Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
Encyclopedia
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway (L&B) opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track
narrow gauge railway slightly over 19 miles (30.6 km) 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, it was authorised and constructed prior to that act. Therefore, as with all other railways, it was authorised under its own Act of Parliament
and built to higher (and more costly) standards than similar railways of the time. In the United Kingdom it was notable as being the only narrow gauge line required to use main-line standard signalling.
For a short period the line earned a modest return for shareholders, but for most of its life the L&B made a loss. In 1922 the L&B was taken over by the Southern Railway
, and eventually closed in September 1935.
An observer at the time wrote:
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Association
was formed in 1979; and a short section was reopened to passengers in 2004. This was extended in 2006; and the following year plans were announced to open nine miles (14 km) of track, linking the station at Woody Bay to both Lynton (at a new terminus on an extension to the original line, closer to the town) and Blackmoor Gate, and to a new station at Wistlandpound Reservoir
.
to Barnstaple
, there were calls for an extension to serve the twin villages of Lynton
and Lynmouth
, which were popular with holiday-makers.
Through the middle of the 19th century, several schemes were proposed, from established railway companies and independent developers. One scheme suggested electric power, while another proposed a line from South Molton
. None of these schemes offered sufficient prospects to encourage investment, and few got further than initial plans.
Due to the difficult terrain, one scheme suggested a gauge
of , already in use by the Festiniog
[Sic
] Railway Company and elsewhere, to ease construction. This scheme was supported by Sir George Newnes
who became chairman of the company. The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Bill was passed on 27 June 1895, and the line opened on 11 May 1898 with public service commencing on 16 May, connecting with trains from Waterloo on the Ilfracombe Branch Line
at Barnstaple Town
.
The scheme did not meet with universal enthusiasm, and from the beginning, there were some who doubted the true intentions of the promoters. Although many of the sinuous curves and deviations were due to having to maintain a 1 in 50 gradient where there was no leeway (most observers being oblivious to the fact that a straighter shorter line would have made the gradient even steeper), several were due to resistance by local landowners along the route.
A guide published whilst the line was being built stated:
The L&B seldom attracted sufficient passengers to remain viable. The journey of nearly twenty miles took on average an hour and a half. To satisfy several influential residents, the terminus at Lynton was some distance from the town itself, and from the cliff railway to Lynmouth.
Declining tourism during World War I
, improved roads, increased car ownership further depleted the line's income until it was no longer economic.
A guidebook published in 1921 described the situation:
Despite numerous cost-saving measures and extra investment in the line, the Southern Railway was unable to reverse the trend, and closed the line.
The last train ran on 29 September 1935. The Southern removed everything they could use elsewhere, and by 8 November, had lifted the track from Lynton to milepost 15⅓ - on the Barnstaple side of Woody Bay station. On 13 November an auction was held, although the railway failed to attract much interest. Most rolling stock, and every loco except for Lew, was scrapped at Pilton. Some coaches were sectioned for use as garden sheds. Third class seats became garden furniture, and first class seats found their way into local snooker halls and Masonic Lodges. In December, Plymouth
ship breaker Sidney Castle won the tender to dismantle the railway. The remaining track was lifted by June 1936, and in September, surviving loco Lew was shipped to Brazil. The stations and track bed
were auctioned in 1938.
The L&B had an exemplary safety record, and no members of the public were killed or injured during its 37-year existence, although accidents at Braunton Road
and Chumhill
did claim the lives of three track workers.
( *Note: Wooda Bay station was actually renamed Woody Bay in 1901. The geographical feature Woody Bay
after which the station was named was the subject of an attempt to develop it as a tourist resort to rival Lynmouth; a pier was even constructed. The developers felt that the spelling "Woody" was more attractive to tourists, and so changed it from the original "Wooda"; the station name was changed accordingly.)
As well as several foot- and cycle-routes which can still be followed today, the hostelry in Parracombe
mentioned in the article remains a popular venue (although the geese are now singular).
, with the locomotives appearing originally in a livery of plain lined Holly green, later on a black base, with chestnut under-frames, hauling passenger carriages coloured terracotta with off-white upper panels, and light grey goods wagons. The schemes were simplified as individual vehicles were repainted. With the take over by the Southern and arrival of Lew the livery was slowly changed to Maunsell Green for locos and passenger stock, and umber for the goods wagons. The loco headlamps which had been black under the L&B were re-painted red.
The L&B used only coal
-fired steam
motive power. In 1896, the Hunslet Engine Company
submitted two designs (a 2-4-2T and a 4-4-0T), but eventually an order was placed for three 2-6-2Ts from Manning Wardle
& Co of Leeds
. The locos were named after local rivers: Yeo
, Exe
, and Taw
. These were supplemented by a 2-4-2T, Lyn
, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works
of Philadelphia, USA, as the Company realised that three locos would be insufficient. Baldwin was selected as they could deliver the loco — based largely on standard components — more quickly than domestic suppliers, who had a backlog of orders, caused by a national engineering dispute over the 8 hour working day resulting in a lock-out by employers from July 1897 and January 1898. After construction by Baldwin, the loco was shipped across the Atlantic in parts, and re-assembled at Pilton by railway staff. It first steamed in July 1898. The Manning Wardles were delivered ahead of the lock-out, and Yeo and Taw were used in the final stages of construction. Exe was stored locally in a stable, where she received the unwelcome attention of thieves who stole various brass fittings and fixtures.
In 1923 the L&B was absorbed into the Southern Railway
, and began an upgrade programme. All locos & coaches was repainted in Southern Maunsell Green livery, the wagons were repainted in Southern Umber livery and track and buildings were improved. A fifth locomotive, Lew was purchased in 1925, with improvements to the original Manning Wardle design.
and loaded onto the S.S. Sabor destined for the port of Pernambuco (since renamed Recife
), Brazil
. Most of the relevant shipping records were destroyed in World War II
, Lew then just vanished and despite several attempts, no trace of the locomotive, or evidence of its fate, has so far been found.
The coaching stock was extremely solidly constructed, and offered levels of accommodation far in advance of anything else at the time - certainly compared to any other narrow gauge railway. Almost 70 years later, the design was used as the basis for a new rake of carriages built by the Ffestiniog - testament to the excellence of the original design.
The body for coach 17 was built in 1911, by local firm Shapland and Petter, and mounted on a steel underframe constructed by the railway in its own workshops at Pilton. Marginally longer than the earlier coaches, it contained both smoking and non-smoking accommodation for first and third class passengers, as well as the brake van space.
Goods-only trains were a rarity, and the usual practice was to attach goods wagons to any scheduled passenger services. Whilst the shunting of wagons at intermediate stations no doubt added to the interest of the tourist and occasional traveller, it also added marginally to the journey time.
The open goods wagons were originally delivered with a single top-hung side door on each side, but these proved inefficient, and all were eventually converted to side hung double doors. By 1907, most had been fitted with tarpaulin rails. The goods vans used the same underframe, and were fitted with double sliding doors on each side.
The bogie open doors were also originally top-hung, but converted by the railway at Pilton.
Wagon No. 19 was originally used by the contractors. After the railway opened, it was modified and entered revenue service in 1900. At only 6 tons it was used often in preference to a 8 ton wagon as it reduced the overall weight of a train.
Van 23 - now restored and at Woody Bay - was built at Pilton by the L&B. Unlike all other L&B stock, its underframe was entirely made of wood.
The travelling cranes were ex-WD stock, and fitted with outriggers, rated at 3 tons with a fifteen-foot radius, 4½ tons at 11 in 6 in (3.51 m) Intended as recovery cranes in the event of a derailment, neither saw much use. One crane, with its match truck, was kept in the long headshunt
at Pilton, the other was put to use in Lynton goods yard.
The 1927 bogie goods vans were originally fitted with heavy diagonal wooden cross braces at each end, but these were later replaced with single diagonal angle-iron braces.
. Fully restored in 2000, its eight 42 feet (12.8 m) wide arches reach 70 feet (21.3 m) above the Stoke Rivers
valley — the largest narrow-gauge railway structure in England.
The stations at Lynton and Bratton Fleming are now private residences, Blackmoor Gate is a restaurant and Barnstaple Town a school. Chelfham and Woody Bay both serve the new L&B. Chelfham station is used for volunteer accommodation, while Woody Bay is the main centre of operations. Snapper Halt was purchased in 2010 by Exmoor Associates - a private company dedicated to securing trackbed for the restoration of the railway.
A short section of the line reopened to passengers in 2004. Bridge 67 was generously rebuilt as a gift by Edmund Nuttall
Ltd. — a firm descended from James Nuttall of Manchester, the main contractors for the original construction — allowing an extension to Killington Lane in 2006. Work is progressing on the next section, towards Parracombe
.
, the track bed was sold off piecemeal - often reverting to the original owners, paying much less than they had sold it for originally. Although there has been minor development on parts of the route, and Wistlandpound Reservoir
has flooded the track bed close to its mid-point, much is still in open countryside, with many sections identifiable.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Association
(since 2000, a charitable trust
) was formed in 1979. Woody Bay
Station was purchased by the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Company in 1995 and, after much effort, a short section of railway reopened to passengers in 2004. This was extended to over a mile in 2006, with steam and diesel-hauled trains running between Woody Bay and the new, temporary terminus at Killington Lane
.
In 1995, the Lynbarn Railway
— at the Milky Way, a theme park near Clovelly
, was created and operated by L&B volunteers. Profits from this funded the purchase, restoration and reopening of Woody Bay. The Lynbarn was handed over to the park in 2005, once Woody Bay had become established, and continues to operate as part of the attraction.
Little original rolling stock survives, but Van 23 is on display at Woody Bay. Coach 7 and Coach 17 are under restoration off-site. The remains of several other coaches and Goods Van 4 are in storage awaiting reconstruction. The reconstructed coaches will form part of a "Heritage Train" to complement more modern stock.
Coach 2, used as a summer house, is on display (unrestored) at the National Railway Museum
York along with the nameplates of the original locos. Coach 15, recovered from Snapper Halt in 1959 and restored by the Ffestiniog Railway
in North Wales, has been running there (now as FR Coach 14) for longer than it did on the L&B. Due to the Ffestiniog's smaller loading gauge
, the roof profile was altered so it can pass through Garnedd tunnel
. In September 2010, Coach 15 visited the L&B with the Lew replica loco, Lyd.
A 1915 Kerr Stuart
"Joffre" class 0-6-0T loco was bought in 1983, and named Axe. Restored to working order in 2008, Axe now works most passenger trains at Woody Bay. An 0-4-0WT Maffei named Sid, owned by several L&B members, is also used on the L&B steam service.
The Trust owns two industrial diesel locomotives, one of which Heddon Hall, is often used as backup for Axe and Sid, and for maintenance trains.
A number of other visiting diesel and steam locomotives have also seen service on the line.
A Lynton and Barnstaple Manning Wardle engine, named Lyd
, is operational on the Ffestiniog Railway
in North Wales.
First Steamed in Spring 2010, Lyd visited Woody Bay in September 2010 - to mark the 75th Anniversary of the closure of the L&B. Lyd first moved under its own steam on 5 August 2010 and then underwent running-in trials before visiting the L&B in September 2010 with former L&B coach 15 and Ffestiniog Railway observation car 102.
A replica of the Baldwin, Lyn is currently being constructed. It will be assembled by Alan Keef Ltd
.
A set of frames for a new Yeo were built by Winson Engineering
in 2000, and these are in storage, awaiting further funds to continue the construction.
— must be overcome if the greater part of the route is to be restored, fulfilling the hopes expressed in a card left at Barnstaple on the day after the line closed — Perchance it is not dead, but sleepeth...
In October 2007, the railway announced plans for reinstating enough trackbed to reopen nine miles (14 km) of track, linking the station at Woody Bay to both Lynton (at a new terminus on an extension to the original line, closer to the town) and a new station at Wistlandpound.
Exmoor Enterprise is likely to cost around £30 million, including the building of replica rolling stock, reconstructing original coaches and Van 4, as well as improving the line as an important local tourist attraction.
The railway's management predicts the scheme will generate over £70 million for the south west economy within five years.
Long-term plans see reopening the line towards Barnstaple.
Books:
Magazines:
Much has been written about the L&B since its closure in 1935, and this continues today. The railway regularly features in articles published by specialist railway, engineering, heritage and modelling magazines.
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
narrow gauge railway slightly over 19 miles (30.6 km) long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
in North Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. Although opened after the 1896 Light Railways Act came into force, it was authorised and constructed prior to that act. Therefore, as with all other railways, it was authorised under its own Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
and built to higher (and more costly) standards than similar railways of the time. In the United Kingdom it was notable as being the only narrow gauge line required to use main-line standard signalling.
For a short period the line earned a modest return for shareholders, but for most of its life the L&B made a loss. In 1922 the L&B was taken over by 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...
, and eventually closed in September 1935.
An observer at the time wrote:
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Association
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust is an educational charity supporting the rebuilding and operation of the railway by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Company, in North Devon, England.- Objects :...
was formed in 1979; and a short section was reopened to passengers in 2004. This was extended in 2006; and the following year plans were announced to open nine miles (14 km) of track, linking the station at Woody Bay to both Lynton (at a new terminus on an extension to the original line, closer to the town) and Blackmoor Gate, and to a new station at Wistlandpound Reservoir
Wistlandpound Reservoir
Wistlandpound Reservoir is a reservoir in Devon, England owned by South West Water.Completed in 1956, the earth embankment reservoir holds up to 1,550 megalitres and covers an area of 40 acres ....
.
History
Following the opening of the Devon and Somerset RailwayDevon and Somerset Railway
The Devon and Somerset Railway was a branch line from near in Somerset to in North Devon. It was operated from the outset by the Bristol and Exeter Railway which became part of the Great Western Railway on 1 January 1876.-History:...
to Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
, there were calls for an extension to serve the twin villages of Lynton
Lynton
Lynton is a small town in Devon, England. It lies on the northern edge of Exmoor and is located at the top of a gorge above Lynmouth, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway...
and Lynmouth
Lynmouth
Lynmouth is a village in Devon, England, on the north edge of Exmoor.The village straddles the confluence of the West Lyn and East Lyn rivers, in a gorge below Lynton, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway....
, which were popular with holiday-makers.
Through the middle of the 19th century, several schemes were proposed, from established railway companies and independent developers. One scheme suggested electric power, while another proposed a line from South Molton
South Molton
"Molton" redirects here. Or see Molten or Moulton.South Molton is a small town in Devon, England. It is part of the North Devon local government district. The town is on the River Mole. According to the 2001 census the civil parish of South Molton had a population of 4,093.The town was one of...
. None of these schemes offered sufficient prospects to encourage investment, and few got further than initial plans.
Due to the difficult terrain, one scheme suggested a gauge
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
of , already in use by the Festiniog
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
[Sic
Sic
Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
] Railway Company and elsewhere, to ease construction. This scheme was supported by Sir George Newnes
George Newnes
Sir George Newnes, 1st Baronet was a publisher and editor in England.-Background and education:...
who became chairman of the company. The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Bill was passed on 27 June 1895, and the line opened on 11 May 1898 with public service commencing on 16 May, connecting with trains from Waterloo on the Ilfracombe Branch Line
Ilfracombe Branch Line
The Ilfracombe Branch of the London & South Western Railway , ran between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon. The branch opened as a single-track line in 1874, but was sufficiently popular that it needed to be upgraded to double-track in 1889....
at Barnstaple Town
Barnstaple Town railway station
Barnstaple Town was an intermediate station on the L&SWR line to Ilfracombe. The station replaced Barnstaple Quay – opened in 1854, and renamed Barnstaple Town in 1886 – which had been located on the Junction side of the Commercial Road crossing, a short distance up-line...
.
The scheme did not meet with universal enthusiasm, and from the beginning, there were some who doubted the true intentions of the promoters. Although many of the sinuous curves and deviations were due to having to maintain a 1 in 50 gradient where there was no leeway (most observers being oblivious to the fact that a straighter shorter line would have made the gradient even steeper), several were due to resistance by local landowners along the route.
A guide published whilst the line was being built stated:
The L&B seldom attracted sufficient passengers to remain viable. The journey of nearly twenty miles took on average an hour and a half. To satisfy several influential residents, the terminus at Lynton was some distance from the town itself, and from the cliff railway to Lynmouth.
Declining tourism during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, improved roads, increased car ownership further depleted the line's income until it was no longer economic.
A guidebook published in 1921 described the situation:
Despite numerous cost-saving measures and extra investment in the line, the Southern Railway was unable to reverse the trend, and closed the line.
The last train ran on 29 September 1935. The Southern removed everything they could use elsewhere, and by 8 November, had lifted the track from Lynton to milepost 15⅓ - on the Barnstaple side of Woody Bay station. On 13 November an auction was held, although the railway failed to attract much interest. Most rolling stock, and every loco except for Lew, was scrapped at Pilton. Some coaches were sectioned for use as garden sheds. Third class seats became garden furniture, and first class seats found their way into local snooker halls and Masonic Lodges. In December, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
ship breaker Sidney Castle won the tender to dismantle the railway. The remaining track was lifted by June 1936, and in September, surviving loco Lew was shipped to Brazil. The stations and track bed
Track bed
A track bed or trackbed is the term used to describe the groundwork onto which a railway track is laid. Trackbeds of disused railways are sometimes used for recreational paths or new light rail links....
were auctioned in 1938.
The L&B had an exemplary safety record, and no members of the public were killed or injured during its 37-year existence, although accidents at Braunton Road
Braunton Road railway accident
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway maintained an exemplary safety record throughout its short existence from 1898 to 1935, with no passenger or member of the public having ever been injured or killed. There were, however, two accidents resulting in fatalities to railway employees.On the morning of...
and Chumhill
Chumhill railway accident
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway maintained an exemplary safety record throughout its short existence, from 1898 to 1935, and no passengers or members of the public were ever killed or injured.- Overview :...
did claim the lives of three track workers.
Route
The route of this diminutive railway and the scenery through which it passes, has been described many times, such as in a 1920s guide to the area:( *Note: Wooda Bay station was actually renamed Woody Bay in 1901. The geographical feature Woody Bay
Woody Bay
Three miles west of Lynton and eight east of Combe Martin on the North Devon coast of England, stoney-beached Woody Bay nestles among the steep cliffs of the rugged coast below the heights of Exmoor...
after which the station was named was the subject of an attempt to develop it as a tourist resort to rival Lynmouth; a pier was even constructed. The developers felt that the spelling "Woody" was more attractive to tourists, and so changed it from the original "Wooda"; the station name was changed accordingly.)
As well as several foot- and cycle-routes which can still be followed today, the hostelry in Parracombe
Parracombe
Parracombe is a rural settlement near Lynton, in Devon, England. It is situated in the Heddon Valley, on Exmoor.A number Bronze Age barrows exist nearby, along with several other small earth-works throughout the parish. Beacon Castle and Voley Castle both Iron Age Hill forts are situated nearby...
mentioned in the article remains a popular venue (although the geese are now singular).
Gradient profile
The L&B rises and falls several times along its length. Starting at 15 feet (4.6 m) above sea level, The first 3+3/4 mi, through Barnstaple, and along the Yeo Valley stays relatively level. Collard Bridge marks the start of an 8 miles (12.9 km) climb, mainly at one in fifty, to Blackmoor Gate. A shallower down-gradient follows, of about 2 miles (3.2 km), towards Parracombe Bank, and the start of another climb, of about 2+1/2 mi, to Woody Bay — at 1000 feet (305 m), the highest railway station in southern England. The line then falls, again mostly at one in fifty (2%) - to Lynton & Lynmouth station, still 700 feet (213 m) above the sea, and hidden by the landscape from the town of Lynton. The minimum radius on curves was 5 chains (100.6 m).Rolling stock
One of the most distinctive aspects of the L&B was its rolling stockRolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
, with the locomotives appearing originally in a livery of plain lined Holly green, later on a black base, with chestnut under-frames, hauling passenger carriages coloured terracotta with off-white upper panels, and light grey goods wagons. The schemes were simplified as individual vehicles were repainted. With the take over by the Southern and arrival of Lew the livery was slowly changed to Maunsell Green for locos and passenger stock, and umber for the goods wagons. The loco headlamps which had been black under the L&B were re-painted red.
Locomotives
At least four contractors' locomotives were used for construction. Unusually, some of the temporary track was wider than the final gauge - the section around Parracombe Bank for example, spanning the Heddon valley, was built to gauge, with a locomotive known as Winnie. A fifth locomotive - perhaps named Spondon - may also have been used, although little is known of either of these. In 1900, Kilmarnock was sold by the L&B. It is believed to have been left behind by James Nuttall, as a result of the financial problems and litigation between railway and contractor.The L&B used only coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
-fired steam
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...
motive power. In 1896, the Hunslet Engine Company
Hunslet Engine Company
The Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
submitted two designs (a 2-4-2T and a 4-4-0T), but eventually an order was placed for three 2-6-2Ts from Manning Wardle
Manning Wardle
Manning Wardle was a steam locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.- Precursor companies :The city of Leeds was one of the earliest centres of locomotive building; Matthew Murray built the first commercially successful steam locomotive, Salamanca, in Holbeck, Leeds,...
& Co of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. The locos were named after local rivers: Yeo
Yeo locomotive
Yeo was one of three narrow gauge 2-6-2T steam locomotives built by Manning Wardle in 1898 for the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. Following the railway's closure in 1935 it was scrapped....
, Exe
Exe locomotive
Exe was the name given to one of three Manning Wardle 2-6-2T locomotives built in 1898 for the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. All three were scrapped when the line was closed in 1935....
, and Taw
Taw locomotive
Taw was the name of a Manning Wardle 2-6-2T locomotive which was built in 1898 for Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. Taw was scrapped in 1935...
. These were supplemented by a 2-4-2T, Lyn
Lyn locomotive
Lyn was a 2-4-2 tank steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1898 for the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. After construction in Philadelphia, the loco was broken down, crated to Barnstaple, and reassembled by L&B staff in their Pilton workshops.Lyn, like all the locomotives on...
, 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...
of Philadelphia, USA, as the Company realised that three locos would be insufficient. Baldwin was selected as they could deliver the loco — based largely on standard components — more quickly than domestic suppliers, who had a backlog of orders, caused by a national engineering dispute over the 8 hour working day resulting in a lock-out by employers from July 1897 and January 1898. After construction by Baldwin, the loco was shipped across the Atlantic in parts, and re-assembled at Pilton by railway staff. It first steamed in July 1898. The Manning Wardles were delivered ahead of the lock-out, and Yeo and Taw were used in the final stages of construction. Exe was stored locally in a stable, where she received the unwelcome attention of thieves who stole various brass fittings and fixtures.
In 1923 the L&B was absorbed into 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...
, and began an upgrade programme. All locos & coaches was repainted in Southern Maunsell Green livery, the wagons were repainted in Southern Umber livery and track and buildings were improved. A fifth locomotive, Lew was purchased in 1925, with improvements to the original Manning Wardle design.
Fate of Lew
Although bought at the auction (it is believed by Barwicks of London) by December 1935, Lew was working for Sidney Castle, the dismantler of the railway. This work was completed by July 1936 and in September, Lew was moved by rail to SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and loaded onto the S.S. Sabor destined for the port of Pernambuco (since renamed Recife
Recife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
), Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Most of the relevant shipping records were destroyed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Lew then just vanished and despite several attempts, no trace of the locomotive, or evidence of its fate, has so far been found.
Passenger stock
Sixteen passenger carriages were delivered for the opening. Built by the Bristol Wagon & Carriage Works Co. Ltd., these comprised six different types, all the same size, being 39 in 6 in (12.04 m) long, 6 ft (1.8 m) wide, (7 in 4 in (2.24 m) over steps) and 8 in 7 in (2.62 m) high — large by narrow gauge standards — and certainly superior to any previous British narrow gauge stock.The coaching stock was extremely solidly constructed, and offered levels of accommodation far in advance of anything else at the time - certainly compared to any other narrow gauge railway. Almost 70 years later, the design was used as the basis for a new rake of carriages built by the Ffestiniog - testament to the excellence of the original design.
The body for coach 17 was built in 1911, by local firm Shapland and Petter, and mounted on a steel underframe constructed by the railway in its own workshops at Pilton. Marginally longer than the earlier coaches, it contained both smoking and non-smoking accommodation for first and third class passengers, as well as the brake van space.
Goods stock
The Southern Railway introduced several new items of goods stock, and also purchased two ex-War Department travelling cranes for the line.Goods-only trains were a rarity, and the usual practice was to attach goods wagons to any scheduled passenger services. Whilst the shunting of wagons at intermediate stations no doubt added to the interest of the tourist and occasional traveller, it also added marginally to the journey time.
The open goods wagons were originally delivered with a single top-hung side door on each side, but these proved inefficient, and all were eventually converted to side hung double doors. By 1907, most had been fitted with tarpaulin rails. The goods vans used the same underframe, and were fitted with double sliding doors on each side.
The bogie open doors were also originally top-hung, but converted by the railway at Pilton.
Wagon No. 19 was originally used by the contractors. After the railway opened, it was modified and entered revenue service in 1900. At only 6 tons it was used often in preference to a 8 ton wagon as it reduced the overall weight of a train.
Van 23 - now restored and at Woody Bay - was built at Pilton by the L&B. Unlike all other L&B stock, its underframe was entirely made of wood.
The travelling cranes were ex-WD stock, and fitted with outriggers, rated at 3 tons with a fifteen-foot radius, 4½ tons at 11 in 6 in (3.51 m) Intended as recovery cranes in the event of a derailment, neither saw much use. One crane, with its match truck, was kept in the long headshunt
Headshunt
A headshunt is a short length of track, provided to release locomotives at terminal platforms, or to allow shunting to take place clear of main lines.- Terminal Headshunts :...
at Pilton, the other was put to use in Lynton goods yard.
The 1927 bogie goods vans were originally fitted with heavy diagonal wooden cross braces at each end, but these were later replaced with single diagonal angle-iron braces.
| {| align="left" class="toccolours" style="margin:0 1em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" |- ! colspan="5" style="background:#abcdef; padding: 3px 5px 3px 5px; font-size: larger;"|L&B Goods Stock (1898–1935) |- | colspan="5" | (For a list of all goods stock, go HERE |- |L&B No.||Southern Number||Wagon Type||Manuf.||Date |- |1||28304||Open Goods||BWC||1897 |- |2||28305||Open goods||BWC||1897 |- |3||47036||Goods van||BWC||1897 |- ! colspan="5" style="background:#abcdef; padding: 3px 5px 3px 5px; font-size: larger;"|L&B Coaching Stock (1898–1935) |- | colspan="5" | For a list of all coaching stock, go HERE |- |L&B No.||Southern Number||Coach Type||Manuf.||Date |- |1||6991||Saloon brake end observation||BWC||1897 |- |2||6992||Saloon brake end observation||BWC||1897 |- |3||2473||Saloon end observation||BWC||1897 |- {| align="left" class="toccolours" style="margin:0 1em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" |- ! colspan="5" style="background:#abcdef; padding: 3px 5px 3px 5px; font-size: larger;"|Modern L&B Rolling Stock (1995-) |- ! colspan="5" |For a list of modern stock, go HERE |} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Present
Seventy-five years after its closure, much of the line is still in evidence. The most spectacular evidence is Bridge 22 - the brick-built Chelfham ViaductChelfham Viaduct
Chelfham Viaduct is a railway viaduct built in 1896-7 to carry the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway across the Stoke Rivers valley. Designed by L&B engineer, FW Chanter, and containing over a quarter of a million Marland bricks, its eight arches - each wide and high - meaning that the -long...
. Fully restored in 2000, its eight 42 feet (12.8 m) wide arches reach 70 feet (21.3 m) above the Stoke Rivers
Stoke Rivers
Stoke Rivers is a small village five miles NE of Barnstaple, in Devon, England.The name derives from the Rivers family, who owned the village.The village is located at -External links:...
valley — the largest narrow-gauge railway structure in England.
The stations at Lynton and Bratton Fleming are now private residences, Blackmoor Gate is a restaurant and Barnstaple Town a school. Chelfham and Woody Bay both serve the new L&B. Chelfham station is used for volunteer accommodation, while Woody Bay is the main centre of operations. Snapper Halt was purchased in 2010 by Exmoor Associates - a private company dedicated to securing trackbed for the restoration of the railway.
A short section of the line reopened to passengers in 2004. Bridge 67 was generously rebuilt as a gift by Edmund Nuttall
Edmund Nuttall
BAM Nuttall Limited is a construction and civil engineering company headquartered in Camberley, United Kingdom. It has been involved in a portfolio of road, rail, nuclear, and other major projects worldwide...
Ltd. — a firm descended from James Nuttall of Manchester, the main contractors for the original construction — allowing an extension to Killington Lane in 2006. Work is progressing on the next section, towards Parracombe
Parracombe
Parracombe is a rural settlement near Lynton, in Devon, England. It is situated in the Heddon Valley, on Exmoor.A number Bronze Age barrows exist nearby, along with several other small earth-works throughout the parish. Beacon Castle and Voley Castle both Iron Age Hill forts are situated nearby...
.
Restoration
Unlike the Welsh Highland RailwayWelsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway is a long restored narrow gauge heritage railway in North Wales, operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass. At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway...
, the track bed was sold off piecemeal - often reverting to the original owners, paying much less than they had sold it for originally. Although there has been minor development on parts of the route, and Wistlandpound Reservoir
Wistlandpound Reservoir
Wistlandpound Reservoir is a reservoir in Devon, England owned by South West Water.Completed in 1956, the earth embankment reservoir holds up to 1,550 megalitres and covers an area of 40 acres ....
has flooded the track bed close to its mid-point, much is still in open countryside, with many sections identifiable.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Association
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust is an educational charity supporting the rebuilding and operation of the railway by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Company, in North Devon, England.- Objects :...
(since 2000, a charitable trust
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
) was formed in 1979. Woody Bay
Woody Bay railway station
Woody Bay, within the Exmoor National Park, is a station on the former Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line that ran through Exmoor from Barnstaple to Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon. The station was situated inland, about 2 km from Woody Bay itself...
Station was purchased by the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Company in 1995 and, after much effort, a short section of railway reopened to passengers in 2004. This was extended to over a mile in 2006, with steam and diesel-hauled trains running between Woody Bay and the new, temporary terminus at Killington Lane
Killington Lane railway station
Killington Lane is a temporary terminus about one mile South West of Woody Bay on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway , the narrow gauge line that originally ran for 19 miles through Exmoor from Barnstaple to Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon....
.
In 1995, the Lynbarn Railway
Lynbarn Railway
The Lynbarn Railway opened in 1995 as a park ride at The Milky Way, a family-based theme park attraction near Clovelly in north Devon, England...
— at the Milky Way, a theme park near Clovelly
Clovelly
Clovelly is a village in the Torridge district of Devon, England. It is a major tourist attraction, famous for its history and beauty, its extremely steep car-free cobbled main street, donkeys, and its location looking out over the Bristol Channel. Thick woods shelter it and render the climate so...
, was created and operated by L&B volunteers. Profits from this funded the purchase, restoration and reopening of Woody Bay. The Lynbarn was handed over to the park in 2005, once Woody Bay had become established, and continues to operate as part of the attraction.
Little original rolling stock survives, but Van 23 is on display at Woody Bay. Coach 7 and Coach 17 are under restoration off-site. The remains of several other coaches and Goods Van 4 are in storage awaiting reconstruction. The reconstructed coaches will form part of a "Heritage Train" to complement more modern stock.
Coach 2, used as a summer house, is on display (unrestored) at the National Railway Museum
National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
York along with the nameplates of the original locos. Coach 15, recovered from Snapper Halt in 1959 and restored by the Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
in North Wales, has been running there (now as FR Coach 14) for longer than it did on the L&B. Due to the Ffestiniog's smaller loading gauge
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
, the roof profile was altered so it can pass through Garnedd tunnel
Tan-y-Bwlch railway station
Tan-y-Bwlch station is the principal intermediate passenger station on the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway, which was built in 1836 to carry dressed slate from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog for export by sea...
. In September 2010, Coach 15 visited the L&B with the Lew replica loco, Lyd.
A 1915 Kerr Stuart
Kerr Stuart
Kerr, Stuart and Company Ltd was a locomotive manufacturer from Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:It was founded in 1881 by James Kerr as James Kerr & Company, and became Kerr, Stuart & Company from 1883 when John Stuart was taken on as a partner...
"Joffre" class 0-6-0T loco was bought in 1983, and named Axe. Restored to working order in 2008, Axe now works most passenger trains at Woody Bay. An 0-4-0WT Maffei named Sid, owned by several L&B members, is also used on the L&B steam service.
The Trust owns two industrial diesel locomotives, one of which Heddon Hall, is often used as backup for Axe and Sid, and for maintenance trains.
A number of other visiting diesel and steam locomotives have also seen service on the line.
Lyd
A Lynton and Barnstaple Manning Wardle engine, named Lyd
Lyd (locomotive)
Lyd is a steam locomotive built by the Ffestiniog Railway in their Boston Lodge shops and took 15 years to build.Lyd is based on the design of the Lynton & Barnstaple Locomotive E188 Lew which was built by Manning Wardle in 1925 for the Southern Railway, who owned the former independent line at the...
, is operational on the Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
in North Wales.
First Steamed in Spring 2010, Lyd visited Woody Bay in September 2010 - to mark the 75th Anniversary of the closure of the L&B. Lyd first moved under its own steam on 5 August 2010 and then underwent running-in trials before visiting the L&B in September 2010 with former L&B coach 15 and Ffestiniog Railway observation car 102.
Lyn
A replica of the Baldwin, Lyn is currently being constructed. It will be assembled by Alan Keef Ltd
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....
.
Yeo
A set of frames for a new Yeo were built by Winson Engineering
Winson Engineering
Winson Engineering was a British manufacturer of narrow gauge and miniature railway steam locomotives and rolling stock during the 1990s. It built several new locomotives for heritage railways as well as undertaking major rebuilds of existing locomotives....
in 2000, and these are in storage, awaiting further funds to continue the construction.
Prospects
Restoring passenger services from Woody Bay was a major undertaking by the enthusiastic volunteers. Although much of the track bed survives intact, several obstacles — including Wistlandpound ReservoirWistlandpound Reservoir
Wistlandpound Reservoir is a reservoir in Devon, England owned by South West Water.Completed in 1956, the earth embankment reservoir holds up to 1,550 megalitres and covers an area of 40 acres ....
— must be overcome if the greater part of the route is to be restored, fulfilling the hopes expressed in a card left at Barnstaple on the day after the line closed — Perchance it is not dead, but sleepeth...
In October 2007, the railway announced plans for reinstating enough trackbed to reopen nine miles (14 km) of track, linking the station at Woody Bay to both Lynton (at a new terminus on an extension to the original line, closer to the town) and a new station at Wistlandpound.
Exmoor Enterprise is likely to cost around £30 million, including the building of replica rolling stock, reconstructing original coaches and Van 4, as well as improving the line as an important local tourist attraction.
The railway's management predicts the scheme will generate over £70 million for the south west economy within five years.
Long-term plans see reopening the line towards Barnstaple.
See also
- British narrow gauge railwaysBritish narrow gauge railwaysThere were more than a thousand British narrow gauge railways ranging from large, historically significant common carriers to small, short-lived industrial railways...
- Rolling stock of the Lynton and Barnstaple RailwayRolling stock of the Lynton and Barnstaple RailwayThe Rolling stock of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway was one of the most distinctive aspects of the narrow gauge line which ran for almost twenty miles across Exmoor in North Devon, England, from 1898 to 1935....
- Lynton & Barnstaple Railway TrustLynton and Barnstaple Railway TrustThe Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust is an educational charity supporting the rebuilding and operation of the railway by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Company, in North Devon, England.- Objects :...
- Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Company LimitedLynton and Barnstaple Railway Company LimitedThe Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Company Limited was a private company, limited by guarantee, with no share capital. It was incorporated on 11 August 1993 as The Lynton & Barnstaple Light Railway Company Limited , the company is registered at Companies House in Great Britain as company number...
- Other local railway attractions
- Bideford and Instow RailwayBideford and Instow RailwayThe Bideford Railway Heritage Centre CIC in Devon, England, is responsible for the management of the Bideford station site....
- Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff RailwayLynton and Lynmouth Cliff RailwayThe Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a water-powered funicular railway joining the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth on the rugged coast of North Devon.-Origins:...
- West Somerset RailwayWest Somerset RailwayThe West Somerset Railway is a railway line that originally linked and in Somerset, England.It opened in 1862 and was extended from Watchet to by the Minehead Railway in 1874. Although just a single track, improvements were needed in the first half of the twentieth century to accommodate the...
- Bideford and Instow Railway
Further reading
Multi-media:- The Little Train to Lynton - a two-part documentary first broadcast on BBC2 in 1986. This programme has never been released on video or DVD.
- The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway - published by Oakwood Video Library, 1993.
- "Perchance"...it's awake! The Lynton & Barnstaple Reborn - published by Lynton Television/The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, 2006.
Books:
- L T Catchpole: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway 1895–1935 published by The Oakwood Press. Eighth edition 2005. ISBN 0-85361-637-X.
- G A Brown, J D C A Prideaux, & H G Radcliffe: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway published by David and Charles, New Edition 1971, ISBN 0-7153-4958-9
- Third Edition, published by Atlantic in enlarged format, 1996. ISBN 0-906899-68-0
- P Gower, B Gray & K Vingoe: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway — Yesterday and Today published by The Oakwood Press. First edition 1999. ISBN 0-85361-537-3
- D. Hudson & E. Leslie: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway— An Anthology published by The Oakwood Press. First edition 1995. ISBN 0-85361-485-7
- P Lane, E Leslie, T Nicholson: Flying the L&B published by the L&BR Trust 2007.
- C Leigh: Portrait of The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway published by Ian Allen. First Published 1983. ISBN 0-7110-1330-6
- V Mitchell, K Smith: Branch Line to Lynton published by Middleton Press. First Published 1992. ISBN 1-873793-04-9
- J D C A Prideaux: Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Album published by David & Charles 1974 ISBN 0-7153-6809-5
- J D C A Prideaux: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Remembered published by David & Charles 1989. ISBN 0-7153-8958-0
- J R Yeomans: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway published by Bradford Barton. First Published 1979. ISBN 0-85153-259-4
Magazines:
- The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Magazine published three times a year by The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust. 1979 to date
Much has been written about the L&B since its closure in 1935, and this continues today. The railway regularly features in articles published by specialist railway, engineering, heritage and modelling magazines.