Bodmin General railway station

Bodmin General in 1964

The Great Western Railway opened a terminus in Bodmin on 27 May 1887,[1] the line diverging from the Cornish Main Line at Bodmin Road. On 3 September 1888 a new line was opened to join with the Bodmin and Wadebridge line at Boscarne Junction. Bodmin General remained a terminus, so trains running through had to reverse here and retrace their journey for a few yards before bearing right just beyond the station.

The single-sided platform had two adjacent lines, the nearer being used as a run-round and the further being furnished with a goods shed beyond which another curving siding served a cattle dock. At the end of the platform was the signal box and beyond this were two sidings, one housing an engine shed; the junction being on the running line immediately beyond this. A short refuge siding was added to the Bodmin Road line in June 1928, and further on a connection into Fulford Trumps siding was added in April 1973.

The station was originally named Bodmin and, after Nationalisation, became Bodmin General on 26 September 1949,[1] in order to distinguish it from other stations in the area[2] (Bodmin North and Bodmin Road).

The engine shed closed in April 1962, and passenger services ceased on 30 January 1967. Freight services were withdrawn from Bodmin General on 1 May 1967 and the signal box closed later that year. The line officially closed on 3 October 1983 following the demise of freight traffic from Wenford.

The Bodmin and Wenford Railway, a heritage railway, uses Bodmin General as its principal station. Services run to both Bodmin Parkway and to Boscarne Junction; the junction between these two lines is just outside the station which is a terminus.

An engine shed and workshops is situated adjacent to the station. The workshops are open for inspection when trains are running.