The Hayle Railway was opened from Hayle foundry to Pool and Portreath on 23 December 1837. Hayle station at that time being located below the current viaduct opposite the Post Office.

This line came down two inclines from Camborne, one at Penponds, the other at Angarrack. Steam traction was used on part of the route from the outset, but horse traction was used at first at the western end.

Once down to almost sea level the line ran along the north side of Copperhouse creek along what is now King George V Walk. This original line crossed the creek very close to the current, though disused, rail swing bridge and continued alongside Penpol Terrace to the original station site in Foundry Square (Isis Gardens).

The old line continued broadly westward, at first a little to the north of the modern route, with a southward loop to follow the contour through the site of the later Gwinear Road station, and then to near Trenowin Farm, where the line continued almost due west; the present line diverges to the south. Crossing Steamers Hill, the line came to the head of Angarrack incline and descended to Phillack, running on the north side of Copperhouse Pool. The three arch bridge over a stream at Lethlean (near Phillack, just south of the middle of Glebe Row) is the oldest surviving railway bridge in Cornwall

When passenger services were first in operation, in May 1843, trains apparently started and terminated at Crotch's Hotel, close to Foundry Square. A proper station building came into use in Foundry Square from 27 May 1844.

Angarrack incline was 1,900 feet (580 m) long with a fall of about 185 feet (56 m); it was powered by a stationary steam engine.

The railway received an estimate to provide four stationary steam engines in 1836, in the amount of £7,100, although in the event the Penponds and Tresavean inclines were gravity operated