Special train marks Helston’s 60th closure anniversary
A DOUBLE landmark was remembered by the Helston Railway – mainland Britain’s most southerly heritage line – on November 3.
It was on that date in 1962 that BR ran the last passenger train, with coaches packed, out of Helston station at 8.45pm and that left Truthall Halt (now a stop on the heritage line) at 8.51pm, behind Class 22 D6312.
November 3 also marked 20 years to the day that the preservation group was set up to try to reopen the GWR branch.
Accordingly a special train was organised which left Prospidnick at 6.30pm and travelled to Truthall with passengers, staff and a band on board playing 1960s music.
The oil lamps were alight on the platform at Truthall and the train sat there while passengers got refreshments and then travelled up and down to Trevarno a couple of times. Ironically the weather was the same as in 1962 – cold, windy and wet. At 8.51pm precisely the train left Truthall heading in the direction of Nancegollan.
The branch opened on May 9, 1887 and Helston station secured its place in history on August 17, 1903 when it became the first place in the UK with a railway-operated bus service. The initial GWR motor road services took passengers to The Lizard. The last freight train ran on October 5, 1964.
The revived railway continues to make progress with expansion plans.
A new siding at Trevarno and remodelling of the platform is planned this winter, along with the building of an access road into the main site at Prospidnick plus the continuation of excavating the filledin cutting there. Its excavation will allow the railway to extend at this end and ultimately build a new station.