Lansalson branch line
Encyclopedia
The Lansalson branch line (also known as the Trenance valley line) is a railway line built by the Great Western Railway
to serve the china clay
industry in the Trenance valley near St Austell
in Cornwall
, UK. The line was authorised by GWR in 1910 and after setbacks due to World War I
the line opened in 1920.
The southern end of the 2.5 km long branch line left the Cornish Main Line (ex-Cornwall Railway
) at Trenance Junction which lies 500 metres west of St Austell railway station
. The line travelled north and passed Carlyon Farm kiln
in the village
of Trethowel, just north of this are the Bojea sidings. The line crossed Bodmin road (B3274) then past Lower Ruddle wharf to Boskell sidings which crossed over to the western side of the St Austell or White river. The line terminated at Lansalson wharf in the village of Ruddlemoor.
The line closed to traffic in 1968 but in 2005 the railway bed has been converted into a cycle trail
(apart from a small section due to a land usage disagreement) from Tremena Gardens in St Austell
to the Wheal Martyn china clay country park. The trail is split in two sections called the Wheal Martyn trail
and the St Austell Trail
, these are two of four trails called the ‘Clay Trails
’ built in partnership between Sustrans
, Imerys
and several other organisations. These cycle trails are centred around the Eden Project
and aim to increase the accessibility to the dramatic and unique landscape of the Cornish china clay industry and its history.
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
to serve the china clay
Kaolinite
Kaolinite is a clay mineral, part of the group of industrial minerals, with the chemical composition Al2Si2O54. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra...
industry in the Trenance valley near St Austell
St Austell
St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, UK. The line was authorised by GWR in 1910 and after setbacks due to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the line opened in 1920.
The southern end of the 2.5 km long branch line left the Cornish Main Line (ex-Cornwall Railway
Cornwall Railway
The Cornwall Railway was a broad gauge railway from Plymouth in Devon to Falmouth in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The section from Plymouth to Truro opened in 1859, the extension to Falmouth in 1863...
) at Trenance Junction which lies 500 metres west of St Austell railway station
St Austell railway station
St Austell Station serves the town of St Austell, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station is operated by First Great Western, as is every other station in Cornwall....
. The line travelled north and passed Carlyon Farm kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
in the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
of Trethowel, just north of this are the Bojea sidings. The line crossed Bodmin road (B3274) then past Lower Ruddle wharf to Boskell sidings which crossed over to the western side of the St Austell or White river. The line terminated at Lansalson wharf in the village of Ruddlemoor.
The line closed to traffic in 1968 but in 2005 the railway bed has been converted into a cycle trail
Segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are marked lanes, tracks, shoulders and paths designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded...
(apart from a small section due to a land usage disagreement) from Tremena Gardens in St Austell
St Austell
St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash...
to the Wheal Martyn china clay country park. The trail is split in two sections called the Wheal Martyn trail
Clay Trails
The clay trails are a series of bicycle trails located in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. The trails pass through the St Austell moorland which for over two centuries has been entensively quarried for china clay, hence the name....
and the St Austell Trail
Clay Trails
The clay trails are a series of bicycle trails located in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. The trails pass through the St Austell moorland which for over two centuries has been entensively quarried for china clay, hence the name....
, these are two of four trails called the ‘Clay Trails
Clay Trails
The clay trails are a series of bicycle trails located in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. The trails pass through the St Austell moorland which for over two centuries has been entensively quarried for china clay, hence the name....
’ built in partnership between Sustrans
Sustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
, Imerys
Imerys
Imerys is a French multinational company. It is a constituent of the CAC Mid 60 index.-History:The Company was founded in 1880 and for many years was known as Imetal....
and several other organisations. These cycle trails are centred around the Eden Project
Eden Project
The Eden Project is a visitor attraction in Cornwall in the United Kingdom, including the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world....
and aim to increase the accessibility to the dramatic and unique landscape of the Cornish china clay industry and its history.