The track arrangements on the Newquay branch were very much a case of making the best of a bad job. Goonbarrow to St Dennis Junction was never a passenger route. The line started as the Cornwall Minerals Railway but there were a number of route alterations as traffic developed. In addition to the large amount of china clay which came from loading wharves on the various mineral branches by the 1920's the line also had to cope with the very heavy seasonal holiday business, hence the doubling between Par and St Blazey, Goonbarrow Junction and Bugle and Tregoss to St Dennis Junction and the very long ( 15 coach) platforms at Newquay. The line from Tolcarne to Newquay was also doubled when the viaduct was rebuilt. The intermediate stations; Luxulyan, Roche, Bugle, St Columb Rd. had crossing loops. Quintrell Downs had a single, staffed platform. A very interesting place on a Summer Saturday when a procession of trains left Newquay in the morning after shunting had gone on well into Friday night to form them up to be followed later in the day by another procession from Par as the excursion trains from London, The North and the Midlands arrived. Three engines were required in steam days to get the train up through the Luxulyan Valley. Generally the whole setup is now a shambolic shadow of its former self. Even Newquay station hides from the public view. Come to think of it, there's not much in the way of compliments that can be directed to the town of Newquay either.
