Class 117 front seat ride on the Looe Branch July 1994

Here is a rare piece of video my dad took when we used to regularly visit Looe on our summer holidays in the 90's.
This video includes much of the former GWR branch from Liskeard to Looe from the front and then rear seat of 117 305,a DMU class that actually has some character unlike todays modern muck.

[@JohnPW22]

Posted you a vid of my old model of the line - now dismantled sadly. Thanks for posting this - great footage!

[@klbird]

An interesting slice of history.

[@FonteDeiMarmi]

Well is'nt that a wonderfull branchline if ever there was one. Are we going to get a run round loop and Heritage trains on it ever again? How about Bodmin and Wenfords fleet and even Diesels running on it in the tourist season. The bottom line is it will make money and bring many people into Looe, even at Easter. The turntable at St Blazey is working and if NR lenghtened the platform at Looe we could see trains from Just about anywhere.5* Let this line come back to life. And even freight, Fish?

[@servicecrew6813]

Yes how did it stay open ?

[@alberta45562]

Tourism I guess, that and Looe is a sizeable town.

[@servicecrew6813]

@@alberta45562 same applied to Kingsbridge Brixham Sidmouth etc.... must have been the poor road access...

[@LeamingtonSteve]

but I heard that Ilfracombe was too, but that went, as did the Minehead branch, and Padstow and Fowey, Bude etc

[@LeamingtonSteve]

How did Beeching miss this one?!

[@FonteDeiMarmi]

@Isidore98 I would like nothing more than to see a "real" railway running to looe instead of little breadvans masquerading as trains! Of course the government wont pay for any such thing so we all have to squash in to one carriage on a first great western unit.
If you want to go to Plymouth wouldnt you rather have a service that goes direct? Perhaps your local MP and councillors can help or do they use cars?