| The Helston Railway | |
|---|---|
 | |
 View of the now disused station at Trevarno in April 2010 | |
| Terminus | Helston railway station |
| Commercial operations | |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Stations | 2 |
| Length | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1882 |
| Closed to passengers | 1962 |
| Closed | 1964 |
| Preservation history | |
| 2010 | HR granted Light Railway Order |
| 2011 | HR re-opens |
| 2012 | HR relocates (upwards) into 'a nearby' Prospidnick |
| 2018 | Truthall Halt formally opened by HRH Duke of Gloucester |
| Headquarters | Prospidnick |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
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The Helston Railway (Cornish: Hyns-horn Hellys) is a heritage railway in Cornwall which aims to rebuild and preserve as much as possible of the former GWR Helston Railway between Nancegollen and Water-Ma-Trout on the outskirts of Helston. It is operated by the Helston Railway Preservation Company using members of the Helston Railway Preservation Society.
The railway was a 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge railway branch line and is the southernmost branch line in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1887 and was absorbed by the Great Western Railway in 1898, continuing in existence as the Helston branch, and closing to passengers in 1962 and to goods in 1964.[1]
It was built to open up the agricultural district of south-west Cornwall, joining Helston to the main line railway network at Gwinear Road, between Penzance and Truro.
Its predominant business was agricultural, but in summer it carried holidaymakers, and its terminus at Helston was the railhead for a pioneering road connection service to the Lizard. During the Second World War there was considerable goods traffic at Nancegollan, sponsored by the Admiralty.
The current Heritage Railway has won a number of awards including: The Ian Allan Publishing Heritage Railway of the Year 2010, The Heritage Railway Association Publication & Media Award 2012 and The Heritage Railway Association Small Groups Award 2019.
- ^ History of the Great Western Railway, vol II, MacDermot, E T, published by the Great Western Railway, London, 1932