Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Spring Gala 14th & 15th May 2016

Once again we were very lucky with the weather for a gala weekend which showed the railway off to its very best. For the first time since the line closed in 1935, a mixed passenger and goods train operated in public service. On the original railway, all trains were timetabled to run as mixed trains, though not necessarily doing so, with time allowed at stations to attach or detach vehicles as required. Our train ran with the single coach 17 being used exactly as intended. Winter trains could see very low passenger numbers so the L&B built coach 17 in 1911. (not 1912 as in my caption) It accommodated all passenger requirements in one coach as it contained smoking and non-smoking first and third class compartments as well as luggage and guard's compartment. The train could then potentially convey more goods making it more economical to run.
The fifth coach for the railway is currently under construction at our workshop in Great Yeldham, Essex. Appropriately coach number five, it contains two very spacious first class compartments and four third class. We still need to purchase the underframe and bogies which cost around £46,000 so please consider making a donation via the website, www.lynton-rail.co.uk and specify "Heritage Carriage Fund". The frames and bogies are constructed by the Ffestiniog Railway at their Boston Lodge works. At the same time, parts are also being restored and manufactured for coach number nine, another of the popular third class centre observation coaches, the same as coach seven already in service. This of course will also need an under frame and wheels, so money quickly gets used up. Then there's van 23 waiting to be restored. These beautiful coaches are the result of thousands of hours of mostly volunteer labour, there is only ONE paid member of staff, quite remarkable. The current thinking is we need eight coaches for the opening of the extension in about five years' time. This will enable two four coach trains to provide an hourly service, passing at Parracombe Halt.
During the gala, trains ran every half an hour, alternating with a three coach train, creating two authentic L&B trains at Woody Bay station. For the last train of the weekend, both trains were joined to make a four coach mixed train, seen in the last shot of the film.
The planning application for the four and half mile extension is currently under consideration by the authorities, so fingers crossed for good news soon.
New build L&B engine "LYN" is about move into full assembly stage. www.762club.com
UPDATE: June 2016 The public launch of LYN is officially announced. Saturday 13th May 2017 at the railway's spring gala.
There is also the share offer to buy the "Old station Inn" formally Blackmoor station, a vital part of the plan for the new headquarters of the railway. There's lots going on, so if you're at all interested, please consider joining the fast growing membership, if only to receive the thrice yearly members' magazine, which is excellent.
www.lynton-rail.co.uk
If you're in the area, Woody Bay station is a lovely place just to stop and enjoy the atmosphere of this charming little railway, maybe enjoy some refreshments, lunch, or a homemade cream tea. You can park and visit the station area for free. We love dogs too.
I hope you enjoyed my film and it gives you a taste of what the future extended railway will be like. Also remember our second station at Chelfham, where there is superb restoration going on. Open for visitors on Sundays. Park under the viaduct.
UPDATE: 15th June 2016 Planning permission granted to reinstate the railway from Blackmoor to Wistlandpound reservoir.
UPDATE: 29th June 2016 Planning Permission granted for change use of the "Old Station Inn" back to a railway station (Blackmoor), as well as a café, restaurant and pub. An extension to be built for a ticket office and shop, change of use of a house on the site to a museum, a flat and railway offices, also construction of a pedestrian underpass to the future car park.
This concludes two of the seven separate applications that form the 4.5 mile extension plans from Killington lane. These two applications were passed by North Devon Council, the other five are under the jurisdiction of Exmoor national park authorities.
News on those to follow soon. If all this is successful, the next stage is to reopen the line from Woody Bay to Lynton, then stage three from Wistlandpound reservoir to Barnstaple, the entire nineteen mile railway.
UPDATE: 17th August 2016 Two more wagons arrive front the Sandstone Heritage trust in South Africa. Another drop side flat wagon, a DZ, as seen in this film, and another Y ballast hopper wagon, as seen in my last film. More invaluable equipment for rebuilding the railway.

[@flippop101]

Your film warms the heart! Thank you!

[@iantrainman]

Great video - good to see

[@MrNicholaspwn]

Hi Traindriver35, I really enjoyed this video. Interesting shots well edited to produce a fascinating record of the Spring Gala.😀

[@UKWMO]

Great to see this as no gala report on the L&B website. Great video by the way!

[@1972scenic]

HEAVEN