What a day!  Either side of the Saturday it rained.  In fact the day before it was wall to wall rain and if it hadn't been for a very positive forcast, I suspect there might have been a total cancellation of the outing.  However the day dawned as predicted with brilliant sunshine, and that is how the whole day went.

 

20 of us met at Benny Halt at the northern end of the steam Lappa Valley line at 10.30. John Enever (President) collected our money for the trip on the train and the cream tea. And what a good price it was for what was included.  Well done Lappa Valley.

 

 

The steam train puffed out of Benny Halt (on time!) on its 15 " gauge line at 11.10 and made the

ten minute climb southwards and up the valley towards East Wheal Rose. This track is laid on the trackbed of part of the GWR Chacewater - Newquay branch. The section was started up 1849 and was originally worked by horses.  It was closed by the Beeching axe in the 1960s. On the way we went under the three arched Metha Bridge, which our guide had told us was strengthened during the war as an alternative route for war machines, should it have been needed.

 

 

 

 

At East Wheal Rose after lots of waving at other people  near the stop (why do people laugh and wave when we are on a small steam train?  Perhaps its because we are all being children again!) we alighted. Keith, our guide then took us to a small marquee and gave us an outline and history of the line and also the archaeology and history of East Wheal Rose. The site was formerly occupied by the mine's dressing floors and has been turned into a very scenic amusement area.

 

 

 

The large engine house at its close housed a 100" engine and  dominates the site. It is really impressive.  Unfortunately due to Health and Safety!!! (again!) we were not able to go inside the building, albeit just a viewing gallery of the lower bob level. The lime cement is no longer deamed that safe in places and the scaffolding is due soon for a workover job. The Phillpot shaft in front is 170 fathoms deep and the collar timbers are still viasble through the brown iron stained waters.

 

 

 

 

We had here at the rear of the house the obligatory group photograph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then over to the huge majestic 100' high chimney where the hot exhausts from the engine house would have been drafted up the tall structure.  It is amazing how thick the walls of the chimney are at ground level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then down the rail track to look at the site from a distance and to also look at another shaft, Jubilee Shaft and the contaminated tips due mainly to arsnic where even after 100 years mother nature has not been able to regrow plants.

 

Finally we viewed a DVD of the site and also a very moving programme on the 1846 disaster at the mine when 37 miners lost their lives during a sudden heavy flash flood storm that flooded the mine.

 

Then we were let loose to do our thing.  Most travelled on the Newlyn 7 1/2 inch guage branch line up to Newlyn Halt where there was a playing area for children.

 

 

Back at Wheel Rose there was food and cream teas.  Such light scones.  No callories there of course!

 

Trains back are frequent.  Some of us stayed on to play Crazy Golf.  Others took a short canoe trip on the shallow lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But which ever, eventually the lovely day had to draw to a close and we returned to Benny Halt. Very many thanks to Keith our Lappa Valley guide, John Enever for organising the day, and of course "You Know Who"  for organising such a lovely sunny warm day.