Menheniot railway station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Menheniot | |||
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|---|---|---|---|
| Location | |||
| Place | Menheniot | ||
| Local authority | Caradon | ||
| Operations | |||
| Managed by | First Great Western | ||
| Platforms in use | 2 | ||
| Annual Passenger Usage | |||
| 2004/05 ** | 5,782 | ||
| History | |||
| 4 May 1859 | Opened | ||
| National Rail - UK railway stations | |||
| Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Menheniot. | |||
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Menheniot railway station serves the village of Menheniot in Cornwall, UK. The station, along with all others in Cornwall, is operated by First Great Western.
Contents |
[edit] History
The station opened with the Cornwall Railway on 4 May 1859. It was described at the time as "of small extent, consisting of a departure station, a stone building, having a projecting roof thrown over the platform for the protection of passengers. At the 'arrival' side of the line a stone erection, with a covered seat, has been provided, but no enclosed room". The following year saw two cottages built for the use of the railway staff working here.
The "stone erection" is still in existence, used as a waiting shelter.
The Cornwall Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 July 1889. The Great Western Railway was nationalised into British Railways from 1 January 1948 which was privatised in the 1990s.
[edit] Accidents
[edit] December 1873
On 2 December 1873 two goods trains arrived at the station where they could pass each other before resuming their journey on the single tracks towards St Germans and Liskeard. The crossing loop was not at that time equipped with starting signals. The train for the latter had a clear line and so the signalman called out "All right Dick," to the guard. Unfortunately the guard for the other train was also called Dick and so told his driver to start, but the line was not clear as another train was already on the way down from St Germans. Luckily the train crews survived the resulting collision.
The accident illustrated the need for starting signals, block working, and some interlocking between the starting signals and the block instruments.
[edit] February 1897
An accident occurred on 9 February 1897 during the reconstruction of Coldrennick Viaduct, which is situated just outside the station. A gang of 17 workmen were suspended below the viaduct on a platform when it broke away, throwing 12 of the men 140 feet to their deaths. Two of the gangers were criticised for not fixing safety chanis and using poor quality wood for the platforms.
[edit] November 1897
Another accident happened on 15 November 1897 during the reconstruction of nearby TreviddoViaduct. On this occasion a rope gave way while five men were hoisting a wooden beam up onto the new viaduct. One of them let go of his rope too soon, this meant that the wood swung free and knocked two of them gang to their deaths.
[edit] References
- The records of the Cornwall Railway can be consulted at The National Archives at Kew.
- West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 1859 (Railway Special Edition)
- Bennett, Alan (1990). The Great Western Railway in East Cornwall. Cheltenham: Runpast Publishing. ISBN 1-870754-11-5.
- Holgate, Mike (2006). Murder and Mystery on the Great Western Railway. Tiverton: Halsgrove. ISBN 1-84114-556-4.
[edit] External link
- Train times and station information for Menheniot railway station from National Rail
- Street map and aerial photo of Menheniot railway station from Multimap.com
| Preceding station | National Rail | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Germans | First Great Western Great Western Main Line |
Liskeard | ||
| Railway stations in Cornwall and West Devon | |
|---|---|
| Great Western Main Line: | Penzance • St Erth • Hayle • Camborne • Redruth • Truro • St Austell • Par • Lostwithiel • Bodmin Parkway • Liskeard • Menheniot • St Germans • Saltash • St Budeaux Ferry Road • Keyham • Dockyard • Devonport • Plymouth |
| St Ives Bay Line: | St Erth • Lelant Saltings • Lelant • Carbis Bay • St Ives |
| Maritime Line: | Truro • Perranwell • Penryn • Penmere • Falmouth Town • Falmouth Docks |
| Atlantic Coast Line: | Par • Luxulyan • Bugle • Roche • St Columb Road • Quintrell Downs • Newquay |
| Looe Valley Line: | Liskeard • Coombe • St Keyne • Causeland • Sandplace • Looe |
| Tamar Valley Line: | Plymouth • Devonport • Dockyard • Keyham • St Budeaux Victoria Road • Bere Ferrers • Bere Alston • Calstock • Gunnislake |
| Heritage Railways | |
| Bodmin & Wadebridge: | Bodmin Parkway • Colesloggett Halt • Bodmin General • Boscarne Junction |
