Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

View directly up the track bed of the Liskeard and Caradon Railway Cheesewring Siding. The engine house of South Phoenix Mine stands on the left.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

The site of Rillaton Depot. A goods shed and short platform stood where the mound is to the left of the sheep unit it was demolished in the 1930s the track running onto the embankment.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

View from the embankment at Rillaton Depot looking up Cheesewring siding. The main Liskeard and Caradon line ran to the right of the picture crossing the Minions to Upton Cross road at Rillaton Bridge.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

View of the stone embankment which formed part of the track bed at Rillaton Depot of the Liskeard and Caradon Railway.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

This view is taken from the original route of the Liskeard and Caradon Railway as it enters Minions village (behind the camera) and proceeded to the Goonamena incline.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

This unmade road was once the track bed of the L&CR in Minions Village. Abandoned in the late 1870s when the Kilmar Junction railway was constructed around the east side of Caradon Hill to link up with the northern section of the L&CR. Minions Level Crossing was located behind the camera.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

L&CR original track bed in Minions village heading towards Rillaton Depot. Level crossing behind the camera.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

View from the Cheesewring Siding track bed to Kit Hill, crowned with its former mine chimney and on to Dartmoor in the background.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

Looking down the Liskeard and Caradon Railway Cheesewring siding which passed through the gate.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

Looking down the Liskeard and Caradon Railway Cheesewring siding which passed through the gate.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

Sheep near the track bed.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

As the Liskeard and Caradon Railway Cheesewring Siding climbs away from Rillaton Depot it passes through this shallow cutting before curving to the north west as can be seen in the distance.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

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Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

Continuing the climb

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

Once around the curve the tips of Cheesewring Quarry can be made out. These were reduced in the 1980s when granite was removed to refurbish Mountbatten Breakwater at Plymouth. This was the last time the quarry saw any commercial activity.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

As we approach the quarry along the Cheesewring Siding of the Liskeard and Caradon Railway - the quarry face can be seen with the famous Cheesewring Rock Formation to be seen above. At this point the trackbed becomes overgrown and leads up to a gate whilst a footpath to the left provides a link with the original Cheesewring Siding. There is a reason for the gate as we shall see.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

A surprised sheep looks on as I make my way to the gate across the former track bed. After the railway closed granite was removed from the quarry along the track bed in the 1920s / 30s by road wagons hauled by traction engines.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

The reason for the modern gate across the track bed is now apparent. This view is taken through the gate and shows how the the track bed has collapsed into Stowe's Shaft of Phoenix United Mine. Originally Stowe's Mine had been a separate undertaking until amalgamated as past of Phoenix United and linked by a tramway.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

View along the track bed of the lower Cheesewring Siding back towards Minions from the gate protecting the run in Stowe's Shaft of Phoenix United Mine.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

Photograph shows the extent to which the collapsed Stowe's Shaft has taken away the railway formation at this point on the lower, and later Cheesewring Siding.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

View along the original Cheesewring Siding towards the quarry. This is believed to have been abandoned around 1899. The granite sleeper blocks are clearly visible.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

View along the original Cheesewring Siding towards the quarry. This is believed to have been abandoned around 1899. The granite sleeper blocks are clearly visible.

Liskeard and Caradon Railway: Minions to Cheesewring - May 19, 2021

View along the original Cheesewring Siding towards the quarry. This is believed to have been abandoned around 1899. This is the final section leading up to the quarry. It ceased to be used for access to the quarry when it was deepened and a new access line constructed at a lower level.