Cornish Branches - Branch Lines between Looe and St Ives Drivers Eye View

This Driver’s eye view showcases the full variety of Cornwall’s branch lines, covering no fewer than five passenger routes and one freight-only line. The journey begins with the Looe branch, highlighting the unusual reversal and steep climb at Coombe Junction, set against the dramatic Cornish countryside. We then follow the freight-only branch to Fowey, running alongside the winding river and passing old industrial sidings.

The Newquay branch meanders through open farmland and coastal scenery, while the Falmouth branch retains much of its original main line infrastructure, giving a glimpse of Cornish railways as they once were. The journey concludes along the classic coastal line to St Ives, skirting golden beaches and iconic harbours.

All passenger services are operated by first-generation DMUs, in single and two-car formations, providing a rare opportunity to see these historic units in regular use. On the freight branch to Fowey, a Class 37 locomotive hauls its load, creating a striking contrast to the lightweight DMUs on the passenger lines.

Filmed in real time with a mixture of cab, lineside, and aerial views, the production captures the unique character, engineering quirks, and stunning scenery of Cornwall’s branch railways. This is a genuine archival record of first-generation diesel operation in one of the UK’s most scenic regions.