Steam trains in Penzance
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Steam trains in Penzance

This photo was taken sometime in the 1900's. The train and station is taking a battering from the sea. Later sea defences were put in place to keep the sea under control. If you look above the steam from the engine you can just make out the scaffold around the new gas cylo.

Station developments

The original timber viaduct suffered the ravages of Mount's Bay seas;
begun in 1850, completed 11th March 1852, opened 25th Agust 1852;
the rails across Eastern Green seafront were set on a timber baulk causeway,
with a timber bridge viaduct 1000 feet long across the front of Chyandour Cove
(which originally had extended much further inland than it presently does,
there having been a stone bridge over the river, about in line with the position of the water trough).
That same year, a fifth of the viaduct was swept away in a severe storm 26th December 1852,
as well as destroying 800 feet of granite walling of the station sea wall.
The viaduct was demolished completely in another storm of January 1869.
Ponsandane yard and sheds date from 1871, and the signal box from around 1901;

The viaduct was rebuilt and opened 1st November 1871.
A granite embankment and breakwall of boulders was completed 24th July 1921, to replace the old structure,
closing off Chyandour from the sea, introducing a twin track,
instead of the original single track (to which we have now been returned);
the granite was a combination from Penryn and Princetown.
The yard at Ponsandane was re-built in 1935 to that which we see now.
Major expansion works were then undertaken to Penzance station in 1937.
Some will notice the break in the wall; this was where the new work commenced,
it was originally planned to have a promenade along this stretch, but it came to nothing, literally.


Raymond Forward
Carriages date from around 1905, fine picture, a bracing welcome to all passengers.
 
The station throat appears much narrower than it does presently - the sea wall must have been moved at some point. Any thoughts, treeve?
 
Seawall changes in 1921, and major works in 1937 to widen the whole area, and increase services.
I have added some notes above ....
 

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