Calstock on the Tamar Valley Line

Here are some photos from a trip we made last week to Calstock in Cornwall, on the Tamar Valley Line from Plymouth to Gunnislake.

We have been to Gunnislake before and walked down into the village, which is about half a mile away down a very steep hill - great for going down but a heck of a slog to walk back up!

Calstock is also downhill from the station but it is not as far and definitely not as steep!

We travelled to Plymouth on one of the new Class 800 trains, the HST's now having been withdrawn.

These trains are fast and smooth enough but the seats are like sitting on wooden planks. They are much too hard for long journeys. The arm rests are also too low, such that they are useless for doing what their name suggests.

We also miss being able to go to the buffet car whenever you want since you now have to wait for a trolley to pass by. This, of course, could be at any time and might even be just as you are about to alight from the train!

Also, a word of warning to those of you travelling to stations with shorter platforms, like Ivybridge, for instance. If you are on a train consisting of two five-car sets, which most are from Plymouth to Paddington, make sure you are in the correct set because, as at Ivybridge, the doors of the rear set do not open and there is no way you can move to the front set.

So, you will just have to travel on to Totnes and catch the next train back again! 

There are warnings given on the train but, if you board the train at the last minute, you might miss the announcement (as a couple did on the one that we were on) and, once the train is underway you are stuck!

Anyway, back to our journey and over on Platform 3 was our train to Gunnislake.

This was the usual two-car Class 150 and our train left Plymouth at 12:54 for the 45 minute journey up the branch.

After stops at Devonport, Dockyard, Keyham, St Budeaux Victoria Road and Bere Ferrers the train pulls into Bere Alston, above.

Here the line once continued to Tavistock North, Brentor and Okehampton. 

Indeed there was talk of reopening this line following the gales of 2014, which damaged the track at Dawlish but nothing has come of it. 

For some time there has also been the possibility of reopening the section just to Tavistock but, again, nothing has happened yet.

So, for now at least, all trains into Bere Alston must reverse and travel up what was the branch line to Callington but which now terminates at Gunnislake.

On the approach to Calstock station you traverse the 120 foot high Calstock viaduct with views up and down the River Tamar, as shown above.

Here we see the line crossing the viaduct from just before Calstock station.

Turning around, the line is seen curving round to the station just beyond.

Our train is photographed departing for the two and a half mile journey to Gunnislake.

The viaduct, as viewed from Calstock village.

And from the other side.

And from directly underneath.

After our visit to Calstock we caught another train on to Gunnislake, above, where the train waits for about five minutes before commencing its return journey to Plymouth.

During which I took the two photographs above.

This truly is a lovely line that is well worth a visit if you have never travelled along it.

It was, of course, listed for closure in the Reshaping of British Railways Report.

However it was saved from closure, apart from the section between Gunnislake and Callington, due to the fact that the roads in the area are so poor.

And thank goodness for that, say I!