In the middle decades of the 19th century, mineral extraction in the Callington and Gunnislake area of East Cornwall reached a peak.

The trade was limited by the difficulty of conveying the products to market: pack horses were used as far as Calstock, where there was a quay on the tidal River Tamar for onward coast-wise shipping transport.

The chief mineral was copper ore, with some tin and arsenic also; timber and coal was brought in to serve the mines.

Although the Tamar was tidal at Calstock, the passage to the sea was difficult, involving poling the ship past shoal stretches.

The company was to build a standard gauge line from Callington to Kelly Quay at Calstock, with an inclined plane to descend to the quayside there.

The company obtained parliamentary authority in the Tamar, Kit Hill and Callington Railway Act 1864 (27 & 28 Vict.

Construction work proceeded steadily, and the East Cornwall Mineral Railway (Deviation) Act 1871 (34 & 35 Vict.

[1][2][3][note 1] The line was 7 miles 4 furlongs and 5 chains (12.17 km) long running from Kelly Bray to Calstock.

Kelly Bray, about a mile (about 1.5 km) north of Callington, was at an altitude of 640 feet (195 m) above sea level and was the railhead for a considerable agricultural hinterland.

There is evidence of realignment of the incline: the later route was higher up the hillside and reduced the sharp curve near the bottom.

[note 2] That line opened on 2 June 1890, and it was to be worked by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR).

This proved feasible, and the Bere Alston and Calstock Light Railway Order 1900 was confirmed by the Board of Trade on 12 July 1900; as well as the new line, the order authorised the acquisition of the ECMR line and its operation as a passenger light railway (excepting the incline).

The PD&SWJR branch crossed the Tamar on a high viaduct at Calstock where a wagon lift was provided to allow continued access to the quay.

With the decline in usage of rural railways in the second half of the twentieth century, the viability of the line decreased and it was proposed for closure.