The original Moorswater viaduct, on the main line west of Liskeard, was one of 34 such structures built by the Cornwall Railway between Saltash and Truro, its timber construction later being replaced by the new stone structure seen here, with the piers of the original still standing behind.
The branch line from Liskeard down to Looe ran through the valley of the East Looe river with services having to reverse at Coombe, that seven mile line originally running from here at Moorswater down to Looe, being opened in December of 1860 for freight only, mainly copper and stone from the Cheeswring quarries on open moorland high above Liskeard which had been previously conveyed down to Looe by means of the nearby canal. Passenger services began in September of 1879, the line being carried up from Coombe Junction to Liskeard station in February of 1901.