90 TRANSACTIONS OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
is 14 m. 5 fur. 6 eh. In 1835 an amended Act was obtained; 
and in 1865 an Act for carrying out certain improvements, and 
among them apparently the substitution of heavier rails for those 
then existing. Very amusing stories are told of the harmless 
dangers and difficulties attendant on travelling by this, the third 
steam railway in the kingdom. (Some of these were narrated by 
the lecturer.) 
The earliest permanent way consisted of wrought -iron rails 
of uniform single-headed section, weighing 37 lbs. per yard, and 
laid in chairs set on granite blocks placed 3 ft. 6 in., centre 
to centre. These granite blocks averaged 1 ft. 8 in. by 1 ft. 6 in. 
by 1 ft. deep, and the bed of the cast-iron chair measured 4 in. by 
8 in. The rails were secured in the chairs by iron keys. 
About 1864 these rails were partially replaced by others, 
weighing 56 lbs. per yard. The old permanent way was replaced 
in 1878-1879 by flanged Vignoles rails laid on wooden cross- 
sleepers, to which they were attached partly by spikes, and 
in parts by bolts and washers. Five miles of the way are now 
being taken up and relaid with the South- Western standard rails, 
and certain of the curves of somewhat small radius are being 
altered to meet modern requirements. Works are also in progress 
for connecting this portion with the new branch line to Bodmin 
from Bodmin Road, and thus with the Cornwall main line. The 
passenger traffic only ceased on October 30th, 1886, and the goods 
traffic continued up to September, 1887. 
The earlier locomotives have for many years since been old 
iron; but a tender belonging, I believe, to the first locomotive, 
the Camel, is still to be seen at Wadebridge. A lithograph, 
published on the occasion of the opening of the railway on 
September 30th, 1834, shows the Camel with a train attached, 
containing 400 passengers. The same Eoger Hopkins who was 
engineer to the Princetown railway seems, with his son, to have 
designed and superintended the Wadebridge line. 
For some of my information concerning this railway I am 
indebted to Mr. Kidd, of Wadebridge, who very kindly answered 
my enquiries by giving me all the information in his power. 
WEST CORNWALL RAILWAY. 
The West Cornwall Railway, from Redruth to Hayle, was 
opened in 1835, and was worked by steam-power. 
