Unravelling the mysteries of the services 46 and fbb's chosen 47 between Camborne and Redruth demands considerable mental acuity. It is not helped by several facts concerning the first edition of First's Cornwall timetable book.
1. The 46 is red on the map but with an orange timetable heading.
2. Conversely the 47 is orange on the map but headed red in the timetables.
3. The map shows 47 as serving Tolvaddon. It doesn't; that's the 46
4. Then at least one 46 uses the 47 route va Portreath.
5. In the evenings and on Sundays all the 47s run via the 46 route between Camborne and Redruth. But it's not even a simple as that. It's the 46 route, sort of, but running via Portreath. Sort of?
It's all a remnant of the days when these outposts of Camborne and Redruth were served by a clutch of local "town" routes (and they were complicated then!) which were cobbled together to form the operationally convenient links that exist today.
They may be "operationally convenient" for First Bus, but what effect do these anomalies have on those troublesome creatures we call "passengers"; do they, poor things, understand the timetable, or do they get on a bus with an attitude of expectancy and hope? Or do they simply stay at home?
Anyway, fbb travels via Portreath Beach ...
... making a mental note to hone up on his surfing skills in preparation for further Cornwall visits.
On the way, however, the big excitement on 46 and 47 is, of course, the Tesco Extra.
A google aerial view shows the Tesco and warehouse-type development south of the main Camborne Redruth Road, a road now superseded, for through traffic, by the A30 by-pass.
The dark scar from bottom left is the main "Great Western" main line. And, of course, it all looked very different in the "good old days".
Instead of a mega-Tesco there are mines, old shafts and Carnbrae Station. There were seventeen now-closed stations between Plymouth and Penzance and there isn't much to see of any of them.
A station was opened near Carn Brea on 23 May 1843 by the Hayle Railway and named "Pool" after a nearby village. The railway was closed on 16 February 1852 and the line was reopened by the West Cornwall Railway (later Great Western) on 11 March 1852, however Pool station remained closed until 25 August 1852, when it was reopened as "Carn Brea", only to be renamed "Pool" once more in June 1854. It reverted to "Carn Brea" on 1 November 1875. It was closed on 2 January 1961.
There is precious little left at the Carn Brea station site today, but the footbridge, dating from the very early days and built to preserve a public right of way, still stands, but renewed.
What does remain, however, is evidence of those mines, once the life blood of the County.
Be that as it may, whilst fbb was watching out for a suitable shop at Portreath where he might upgrade his surfing gear ...
... he spotted a bit of railway archaeology which, of course, needed further research. Back at base, an old OS map showed an industrial line juncting with the main GWR line just northeast of Carnbrea ...
... and ending up at Portreath itself.
What's going on? And what about the freight trams?
Before we look at our next two bus stations and final disaster, we need to take a little historical diversion.
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Meanwhile - a Puzzle
What's going on here?
Having blogged about the depressingly closed travel shop at Camborne, fbb was pleased, nay overjoyed, to hear about exactly the opposite. First Bus have opened an brand new enquiry "hub" (its a desk!) in the popular shopping mall that lies between Queen Street railway station and Buchanan bus station (in Glasgow; but you knew that, of course).
Anxious to redress the balance, fbb emailed First Glasgow for a piccy of "the desk". Sorry, came back the reply we don't have one. Undaunted, fbb contacted Buchanan Galleries. No, they didn't have one either, but they knew where to find one on-line.
And here it is.
You may guess. On the First Glasgow Twitter site! Something about left hands and right hands and the relationship between the two.
Following the Commonwealth Games the stand will act as the main desk for First bus ticket sales and travel advice across the Greater Glasgow area. To celebrate the new base, First Glasgow will offer commuters discounted ten-journey tickets across Greater Glasgow; the first 250 Network Flex-10 tickets will be sold for only £10, a discount of more than 50% on the normal price of £23.
Could we have one in Camborne, please? Will you do your personal best there?
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CONGRATULATIONS
To Giles and Lena Fearnley on the birth of a daughter,
Georgina Maria, sister to Archie Robin.
2nd July 2014 at 0837 : weight 7lb 9oz
CONGRATULATIONS
To Giles and Lena Fearnley on the birth of a daughter,
Georgina Maria, sister to Archie Robin.
2nd July 2014 at 0837 : weight 7lb 9oz
Another new vehicle to enhance the fleet!
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Next bus blog : Friday 11th July
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