Bugle Steam Railway - Cornwall

The Bugle Steam Railway was established on part of the GWR Goonbarrow Branch which served the china clay areas north of St Austell.

The BSR was established by the Cornish Steam Locomotive Preservation Society (CSLPS) which had been formed in 1973 and opened in 1977.
Following the establishment of the Bodmin & Wenford Railway in 1987 the CLPS moved to Bodmin with the collection of rolling stock and the operation at Bugle ceased.

Bugle Steam Railway, Cornwall - August 16, 1983
The GWR coach which was used as a refreshment room at Imperial Halt.
Bugle Steam Railway, Cornwall - August 16, 1983
Awaiting departure from Imperial Halt. Port of Par Railway ALFRED built by Bagnall in 1953 and younger ‘brother’ to JUDY which at that time was preserved at the Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum at nearby Carthew. Withdrawn from service in 1977 ALFRED was moved to Bugle in 1978. In recent years ALFRED has been reunited with sister JUDY at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. Trips at the Bugle Railway operated from Imperial Halt located alongside the Imperial China Clay Dry for a distance of around half a mile. Facilities were always basic and on my first visit in 1983 I seem to recall they didn’t even have a toilet on site! However, there was a lot of industrial railway charm about the operation with passengers riding in a former BR brake van. When ALFRED was in operation one could really appreciate his diminutive size as one looked down into the cab! In may ways it is a shame that this small line did not survive as it was a small piece of Industrial and railway history in its own right.
Bugle Steam Railway, Cornwall - August 16, 1983
Port of Par Railway ALFRED built by Bagnall in 1953 and younger ‘brother’ to JUDY which at that time was preserved at the Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum at nearby Carthew. Withdrawn from service in 1977 ALFRED was moved to Bugle in 1978. In recent years ALFRED has been reunited with sister JUDY at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. Trips at the Bugle Railway operated from Imperial Halt located alongside the Imperial China Clay Dry for a distance of around half a mile. Facilities were always basic and on my first visit in 1983 I seem to recall they didn’t even have a toilet on site! However, there was a lot of industrial railway charm about the operation with passengers riding in a former BR brake van. When ALFRED was in operation one could really appreciate his diminutive size as one looked down into the cab! In may ways it is a shame that this small line did not survive as it was a small piece of Industrial and railway history in its own right.
Bugle Steam Railway, Cornwall - August 16, 1983
Port of Par Railway ALFRED built by Bagnall in 1953 and younger ‘brother’ to JUDY which at that time was preserved at the Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum at nearby Carthew. ALFRED is seen here departing from Imperial Halt located beside the Imperial China Clay Dry. Withdrawn from service in 1977 ALFRED was moved to Bugle in 1978. In recent years ALFRED has been reunited with sister JUDY at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. Trips at the Bugle Railway operated from Imperial Halt located alongside the Imperial China Clay Dry for a distance of around half a mile. Facilities were always basic and on my first visit in 1983 I seem to recall they didn’t even have a toilet on site! However, there was a lot of industrial railway charm about the operation with passengers riding in a former BR brake van. When ALFRED was in operation one could really appreciate his diminutive size as one looked down into the cab! In may ways it is a shame that this small line did not survive as it was a small piece of Industrial and railway history in its own right.