Signposts 1: still pointing the way to the junction station 43 years on, in the village of Carnhell Green.

The 'down' and branch bay platforms at Gwinear Road as viewed from the level crossing. The Helston branch platform was to the left, with the track running in against the boundary wall.

Looking west along the 'down' and branch platforms at Gwinear Road. For the most part this platform is intact and keeps vigil for the trains that no longer decant Helston bound passengers...

The Helston branch platform looking east along the initial few yards of the branch.The trackbed between the platform edge and the boundary wall has been for the most part backfilled, probably with rubble from the downside station buildings.

The site of Gwinear Road West signalbox, on the 'down' platform.

No longer calling part one...a First Great Western HST rolls past the intact 'down' and branch bay.

No longer calling part two...wild grass and self seeded saplings continue their colonization of the Helston bay.

The Helston Preservation Society's Class 103 Park Royal DMU undergoing restoration in the Gwinear Road cattle dock.

Another view of the DMU undergoing restoration at Gwinear Road cattle dock.

Surviving rail fencing just east of Gwinear Road stationmaster's house, on the track known as Polmenor Downs North. The branch struck a direct course across the field behind, but all of the first half mile or so has now been returned to the plough.

Looking back from the site of bridge 1 towards Gwinear Road in the distance. The initial cutting is now filled in; the trackbed formerly ran straight ahead toward the DMU parked in the cattle dock.

The sorry remains of the first bridge along the branch, formerly carrying Polmenor Downs North across the track. The mound is the ploughed back western parapet: the initial cutting was progressively backfilled during the 1980's, but for a long time the bridge, although choked remained as an evocative sentry of the lost branch.

Hard to believe a railway once ran here...one of the few points along this line thankfully where erasure is complete. This vantage point is actually from the site of bridge 2, looking along the line of the former cutting towards the tumulus of bridge 1 - just identifiable immediately to the left of the lorry trailer.

Looking from beneath the arched overbridge No.3 south toward No.4, the locally famous humpback bridge carrying the Barripper - Carnhell Green minor road. Summer 1985.

Looking from the top of bridge 3 south toward bridge 4, summer 1985. Like the other bridges along this initial half mile stretch from Gwinear Road, nothing now remains: the first three and attendant cutting being filled in and abutments removed progressively throughout the 1980's.

Looking up at a friend from the trackbed beneath bridge 3, Easter 1986. Note the stalactites. This bridge was sadly infilled and the abutments demolished with the ongoing infill of the cutting from Gwinear Road, which was completed in the early 1990's.

Looking towards Helston from under bridge 3, Easter 1986. Note the smoke blackening.

Along what is now the first surviving stretch of trackbed approaching the hamlet of Carnhell Green, Easter 1986.

The three-quarter milepost in situ between bridges 3 & 4 near Carnhell Green, Summer 1985.

Deep in the thicket: the lot of the abandoned railway walker is a road paved with thorns, especially somewhere as verdant as West Cornwall! Around the mile mark from Gwinear Road, Easter 1986.

Winter's dusk approaches, and the prospect of bridge 6 from the vantage of an obscure footpath that crosses the line starts to be veiled in mist.

From the top of bridge 6 looking north toward Gwinear Road.The trackbed is discernible running straight up underneath the baled hay, before curving right and rising onto the embankment marked by the line of mature trees.

Winter conditions prevail underfoot at bridge 6. The trackbed here once again serves as a farm track for a distance.

On the top of bridge 6: an original high tension fencing post, manufactured by "The Iron Wire Fence Co. London".