November - Intercity Railway Society

Days Out
Bodmin & Wenford Railway, 26 th Sep 2012 by David Elliott:
While on holiday in Cornwall, my base being Truro, my wife and I decided to drive to Bodmin for a ride
on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway which I had not travelled on before. Bodmin is the main base and
central station on an inverted 'Y' shaped line. After a 30 minute drive we arrived in Bodmin at 10.40 via
the town centre (signposted well throughout) to find the car park next to the station/depot was almost
full, with lots of puddles (but it was free). Before going to the station I noticed a sign on the gate to the
depot / maintenance shed saying 'visitors welcome when open' so as it was open, I naturally went
through. Walking carefully around the puddles I entered the outside lean-to where 47306 'The Sapper',
in a rather bedraggled external condition was being started up, I presume for the following Saturday's
diesel gala....47306 is to be withdrawn from service for an extensive overhaul including a new livery,
ed.
Also under the canopy was one of the
surviving four class 10 shunters, D3452
(see photo right). Passing through a door
to the rear of the lean-to I entered the
workshop where 0-6-0PT 6435 looked
like it was in the final stages of overhaul,
a Bagnall ex-WD 0-6-0ST [2766] was in
bits for a full restoration project and a
couple of carriages under restoration
restored too. I found the access good
and with maintenance staff exceptionally
informative and friendly. I must say this
was not a Gala, just a normal
Wednesday.
0-6-0PT 6635 Bodmin workshop, BWR
After taking several photographs I proceeded about 300 meters to the station and purchased a daily
rover ticket for £11.50. The station being a terminus, was smaller than I expected but quaint and very
clean with almost everything restored to its original 1950's condition. There is only one platform, but
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