Visit Falmouth Docks train station now and it’s hard to imagine that it was once an enclosed hive of activity, dealing with much goods traffic as well as passengers, and with STAFF all of its own – writes Mike Truscott.

A dip into a Packet of 50-years-ago reveals a very different picture from today, albeit reporting a sad milestone with the loss of a century-old service.

In 1964, Falmouth Station, as it was then simply known, boasted a signalman, a porter and a shunter, among others. There was also a full-blown booking office and several goods traffic clerks.

The latter, alas, were on the move, with the end of the delivery service for local shopkeepers and hoteliers, which had run since the Truro-Falmouth branch line’s opening in 1863.

The shunting of 17 wagons into sidings one Friday afternoon marked the end of the service, and the failure of a year-long campaign by unions and Falmouth Trades Council for the goods depot to be retained.

From then on, parcels were to be brought to Falmouth by road from Penzance and vice versa. Only full wagon loads would continue to be brought direct to Falmouth. All sundry goods, which had formed the major part of the goods traffic, were now doing the Penzance bit.

For an experimental period of three months, the Falmouth depot would remain open for goods from and to local people. Several staff were transferred to other stations – including chief goods clerk Mr E Sadler, who moved to Truro.

The original, enclosed Falmouth Station was 200 feet long and 90 feet wide, with three tracks and two platforms. Engine and goods sheds were built just outside the station, along with 20 nearby dwellings – Railway Cottages – for staff.