Bodmin & Wenford, Cornwall's Friendly Railway (England)

I arrived at Bodmin the day before I was due to meet a friend for a trip on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. My wife decided to visit the town’s shops, so I wandered up to the station for a look around, as luck would have it the last train of the day was due. A 5700 Class GWR Panier Tank No.4612 approached with its train, assisted at the rear by a Class 33 diesel locomotive No.33110. I captured its arrival and subsequent shunting on video. Before I left the station I asked a friendly young lady in the main office if it would be possible to mount a tiny camera on the engine the following day, she looked at the crew roster and said she would ask on my behalf.
I turned up the following day to see our train being prepared. The lady I’d spoken to the previous day met the driver as he readied his locomotive to be couple to its train. After a short conversation I was given the thumbs up by the driver and his young fireman to mount a camera allowing me to share the unique view normally reserved for the footplate crew. The friendly welcome didn’t stop there, as my companion visiting from Australia’s Puffing Billy Railway was issued with a footplate pass. After being treated to a tour of the loco shed, we boarded the train for a trip over the line.
A ride over this line is unusual in that it involves traversing both arms of a “Y” shaped route starting at Bodmin General, first off we follow the route to Bodmin Parkway where we meet up with the Cornish mainline before returning to Bodmin General, ready for a return trip to Boscarne Junction.
This video shows a trip over the line from the locomotive, passenger and line-side perspective. For viewers who enjoy a full “Driver’s Eye” video of the entire route, I’m working on it and it should be available shortly.
The warm welcome extended to our party is typical of the welcome visitors can expect. No visit to Cornwall would be complete without a ride on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway.
For more information, please click on this link - bodminrailway....
Cornwall - en.wikipedia.o...
The track gauge is 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) and this video was filmed on 15th August 2019

[@asavannah7439]

Thank you for your wonderful video, my husband and I really enjoyed it. We live in the Caribbean and love steam trains. I just found some onion and cheese pasties from Cornwall in our local supermarket the other day, so we decided to watch a Cornwall steam train video while eating them 😄

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Cornish Pasties are really tasty, wish I was in the Caribbean today, it cold and raining here in the UK. What a great idea to go to the supermarket and buy food from around the world and eat it whilst watching a video from that country :-)

[@asavannah7439]

We want to retire to England one day, my husband is from there. Too expensive to live here permanently. Then we'll go on every steam train in the country! If you haven't been, I recommend the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado/USA (once life has returned back to normal 😉) They have amazing steam trains and the landscape is spectacular. We went a few years ago at the end of September when the trees changed colours and it was breathtaking!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@asavannah7439 Hi, I have been lucky enough to ride the Durango and Silverton, it was an awesome ride - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIenf6Z-ab6Zers Make the most of the Caribbean whilst you can, if you do retire to England someday there are plenty of steam railways to visit, everyone of them a wonderful gem. I'm looking forward to living a normal life again, hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

[@asavannah7439]

Wow, you've been to amazing places, I just had a scroll through your videos. We will watch more soon. We had planned to go on the real Polar Express #1225 in Owosso/Michigan/USA in November 2020, unfortunately Covid-19 happened. Luckily I at least bought model train Pere Marquette #1225 from Bachmann until we can go 🤩

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@asavannah7439 I don't have the Polar Express, although I love the film, a visit is on my bucket list. Thomas the Tank Engine along with Percy Annabelle and Clarabelle still make an occasional trip around my model railway when my children come to visit, they still enjoy a trip down memory lane, this is my model railway about five years ago, proof that you're never too old to be a kid at heart.

[@edmundcarew7235]

This is one of your preserved railways I've yet to do but soon I'm rectifying on a trip from Australia. Most handy that it has a main line connection with GWR! Great video: keep up the excellent productions.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it and I hope you enjoy your trip to the UK, another bonus is the wonderful ride on the mainline along the Devon coast to get there. All the best. Tim.

[@hugebartlett1884]

So good to see 6412 running. One of the very first locos on the West Somerset Railway, but too small for today's ten coach set. Saw sterling service for many years there, but now in a new home. Long may she chug along giving people a glimpse into life long ago.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I wondered where I'd seen 4612 before, I'm sure I have photographs of her taken at the WSR 2014 Autumn Gala Event, where she was a visiting engine. She looked very much at home on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway.

[@AussiePom]

I don't know if you know Tim but the steam era GWR bought the land between the Parkway line and Boscarne junction line with the view to putting in a link which would save having to reverse at Bodmin General Station. But for some reason they never proceeded and thank heavens for that otherwise in the 1960's or 70's Bodmin General Station would probably have been demolished with the site now having an industrial estate on it. I remember reading in a magazine years ago that 4612 was a long term restoration project. I rode behind her on my visit to the line in 2007.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I didn't know about the proposed link and I looked on the internet to see what I could find, whilst the Wikipedia article was interesting, I couldn't find any reference to the link, so I've learned something new today. Bodmin General is a real gem, I'm glad it survived. No.4612 has proved to be a real survivor and she looks awesome today.

[@pega17pl]

Hello Tim, such kind of railway experiences are called 'beschaulich' in German. Means contemplative and quiet and slow and peaceful and therefore refreshing to soul. (Althoug little steam loco works hard for her money.) - Heinz

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Heinz, 'beschaulich' from your explanation of its meaning is an accurate description of a ride on this line with its unhurried, sedate pace where people have time to say "Hello". It's nice to see and hear a little engine working hard, it reminds us that in the days of steam, not all engines were gleaming express locomotives or grimy freight engines.

[@AndreiTupolev]

What a lovely ride. Very good camera, completely free of vibration. Nice variety of viewpoints too. Worth mentioning perhaps that the gradient is, what is it, 1 in 36 up there from Bodmin Parkway.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Andrei, this was a delightful railway to visit, the volunteers and staff really went the extra mile to help me shoot an interesting video to show off their railway, I owe them a big "thank you". The guide booklet given to passengers with their tickets shows the gradient at 1 in 40, although it could well be a little steeper in places.

[@carolynrowse2285]

That's my "local" heritage line. Went on a Cream Tea Special with a friend last year and loved it.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

You live in a lovely part of the world. Watching the pretty countryside pass by to the sound of steam engine whilst enjoying a real Cornish Cream Tea must have been a delightful way to relax and enjoy your friend's company.

[@colliecandle]

Excellent content as always. It's great shame the line is now terminated at the junction. Would be great if the line could be reinstated to Padstow, but i expect the powers that be have slapped up little shoe box houses and the like on the original trackbed.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed it. The track-bed to Padstow remains intact as the Camel Trail cycle path - www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/camel-trail-padstow-to-bodmin/

[@terenceburchett6122]

Would just like to make this comment from a Cornishman "The Powers that be" are all bloody Englishmen that refuse to block any protest at planning discussion. Build. . .Build . . .Build. Turn Cornwall into California and make lots of money! The Rape of Cornwall!

[@neilforbes416]

Beautiful, brilliant and well-made! Cheers, Tim!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Cheers Neil, it was a really good day out.

[@likklej8]

My My a pristine pannier tank I haven’t seen one of those since an Ian Allan Rail fans tour of Swindon Works in 1960!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

My favorite branch line engine, I'd love to have seen that 1960 Swindon Works tour.

[@johnestowell]

Hi Tim, now I know why Pete wanted me to watch this video, I had just finished watching the newer part1 video.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi John, when Pete sees a steam locomotive you just know one way or another he's going to end up the footplate.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Seems to be a work in progress on the class 33. It's in running order, but there seems to be some bodywork work in progress. Nice to see Triumph brought out and started up.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Andrei, I had to check the internet to confirm the number of the class 33 as apart from 3 small numbers it was difficult to identify, as it turned out, the three small digits were the last three digits of its full number 33110 (originally D6527), I guess they are waiting for the sign writer to finish the job. I saw Triumph in the yard as I was returning home on the last day of my visit, I spoke to the driver, he said it was about to be used for a "Driver Experience" course and there was a spare place as one of the booked participants had broken his leg, he even said they could probably do me a good price. The temptation was overwhelming, then I looked to my wife in the car who doesn't like trains and realised I could be looking at a divorce if I pushed my luck, maybe another day.

[@mikioni]

Outstanding video👏

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I am pleased you enjoyed it.

[@madrushmusic2]

Hi Tim , love the video, I know you'll think this a bit of a nerve , but would you allow me to use parts of your video for a song I want to put up on you tube for a friend of mine who was a member of the Cornish song writers. The song is entitled " all down the line to Bodmin " inspired by Mo Keast who is a Cornish Bard who now lives in the Railway cottage her grandfather lived in when he worked for the great western railway in the days of steam. I'll be very grateful if you would allow me to, and of course if you say no I'll understand.. My name is Ned Couch I'm a singer song writer myself in a folk duo Mad Rush with my wife Deni based in Cornwall , we would love to put our version of the song on you tube too. We have over 100 videos uploaded under madrushmusic various titles. Thanks for reading my ple.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, glad you enjoyed the video. I allow up to 5 minutes to be used from my videos so long as any audiable speech or music is removed and the visual content is credited to Timsvideochannel1 along with a link to the original video. If you need a little more than 5 minutes, just let me know so that I can OK it when KZbin notifies me about matched content. I'd also be interested to see your finnished video. I love the way Cornwall maintains its own identity, Penzance on Mazey Day with its song, dance and traditional crafts is a great day out for visitors and locals alike. Good luck with your new song. Cheers. Tim.

[@MadRushMusic]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Hi Tim thank you a lot that's very generous of you. I will of course abide by your wishes , credit you and let you know when I've completed for your approval. One last request would you allow me to use some of the train sound and whistle for the intro to the song please. once again many thanks Ned

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@MadRushMusic Hi, the train sounds are niether music or speech, therefore you can use them as you wish. The only reason I restrict the use of parts of the soundtrack where music is audiable is because the copyright for the music is limited to my channel and might attract the attention of KZbin's copyright tool if it is uploaded without the required licence and when it comes to speech, I wouldn't want to cause anyone embarresment with something said being taken out of context.

[@MadRushMusic]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Hi Tim thanks totally understand best wishes Ned

[@Timsvideochannel1]

​@@MadRushMusic I look forward to watching your finished video. Cheers. Tim.

[@panikrystyna1]

dziękuję serdecznie za piękny spacer.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Dziękuję, Cieszę się, że cieszył się jazdą.

[@amitrjoe]

Beautiful

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@jeanhitchcock577]

Is it still a cycle/walkers path the rest of the way to Padstow? used to be good cafe enroute

[@carolynrowse2285]

Yes, it is.

[@Dan-cj1lw]

I hope this train is available for all the escaping patients at Bodmin hospital to get away from those terrible people that work there.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Wow, I didn't know there was a problem at Bodmin Hospital !!!

[@Dan-cj1lw]

@@Timsvideochannel1 yeah, it's messed up there, they keep making up bullshit rules and writing stuff down that isn't accurate. If people think that the NHS medical sector is crap, then they need to review the mental health services. They are terrible there. (As you know) Longreach hospital is also terrible!

[@johannperaus6890]

Good morning Tim! As always a great video. Beautiful landscape, where exactly a railroad belongs. I would like to ask you which part of England that is. Greeting Hans from the Mühlviertel.👍🚂

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Good morning Hans, the railway is located in Cornwall, in the South West of the UK, it is a popular holiday destination, surrounded in three directions by some of the best beaches to be found anywhere in Britain. Take care. Tim.

[@barleyarrish]

My friends and myself were looking forward to the annual Beer festival, which did not happen this year...

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Oh that's a pity beer, festivals are usually very popular.

[@Thomas1980]

great Train video 👍 👍 👍

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you :-)

[@PhilippePariseau]

Awesome in every way!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you, I'm sure the guys at the railway will appreciate your kind comment.

[@awp2902]

pannier is one of my person favorite locomotive,why is that dome so big

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, Pannier tank locos are my favorites too, as a kid I used to see them at Ashburton on the South Devon railway just before the new bypass road cut the station off from the main line. The disproportionately large done is one of their attractions. I found this article, you might find it interesting - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_dome

[@joselitoeliaspereira2853]

Eu gosto muito de ver esses vídeos de trem é muito bom mesmo

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Obrigado, é bom saber que você gosta de assistir a esses vídeos.

[@MrMondeo2010]

bravo beautiful.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you.

[@brianharper9754]

why so many camera shots , the one from the Loco was a lot better than those out of the windows

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I will post a "Driver's Eye" version of this video towards the end of next week.

[@joselitopereira7596]

Muito lindo os cantos dos pássaros

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Obrigado, por favor, você gostou de ouvir os pássaros.

[@brianharper9754]

timsvideo thank you

[@KOLEJ22DrogaPrzygody]

Hej super 👍🥇🏆

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride :-)

[@KOLEJ22DrogaPrzygody]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Tak 🏆🏆🥇🥇👍

[@joekauffman9690]

1:06, It’s duck the great western engine from Thomas the tank engine

[@Timsvideochannel1]

"Yes" only the cheeky face was missing.

[@joekauffman9690]

@@Timsvideochannel1 yes

[@keithbawden7940]

Cornwall is KERNOW and is its own nation - not part of England but part of Great Britain. Decades ago I was taught in school, that Wales had been conquered by England therefore it was part of England. Who believes that now? I was also taught that Scotland was 'second' to England but not equal. As for the Catholic Irish - they were considered by some English as lower than Africans! Try spouting that kind of nonsense now! Show some respect to the 'non-English' British! Do not claim what is not yours!!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Gosh, I was taught to read and write at school. History and science was mainly about the industrial revolution, Stephenson. Telford, Brunel, the Bessemer Process, Iron, steel and stuff like that, topped off with PE. Politics was never part of my education, although geography was. The reason "England" is shown in brackets is because more than 90% of viewers on this channel are from outside the UK and probably don't know where in the world Cornwall is, whereas most know where England is. If I put Kernow instead of England that would really confuse them.

[@keithbawden7940]

Timsvideochannel1. You could have said, 'Cornwall, Great Britain'.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@keithbawden7940 I could, but to someone in India, parts of Great Britain are close on 600 miles away and I would almost certainly have had people ask in which of the countries making up UK/Great Britain was this railway located. Besides which this is the first time in my life anyone has tried to tell my that Cornwall is not in England. I checked the internet to see if I was mistaken and that Cornwall had indeed become a separate country, this is the best explanation I found - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornwall I often include a map with my videos, in this case I didn't, maybe I should have.

[@keithbawden7940]

Timsvideochannel1. Just because the English conquered a country they think it is theirs! Mmmmm!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@keithbawden7940 I think I just see things differently. I never think about England conquering anywhere, its just the place I live in and Cornwall's a great place to take holidays without having to remember my passport.