A Cornish Gem - Calstock - Part 1

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Paul - a very good morning to you from Poland. What a fantastic video. A train journey to remember for a long time to come. The sea and river views were gorgeous. And what a viaduct outside Calstock Station - a superb feat of early 1900s engineering. Beautifully photographed with an excellent commentary to go with it. I also love the music you always attach to your Cornish videos.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael! Glad you enjoyed the views and the video. Thanks for your kind words too about the music choices - I do spend a fair bit of time trying to get the audio mix and the music right. Take care, Paul

[@michaelmiller641]

Fantastic video, with much of railway interest. Thankyou Paul, I look forward to part 2!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Cheers Michael! Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully, it will be coming in about a week or so. Take care, Paul.

[@DarylW426]

Nothing beats the scenic beauty of riding the rails. Thank you Paul.👍

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Yes, it is a particularly scenic line - one of my favourites. Take care, Paul

[@royedwards8713]

Hi Paul a nice train journey 😊😊

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hi Roy! Thank you - it was a lovely day with my daughter. The village is really nice too. Hope you are having a good week. Take care, Paul

[@DonnaTaibossigai]

Hi Paul! Wow, the views from that train were really lovely. This really makes me want to travel somewhere by train here in Canada, but it's a bit expensive and takes days to travel anywhere. It was neat seeing the spots for bicycles - our light rail transit allows bicycles during non-rush-hour but you have to hang onto your bike. The Tamar Bridges were really neat and they look huge from the tracks. The viaduct looks so amazing - very fun seeing it from inside the train and beside it. I enjoyed learning about the area especially being good for fruit production. Great tour & I look forward to seeing part 2.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Donna! Yes, exceptional views from this train, and, thankfully, the windows were clean! On the branch lines, I don't think you have to reserve for a bike, but on the mainline trains you do. I have a railcard, and I use an app, which keeps the ticket prices down. I am so lucky that I have a mainline railway station within walking distance from where I live in Gloucestershire. Yes, that viaduct is incredible! Thanks so much for watching, Take care, Paul

[@WanderingwithWatto]

An amazing video Paul. 👍🏻🚶🏻‍♂️🚶‍♀️.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Cheers Paul - Paul

[@walkwithmary5826]

like 16❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you!

[@JessesGrandDaysOut]

Lovely video Paul and the train journey looked so scenic and fab that you captured a train or two going over the viaduct 🥰

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Jesse! Yes, this is a particuarly beautiful train ride. Glad you enjoyed the ride too. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Take care, Paul.

[@faithg9766]

What lovely train journeys, thanks for the very useful information on screen. The Tamar bridge never disappoints. Looking forward to seeing Calstock.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Faith. Yes, the views going over the Tamar Bridge and of the bridge itself are amazing. I really enjoyed wandering around Calstock with my daughter. Hope to bring that to your screens soon. Paul

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Paul, Great vlog on the move!! In the first clip I thought you had bought a drone!! Interesting to see The Tamar Belle centre, I didnt know anything about this, what came to mind was the Plym Valley Railway but that that is the other side of the city!! Interesting to see that the viaduct was made of thousands of concrete blocks, it really looked like stone from a distance, lovely shape to it as well, you can see why its a listed building. I had a look on railmaps online and saw an unconnected line nearby near Morewellham Quay it looks like an old mine railway, very interesting!! Thanks also to Nicole, look forward to part two!! All the best!!

[@cathydyer3774]

Yes ....Great opening shot.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you David! Yes, I got the smooth effect by putting the camera on the table inside the train, then slowed the video clip down (I shot it at a high frame rate). I then adjusted the contrast and saturation as shooting through a window reduces both. I was quite pleased with the overall result. Glad you liked it. I do hope to visit The Tamar Belle Centre at Bere Ferrers in the future - it isn't open at the moment, and there is a fairly lengthy gap between trains, so I couldn't just jump off, get some more shots and jump back on again. There is a fair bit to see there - I went there sometimes ago. Yes, I forgot to mention that the concrete blocks were constructed on site by a temporary factory by the river, which makes it more amazing! It really does look like stone too - exceptional engineering. Thanks so much! Take care, Paul

[@davidberlanny3308]

​@@westcountrywanderingsVery clever piece of filming and very skillful editting👌👌

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@davidberlanny3308 Cheers David!

[@leeclift4666]

Just back in the shire been in Plymouth for a few days today in Tavistock and Beer Alston.Its a lovely line l like how the train slows right down for the level crossings and Calstock with the impressive viaduct.Nice pub by the river loads of history in the area.Thanks for posting Paul 👍👍 19:27

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hi Lee, Yes, I really like Tavistock - lovely Devon town. Hope you had a good time there. The line speed slows down a lot after Bere Alston, where the former mainline ends. Cheers, Paul

[@cathydyer3774]

I loved going over the Tamar last May. When I did that journey back into Devon ...I wondered what it is like living near the bridge.🏠🏡🏠🏡. ⛵⛵🛳

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Cathy! Yes, that chimney! The house predates the viaduct, and so they had to make it taller to get more of a draft on the fire, but in doing so, made it heavier and unwieldly, hence why it is supported by the viaduct. My daughter noticed it. Cheers, Paul.

[@TravelHungryForLife]

Very nice sharing here my friend All the best see you soon Enjoy the weekend cheers 👍🏻👍🏻

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you!

[@SouthWestSundays]

I really enjoyed this Paul, especially as I am familiar with that train trip and Calstock with its awesome viaduct. It bc was good to learn some more facts about it and to see it again.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Louise! Yes, Calstock viaduct really is awesome! I am hoping to go back on this branch again soon to have an explore around the Gunnislake area at the end of the line with my daughter. Paul

[@IamaDutch-Kiwi]

Your train journeys have once again inspired me. I do so love train trips ( as you may know) and tomorrow another treat by train. It may not be as pretty as the English countryside you treat me to, but 'our' Utrecht has a beauty all of it's own. Thank you for being so regular with sharing the pearls around you. Love floating in a dream world along with you. 👌🇳🇱🙋‍♀🇳🇿

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Anita! Glad you enjoyed another of my Cornwall Series of videos - Part two is coming very soon. Hope to have an extended stay in Cornwall soon in the West of county. I like that! 'floating in a dream world along with me'! Yes, well, anything to escape the horrors of the modern day world! Take care, Paul

[@janevivian-smith4578]

Thanks Paul another beautiful video might do this journey myself ❤

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Jane! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, this journey is well worth doing - lots to explore in the Tamar Valley! Cheers, Paul

[@dianarolph1770]

As usual I had to have a double take! This video was packed full of information and so well filmed. Your narrative was so interesting too. The accompanying music tracks were new ( to me) but fitted the film perfectly! Thank you for the maps- they really do help. I liked the comic Western music. I think the very first part is used for the intro to your ‘train’ series. Bere Regis looked interesting! Lots of train paraphernalia- intriguing sign ‘Journey’s End’ alight for sustenance & great comfort. That’s where you would find me! Very tempting! Thanks Paul.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks Diana - and very observant on all counts! Yes, there was some new music in this one, as well as the full version of the Railway Series ident music - well spotted! I do hope to explore around the Tamar Belle Railway Museum when it is open at Bere Ferrers at some point. Thanks again! Take care, Paul

[@michaelsansom6]

Delightful! Superbly filmed.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you liked it. Cheers, Paul

[@nafex3740]

Great video Paul 👍 👍

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Cheers, Paul

[@MartinPopeFilmmaker]

Hi Paul. This was very enjoyable to watch. When I saw the very first shot I thought you had got a drone. It was only more into the video that I realised it was a shot from the viaduct inside the train. Great filming & info. The last time we went on a train was years ago & only from Dawlish back to Teignmouth. The views you had from this train ride were amazing. 😊

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Martin! Yes, if you ever get the chance to go on this line please do -it is a beauty! Thoroughly enjoyed my day here and there is much more to explore in this area. Great to hear from you. Take care, Paul

[@nicolarundle6841]

Great video,been to Calstock a couple of times and always in awe of the amazing viaduct. Had no idea you could get near it at the top though?

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, you can see right across the top, from the edge of the platform at Calstock but you can't walk across it. It is an incredible viaduct. Cheers, Paul

[@nicolarundle6841]

@@westcountrywanderings Thank you,yes rewatched it and it makes sense now!

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Hello Paul. Interesting journey and one I've never travelled on. Those trains don't look very comfortable, but they might be better than they look. What's the top speed. 40 mph?

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Lionel and Mark. I think the line speed from Plymouth to Bere Alston is 60mph on the straight, but it slows to 25mph (or less) after Bere Alston where the branch to Gunnislake leaves the former mainline to Tavistock & Okehampton. There are some tortuous curves after Bere Alston and a lot of level crossing too. It is 15mph across the viaduct. The train (Class 150) we found fairly comfortable and we had a table too - there was also a good amount of space for wheel chairs, push chairs and bikes. A car journey to Bere Alston and Calstock from Plymouth can take considerably more time than the train. Very, very narrow and twisty roads - and not for the faint-hearted! The road journey doesn't get the views like you do from this line. Thank so much for watching! Cheers, Paul