History of Bodmin Parkway

Main Station

Bodmin Parkway Station, nestled in the scenic Glynn Valley in Cornwall, opened as Bodmin Road Station on 4 May 1859. It was established by the Cornwall Railway, one of the many 19th-century lines that helped open up the West Country to industrial and passenger traffic. The station originally served as a rural link between the main line and the then-isolated town of Bodmin.

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In 1961, the station was renamed Bodmin Parkway, reflecting its evolving role as a transport hub rather than just a rural stop.

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Heritage Railway

The Bodmin & Wenford Railway (B&WR) is one of Cornwall’s most cherished heritage railways. The line was closed to passenger traffic in 1967 but reopened as a heritage railway in 1990, thanks to the dedication of local enthusiasts and historical societies. Today, it offers an authentic steam railway experience along a beautifully restored stretch of line between Bodmin Parkway and Bodmin General, with a scenic spur to Boscarne Junction.

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Did You Know?

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• Bodmin Parkway was one of the first rural stations in Cornwall to receive electric lighting – installed as early as the 1920s.
   

• The original Bodmin General station clock was stolen in the 1970s but later recovered and restored to working order by local enthusiasts.
   

• The line once served a royal mail sorting carriage, demonstrating the railways’ role in national communication before modern postal services.