Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Spring Gala May 2018 LYN AXE FAITH

We start with a look behind the scenes at some of the things that go on to run a railway. The newly enlarged inspection pit in the engine shed was an instant success. Locos and coaches can now be serviced much more easily than in the previous small and cramped pit.
Resident loco 'Isaac' is nearing the end of a lengthy Winter overhaul and needed more work on her than first thought. As a result, she will emerge with a renewed ten year boiler ticket.
'Axe' and 'Faith' handled the freight train. 'Faith' is still for sale, built and driven by our resident engineer, John Uphill. The star of the show was of course our new loco 'Lyn'. A new-build, technically advanced version of a unique loco that was built for the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway's opening in 1898, but scrapped when the line closed in 1935.
Passenger trains ran every half-hour which certainly kept the train crews on their toes.
At 29:20 we see members of family of the late Gerald Chandler being met from the train by railway trustees. Gerald's extremely generous bequest allowed the railway trust to make two important property purchases.
A fifth heritage coach for the railway will soon be completed at our carriage workshop near Colchester in Essex. Coach number five will have two sumptuous first class compartments and four third class. Once that is complete, attention will turn to restoration of Van 23. We will also be joined by the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway's L&B loco 'Lyd'. For the first time we'll have TWO authentic L&B trains with L&B locos in service and of course, a chance for some double-heading too. A sight not to be missed!! The 29th also being the 83rd anniversary of the railway's closure.
There's lots going on after the railway's successful granting of our planning applications to extend the current one-mile railway by four and a half miles to Blackmoor on March 6th (2018)
Of immediate importance is the share issue to purchase 'The Old Station House Inn' (Blackmoor Station) which MUST close at the end of January 2019. This is an investment opportunity with potential returns, although donations are gladly accepted towards this extremely important part of our future headquarters at Blackmoor.
Details on the website. www.lynton-rail.co.uk
On the 20th April 2018 it was announced a further 900 yards (825 metres) of track bed had been purchased, not far from Lynton, between missing bridge 77 (Dean Lane) and the bend at Kibsworthy Farm, high above Barbrook. This is the first piece of track bed purchased Lynton side of Woody Bay.
There's an interactive map of the route on the website which shows current L&B ownership, bridge and station locations, lovely 1904 Ordnance Survey maps of the entire line as well as aerial photo views
See you in September, but in the mean time, I hope you enjoy my film. Sit back and turn the sound up!!

If you're newly interested in this railway have a look at the 1987 BBC programme "The Little Train To Lynton". It's on Youtube, there're two parts, the first giving a perfect potted history of the line.

Would you like raise free money for the L&B? Do you shop online?
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UPDATE: July 2018. LYN will appear at the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway's 'Super-Power' weekend, working trains between Caernarfon and Rhyd Ddu. Friday 14th to Sunday 16th September 2018. However, LYN and LYD will not be working together. You'll have to come to Woody Bay on the 29th to see that!
'Super-Power' event details at www.festrail.co.uk

UPDATE: 16th August 2018. The L&B trust and the 762 club launch the next exciting project to build TWO new locomotives for the railway. New-build versions of 'YEO' and 'EXE' will be built at the same time. The original locos were built for the railway's opening in 1898 by Manning, Wardle & Co of Leeds and scrapped in 1935 when the railway closed. The new locos will also be Manning Wardle too as the L&B trust recently obtained the company name. Consequently, the build numbers will be 2048 and 2049, the next in line and the first since 1926 when the original company closed. It is intended these locos will be ready for the extended railway to Blackmoor in about five years.