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Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Re-born
On Saturday, 17th July 2004 the great day finally arrived when once again a Lynton & Barnstaple Railway ran a public train service! It was only a small beginning, but great oaks are said to grow from little acorns, and this little acorn shows much promise. The photographs on the first part of this page were taken during the third day of operation, 19th July 2004.
As can be seen, the second line of track has been laid and the ground frame is now connected via the point rodding to the points to the south of the station.
photograph by Peter Richards
The point rodding connecting to the pair of points, which are operated as a crossover.
photograph by Peter Richards
The train departing from the station. The engine, Exmoor Ranger, is a 1975 Hunslet diesel whilst the coach is a rebuild of one that used to operate at the Thorpe Park amusement park. There is a steam engine that will come out for demonstration purposes on some weekends, though as this is not presently fitted with a train air braking system, it cannot be used for passenger journeys.
Hopefully the replica of Lyd that was then being built at the Boston Lodge works of the Ffestiniog Railway will be able to spend some time working on the Lynton & Barnstaple line.
photograph by Peter Richards
The route was then very short, and stopped where the first bridge south of Woody Bay is missing. This bridge was replaced in time for the 2005 passenger service, at which time the journey continued further - to the next missing bridge! There is no run-round facility so the locomotive and coach set back to Woody Bay station. The head lamp (rather than tail lamp) in this photograph shows that the train is just arriving back in the station. As the coach presently in use (and a second that should join it shortly) are about two feet narrower than the original L&B coaches, a grey board has been added to the side of the platfom to extend it widthwise.
photograph by Peter Richards
The tickets cost £2.50 for an adult fare which allowed unlimited travel on the day of issue, although they did ask you to give precedence when the train is full to those who have yet to travel. Children, senior citizens and members of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Society are entitled to a discounted fare.
photograph by Peter Richards
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway's crest on the side of the coach.
photograph by Peter Richards
Fast forward to 1st August 2012 and the Railway has come on by leaps and bounds! The line has been extended to Killington Lane, a distance of a mile, with plans for the next stage to see the length gradually extended to nine miles, from Lynton to Wistlandpound. With the exception of an Up Home signal the station area of Woody Bay is now fully signalled - even though trains cannot depart north. Fares have escalated, though, from the £2.50 of 2004 to £7.00 (concessions £5.00, children £3.00, dogs Free).
Throughout the month of August the railway was running a daily service with Kerr, Stuart "Joffre Class" 0-6-0T Axe of 1915 working the trains on 1st.
Axe and train awaiting departure from Killington Lane station. This is only a temporary structure and has been built off the course of the railway line so that it doesn't interfere when construction continues towards Parracombe and Wistlandpound.
photograph by Marion Richards
Looking back from Killington Lane towards Woody Bay. The original alignment can be seen to the right of the tracks, one which will be reinstated when the railway pushes further south.
photograph by Marion Richards
The Woody Bay Signalbox, really just a covered Ground Frame, is now fully operational with all levers in use.
photograph by Peter Richards
The shed referred to previously has been built and is now a busy and full two road engine shed and workshop. Having left her train in the main platform road Axe has moved forward to the other track and is now taking water during the run-round. The Westinghouse dummy can be seen to be off for the move to the far end of the station.
photograph by Marion Richards
Axe has now finished taking water and has moved beyond the dummy and is proceeding with the run-round.
photograph by Peter Richards
This is an approximate replica of the wooden Down Starting Signal that stood on the exact same spot, shown inset and from the other side. As no one actually knew the dimensions of the post, the size of the post had to be guesswork.
photograph by Peter Richards
The way ahead photographed again in August 2012. What a change from the earlier view taken sixteen years previously.
photograph by Peter Richards
Sitting on a flat truck in 2012 were the frames for a reconstruction of the Manning Wardle 2-6-2T tank Nº759 Yeo. There was quite a lot more to be done before steam could be raised!
photograph by Peter Richards
This page was last updated 2 August 2012
