General Description
The Hayle Railway was opened on 29th December 1837 between Hayle and Portreath, with the remainder opening during 1838. When fully opened, its eastern terminals were at Redruth and copper and tin mines at Tresavean and Lanner, and it ran to wharves and a foundry at Hayle. A long branch was also opened from Pool (later called Carn Brea) to Portreath.
Steam traction was used on part of the route from the outset, but horse traction was used at first at the western end. There were four inclines (described below) which were rope-worked.
The railway enabled the transportation of copper and tin ore from the mines, using coastal shipping or onward transport. Coal (for fuelling pumps which kept the mines dry) and machinery and timber were brought in, and general merchandise was conveyed.
The line was built to standard gauge, the first such in Cornwall, and it had no connection with any other railway. The permanent way was T-section rails laid on stone block sleepers. It was single-line throughout, except for double track on the inclines.
The line from Redruth to Hayle was 9 miles 44 chains in length; Tresavean to Redruth Junction was 2 miles 55 chains; the Portreath branch was 3 miles 6 chains; the Hayle branch (on the quays at Hayle) was 25 chains long, and there were short branches to Roskear (77 chains) and North Crofty (48 chains). (There are 80 chains in a mile; one chain is 22 yards, or about 20 metres.)
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