LAUNCESTON Steam Railway has once again joined forces with the Cornish and Devon Post to offer local people the chance to travel on the railway at special discount fares, in the week beginning May 22. Full details and the voucher will be found in next week’s newspaper.

Whilst closed to the general public over the winter months, there has been much activity. Some of this will be more obvious, such as the on-going programme of cutting back lineside vegetation.

This is opening up the views of the valley and river again, and one benefit which has already been seen is that wildflowers are re-establishing themselves along the railway. It also allows mature trees to flourish, and gives room for selected saplings to develop fully.

Railways are very good nature reserves both for flora and fauna — the absence for most of the time of any human activity along the trackside allows small mammals such as dormice to thrive (look carefully as you travel up the line and you might see an occasional dormouse box fixed to a tree); slow worms can bask undisturbed in the sun, and of course there are always the famous ‘Railway Rabbits’.

Attention has also been given to the track — one section leading to the main works has been replaced using sleepers made from old rail — too worn to use for trains to run on, but perfect for recycling for a second use in replacing old timber sleepers.

A section of the main railway has also been replaced with new wooden sleepers and rail in almost unused condition, bought a few years ago when military railways were being decommissioned and the equipment and track was being sold off.

Managing director Nigel Bowman said: “Just before the Falklands War, the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, insisted that all of the railways in military establishments were brought up to tip-top condition. In the event, they were hardly used, and now have been replaced by lorries.

“Occasionally the opportunity arises to acquire suitable rail, which is otherwise now hard to find. With the prospect of extending to Egloskerry with the TRAC project, we acquired around two miles worth of rail. Sadly the project failed, and some of the rail is now being used to improve the existing line.”

If you have never visited the railway, or if you would just like a relaxing day, why not take advantage of this special offer? Tickets are valid for unlimited travel on the day of issue, and as a bonus, tickets for a future visit during the 2016 timetable may be bought in advance with a 50% discount.