This railway ran from Newquay, through the localities of Quintrell Downs, St Columb Road and St. Dennis.
Construction proved to be easier said than done and the 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of 7 ft (2,134 mm) broad gauge railway from the main line at Burngullow up to Nanpean finally opened on 1 July 1869.
It is some way north of St. Dennis, nearer to the areas of St. Columb Road, Indian Queens and Toldish.
Since the link to the Par - Newquay railway was cut in 1960, the line from Burngullow up to Parkandillack (just south of St. Dennis) has remained open for freight.
In their 2001-2006 Cornwall Local Transport Plan (CLTP hereafter) it was proposed to reignite this scheme with additions.