Calstock Viaduct

A Memory of Calstock.

When living in Bere Alston there were trains still running to Gunnislake over this beautiful viaduct. Made of concrete blocks which were made on site. It took four years to build and was opened in 1908. A wagon lift made of iron hauled wagons containing mineral ore from the quay below. On a Sunday the trains were few and finished running early so I was able to walk the route from Bere Alston to Calstock. Can still remember the smell of oil and wooden sleepers from the steam trains. Calstock used to have a fair once a year and it was well worth a visit. One of the prettiest valleys with so much industrial archeology to explore and wonder at. Run off from Mines carrying blue water which turned the stones blue. Waste heaps of broken stone to climb. Mineshafts covered in sleepers though. Some of the shallow shafts in which broken stone and water were a sight amidst all the green. The Tamar Valley I have explored by boat and on foot and it is a favourite place.