FRIENDS of Morwellham Quay, past and present, enjoyed a day of reminiscence on Sunday as memories flooded back of 25 years down the mine.
Among those gathered was Alex Friendship, from Calstock, the first train driver to take passengers down the George and Charlotte mine, which had previously been idle for 100 years, on August 5, 1978.
Bob Le Marchant, mine manager, said: ?Twenty-five years is a long time and there were people there on Sunday I hadn?t seen in that time.
?There were a lot of people who have worked for me over the years, and it turned out to be a very good day with lots of stories to tell about the old times.?
A favourite story was of Ludo the cat, owned by Aunty Annie children?s corner writer for the Times 25 years ago, who disappeared into the mine one morning during the blasting prior to its opening.
The cat was missing for three weeks and presumed dead, but when Annie decided she wanted to visit where he had last been seen, he reappeared, eyes flashing at Bob, Annie and the others who had made the trip down to the mine?s lake.
This story is the reasoning behind the name of number four locomotive ? Ludo ? nothing to do with the board game.
l Morwellham mine captain Rick Stewart takes ?William? ? one of Morwellham?s seven locomotives ? into the George and Charlotte Mine 25 years after the mine was reopened to the public.