This legendary narrow-gauge line was opened in 1898 to transport Victorian Holiday makers through glorious Devonshire scenery to Lynton and Lynmouth, where Exmoor meets the sea, and local farmers to the market town of Barnstaple. Increasing competition from the motorcar forced the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway to close in 1935 but the memory of this much loved little railway refused to die. On the day after the last train ran, a wreath was sent by a "constant user and admirer" with the inspiring message "perchance it is not dead but sleepeth." Suitably encouraged, a dedicated band of enthusiasts laboured long and hard to bring the railway back to life. Now trains run from the delightful Woody Bay station, four miles from Lynton and the highest station on the Southern Railway, to Killington Lane on the edge of the village of Parracombe. An original Lynton & Barnstaple Railway brake van has been restored and can be seen at Woody Bay Station while a replica of the handsome Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Manning Wardle tank engines is under construction. This really is the most exciting narrow-gauge railway restoration project in England today.
The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
officially opened on 11th May 1898.
Its narrow gauge - 1 ft 1 1 yiin.
(600mm) - was supposed to lower the cost of construction, since the line
would be able to follow the natural contours of the country with curves
of five Chains radius. The total length of the line was 19 miles with
a ruling gradient of 1 in 50. Track, rolling stock and buildings were
constructed to high standards.
Lynton and Barnstable Railway Company
The plaque reads:
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway was opened in 1898 and closed in 1935.
This Station, Woody Bay, acquired in 1995, is one of four stations between the terminus at Lynton and the main line station at Barnstaple. In 1999, Chelfham Station was purchased and the following year the adjacent viaduct underwent major restoration partly funded by donations from members.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Company was formed in 1993 by the members of the Lynton & Barnstaple
Railway Association, now a Trust, with the aim of reconstructing as much as possible of the original railway.
Despite the length of time since closure, remarkably little development has taken place on the route of the railway. Given the continuing support of the public, landowners and local authorities it is possible that the entire railway between Lynton & Barnstaple could one day be reopened, with the potential of becoming one of the most famous heritage railways in the world.
More information, and membership forms, can be obtained at the station building.
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway - Peter Pan
Although the Southern Railway made a series of improvements
to the railway in the 1920s, this did not lead to more traffic or revenue
at a time when road traffic was becoming more reliable and cheaper.
In 1935 with the threat of closure imminent, the summer
brought more travellers to the line than ever; however, this could not
turn the tide. On 29 September the 1 1.50 from Barnstaple, double-headed
by locomotives 'Lew' and 'Yeo', was the last down train. The return from
Lynton was accompanied by the playing of "Auld Long Syne",
cheering crowds and whistling from engines.
The dismantling of the railway took no longer than a few
months. Some of the equipment was sold at an auction where locomotives
could be bought for as little as £34. During 1936 all the track was lifted and the
long wait for revival had begun.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway reopened in mid-2004.
Now in our second full year we are reopening more of North Devon's "toy
railway", as it was once affectionately called, taking visitors a
mile along the hillside towards Parracombe.
This first stretch of the new railway takes in unspoiled views across the
Exmoor landscape towards Heddon's Mouth and the Bristol Channel, and provides
a great trip out for all the family.
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway - Peter Pan
With your support, we will continue to reopen more of this unique little
railway as we extend the present line in both directions. It is our vision
that in years to come we will be able to offer you a leisurely journey
where you can take in the delightful scenery across North Devon and Exmoor
from the comfort of your train seat, and where you can leave the car outside
the National Park and travel to Lynton in comfort and style.
As well as extending our track to a station to serve Parracombe we have
a continuing programme that will see the return to service of original
coaches and vans, construction of additional coaching stock and additional
steam traction.
As with all heritage railways we rely on the support of the general public
and were it not for a dedicated group of volunteers and the support of
the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust we could not exist. If you would
like to be involved as a volunteer or member please enquire in the shop
for details.
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway - Titch
THE LYNTON & BARNSTAPLE RAILWAY
Opened in 1898 the 19-mile narrow gauge railway linked the market town of Barnstaple over a winding route following river valleys, up and into scenic Exmoor to reach the tourist destination twin villages of Lynton & Lynmouth.
Stations were also provided at Chelfham, Bratton Fleming, Blackmoor and Woody Bay, with halts at Snapper, Parracombe and Caffyns.
Manning Wardle 2-6-2T steam locomotives, named YEO, EXE, TAW, and LEW with Baldwin 2-4-2T locomotive LYN, operated all the mixed trains until eventual closure in 1935.
After the last train a wreath was laid on the stop block at Barnstaple Town Station with the words: "Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth ".
The stations and land were sold off and the locomotives and rolling stock scrapped or broken up. Some bridges were removed for road widening, a viaduct was demolished and a reservoir was created at Wistlandpound. Limited development aong the trackbed took place as the railway past into the history books
LEW arrives at Woody Bay, September 1933
However, after several local railway 'buffs' formed the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Association in 1979, with the aim of rebuilding part of the railway, it seemed that at last the railway might indeed reawaken.
Support grew both locally and nationally as the L & B R began fund raising and acquiring equipment to rebuild the railway. A fund raising railway was opened at the 'Milky Way', Clovelly in 1994. Woody Bay station was purchased in 1995 with planning permision later granted to rebuild the first stage of the line towards Parracombe.
Chelfham station was purchased in 1999 and restoration of the adjacent viaduct was carried out with grants from the Railway Heritage Trust during 2000. The station building is currently let to members and their families as self catering accommodation.
Restoration of the station and surrounding area at Woody Bay has continued during the past few years. The L & B R Co. and L & B R Trust now boast over 1500 members, who have provided most of the finance to acquire a mile of further trackbed and all materials to help progress the project.
An original carriage and a bogie goods van have been restored and several steam and diesel locomotives are
under restoration for the first trains. In 2002 tracklaymg finally began at Woody Bay carried out by volunteers from all over the U.K.
Woody Bay was intended to be a junction station for a short
branch to Woody Bay itself A cliff lift from the branch line
was planned like the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, and
a pier was built in 1896 to encourage passing steamers to call.
However the pier was badly damaged by storms in 1899 and
antually demolished in 1902. Local promoter and London solicitor , Colonel Benjamin Greene Lake was declared
bankrupt and eventually imprisoned for spending his clients money on the development of Woody Bay. He died a broken
manand Woody Bay remains delightfully undeveloped.
Woody Bay Station called Wooda Bay until 1901 at 980ft above sealevel was the highest station on the Southern Railway. Built of local stone under a tiled roof to a so-called Nuremberg or Swiss chalet style at the time when the Victorian promoters of Lynton were marketing the area as "the English Switzerland'.
The station also served as a house for the stationmaster, who was supplied with a kitchen, parlour, and scullery downstairs and two cosy bedrooms upstairs. The Barnstaple end of the building incorporated a booking hall, office and ladies' waiting room. Gentlemen, however, were exiled to an open-roofed lavatory outside.
Woody Bay Station was provided with a passing loop and a loading dock siding accessed from a headshunt at the up end (Barnstaple). A small signal cabin comprised of a 7 lever frame controlling points and signals around the site. As most trains were mixed with goods wagons as well as passenger carriages, several complicated shunts were required in order to drop off and collect wagons as required.
When the railway closed, all the station buildings were finally sold at auction by 1938. Woody Bay was sold for £425. The station and surrounding goods yard area passed into private hands, but the building itself remained largely unaltered. However some infilling of the loading dock and the removal of part of the up platform edging had taken place.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Association and Company purchased Woody Bay Station and some adjoining trackbed in 1995. Remarkably the station retained many original features such as the booking office partition and ornamental fireplaces. Restoration around the station began immediately including the running-in boards and signal cabin. In 1997-8 volunteers restored the station roof (see below) and carried out several repairs as funds permitted. Over the next few years the planning conditions were met and as members loans and donations allowed, the station site was sympathetically gradually improved to prepare it to officially open for visitors eventually to travel on the reopened L&BR.
in 2002 major visible progress saw the restoration of the capping on the loading dock and the reconstruction of the stonework along the missing section of the up platform.
In June 2002 at last the first track was laid with the transhipment siding from the car park heading down towards the station. Later that summer works diesel loco "SNAPPER" became the first engine to move on the L & B R at Woody Bay since the demolition train back in 1936.
In the spring of 2003 ballast was spread on the trackhed between the platforms. The new crossover points were later installed to the exact original track layout As the rails were laid through the station up platform in May. the site was able to open officially to the public.
The character of the original railway was further enhanced with the arrival of restored Bogie Goods Brake Van 23, and recreation of the signals and up platform railings. First passenger began running in July 2004 using Hunslet diese| EXMOOR RANGER and one carriage constructed at our Bratton Fleming workshops.
The Railways of North Devon
On 12 July 1854. the North Devon Railway was ceremonially opened. Passenger services from Exeter to Barnstaple started on 1 August. The line was extended to Bideford the following year and then on to Torrington in 1872, while the Great Western Railway built a line from Taunton to Barnstaple (Victoria Road) via Filleigh and South Molton in 1873.
Into Ilfracombe -
In July 1874 the Barnstaple & Ilfracombe Railway was opened. It was operated by the London and South Western Railway and was absorbed into it the following year. This route included a steep (lin 36) gradient from Ilfracombe to Mortehoe for nearly three miles. The line closed in 1970.
The coming of the narrow gauge -
In 1898 perhaps the most famous line in North Devon opened. The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway was built to onefoot eleven and half inch gauge. A new station called Barnstaple Town was opened on the north bank of the River Taw to enable cross-platform connection with the Ilfracombe line. The narrow-gauge line ran for nearly twenty miles over the edge of picturesque Exmoor to its terminus at Lynton. The opening ceremony took place on 11 May 1898, with passenger services starting five days later.
Origins of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
During the 1880s the publisher and Liberal MP George Newnes toured North Devon with his wife. They fell under the spell of the area around Lynton and Lynmouth and built Hollerday House overlooking Lynton as their holiday home. Sir George (he was made a baronet for services to popular literature in 1896) built the Cliff Railway between Lynton and Lynmouth as well as Lynton Town Hall.
In the latter part of the nineteenth century various proposals were made to connect the twin towns with the national rail network. In 1895 the Great Western Railway suggested a standard-gauge line from Filleigh through the Bray Valley to Blackmoor Gate and then on to Lynton. This proposal was blocked by Sir George's scheme to build a narrow-gauge line from Barnstaple to Lynton via
Blackmoor Gate. Narrow gauge was chosen because it would cost less and use less land. With Sir George's popularity then at its height, the GWR scheme was thrown out and the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Bill received the royal assent. Historians have speculated that Sir George's scheme was deliberately intended to keep mass tourism out of this part of North Devon.
The little railway was vulnerable to the growth of competition from road transport. Although the Southern Railway invested in the L & B after it took over the line in 1923, it could not be made to pay. Despite considerable public protest the last train ran on 29 September 1935 and the Railway was broken up and sold by auction.
For thirty-seven years Lynton was the northern terminus of the most famous narrow-gauge railway in England - the I ft I I Viin gauge Lynton and Barnstaple Railway which opened in 1898 and closed in 1935. After slumbering for two-thirds of a century, the line is now springing back to life.
Volunteers have lovingly restored Woody Bay Station on the main A39 road (halfway between Lynton and Blackmoor Gate), where rebuilding the Railway has begun. A short stretch of track has been laid westwards from Woody Bay and passenger trains, hauled by both steam and diesel locomotives, have been running again since July 2004.
At 980ft above sea level Woody Bay was the highest station on the Southern Railway and it has now been returned to all its Southern Railway charm of I93S. It is an idyllic spot, shaded by mature trees which were planted by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Company when the line was opened, with sweeping views stretching down to the sea five miles away.
The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway was built to link the Victorian holiday resorts of Lynton and Lynmouth with the capital of North Devon and the rest of the railway network nineteen miles away. From Lynton and Lynmouth Station 300ft above Lynton and 700ft above Lynmouth the line climbed along a narrow ledge high above the swift-flowing West Lyn river and over the shoulder of Exmoor before snaking down the beautifully wooded valley of the River Yeo to sea level at Barnstaple.
To save costs and to allow for tighter curves as the line twisted and turned to gain height from Barnstaple, the L&B was built to the narrow gauge of I ft I I '/iin.The Railway was constructed as a main line in miniature, with eighty bridges and numerous cuttings through solid rock. At Chelfham a magnificent viaduct still strides seventy feet above the valley floor.The largest structure of its kind on the narrow gauge in Britain, it has been fully restored to enable it to carry rail traffic once more.
The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Company was founded by the wealthy London publisher Sir George Newnes, who had given the world the stories of Sherlock Holmes and who also gave Lynton and Lynmouth the famous Cliff Railway and their splendid town hall. From its hilltop terminus above Lynton the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway could have continued round the hillside, curved across the Valley of Rocks on another viaduct and come to rest close to the Cliff Railway station - and Sir George's holiday home. Instead the company prospectus boasted: "The position of the station at Lynton has been chosen so that it will not be visible from Lynton or Lynmouth, and hence the beauties of the place will in no way be injured."
In 1923 the Company was taken over by the Southern Railway, who made considerable investments in the line and repainted the locomotives and carriages in their cheerful green and yellow livery so evocative of summer. But the Railway could not compete with the ever-improving road transport and the decision was taken in London in 1935 to close it down. Closure was greatly regretted by both
the local community and the many visitors who loved the little railway not only for the delightful scenery through which it ran but also for the handsome little 2 6-2 tank engines which pulled the solidly built carriages full of happy holidaymakers.
To open the line the company had bought three locomotives from Manning Wardle & Co of Leeds which they named after local rivers -Yeo, Exe and Taw -and one from Baldwin of Philadelphia, which was christened Lyn but was always known to the staff as the Yankee. In 1925 the Southern bought a fourth Manning Wardle for the line and called it Lew.After the Railway was closed, the original engines were all sold for scrap but a replica of Yeo is now being constructed. Volunteers have also restored an original L&B carriage and an original L&B brake van, both of which can be seen at Woody Bay.
The day after the Railway closed, "a constant user and admirer" living at Woody Bay placed a wreath at the station in Barnstaple with a card saying: "Perchance it is not dead, but sleepeth". Now this unique and much-loved line has re-awakened from its long slumber. Despite the length of time since its closure, remarkably little development has taken place on the route of the Railway and with the continuing support of the public, landowners and local authorities, the entire line between Lynton and Barnstaple could one day be reopened.
For times of trains, pick up a leaflet, visit the Railway's website at www.lynton-rail.co.uk or visit Woody Bay Station itself.
YOU WILL BE MADE MOST WELCOME.
Woody Bay Station stands alongside the A39 halfway between Lynton and Blackmoor Gate; the 300, 309 and 310 buses all stop outside the station. Fot the times of trains telephone the station on 01598 763487
www.lynton-rail.co.uk
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