This was a railway of two halves; the first was built to get the London & South Western railway independently into Plymouth and was opened as part of their main line in 1890. Separate interests within the company promoted a branch from Bere Alston to join with and re-gauge the narrow gauge East Cornwall Mineral railway line to Callington. Stephens engineered the reconstruction and equipment of the new line, which opened in 1908, but he resigned in 1910 due to pressure of other work.

Although closed beyond Gunnislake in 1966 the line remains open to passenger traffic.

Further Reading:

A Short History of The Bere Alston and Calstock Railway - Brian Janes

Callington Railways, Various Authors, Forge Books Several Editions.

The Plymouth, Devonport & South Western Junction Railway, Oakwood Press, A J Cheeseman, 1967