start to the many ruins of the wheel houses of the tin mine industry that once big business in Cornwall. When the train enters Marazion Marsh you get your first view of the impressive National Trust Island known as St Michaels Mount. Then a few minutes later you reach the end of the line and the Roofed Station of Penzance. I really enjoyed going by train and it won't be the last time that I go down to Cornwall this way. I then got the bus to Marazion where upon arrival in booked myself into Mounts Bay Caravan Park, that evening I took a stroll down to the beach which is a few hundred yards from the Caravan Park. Once on the beach I sat on a grass covered sand dume and looked across the Mount, Penzance, Newlyn and the small fishing harbour of Mousehole.