Helston Railway
Volunteer-run heritage railway near Helston in west Cornwall, with train rides on a restored section of the former Great Western branch line to Truthall Halt.
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Over het museum
The Helston branch of the Great Western Railway opened in 1887 and connected Helston with the main line at Gwinear Road. For many decades it carried passengers, farm produce and goods for local businesses. As road transport grew, passenger services were withdrawn in 1962 and the line closed completely in 1964, after which the track was lifted.
Local enthusiasts later formed the Helston Railway Preservation Company to rebuild part of the route. Volunteers cleared the old trackbed, relaid track and restored the infrastructure, and they rebuilt Truthall Halt, a small country station that now forms one end of the running line. Heritage trains then began to run again on the restored section.
Today the railway runs between Prospidnick, where the main visitor facilities are, and Truthall Halt. It is operated almost entirely by volunteers, who also restore locomotives, carriages and wagons. The long-term aim is to extend the line further along its original route, and an appeal aims to acquire and refurbish the Lowertown Viaduct so that trains can cross it again. In 2026 the operating company became a registered charity.
Hoogtepunten
- Train rides between Prospidnick and Truthall Halt on a restored Great Western branch line
- Heritage locomotives, carriages and wagons restored by volunteers
- Buffet and restaurant carriages at Prospidnick station
- Seasonal Halloween and Santa Special trains
- Free on-site parking and dogs welcome, including on the train
Vaste collectie
- Locomotives and rolling stock – Heritage locomotives, carriages and wagons that run on the line and are restored and maintained by volunteers.
- Beheerder
- Helston Railway Preservation Company Ltd
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
| Volwassenen | £ 11 |
|---|---|
| Kinderen & jongeren | £ 6,50gratis t/m 4 jaar · Child ticket for ages 5 to 16; under-fives are free. |
| Dog ticket | £ 1 |
| Santa Specials, adult | £ 12,50Special event price, with a present for each child included. |
| Santa Specials, child (5 to 15) | £ 12,50 |
| Santa Specials, infant (under 5) | £ 6 |
Standard running day prices are shown. Tickets can usually be bought on arrival but advance booking is recommended for special events and busy days.
Toegankelijkheid
- Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
- Lift: geen informatie
- Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
- Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
Some areas of the railway are accessible, but as a heritage site it has uneven surfaces. Visitors with specific accessibility needs are asked to contact the railway before visiting.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
| Bezoekduur | ca. 2 uur |
|---|---|
| Toegang kinderen | gratis t/m 4 jaar |
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
The railway describes itself as family friendly. Under-fives travel free, and seasonal events include Halloween trains and Santa Specials with a grotto visit and a present for every child.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
Helston
The nearest town with regular bus services is Helston, from where a short taxi ride reaches the railway. The nearest mainline stations are Redruth and Camborne, each about 25 to 30 minutes by car.
Met de auto
Gratis parkeren
Free visitor parking at Prospidnick station.
From Helston follow the A394 towards Penzance, turn right onto the B3302 towards Camborne, and after 1.3 miles turn onto the B3303 through Crowntown, following brown signs for Helston Railway and then Prospidnick.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museumwinkel
Refreshments and light meals from the Cornish Carriages buffet and restaurant cars at Prospidnick station on running days. Gift shop and souvenirs. Dogs on leads are welcome on all parts of the site, including the train.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.
Je bezoek plannen
| Goed om te weten | Most visits last 1 to 2 hours, depending on refreshments and the number of train rides. Volunteers are on hand to answer questions about the railway's restoration. |
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