THE Helston Railway Preservation Society has added the Cober Viaduct, also known as Lowertown Viaduct, to its land portfolio. Robin Jones reports…
The six-arch curved stone structure has always been seen as a key objective and the jewel in the crown in the strategy to extend the railway as far towards Helston as possible. Often referred to as The Sleeping Beauty, there is now a real likelihood that the viaduct will be reawakened for the first time since the branch was closed in October 1964.
As reported in Heritage Railway issue 315, the railway launched a £350,000 Making Tracks appeal to cover the purchase of rails, ballast and infrastructure to further extend the line over the Cober Valley or Lowertown Viaduct to the proposed new station on the outskirts of Helston. Spanning the valley and river, the 373ft structure stands about 90ft above ground. Built in 1886, it was constructed using stone from a nearby quarry.
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“It will be an impressive visitor attraction as passengers travel on our heritage railway, with wonderful views across the valley,” said a railway statement. “It will be the Helston Railway’s equivalent of the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the West Highland main line, known usually as the Harry Potter bridge.”
Work to be done
Necessary works to prepare the viaduct for future use include clearing the deck, checking the waterproof membrane and replacing it if necessary, and making the parapet and refuges safe and sound. Accordingly, public access to the bridge is therefore strictly prohibited for safety reasons.
Society chairman Tim Childs added: “We are all over the moon with delight at this acquisition. It adds further impetus to our efforts to reach Helston once more and represents the preservation of an important architectural treasure of which Cornwall can be proud. It is a major boost for the Helston Railway and every one of its hard-working volunteers, past and present.
“We are talking with other landowners to acquire more of the original trackbed, and some agreements have been reached in principle.”
Elsewhere, the Helston Railway Preservation Co. Ltd. has just been granted charitable status.
