Lyn was a 2-4-2

2-4-2

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...

 tank steam locomotive

Steam locomotive

A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...

 built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works

Baldwin Locomotive Works

The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...

 in 1898 for the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track narrow gauge railway slightly over long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, England. Although opened after the 1896 Light Railways Act came into force,...

. After construction in Philadelphia, the loco was broken down, crated to Barnstaple, and reassembled by L&B staff in their Pilton workshops

Pilton railway station

Pilton Yard, in the village of Pilton, to the north of Barnstaple was, between 1895 and 1935, the main depot and operating centre of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway , a narrow gauge line that ran through Exmoor from Barnstaple to Lynton and Lynmouth in north Devon...

.

Lyn, like all the locomotives on the L&B, was named after a local river with a three-letter name, the River Lyn.

After the Lynton and Barnstaple became part of the Southern Railway

Southern Railway (Great Britain)

The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...

, Lyn was taken to Eastleigh Works

Eastleigh Works

Eastleigh Works is a locomotive, carriage and wagon building and repair facility in the town of Eastleigh in the county of Hampshire in England.-History under the LSWR:...

 for major overhaul in 1928, returning the following year in Southern Green Livery and carrying the number E762 on the side tanks, as well as the original nameplates on the cab sides.

Lyn was scrapped in 1935, when the line closed.

Replica

In January 2009, The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust announced a project to build a replica of Lyn for use on the restotored railway by 2012.Heritage Railway Magazine retrieved 27 January 2009The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Magazine Issue 87 Winter 2008/9 published by The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust. As of 2010, Lyn's wooden cab has been built and an order placed for the construction of the boiler. Final assembly will be carried out by Alan Keef

Alan Keef

Alan Keef Ltd is a British narrow gauge railway engineer which manufactures, overhauls and deals in narrow gauge locomotives, rolling stock and associated equipment....

 Ltd. who has had experience with other Baldwin locos, such as the restoration of Baldwin 794 for the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. Lyn will be finished in the colours and configuration as the original Lyn after returning from overhaul in 1929.762 Club website (retrieved 22 October 2010)