WHEN it comes to witty conversation, a true local atmosphere and a good mix of ages - as well as avid competition in euchre and dominos - then The Railway Hotel in the heart of Saltash is the pub to be.

It could be said that, on entering Cornwall by road, The Railway Hotel, resplendent with two eye-catching pictures of steam trains and a GWR logo, is the first public house which can be visited.

Its tenant is John Marks, who was born and bred in Cargreen, while the manageress for the past l8 months has been Jo Rogers, a native of Saltash.

Jo, who used to manage the Bullers Arms at Landrake, knows The Railway - a Courage West and Wales pub - especially well, for she started using it as her local when she was l8. Now the wheel has turned full circle, and she has returned to keep it running with friendly, welcoming precision.

The railway theme is continued inside, the walls of the pub being adorned with attractive signed prints of steam engines, and an unusual metal picture of an engine.

Carolyn James, who is just helping out at the moment behind the bar, has fun with two of the prints. These are by artist Terence Cuneo, who always places a mouse somewhere in his pictures - and many a long hour has been spent by customers searching, at her suggestion, for the mouse! Carolyn used to work full-time at the pub, some years ago, and so knows it inside out, as well as all the usual customers.

The Railway, a coaching inn which at one time was known as The Rodney (the current Rodney having been The Coronation), has two bars, one a lounge for the domino and crossword enthusiasts, and those who want to carry on the usual banter between each other and the bar staff - the other the public bar with its darts board and the pool table which is a favourite of many of the younger element.

Friendly

When he took over as tenant of the pub John Marks refurbished the building, and round the pool table ensured granite slabs from the family cottage at Cargreen were used to great effect.

There are three Railway euchre teams, which compete in division one and two of the local league, and Monday nights is euchre night. Live music is provided on the last Thursday of each month, the acts changing from month to month.

Anyone wishing to stay centrally in Saltash can do little better than take up the room-only accommodation on offer, there being six rooms upstairs available for visitors.

The Railway is deceptively extensive, its two bars having a number of nooks and crannies which makes it much larger than might first appear. Behind it is a very handy car park for customers, which takes about 15 vehicles - and is for those frequenting the Railway only. Alexandra Square, with rather a gruesome past, is also situated behind the Railway - and it is here that public hangings were staged.

The pub is open all day, and boasts a good regular trade in daytime, with a different crowd again making the most of the evenings. A bookmaker's office is situated nearby, and Jo said she always knows when an event such as the Grand National is on, because the usual trade swells still further!

One of the lunchtime regulars is 'Little Jim' who has been a Railway customer for the past 22-23 years.

He remembers when the previous landlord was in charge there were attempts by the brewery to give the Railway a fancy new name.

Welcoming

Such was the dismay of the customers - who thought the name ideal for a pub so near to Brunel's famous bridge - that Jim organised a petition which eventually pressured the brewery into changing its mind.

He described the Railway as friendly and welcoming, offering an atmosphere where 'everyone is able just to get on with their own business'. He said the staff were excellent, and offer their customers the chance to relax and confer - especially over crosswords, as he does with another lunchtime regular, Tony Trevethick.

Tony has been taking refreshment at the Railway for the past three years, since moving to Saltash, and praised it for the 'congenial companionship' it offers. He lives close to the centre of town, so finds it no hardship to wander down there.

Another regular both frequently meet up with is John Smith, who spoke of the Railway being a local pub in all the best traditions. Only snacks such as crisps etc are offered, he said, so it is not full of people eating food, and no children and dogs are allowed, so those at the bar can enjoy the opportunity of conversation which is given. Jo's Rottweiler dog, Sampson, lives upstairs, and is on the premises purely for security purposes!

One customer last Monday, Tim Reid, had never been inside the Railway before. He had travelled from Plymouth and was just seeking somewhere for a friendly drink where he could relax for a moment or two. He said the Railway fitted the bill perfectly.

Kev Branton pops into the pub on quite a regular basis, both lunchtimes and evenings - for a game of pool, and because it has such a homely atmosphere. He is among the younger element of Railway customers - while those of more mature years include Malcolm Jones, who has been supping at the pub since l955, and 'Del' Wadge.