Surviving Features of The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway 2010

A short video taken on Thursday 23rd September 2010 showing some of the surviving features of the narrow gauge Lynton and Barnstaple Railway which opened in 1898 and closed in 1935. The video starts at Barnstaple Town Station (now a school and not to be confused with the other Barnstaple railway station still in use today) and then shows the end of the station viewed from the trackbed (now a car park). Chelfham viaduct (the largest narrow gauge railway structure in England) is shown and then Blackmoor Station (now a pub with an extention over the trackbed). Scenes of Woody Bay station can then be seen showing the "re-opened" section operated by the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust. Moving on north, a bridge can be seen at what was once Caffyns Halt and then finally a shot of Lynton Station (now a private residence and a B&B?) Much of this video was rushed as time was not on my side and so as a result many features that still remain today were not filmed. The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust and it's members look forward to seeing the railway completely relaid and welcome more support especially financially. For further information on the new L&B railway visit the following; www.lynton-rail... or for a brief history of the railway, taken from their website, please read on; On 17th September 1895 the first sod was cut by Lady Newnes on the site of Lynton Station. The first train through from Barnstaple to Lynton ran on 7th March 1898, and the "Opening Ceremony" was held on May 11th with the public service commencing 5 days later on 16th May. The L&B is sometimes referred to as 'The Toy Railway', as the overall height of a coach was only 8'7". Its narrow gauge - 1ft 11½in. - was chosen to lower the cost of construction, since the line would be able to follow the natural contours of the countryside with curves of five chains radius. The Ffestiniog Railway had successfully made use of the same narrow gauge. The total length of the line was 19 miles with a ruling gradient of 1 in 50. Track, rolling stock and buildings were all built to high standards. The line was bought by the Southern Railway in 1923 who carried out extensive track and infrastructure improvements. However all this did not lead to more goods traffic or passengers, so, in time, closure became enevitable. With closure imminent, the summer of 1935 brought more travellers to the line than ever. However, this could not turn the tide. On 29 September the 11.50 from Barnstaple, double headed by Lew and Yeo, was the last down train. The morning after the last train had run, a wreath was placed on the stop-block at Barnstaple by a Woody Bay resident. The card which accompanied the wreath contained the words "To Barnstaple & Lynton Railway With Regret & Sorrow From A Constant User & Admirer. Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth". On November 13th, an auction was held to sell of all the equipment where one locomotive feched a mere £34. But apart from all the locos and two of the carriages, little was actually sold. In late 1935 a dismantler was brought in to lift the track and dispose of what had not been sold at the auction. By the summer of 1936 all the track from Pilton to Lynton had been lifted.

[@Vassilyev]

Thank you very much for this rare video

[@user-ie1lz4oi3o]

Perchance not dead but sleepeth

[@davegillman6296]

No it’s awake now thankfully