Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Working Weekend Party 22nd-24th November 2013
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- čas přidán 29. 11. 2013
- Maybe it was the forecast prefect weather conditions or maybe just the growing interest in the railway. Whatever it was, the largest number of volunteers yet came from all over the country to take part in the first winter working weekend of 2013/14. Friday morning was spent "harvesting" fence posts from the current running line (remove two posts, leave one) using the railway's own very useful excavator. The extracted posts were then replaced by dropper bars to maintain the fence's strength. In the afternoon and again on Saturday and Sunday, work moved to a site close to Caffyns Halt. Two substantial fence runs were reinstated, one being cleared of thick undergrowth then rewired, the original L&B concrete posts dating from about 1910 still being in good order!! The other run required most of the posts replacing using those we collected on Friday. Underneath bridge 74 was cleared a horrible tangle of concrete, metal and barbed wire, more pleasing was to see some lovely dry stone retaining walls cleared of undergrowth and the reinstatement of the Southern Railway bridge number plate which had been discovered by the landowner (Jim Bingham) in the undergrowth. He could not be more enthusiastic about the railway's plans and helped out all weekend with his tractor and we don't even own this section yet. There was plenty of other undergrowth clearing along fence lines and the side of a steep cutting which kept the several bonfires well fueled. The second part of this film is from the Sunday afternoon and shows the almost completed work, it also shows the lovely views this stretch of line will give and the excellent condition of the track bed itself. Not to be forgotten were the two "grottettes" back at Woody Bay, Julia Snashall and Sonia Oakey, setting up for the Christmas visitors. Fancy joining in next time?? Go to www.lynton-rail.co.uk for more pictures and reports and details of working party weekends at the end January and March 2014. It's great fun, good exercise and very rewarding.
Update April 2014: During the January and March 2014 working parties the rest of the current running line from Woody bay was re fenced with southern railway concrete posts. These replaced the life expired wooden posts installed some 10 years ago. 81 posts planted and wired in March, also revisited was the site at Blackmoor gate (next to the cattle market) where the car and coach park will be when we extend the line. More tree and scrub clearance carried out. Blackmoor Gate will also become the operational headquarters of the line.
If you'd like to join in next time, working parties are during the last full weekends in November, January and March. Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
Details on the website closer to the time. www.lynton-rail.co.uk
Makes you realize just how much hard work is involved in bringing this wonderful railway back to life. Even mundane sounding jobs like fencing are vitally important. Laying the track is really just the icing on the cake!
Excellent work being performed on restoring this beautiful old line - a huge THANK YOU & WELL DONE to all involved!
My family comes from Barnstaple and I remember being shown over the remains as a wide-eyed child on holidays in the 1960s (when the Ilfracombe line was still running). It's so good to be able to actually take a ride on it now, even if it's just a short stretch at the moment - it WILL continue to grow =D
I'm really glad you were able to film this, as it's History in the making. It's wonderful that this iconic Railway is being reclaimed from the landscape mile by mile....years after it closed. Unfortunately due to work demands, i cannot get to these working parties myself, which in a way is a bit gutting living only 40 miles east. A big well done to all the volunteers....cheers....Steve.
Return to Exmouth Junction Concrete Works! Thanks for posting - excellent work.
cracking video sir. Thanks for omitting the bit where I stood on a branch and it shot up and hit me in the face! Great weekend with great people,,,cheers...Martin
MAP OF HELSTON
The section in the video portrayed, it's stated in the description that this section hasn't been bought yet, by saying that, does the railway only purchase the old time rail corridor?
Ben, I really think you need to get out more.
Recalling the reinstatement of part of the Waverley route? To rebuild a single line of track, demolition of a dwelling house built right across the track bed was necessary.
Compensation paid, of course. Change of scene:- when property was required to be removed to route the Nottingham tram, despite large opposition, new premises were offered to commerce in the locality.
A business can of course move to a new location whereas a given route of railway generally does not.
Exceptions being the Ffestiniog diversion cut by hand and the future deviation round Wistlandpool Reservoir.
Which will cost money of course but what will come free?
Will the current owners of the L&B former trackbed donate a strip of land not always of any practical use?
Will the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway be completely rebuilt?
It is certainly our intention. Along the entire route sections of track bed are being bought up. Chelfham station and viaduct have been restored also Snapper Halt.
Some of the old track looks like it's being used by farm tractors. Aren't farmers going to be annoyed when they find they can't use the old track bed any more?
when are they coming to start track lying
This is nuts I've just discovered a channel called rediscovering lost railways and wen they show then and now i certainty thought there is no way they could rebuild the railway all the way as its built on how can you reclaim the land as you have people's homes in the way?
Presumably they build around them9
Think the only station on this iconic line not in ownership of the lynton and Barnstaple railway is now blackmoor gate, they have now purchased parracombe and bratton flemming station’s unless someone knows apart from Barnstaple and lynton station’s
are you British