Steam was the first source of motive power in the far west, and by the time it reached Penzance, it was quite sophisticated – with the experimental trials of Richard Trevithick far into the background. These pictures are from the second era – the “narrow” or “standard” gauge of 4 feet 8 1/⁄2 inches between the tracks – after the GWR “broad gauge” of 7 feet that was previously laid was determined non-standard, and the narrower dimensions generally adapted throughout the country.
The “gem” of my collection so far, I think, as a double headed express pulls away from Penzance Station in the early 1900s with steam and smoke spreading everywhere. The original signal box – rarely seen in remaining photographs – is nearly opposite single line token equipment, and a brave man ascends a precarious ladder to the cable runs on the wall. 10####A02-PNZ-S_LCO-PAS_U
GWR steam locomotive 0-4-4 Tank No. 34 stands on the turntable between the shed and coaling stage at Chyandour. The view through the handrail on the right shows the front of a loco, backed in for filling its coal bunker. #####AJ01-PNZ-s0034-TURNT
Congestion of Penzance Station’s entry point is obvious in this 1899 view of two locomotives behind 3273 “ARMOREL” on the extended turntable, with two men winding, and just clearing a coach’s buffers and the loco’s coal tender. 99###AA01-PNZ-s3273-TURNT
Another view of the GWR Duke class 4-4-0 ‘ARMOREL’ that straddles the turntable at Penzance’s coaling stage, which was tucked in to the Penzance side of Chyandour brook. The ladder leads up to a water tank situated on top of the shed roof. 99###AA02-PNZ-s3273-TURNT
Four proud workmen pose before 4-4-0 No. 3270 “TREVITHICK”. The diagonal course of stone and cable follow the descent of the road behind, and the handles on the turntable might be for “fine tuning” if the winding doesn’t match up well enough. #####AQ01-PNZ-s3270-TURNT
The upper screen across the facade of the train shed and that at the base of the left hand corner have been removed in this picture of an Up passenger service. A shunt signal lies between the tracks, and lamp post and telegraph pole on the platform. #####AN01-PNZ-STEAM-PAS_U
A seven coach train is squashed into the original, short, Platform 1 as people flock to board. A rather complicated signal with a “calling on” arm is beside the locomotive, and the tide drives gulls to flock with many others on the Goods Shed roof. 340907A01-PNZ-S_YRD-VI_SW
There seems to be a brand-new connecting rod on 3350 “SWIFT”, a 4-4-0 in the hands of a walrus-moustached driver and his fireman. Before the loco and beside the turntable end is what seems to be an ablution area, with hooked post for a hose. #####AK01-CYR-s3350-PARKD
A railway worker sucks on a cigarette beside what seems to be a clerestory-roofed railmotor at Penzance in the period before the station was remodelled. A different worker, a fish porter and the guard all have their attention taken by someone further back towards the town, and a stack of fish baskets is at platform centre. 36##AC01-PNZ-R_MTR-PAS_U
Waves from the Great Storm of 1930 mount up, surge and pound the walls of the railway as a goods train cautiously picks its way out of the station, sheltering a rake of carriages as it does so. The trackbed is saturated with standing water. 3011#AA01-PNZ-WALLS-VI_NE
In fine fettle, 2-6-0 Mogul 5359 heads up a passenger train at the end of Platform 1 at Penzance Station. Taken from the opposite trackbed beyond the platforms, some of the enamel signs and their wooden support strips are also captured. 3####AB01-PNZ-s5359-PAS_U
Out of steam, 3401 ‘VANCOUVER’ is hauled shedwards past the original short arrivals platform at Penzance Station. Stove-enameled signs are fixed to the cliff wall, and the loco’s nameplate surprisingly shows poor casting. r.blencowe@ntlworld.com 5####AQ01-PNZ-s3401-LIG_U
Reversing its train out of Penzance Station, 4090 “DORCHESTER CASTLE” is also carrying old mattresses on its front – presumably for further use in firelighting or something when it has deposited the coaches and gone to the shed for refueling. 480519A01-PNZ-s4090-SHU_S
A special visit creates a lot of interest from both platform and the station wall as 3440 “CITY OF TRURO” waits for its return journey eastwards. Its headcode lights are scrupulously clean and stand out well. 5####CT01-PNZ-s3440-PAS_U
On a calm Summer’s day, 6967 “WILLESLEY HALL” brings the ‘Cornish Riviera’ working into one of the arrival platforms at Penzance Station on 19th July 1951. The signalman watches from his cabin, and has already set the train’s approach signal to ‘on’. Though concrete lamp posts are now in situ, the wooden signals have yet to be replaced by tubular steel ones. 510719A01-PNZ-s6967-PAS_D
With waves lapping gently, 1007 “COUNTY OF BRECKNOCK” arrives with a down service on 26th September 1956. It passes the station pilot, parked opposite the signal box that is hidden to view to the right in the shadows of the dying day. The mortar of the parapet of the overlooking wall seems to have been selectively renewed recently. Photo: H.C. Casserley 560926A01-PNZ-s1007-PAS_D
Steam billows seawards from 4940 ‘LUDFORD HALL’ heading an up passenger service at Penzance Station. Tucked in behind is a 45XX tank with a local service, and the unusual wagons in the stub siding contain gas for carriage lighting. Photo: L R Peters. 520903A01-PNZ-s4940-PAS_U
This is a strange inclusion, but the sign centred on this carriage reads “STORES VAN TO PENZANCE”, so it has some relevance. Taken at Swindon in March 1950, it must have been an unusual relic even then. 5003#AA01-UNK-COACH-PARKD
6978 “HAROLDSTONE HALL” arrives in Penzance Station with the ‘CORNISH RIVIERA’ express on 26th September 1956. Steam oozes against the adjacent carriage and from the open doors of the first van, bags have been removed and piled together for onward transit. Photo: H.C. Casserley 560926A01-PNZ-s6978-PAS_D
1023 “COUNTY OF OXFORD” reverses out its stock onto one of the two sea sidings outside Penzance Station on 6th August 1957. Recovered track and lumps of granite parapet are dumped beside the engine, and in the background the fields stretching to Long Rock are still in agricultural use. Photo: E R Morten 570806A01-PNZ-s1023-SHUNG
The crew of the station pilot take their ease watching the view on a hot day next to their loco, pannier tank 8409. One end of the engine is attached to a carriage, and the other the shunter’s wagon or “chariot”. 520614A01-PNZ-s8409-PILOT
A 1956 view of a ‘Castle’ and ‘County’ (with the headboard) awaiting departure from Penzance as another long passenger train draws out. Reminding me of many such pleasurable send-offs by my family, it is waved away by a schoolboy. 56###AB01-PNZ-STATN-VI_SW
A peaceful scene from the redundant drinking fountain on top of the cliff at Penzance Station south west across to the harbour in 1954, as waves gently roll in. A parcels van, with a plethora of roof ventilators, is isolated on the Pilot’s siding. 54###AB01-PNZ-G_VAN-PARKD
B.R. (W.R.) in the finest G.W.R. tradition! Everything shipshape and Swindon fashion, with carriages so gleaming that the running-in board is perfectly reflected. 6931 “ALDBOROUGH HALL” is inspected by a guard before departure. Copyright: R. B. Parr. 580416A01-PNZ-s6931-PAS_U
A rather damp and dismal day at Penzance Station in the late 1950s – where maroon coaching stock awaits use in most of the platforms. The rear of the set in the centre of the picture has a barier panel added to seal the corridor connection, but by the time I was trainspotting this practice had been generally discontinued. 5####CW01-PNZ-STATN-VI_SW
This 1960 view of Platform 1 shows 4564 ready to remove empty stock, once the doors have been pushed shut and permissions given. These larger engines seemed to sometimes replace the smaller pannier tanks on such under-powered duties. 601026A01-PNZ-s4564-SHU_S
The evening sun picks out the side of well-cleaned 4095 “HARLECH CASTLE” as it waits for departure time with a mixed goods service at Platform 4 of Penzance Station. A crewman chats with a friend of the photographer. 520614A01-PNZ-s4095-PAS_U
This letterbox in the side of a mail train carriage was the last chance people had to post their letter each day. I used the facility myself a few times, and my relief that “I’d made it” on one occasion after running from home was palpable! 6####FQ01-PNZ-MAI_U-L_BOX
4087 ‘CARDIGAN CASTLE’ waits at Penzance with ”The Royal Duchy’ on 10th September 1960. It has been modified with some sort of equipment next to the smokebox. New lamp posts have been placed along the station edge, but not yet on the platforms. 600910A01-PNZ-CASTL-PAS_U
The cab of 6826 “KINGSTONE GRANGE” is manned, and station staff further down the platform ensure doors are shut, as the loco simmers before departure with an ‘Up’ passenger from Penzance. A man walks the wall as I, later, very frequently did. Copyright: Stan Brown / Keith Jones. 60###AJ01-PNZ-s6826-GDS_U
Smoke is blasted upwards, steam rises from the safety valve, and water drips onto the line side as 5011 “TINTAGEL CASTLE” is prepared for departure. The driver attends to something in the cab as the fireman looks warily at the photographer. 5####AX01-PNZ-s5011-PAS_U
This is possibly official remembrance of the inaugural service of ‘THE ROYAL DUCHY’ behind spruced-up 1002 “COUNTY OF BERKS” for the local paper. The arch behind was the large entrance to the lamp store, now reduced in size by block infilling. 5####AO01-PNZ-s1002-PAS_U
4148 waits at the front of a formation of carriages on Platform 2 of Penzance Station as a smaller sister engages itself similarly in Platform 1, with passengers coming and going from both. Smoke indicates a third loco is in the siding beside the goods platforms. 5#####A01-PNZ-s4148-PAS_U
4566 chuffs away from the stop blocks in Platform 3 of Penzance Station, using the crossover to skirt around the rake of coaches it has brought in. The tower for changing the bulbs of the hanging lights is just inside shelter of the station entrance. Copyright: Lens of Sutton. 5####AA01-PNZ-s4566-LIG_U
With safety valves lifting and smoke drifting northwards,the driver of 2-6-2T4548 whiles away the time as it awaits departure alongside 6965 THIRLESTAINE HALL”, similarly waiting. The different design of front end numbers show the picture was taken in the early days of nationalisation. Photo: Lens of Sutton. 5####AD01-PNZ-s45##-LIGHT
4936 “KINLET HALL” enters Penzance in April 1955 with a six carriage down passenger service – the last being a freight van. Everything is in fine GWR fashion, as was prevalent throughout the network before the decimation of the Beeching cuts and consequent staff demoralisation. Publisher: Photomatic Ltd 5504##A01-PNZ-s4936-PAS_D
The Eric Curnow Collection 