PUPILS from Calstock Primary School travelled to Plymouth recently to launch a song they had written with a school in Keyham about the Tamar Valley Line.

Children took part in ‘A Song for the Tamar Valley’, a project organised by the Plymouth University-based Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership to write a song inspired by the scenic branch line which connects Plymouth with Gunnislake and the rural villages of the Tamar Valley.

Over the course of two days, the children worked with Sally Crabtree, a performance poet and writer from Mousehole, to compose and record the song. They also wrote jingles which could be used to promote the line and created artwork depicting what they could see from the train window.

Rebecca Catterall from the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership said: ‘The children have composed a fantastic song which really paints a picture of this lovely journey. The song will be available to hear through our special Poetry Phone Booth at Plymouth station during the day of the launch, and after that, online.’

Sally said: ‘This project aimed to show the children there is a big world out there which can be explored by train. Through writing the song together, the children came together from two different communities, with one shared goal, of creating something that will inspire other people to travel on this beautiful branch line as well.’

GWR station manager for the branch line Sara Roger said: ‘The Plymouth to Gunnislake line is a key route and we are pleased to see it receive the support of the community and the local economy it serves, both now — and as these primary school pupils show — for the future generation of passengers too.’

The song will be available to listen to on www.greatscenicrailways.com/song