IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
St. Erth Business Park, Rose-An-Grouse, HAYLE, TR27 6LP

Frankie's Diner - the place to eat at St Erth Industrial Estate.

Looking north east.

Class 150 two-car diesel unit number 150266 leaving St Erth on an early evening service to St Ives. Note the semaphore signal lowered to 'clear' to allow the train to proceed (for an explanation see [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1554917] ) and also note the distinctive GWR pattern finial at the top of the signal post. All train movements through the station are controlled from St Erth signal box (see also [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1554897] ) which can be seen beyond the train. The well-maintained St Erth railway station in Cornwall is on the former Great Western Railway (GWR) West of England main line. It is the junction for the St Ives branch line and retains a traditional appearance with its handsome granite buildings, wooden valanced canopies and semaphore signalling. The station is east of the A30 road near Lelant and is over a mile from the village from which it takes its name. The original single-platform station (built by the West Cornwall Railway in 1852) was rebuilt by the GWR after the St Ives branch opened in the 1870s. The mainline was originally single-track but the line was doubled eastwards in 1899 and westwards in 1929. The St Ives branch was built as, and remained, a single-track line. There are three platforms in use at St Erth station. Platform 1 is a facing platform serving the down (westbound) main line. Platform 2 serves the up (eastbound) main line. The two main line platforms can accommodate eight-car trains and are connected by a covered footbridge of GWR vintage (the bridge provides the only access to platform 1). Platform 3 is a terminal bay platform serving the St Ives branch. The west end of platform 2 is a facing platform but the east end forms an island platform (albeit on two levels) with platform 3. There is also a short loading dock on a second track in the St Ives branch bay. Beyond the up (east) end of the station, the St Ives branch curves sharply north and St Erth signal box, which dates from 1899, is situated between the main line and the diverging branch. There is a fan of sidings opposite the signal box on the south side of the main line. St Erth station is managed by First Great Western (FGW) which operates most of the services. The St Ives service is operated as an out-and-back shuttle by FGW (though a few branch trains are extended to and from Penzance). The company also operates local stopping services between Plymouth and Penzance and FGW expresses from London to Penzance stop at St Erth. CrossCountry operates daily services to and from the Midlands, the north and Scotland. South West Trains operates infrequent services to London Waterloo. For pictures of St Erth station in 1979 and 1981 see [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1005319] and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/604669] .

The St Ives branch starter signal at the east end of platform 3, St Erth railway station. This signal is of the ex-GWR lower quadrant type (the majority of semaphore signals were upper quadrant). In both upper and lower quadrant types, the semaphore arm is horizontal to show danger. However, a lower quadrant arm drops through 45 degrees to 'clear' the line (as shown here) whereas an upper quadrant arm rises through 45 degrees to show 'clear'. Note, too, the distinctive GWR style of finial on top of the tubular signal post. The round sign bearing the numeral '15' indicates the speed limit in mph and the sign bearing the letter 'W' indicates that train drivers should sound their whistle (or, nowadays, airhorn) on the approach to the ungated level crossing visible in the middle distance. All train movements through St Erth station are controlled from St Erth signal box (see [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1554897] in the traditional manner by semaphore signals and mechanically-operated (as opposed to electrically-operated) points.

New industrial units on the old scrap yard site.

The rear of St Erth signal box photographed from a train on the St Ives branch (hence the slight smearing to the left of the photo). For a photo of the front of the signal box see [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1554897]. Train movements through St Erth railway station are controlled from this signal box in the traditional manner by semaphore signals and mechanically-operated (as opposed to electrically-operated) points. In this picture, the rodding that operate the points and the wires that operate the signals can be seen at the foot of the wall of the building. The well-maintained St Erth railway station in Cornwall is on the former Great Western Railway (GWR) West of England main line. It is the junction for the St Ives branch line and retains a traditional appearance with its handsome granite buildings, wooden valanced canopies and semaphore signalling. The station is east of the A30 road near Lelant and is over a mile from the village from which it takes its name. The original single-platform station (built by the West Cornwall Railway in 1852) was rebuilt by the GWR after the St Ives branch opened in the 1870s. The mainline was originally single-track but the line was doubled eastwards in 1899 and westwards in 1929. The St Ives branch was built as, and remained, a single-track line. There are three platforms in use at St Erth station. Platform 1 is a facing platform serving the down (westbound) main line. Platform 2 serves the up (eastbound) main line. The two main line platforms can accommodate eight-car trains and are connected by a covered footbridge of GWR vintage (the bridge provides the only access to platform 1). Platform 3 is a terminal bay platform serving the St Ives branch. The west end of platform 2 is a facing platform but the east end forms an island platform (albeit on two levels) with platform 3. There is also a short loading dock on a second track in the St Ives branch bay. Beyond the up (east) end of the station, the St Ives branch curves sharply north and St Erth signal box, which dates from 1899, is situated between the main line and the diverging branch. There is a fan of sidings opposite the signal box on the south side of the main line. St Erth station is managed by First Great Western (FGW) which operates most of the services. The St Ives service is operated as an out-and-back shuttle by FGW (though a few branch trains are extended to and from Penzance). The company also operates local stopping services between Plymouth and Penzance and FGW expresses from London to Penzance stop at St Erth. CrossCountry operates daily services to and from the Midlands, the north and Scotland. South West Trains operates infrequent services to London Waterloo. For pictures of St Erth station in 1979 and 1981 see [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1005319] and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/604669] .

Milestone Society National ID: CW_PZCA06.