Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

Source: http://trainweb.org/railwest/images/stn/chelfham-1.jpg

In a nutshell

Gauge:   1' 11½"

Length: 19 miles 23 yds (0.9 miles now preserved)

Opened: 16th May 1898 (Closed 29 September 1935)

Location:

View Narrow gauge railways Britain & Ireland (closed) in a larger map Web:   

Website: http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/
Email:    enquiries@lynton-rail.co.uk

 

Date of visit: 13th January 2013

 

Key Facts

• The railway was opened in 1898 following enthusiastic and material support from local landowner and publisher, Sir George Newnes.

• There were three stations in Barnstaple. The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway started alongside Barnstaple Town Station which was on the L&SWR Ilfracombe branch line

• The railway followed the contours of the countryside through which it was built and for much of its length maintained a gradient of 1:50
• There were 6 stations (Barnstaple Town, Chelfam, Bratton Fleming, Blackmoor, Woody Bay and Lynton & Lynmouth), three halts (Snapper, Parracombe, and Caffyns) and one goods yard (Pilton) along the line.
• There were 80 bridges over and under the line, the most spectacular of which is the 70 foot high, eight span, Chelfam viaduct which is largest narrow gauge railway structure in the British Isles.

•  The line had three 2-6-2 Manning Wardle tank locomotives - Exe, Taw and Yeo and a Baldwin 2-4-2T locomotive, Lyn, of a similar design. A fifth Manning Wardle locomotive, Lew, was purchased in 1925.
• The railway was absorbed into the Southern Railway in 1923 and the locomotives and rolling stock were repainted in SR livery.
• Much of the trackbed is still in existence, the preservation society (The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust) is in the process of restoring the railway and has relaid 0.9miles of track at Woody Bay. It has also purchased some key features along the line (eg Snapper Halt) and some isolated sections of the trackbed. The plan is to rebuild the majority of the railway in phases. However, four of the stations are presently in private ownership.

Route

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/L%26bmapimage.jpg/600px-L%26bmapimage.jpg

My Impressions

This was my first visit to the route of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway and, as I was in the area for a family event I had only a half day to spare for this initial exploration.

I began my tour of the line by firstly finding the location for line's terminus beside the River Taw in Barnstaple. The station building is still in existence and currently in use as a community centre..

Source: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/batnstaple_town/barnstaple_town_old(alsop9.1967)7.jpg

The yard has now become a public car park adjacent to the town's civic centre and police HQ......

.... and a block of flats has been built where the platform once stood.

Source: http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/541715_10200209064449935_1352781858_n.jpg

Source: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/batnstaple_town/barnstaple_town_old(alsop_early20thc)2.jpg

By walking across the car park, I was able to follow the route of the line is it curved to the right alongside the River Yeo, making my way towards the Braunton Bridge.....

 ...... where there was once a level crossing (the railway can be seen curving up towards the centre of this picture)

Source: http://www.explorenorthdevon.org/Images/band/BA437.jpg

Crossing the Braunton Road and looking back, the warehouse beside the wharf is still in existence.......

Source: http://www.trainweb.org/railwest/images/lc/~braunton-rd.jpg

A short walk beside the river followed by a quick a hop across Pilton Causeway (formerly Pilton Road) and I found the entrance to the Pilton Yard is still evident with the caps for the gate posts now mounted on brick pillars.

Source: http://lynton-rail.co.uk/files/images/pilton1930.jpg

As with the station, the yard is now a car park but it is possible to identify some of the features shown in some of the contemporary pictures of the railway. For example, the house-backs beside the yard......

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/16m.jpg

 .... and although the carriage and loco sheds have disappeared, the brick built offices for the original railway are still to be found. The L&B Railway Trust proposes to use these as a museum if they manage to acquire them.

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/62.jpg

With Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL9 in hand, I returned to my car and set off up the Goodleigh Road to see which other landmarks I could identify. I was unable to find a suitable parking spot near to Snapper Halt but a little further along the road I was able to stop near to Collard Bridge.........

 ....... from which the trackbed leading back towards the site of the bridge across the River Yeo was clearly discernible.

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/lynton_and_barnstaple_modelling/images/6m.jpg

A short drive and the impressive Chelfam viaduct loomed into view. I parked in its shadow and took a few pictures.......

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/9m.jpg

...... before following the signs and venturing up the hill to Chelfam station ...........

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/68.jpg

....... which is now owned by the L&B Community Interest Company, the trading subsidiary of the L&B Railway Trust.

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/28.jpg

I was fortunate to be treated to a tour of the building and the site by one of the volunteers, Nigel Thompson, who filled me in on the latest developments and plans for developing the line further. I was very impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication shown by this band of stalwarts in rescuing what is considered by many to be the country's most picturesque narrow gauge railway.

In the building (which will shortly be restored to its original state) are a couple of fine 4mm scale models of the the railway as it was. A representation of Lynton Station .......

.... and one which was inspired by Chelfam.........

.... and the viaduct.

In the station yard, there was plenty to see, including the original signal cabin .......

...... and an accumulation of railwayana and equipment,

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/26.jpg

...... some of which is original such as this concrete signal post which they are planning to return to its former position at the north end of the station .......

With a last tantalising glimpse of the viaduct from the station yard........

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/87.jpg

 ..... and with the sun beginning to set in the winter sky, I once more hopped into my vehicle to resume my exploration of the railway's route.

I followed the road to Bratton Fleming, where I turned off towards Rye Park to find the station which was to the north of and below the village. The station site is now privately owned but the former station yard could be seen from the overbridge ........

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/bratton/4.html

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/59.jpg

.... while to the north, the cutting now seems to house an intriguing length of contractor's track. Apparently, there was recently a private 7¼" railway here which ran a replica of a L&B loco.

 Following a tortuous single track country lane I once more encountered the trackbed for the railway near Narracott. When I had been plotting the route for the railway on Google Maps (see above) I became confused because the trackbed seemed to disappear. Eventually, the only explanation I could reach was that a present-day road had adopted the trackbed. This was confirmed when I encountered the remains of Narracott overbridge...........

........ which was  directly opposite an enticing stretch of road (Twitchen Lane - see below) which could only have been the railway.

The road wound on for a mile or so in cuttings and on embankments with plenty of concrete fencing posts on either side which I assumed dated back to the 1920s.

The last down train approaching Blackmoor on 29 Sept 1935 Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/10m.jpg

Further north, the trackbed has been submerged under Wistlandpound Reservoir but for my flying visit my next port of call was the site of Blackmoor Station which now houses a restaurant.

The distinctive shape of the station building was still visible

Source: http://www.halsgrove.com/prodimages/ingdlge.gif

...... and the base of the old water tower has now been converted to a substantial shed, though the pipework is still very much in evidence. The overbridge has been removed but on the other side of the road, beside the Exmoor Park car park, the remains of the cutting can still be made out.

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/bratton_fleming/images2/2.jpg

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/32.jpg

 I caught occasional glimpses of the railway trackbed on the road towards Parracombe and stopped off at the Rowley Cross picnic site which has been set up by the L&B Railway Trust beside the Parracombe Embankment.

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/34.jpg

If I'd had more time I would have explored Parracombe but I spent a short while at Woody Bay which was closed for the winter period. However, there was plenty on view to whet the appetite for a return visit.

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/33.jpg

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/L%26Bwoodybay.jpg

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/65.jpg

 My final destination had to be Lynton, the northern terminus for the railway. Perched on the hillside above Lynmouth,

Source: http://www.visitlyntonandlynmouth.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/lynton-station_0.jpg

....... the station building is now a private residence

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Lynton_%26_Lynmouth_Station_2026541_98af1955.jpg

..... and the goods shed has been converted into two cottages.

Source: http://www.oldpicturepostcards.co.uk/lyntonrailway.jpg

 The railway clearly richly deserves the reputation it has accumulated over the years and this little taster has provided me with plenty of incentive to make a return visit in the summer season when it will be possible to take a ride on the preserved section of the line at Woody Bay.

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/L%26Blynton.jpg

 There is also still plenty of the trackbed which I've not yet been able to see which should be accessible from footpaths.

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/29.jpg

I will also follow with interest, developments on the preservation society's plans to extend the line which seem to be ambitious and yet realistic, given the progress they have made so far in acquiring sections of the trackbed.

For more information on the Railway Trust's proposals see - http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/trust

By the way, all the roads I travelled along on this trip are available in Google Street View, including the stretch of railway which has now become a road (Twitchen Lane, Narracott)

View Larger Map

Click on the image and then use keyboard arrow keys to move forward, back and to rotate left or right

The site of Parracombe Halt showing the remains of the station shelter and the parapets of the bridge in the distance:

View Larger Map

Source: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4042/4291441682_49f4425680_b.jpg

Source: http://www.009.cd2.com/lynton_and_barnstaple_modelling/images/19m.jpg

 In the meantime, I hope you find these video clips as interesting as I have done....

Videos