The Maritime Line is a railway line from Truro to Falmouth in Cornwall, UK. The line travels close to the River Fal for some of its length. Truro is Cornwalls only city and its administrative centre. ... Map sources for Falmouth, Cornwall at grid reference SW810325 Falmouth from the seaside Falmouth: Harbour, National Maritime Museum Cornwall and Pendennis Castle Falmouth (Cornish: Aberfal) is a seaport on the south coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. ... Motto: Onen hag oll (Cornish: One and all) Geography Status Ceremonial and (smaller) Non-metropolitan county Region South West England Population - Total (2004 est. ... The River Fal flows through Cornwall, the United Kingdom, rising near Truro and reaching the English Channel at Falmouth. ...

Towns and cities served on the route are listed below.

• Truro
• Perranwell
• Penryn
• Falmouth

The branch line leaves the Penzance-Plymouth Cornish Main Line soon after leaving Truro. The line is single track along its entire length, and has two tunnels, one at Sparnock (north of Perranwell) and the other at Perran (north of Penryn). Truro is Cornwalls only city and its administrative centre. ... Market Street in 2005, looking south Map sources for Penryn at grid reference SW782345 Penryn (Cornish: Pennrynn, from Pen-ryn meaning promontory) is a town in Cornwall, England on the Penryn river. ... Map sources for Falmouth, Cornwall at grid reference SW810325 Falmouth from the seaside Falmouth: Harbour, National Maritime Museum Cornwall and Pendennis Castle Falmouth (Cornish: Aberfal) is a seaport on the south coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. ... Map sources for Penzance at grid reference SW470303 Penzances old docks with Abbey Slip and St Marys Church behind Arms of Penzance Penzance is a port in Cornwall, UK, facing southeast onto the English Channel. ... Plymouth is a city in the South West of England, or alternatively the Westcountry, and is situated within the traditional county of Devon. ... Categories: Rail stubs | British railway lines ...

The line has regular services targeted at tourists and shoppers as well as commuters. Passenger services are currently operated by First Great Western. The line also sees occasional freight services to Falmouth docks, operated by EWS. First Great Western is a British train operating company owned by First Group, which operates services principally on the Great Western Main Line. ... English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS) is the largest British rail freight company. ...

Route described

Truro

Maritime Line trains start from Truro railway station, normally from the bay platform that is reached by turning left and walking along the main platform beyond the footbridge. The trains join the main line for the first half mile to Penwithers Junction, passing through the 70 yard-long Higher Town Tunnel on the way. At this point the line to Penzance curves away to the right; the line to Falmouth was originally the Cornwall Railway main line and so runs straight ahead while the Penzance line was built by the West Cornwall Railway Company. The Maritime Line today only has a junction with the westbound track; trains running towards Truro do so on the "wrong" line which can be a bit disconcerting if a train from Penzance is arriving at the same time. The main entrance to the station Truro Station serves the city of Truro, Cornwall, UK. It is the junction for the Maritime Line to Falmouth. ... This article is about the unit of measure known as the yard. ... Penzance Station serves the town of Penzance, Cornwall, UK. The station is the terminus of the Great Western Main Line from London though the Westcountry. ... The Cornwall Railway was a broad gauge railway (7 feet 0. ... A junction may variously refer to: In road transport, a road junction. ...

From the tunnel the line emerges into the countryside outside Truro. The small excavated area of land on the left is a Local Nature Reserve which supports rare plants due to its unusual position in a triangle of rail routes - ours, the disused continuation of the West Cornwall Railway to the riverside at Newham, and a never-built route allowing Cornwall Railway trains to reach Newham. The route to Newham is now a cycle path round the edge of the city. Truro is Cornwalls only city and its administrative centre. ... A Local Nature Reserve or LNR is a statutory designation in England made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by principal local authorities. ... Segregated cycle facilities may consist of a separate road, track, path or lane that is designated for use by cyclists and from which motorised traffic is generally excluded. ...

One and a half miles from the junction we enter Sparnick Tunnel which is a little over a quarter of a mile long. Although the line has only ever had a single track, most of the engineering was designed to carry a second one which gives a spacious feel to the route.

Perranwell

The line, which has been heading south-westwards, now swings around towards the south and passes high above the silted up Restronguet Creek on Carnon Viaduct. This valley was the route of the Redruth and Chasewater Railway down to quays at Devoran, about a mile beyond our viaduct. It is now part of the Mineral Tramways Trail. The Cornwall Railway viaducts were mostly built on stone piers but with spans of timber fans. ...

Another half mile brings us to Perranwell railway station, nearly four miles from Truro. A modern shelter is situated on the platform, built in a style inspired by older railway buildings. As with all stations except for Truro, the platform is on our left as we travel towards Falmouth. In the forecourt is the old Cornwall Railway goods shed; a cast iron sign carrying the station name, and a dried up drinking fountain also hark back to earlier days. The platform at Perranwell Penrranwell station is on the Maritime Line from Truro to Falmouth Docks, the services are operated by Wessex Trains. ...

The line now swings west, passes over the short Perran Viaduct and then south again along the hillside above Perranwell village before passing through the 374 yard-long Perran Tunnel. The Cornwall Railway viaducts were mostly built on stone piers but with spans of timber fans. ...

Turning south-eastwards, the line now passes over Ponsanooth Viaduct, the tallest on the line. Ponsanooth village is on the hillside to our right, while the River Kennal runs below to join up with Restronguet Creek. The Cornwall Railway viaducts were mostly built on stone piers but with spans of timber fans. ...

Penryn

The line passes beneath the A39 road from Truro to Falmouth, and then shortly enters Penryn which grew up at the head of a large inlet of the River Fal. Penryn railway station is at the top of the town, and we have views across the town to St Gulvias on the other side of the harbour. The station is eight and a quarter miles from Truro and has little of comment, but the platform shelter is identical to the one at Perranwell. Beyond the station the line passes over the Collegewood Viaduct . The last timber railway viaduct in Cornwall was here, but was replaced by this stone structure on 22 July 1934. The A39 is a major road in south west England. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The River Fal flows through Cornwall, the United Kingdom, rising near Truro and reaching the English Channel at Falmouth. ... The platform at Penryn Penryn station is on the Maritime Line from Truro to Falmouth Docks, and serves the town of Penryn, Cornwall. ... The Cornwall Railway viaducts were mostly built on stone piers but with spans of timber fans. ... 22 July is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Falmouth

The line soon enters the outskirts of Falmouth. The town was established at the entrance to the inlet that leads to Penryn; it has now nearly spread to reach that town. Trains first call at the well-loved Penmere railway station, useful for people heading for the top of The Moor in the town centre, or for the newer western suburbs. Map sources for Falmouth, Cornwall at grid reference SW810325 Falmouth from the seaside Falmouth: Harbour, National Maritime Museum Cornwall and Pendennis Castle Falmouth (Cornish: Aberfal) is a seaport on the south coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. ... The large sign was provided by the Friends of the station Penmere station is on the Maritime Line from Truro to Falmouth Docks, the services are operated by Wessex Trains. ...

Passengers get a quick glimpse on their right of Falmouth Bay before trains call at the concrete platform of Falmouth Town railway station, which is nearer the National Maritime Museum, the waterside, and the shops. The platform at Falmouth Town Falmouth Town station is in Falmouth, Cornwall, on the Maritime Line to Truro, the services are operated by Wessex Trains. ... The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom, and one of the most important in the world. ...

It is now just a short distance to the terminus at Falmouth Docks railway station, 11.75 miles from Truro. Falmouth Docks are below the station on the left, Pendennis Castle overlooks both these and the Gylyngvase Beach on the other side of the line. Looking up the line from the buffers Falmouth Docks station in Falmouth, Cornwall is the terminus of the Maritime Line to Truro, the services are operated by Wessex Trains. ...

History

Main article: Cornwall Railway The Cornwall Railway was a broad gauge railway (7 feet 0. ...

The Maritime Line was built by the Cornwall Railway, a broad gauge railway (7 feet 0.25 inch) from Plymouth to Falmouth. The purpose of the scheme was to link London with Falmouth, from where packet ships sailed to destinations in Europe, Africa, and America. Great Western Railway broad gauge steam locomotives awaiting scrapping in 1892 after the conversion to standard gauge. ... Plymouth is a city in the South West of England, or alternatively the Westcountry, and is situated within the traditional county of Devon. ... Map sources for Falmouth, Cornwall at grid reference SW810325 Falmouth from the seaside Falmouth: Harbour, National Maritime Museum Cornwall and Pendennis Castle Falmouth (Cornish: Aberfal) is a seaport on the south coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see London (disambiguation) and Defining London (below). ... A packet ship is a vessel employed to carry Post Office mail packets to and from British colonies and outposts. ...

The section from Plymouth to Truro opened on 4 May 1859, and the inhabitants of Falmouth soon put pressure on the company to extend the line to their town as originally intended. The extension opened on 24 August 1863 by which time the packet ships had been diverted elsewhere. May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1859 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar). ...

After the West Cornwall Railway was converted to broad gauge in 1867 the Truro to Falmouth line tended to be operated as a branch, with the trains from London Paddington operating to Penzance instead. 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The central (and longest) span of Paddington Station Paddington station or London Paddington is the name of a major National Rail and London Underground station complex in the Paddington area of London. ... Penzance Station serves the town of Penzance, Cornwall, UK. The station is the terminus of the Great Western Main Line from London though the Westcountry. ...

The original stations on the line were at Truro, Perranwell (known as Perran until 19 February 1864), Penryn, and Falmouth (Now Falmouth Docks). Penmere was added on 1 July 1925, and Falmouth Town (originally known as The Dell) opened on 7 December 1970, where the line terminated for a few years before reopening to the original terminus. February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ...

The Cornwall Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 July 1889. Following the amalgamation, plans were put in place for conversion to standard gauge, which took place over the weekend of 21 May 1892. The Great Western Railway was nationalised into British Railways from 1 January 1948 which was in privatised in the 1990s. After being operated by Wales and West for a few years the company split in two with the Maritime Line becoming the responsibility of Wessex Trains from 14 October 2001. When the franchise was renewed it was won by First Great Western who take over the operation on 1 April 2006. The original Bristol Temple Meads station, first terminus of the GWR, is the building to the left of this picture The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company, linking South West England, the West Country and South Wales with London. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... As railways developed and expanded one of the key issues to be decided was that of the rail gauge (the distance between the two rails of the track) which should be used. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Nationalization is the act of taking assets into state ownership. ... British Railways (BR), later rebranded as British Rail, ran the British railway system, from the nationalisation of the Big Four British railway companies in 1948 until its privatisation in stages between 1994 and 1997. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ... On 14 October 2001 the former Wales and West company, a part of the National Express Group, was divided into two new companies, Wales and Borders Trains for services in Wales and Central England and Wessex Trains for the West Country and South West England. ... A Wessex Class 153 A Class 150/2 unit in West Country advertising livery. ... October 14 is the 287th day of the year (288th in Leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... First Great Western is a British train operating company owned by First Group, which operates services principally on the Great Western Main Line. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Great Scenic Railways in Devon and Cornwall.