Deep into Cornwall resides the Lappa Valley Railway which I visited something like 40 years in its very early years and it has subsequently changed out of all recognition. The line changed hands about 10 years ago and it is fair to say that the new owners have invested what feels like a small fortune in developing the resources for families, particularly children, extending activities will beyond the (now) three rail lines. We all know that such facilities are not huge money spinning activities in terms of profit making enterprises – but hopefully encouraging youngsters with the right approach might light a fire for future volunteers on other railways across the country.
So much has changed since my previous visit that to be honest little is recognisable. The public access the railway at Benny Halt where there is a decent car park. The main 15inch gauge line has been laid between Trewerry & Trerice Halt and Mitchell & Newlyn Halt on the route of the old Newquay – Chacewater line (also known as Newquay – Perranporth). The route was built in 1844 as Treffry’s Tramway from Newquay to East Wheal Rose silver lead mine, subsequently ending up as a GWR line before closing in 1963. There is an extensive survey of the line at: https://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/chacewater—newquay-50th-anniversary-of-closure.html
The line has a balloon loop at the East Wheal Rose mine site, similar to Dungeness, with a single platform where we leave the train. There are several lakes, the large one houses pedalos, there is a pitch and putt course and an indoor play area for children (The Engine Shed) which has been built quite recently. We do not sample the resources other than the other railways.
There are now two other railways here which I do not think were in place on my earlier visit. First is a small 7 1/4 inch gauge circular trip around the smaller lake, known as the Woodland Railway. The driver seeks to engender some fun by telling us to shout and scream as we go through the tunnel and when we spot marauding shark on the other side of the lake. We complete two circuits of this line.
The second line is a 10in gauge service which runs to Newlyn Downs station which is known as the Newlyn Branch. This curves round from the station and picks up the route along the former main rail line alignment. At Newlyn Downs there is a run round loop for the locomotive (and there is one at East Wheal as well). The site of Newlyn Downs station is on or very close to the site of the long closed Mitchell & Newlyn Halt. At this destination there is an adventure playground – so there is plenty to exhaust any number of children – which of course we do not have!
All of the stock that I saw looked to be kept clean and in good condition and certainly the stock in service was working well.
The Lappa Valley has recently won an award as the Heritage Railway of the year 2025 and as it falls a little out of the mainstream of railway activity one might wonder why. I would say however that the training given to the volunteers (as I am sure most of them are) to enthuse the travelling children to shout at the shark in the lake or going through the tunnel is important and in my case one of the team kindly showed me into the two engine sheds so with luck I have some photos of the locos which are not in service today. The award was made (I subsequently find) for the forward looking management and the current operation which attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.