Looe and Liskeard Old Cornwall Societies commemorate the work of Joseph Thomas - designer of the Looe to Liskeard rail connection.

On Saturday 17th September 2007, 16 members of the Looe Old Cornwall Society took the 10.25 train from Looe to Liskeard, a scenic short journey through the East Looe River valley and up via Commbe Junction to Liskeard. . The objective of the outing was to open the plaque at Liskeard’s Platform Three commemorating the work of Joseph Thomas an engineering design genius.

Joseph Thomas was responsible for the design of the connection between the Looe and Caradon Railway with the GWR at Liskeard via a junction at Coombe. The connecting line was originally opened on 15th May 1901. On pulling into Coombe, the train reverses direction and pulls out via the loop connection. This connection, with 150ft rise via a 270º loop only 2 miles in length, has a ruling gradient of 1 in 40.

As members pulled out of Coombe it was somewhat nostalgic to realise that the journey was made possible by the Victorian Engineer over 100 years ago.

At Liskeard members were met by even more members from the Liskeard Old Cornwall Society. The two societies were welcomed by the Looe President, John Enever, who gave a brief history of the line, and then introduced Mike Trotter the deputy Station Manager, Plymouth and East Cornwall who unveiled the plaque. Christopher Ferguson, the Liskeard Deputy Mayor then said a few words of welcome. Duncan Matthews, the Liskeard OCS President gave a short speech about the other works of Joseph Thomas and again thanked Looe OCS for their involvement. Present in the group were two lifelong employees of the line, Cyril Willis and Arthur Hutchins, both of who explained how nostalgic the celebrations were.

Finally a buffet was laid on by the Liskeard Station Canteen staff, and the Looe contingent returned to Looe on the 12.10.

 

The photos below all taken by John Hall show:

 

(1) George Vaughan-Ellis, Bob Shearman (flag bearer), John Enever (LOCS President), Mike Trotter (Deputy Station Manager, Plymouth and East Cornwall), Christopher Ferguson (Liskeard Deputy Mayor), Duncan Matthews (Liskeard OCS President)

 

(2) The Plaque unveiled at Liskeards Station, Platofrm 3

 

(3) Members of both societies present at the unveiling.

 

 

 

(Photos are by John Hall, Looe OCS)