The station was opened as Perran on 24 August 1863 when the Cornwall Railway opened the line from Truro to Falmouth, it was renamed Perranwell on 19 February 1864 to avoid confusion with nearby Penryn.
 
It originally had 2 platforms either side of a passing loop, a goods shed with several sidings to south, one of which was equipped with a 2 ton crane, the yard was able to accommodate live stock and most types of goods.
The signal box here was very distinctive, being sited on girders above the track alongside the goods shed.

The station was host to a GWR camp coach from 1936 to 1939.
A camping coach was also positioned here by the Western Region from 1952 to 1964.

The Cornwall Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 July 1889.
The Great Western Railway was nationalised into British Railways from 1 January 1948 but was then privatised in the 1990s.

The goods shed still stands in the forecourt despite goods traffic ceasing on 4 January 1965.
A dry drinking fountain can be seen on the platform, a reminder of more important days.

A short distance on either side of the station, valleys had to be crossed on lofty timber viaducts.
To the north, Carnon viaduct crossed 96 feet above the Carnon River valley and the Redruth and Chasewater Railway.
In the other direction, trains crossed the smaller Perran Viaduct (56 feet high, 339 feet long).

In the 1980s the station had become run down with only a small aluminium shelter with polycarbonate panels offering protection for passengers.
 However, during the late 1990s a new brick waiting shelter was built as part of a refurbishment programme at all the "Maritime Line" stations.
The station was opened as Perran on 24 August 1863 when the Cornwall Railway opened the line from Truro to Falmouth, it was renamed Perranwell on 19 February 1864 to avoid confusion with nearby Penryn.  
It originally had 2 platforms either side of a passing loop, a goods shed with several sidings to south, one of which was equipped with a 2 ton crane, the yard was able to accommodate live stock and most types of goods. The signal box here was very distinctive, being sited on girders above the track alongside the goods shed.
The station was host to a GWR camp coach from 1936 to 1939. A camping coach was also positioned here by the Western Region from 1952 to 1964.
The Cornwall Railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway on 1 July 1889. The Great Western Railway was nationalised into British Railways from 1 January 1948 but was then privatised in the 1990s.
The goods shed still stands in the forecourt despite goods traffic ceasing on 4 January 1965. A dry drinking fountain can be seen on the platform, a reminder of more important days. 
A short distance on either side of the station, valleys had to be crossed on lofty timber viaducts. To the north, Carnon viaduct crossed 96 feet above the Carnon River valley and the Redruth and Chasewater Railway. In the other direction, trains crossed the smaller Perran Viaduct (56 feet high, 339 feet long).
In the 1980s the station had become run down with only a small aluminium shelter with polycarbonate panels offering protection for passengers.  However, during the late 1990s a new brick waiting shelter was built as part of a refurbishment programme at all the "Maritime Line" stations.
Perranwell railway station