Lynton & Barnstaple - News & Pictures

Now that the Welsh Highland is almost complete and having proved that in railway preservation nothing is impossible, surely the next big narrow gauge restoration project must be the Lynton & Barnstaple.
 
For anyone interested this site now provides regular updates on progress: http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/
 
And the most recent good news, the boiler has now been ordered for No 762, the replica of Lyn : http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/story/3220
 

 
And here's the link for the Lyn project: http://762club.com/762home.php
 
 

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Yes, I've seen this promoted as "The Last Great Narrow Gauge Adventure" . I guess this is true for the UK, after the L&B what is there that in reality stands a chance? (With apologies to the many smaller schemes that will succeed but can never really use the word 'Great' due to limited line lengths etc.
 
A most admirable scheme, most worthy of everyones support.
 
Happy steamings,
 
John
 
(Who quite fancies arranging for a certain Manx loco to visit the L&B on its holidays ;-) 
  
 

What about the following

Leek and Manifold Railway
Southwold Railway
Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway
Ashover Light Railway

All would make great projects in their own right.

The Southwold more so than any as it technically still existed as a Company to well after the war, though the recent proposal at the Southwold end got nipped in the bud by nimbies. Perhaps the latest proposal may be a starter.

The L+M Trackbed is I think all in place as a cycleway so would only need the track and a few of the buildings to be restored oh plus some rolling stock. There are a few of the L+M Buildings still existing.

The ALR has a group that is trying to do something.

That just leaves the C+M and I have never heard of any proposals for this one.

JonD

Was there not some discussion of rebuilding the Glyn Valley until things broke down when things split into two different groups over an argument about track gauge?

Yes it was great pity about the Southwold project.It would have been a massive boost for tourism in Suffolk but hopefully all the lines mentioned by dunnyrail can be revieved.
Cheers Garry.

Spule 4


Was there not some discussion of rebuilding the Glyn Valley until things broke down when things split into two different groups over an argument about track gauge?

I knew that I had forgotten one (or two), there is something going on with a group on this line too. There are bits and bats at Chirk, one of the Stations up the line is used as a Museum and Shop I think. They are talking about the wrong gauge as the correct gauge stuff is impossible to get. My take would be to do like the L+B has done, start off with things that are not correct. They could then build a nucleus of new correct gauge kit and convert when they have enough. Groups do not need to fall out over such things, just plan for the future in a way that realises the ultimate goal. Plus they are working hard to get things moving. I wish them well.
JonD

True, I think I heard some of this from the Corris group Jon D.

The real question I have often wondered: is there really enough support to rebuild all the lines? Support being materials, costs, volunteers, etc...

I know of a few museums here (USA) that dream of relaying miles of track but cannot seem to fix roofs on buildings that leak...

The Leek and Manifold could face some difficulties in that one of its short tunnels is now used by the road.
 
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Spule 4


True, I think I heard some of this from the Corris group Jon D.

The real question I have often wondered: is there really enough support to rebuild all the lines? Support being materials, costs, volunteers, etc...

I know of a few museums here (USA) that dream of relaying miles of track but cannot seem to fix roofs on buildings that leak...

I am often amazed by the amount of succesful preservation lines that exist in England compared to mamny other countries. In say Germany and France, there are many good lines but even more that are about but with hardly any action. Our preserved lines seam to be going from strength to strength with many hardly pausing for breath (i.e. a break in service) all year round.

JonD

I wonder if the Lyn Recreation will 'waddle' like my Bachmann one does?

Following Lyd (which copies the design for Lew) and Lyn, it would appear that Yeo will be the third L&B locomotive to be recreated.
 
I believe there is an understanding that the patterns for Lyd will be made available for use in the construction of Yeo so, given the availability of funds, this should help progress along. 
 
Latest news here : http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/railway/projects/yeo

Work has now commenced at Snapper Halt, see here for latest report and pics http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/story/3544
 
Unfortunately, it is likely to be some time before trains call here again.

There will be more information on the recreation of the Baldwin 242 Lyn at the following site
http://www.machineconcepts.co.uk
Mike

Latest news on the drawings for Lyn can be found here: http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/story/news/3741
 
This pic is from the L&B website http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/story/news/3740 (Copyright Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust).  The loco looks rather like a small Polar Bear, anyone know anything about it?
 

 
 

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Over the last weekend the L&BR chartered Lyd for a special trip from Minffordd to Caernarfon.  If you have not already seen them there are some nice pics to be found here: http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/story/lyd/charter

The significance of the words "Perchance it is awake" on the card in the wreath on the smokebox door amused me. 

This is worth a few minutes of anyones time http://tinyurl.com/3jwkax2
 
The L&B sequences start at around 20 secs into the video.
 
And this is the L&BR Trust link to the story of Lew http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/history/lew-mystery

Whilst checking recent posts, I noticed that the number of views for this thread stood at 762

Looks like a very long  uphill climb for the L&B. 
Too ambitious?