Port Isaac

Port Isaac was a busy coastal port from the Middle Ages to the mid 19th century handling cargoes like stone, ores, limestone, salt, coal, timber, pottery, and heavy commodities. The railway ended the coastal trade by the start of the 20th century. Fishing and fish-processing was important and continues today. Tourism is increasingly important and the village is used as a backdrop to television productions including Poldark (1975–77) and Doc Martin (2004–present).

The Great Western Railway (GWR) ran a service between Bodmin Road (now Parkway) and Wadebridge using running powers from Boscarne Junction (near Bodmin) to Wadebridge. In 1909 the service comprised 4 passenger, 2 mixed, and 2-3 goods trains each way. By 1930 it had changed to 7 passenger, 1 mixed, a passenger Saturday evenings, and 1 goods train run as required each way. The 1930s timetable suggests locos came from St Blazey rather than being out stationed at the terminus. At the turn of the 20^th century the GWR proposed to build several light railways in Cornwall including one from a junction on the London South Western Railway near Padstow to Tregurrian. I've added the Amble Valley Light Railway (AVLR) that would have run six and a half miles from Wadebridge to Port Issac via a bridge over the River Camel, into the Amble Valley, Trewornan (quay), Chapel Amble, St Endellion, and Trehatrock (gap). The AVLR serves the parishes of St. Endellion, St Kew, and St Minver with a combined population of 2,879 in 1901 growing to 3,911 in 1961 due to tourism. The terminus would be 4 chains (80 meters) south of the port as it's impractical to run down Middle Street or fund extensive demolitions. The AVLR would have been a Beaching cut.

Passenger traffic local traffic would have been light with tourist traffic being important till the early 1960s. If built the AVLR would have supplanted Port Isaac Road (left) which sold 4,500 tickets in 1928 and less than 2,000 in 1936. There are currently four local buses to/from Wadebridge and a through bus to/from Bodmin Road fitting well with a local/tourist split. Fitted freight fish was important with 150 tons a year of mackerel and shellfish being sent overnight to Billingsgate in 1897 balanced by inbound fish from Grimsby. Flowers and fruit were important traffic, with the early daffodils very important to the Cornish economy. Rabbit traffic was significant till the early 1950's. General goods, particularly coal. The AVLR passed 4 quarries, 2 shafts, & 1 pit all disused and might have revived quarrying for slaty quartz & mandelstone and mining for copper, lead, silver, manganese, & antimony.

Operation GWR trains run to/from Bodmin Road. The AVLR is a single section with one train in steam. From Port Isaac to Trehatrock the grade would have been about 1:30 restricting passenger trains to 15 mph, goods trains to 10 mph and a maximum of 8 loaded wagons. Locos would face towards Wadebridge to keep their fire boxes covered with water and Auto trains would work with their locos at the Port Isaac end. Auto trains would provide local passenger services with the first in and last out hauling fitted wagons so possibly classed as mixed. A pannier tank would work the daily goods train and the passenger train of through coaches. When required extra fitted freights and tourists trains would be run - summer Saturdays all passenger trains might comprise through coaches.

As the photos above and right show the local architecture is random stone some time whitewashed. The GWR will use corrugated iron partly because it was keen on the stuff at the start of the 20^th century and partly to distinguish Port Isaac from Drummore.

Photos of the layout under construction