RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted December 1, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2011 A few week ago, a colleague and I visited Bere Alston station whilst en-route to West Cornwall (OK, it wasn't actually on the way in the normal sense of things, but we made sure it was!). It's still a very characterful place, despite the extensive rationalisation of the1960s and 1970s: The interior of the old signalbox The former Up side building and awning - the up platform didn't have anything more extensive than this. The diagram on this poster looks as if provision has been left for the Tavistock extension! All photos away from the public platform taken in accordance with safety requirements and with appropriate PPE Just north of Bere Alston the road crosses the railway on an attractive stone over bridge. This section will see trains again when the Tavistock extension is built: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointstaken Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Now that would be a modellable model. Anyone up for it ? Thanks for the photos, CK. Dennis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted December 1, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2011 What are the plans for the Tavistock extension? Will Bere Alston get a passing loop, with Gunnislake trains run as a shuttle? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 When did the footbridge steps go? Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devondynosoar118 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Great pictures of a cracking little station. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted December 21, 2011 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 21, 2011 What are the plans for the Tavistock extension? Will Bere Alston get a passing loop, with Gunnislake trains run as a shuttle? Bit early to say on that one, plans still being considered. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I'm a bit surprised Tavistock wasn't approved last week! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted December 21, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 21, 2011 Bere Alston with the remians of the footbridge in 1983. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted December 29, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 29, 2011 Good photos those. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devondynosoar118 Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 It's a stairway to Devon.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted December 29, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 29, 2011 We really need that "Groan" button as well as the "Like"... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R A Watson Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 It's a stairway to Devon.... It was actually built as a watch tower to look out for the fabled "20 thousand Cornish Men" sneaking in over Gunny Viaduct without even paying for a platform ticket! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted January 1, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 1, 2012 It was actually built as a watch tower to look out for the fabled "20 thousand Cornish Men" sneaking in over Gunny Viaduct without even paying for a platform ticket! I have it on good authority from an impeccable local source, that this happens most Sunday mornings!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted January 1, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 1, 2012 I have it on good authority from an impeccable local source, that this happens most Sunday mornings!! Yeah my Dad is usually up there with his gun! Regards, Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted January 1, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 1, 2012 Yeah my Dad is usually up there with his gun! But he's on the Cornish side - so is he keeping the English out, or forcing illegal English immigrants back over the Border?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted January 1, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 1, 2012 But he's on the Cornish side - so is he keeping the English out, or forcing illegal English immigrants back over the Border?! Knowing my Dad he's probably trying to set up his own independent realm! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazmanjack Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 G'day All, Great thread. Anyone out there ever retraced the line to Callington from Gunnislake ? I know there is some great youtube footage about this branch, but it would make for some great pics. Cheers, Gary. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted December 19, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 19, 2012 G'day All, Great thread. Anyone out there ever retraced the line to Callington from Gunnislake ? I know there is some great youtube footage about this branch, but it would make for some great pics. Cheers, Gary. Hi Garry, As a kids we used to play all around Gunnislake (grandparents lived in Calstock) and over the summer holidays we used to cycle up from Calstock to Gunnislake and play on the old station site before the houses where built on it. The last time I tried to walk the route was the summer of 2003 as it was the summer that I went to university. You used to be able to walk, unofficially, out of the housing estate on the site of the former station at Gunnislake and walk either along the track bed, or close to it, as a lot of the route had reverted to nature. One of the main problems was that sites such as Latchley and Luckett, are now in private ownership so you can't get near the track bed. Callington Station has residential and industrial buildings on top of it, although if I remember correctly there is one of the old goods buildings still there, but I don't think it was the main shed, just a small store. The easiest section to walk, back in 2003, was from Gunnislake up to Chilsworthy Halt, where the platform is still present, along with the bridge. You could continue up to Latchley, although about 1/2 a mile before the station part of the track bed is now a private road, so again not sure 'one' is meant to be on it! You can't get to Latchley station as this is now a private house, but I think the platform is still there. Seven Stones Halt if you didn't know it was there you would miss it! As the site has completely reverted to nature. Luckett is again in private ownership and you can see it from the road, although you can't get too close. The remaining route from Luckett up to Callington is fairly easy to walk, but again over grown, although there are plenty of roads near to the track bed to make it easier. I might have some photos somewhere and if I do I will try and scan them in over the holiday. Hope this is some use! Regards, Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted December 19, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 19, 2012 We did back in the 80's. Somewhere I have a few photos of the smaller intermediate stations where parts of the stations remained but by then Callington was just a rough parking area so I don't think I took any there. Will try and dig out the photos I do have . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazmanjack Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Hi Nick & roundhouse, Please post the pics you guys have as I'm keen to see them as many other modellers would be too. As I'm still in the planning stage of the new layout 'Callington', pictures of the area would benefit for landscape detail. Cheers, Gary. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted December 23, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 23, 2012 A few photos of the line taken in 1986 Lucket Latchley Calstock Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 What is the correct pronunciation of Bere Alston? Cheers, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted December 23, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 23, 2012 Hi Nick & roundhouse, Please post the pics you guys have as I'm keen to see them as many other modellers would be too. As I'm still in the planning stage of the new layout 'Callington', pictures of the area would benefit for landscape detail. Cheers, Gary. Hi Gary, At the moment the photographs are 'somewhere' in my parents house, so I am not sure even if the film was developed so you will have to bear with me. Really your best bet is to watch the footage on youtube, and look at OS maps of the area if you want to get the landscape right for the period. The photos that I took really where just of an overgrown landscape which isn't how it would have looked before 1964. Regards, Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Beer al//stone As a resident (Devon-born, but always the outsider here in the village...), I think it's pronounced as all on word... Biralstun. The "Bir" is quick, but rounded, and the "stun" is dulled. There used to be four pubs here, but now there's one...and I gather that the viaduct is (as mentioned earlier) still a well-used footpath between trains.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted December 23, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 23, 2012 Well depends on what side of the river you live on! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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