Looe Valley Line history

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For centuries the Looe Valley has been shaped by the progress of the agricultural industry, and at one time every farm had an orchard for producing cider. The acidic soils of the Valley required neutralising with lime which had to be imported. The canal was built to carry the lime and thus reducing transportation costs into the valley for distribution by local farmers. You can see some of the old lime kilns and water mills on many of the walks.

The railway was built to replace the canal system and provide a more efficient means of mineral transportation. The line from Coombe Junction passes through the heavily wooded river valley, with river, railway and the remains of the old Liskeard - Looe Union Canal (whose owners built the line) passing very close together, remnants of which can still be seen today.

The Looe Valley Line, one of Britain's most scenic and unusual branch lines, starts from the historic market town of Liskeard. Originally the line continued past Coombe to Moorswater, under the great viaduct carrying the Cornish main line west of Liskeard, connecting there with mineral railways to the Caradon mines. But, in 1901, the new curve was built to link the branch line with the main line and Coombe Junction and the Looe station at Liskeard. Just after Sandplace, the train stops briefly at Terras Bridge where remains of one of the canal's locks can be seen to the left. Here the valley widens right out and the most spectacular section of line is reached. For the next two miles, the line passes right along the side of the estuary, beautiful especially when the tide is in and a delight for bird-watchers with the tide out.

The connection of the Looe valley branch line to the main line gave rise to a whole range of opportunities for local people but also for tourism. The line was saved from closure in 1966 - only 2 weeks before it was ordered to close by Dr Beeching. Tourism in the valley today is now a major industry, replacing the cider, lime and copper industry which have since expired.

Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership | School of Geography | University of Plymouth | Plymouth PL4 8AA
Tel/Fax: 01752 233094
Email: railpart@plymouth.ac.uk