Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

That looks really nice.

My only concern is that the functional part of the railway might be suffering from a steam motive power problem soon - Axe's boiler certificate runs out in the next few months (Hopefully it won't require much work) and neither Lyn or Isaac are servicable.

 

Thanks to Chris Lane, these details are now on the updated Google Map, linked to from the L&B website:

https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/story/lb-online-mapping-updated

 

Thanks very much for this: how much land needs to be acquired to unlock the planning permission? Of that, do we know how much is under active negotiation (as opposed to a landowner who refuses to negotiate without a CPO), please?

 

As far as I can see, the map doesn't provide actual lengths in yards/metres of land owned and/or land needed. It's also not actually possible to work that out from the map. Have the lengths of land owned by EA or the Trust been listed anywhere?

 

If you fully open the map and info panel on LHS the info is there - but not easy to see! Here it is to save you looking for it:-


The route of the Lynton And Barnstaple Railway.
**Dean Steep trackbed now added to the totals**
The total route is 19.29 miles.
**New Yellow Tracks are alterations for the Extension** subject to change.
The total running route is 0.93 miles / 4.8% between Killington Lane and Woody Bay.

The total route owned by the Lynton And Barnstaple Railway Trust is 3.57 miles / 18.5% of the total route.

The total route owned by the Exmoor Associates is 2.63 miles / 13.68% of the total route.

The total route owned by statutory bodies is 0.69 miles / 3.57% of the total route.

The total impassable built on route in Barnstaple is 0.35 miles / 1.81% of the total route.

The total track bed needed to run from Lynton to Barnstaple (Pilton Yard) is 12.65 miles, that's 65.49%.



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it looks like a monumental cock up if you ask me,i think many others are concerned too and it seems the powers that be are having LYN running 'to see how she performs over the new trackwork' in thier own words,obviously just to save face when they actually know the damage she is doing

 

This part I had seen before but, I may be wrong, I've a feeling these totals have not been updated recently as I'm pretty sure they're the same as before the Dean Steep section was added. If the map-maker (Chris Lane) reads this forum I wonder if he could confirm this or otherwise?

 

Well, Lyn is running this coming weekend, and Isaac is, I understand, soon to be back, so I think this is being over anxious.

 

I have been told that the GM wanted Lyn on limited manoeuvres for the gala to avoid further damage to the pointwork, but has been overruled by the company directors and she will be in full service.

There does seem to be a bit of a motive power crisis looming which is a shame. Perhaps the directors have been justifiably too focused on planning matters recently and taken their eye off the ball. They probably regret turning down proper hire commitments for Charles Wytock and Gertrude too!

 

The boiler firebox on Charles Wytock needs heavy repairs or complete replacement, so even if on proper higher commitment it would still be out of use. Issac boiler has passed its steam test and some maintenance work on the cylinders will be done in the next few weeks. I don't know if any other work needs doing or not before it comes back into use.

 

Maybe they have not taken their eye off the ball but are convinced that they always know best, they thought that the new points would solve the problem and to save face at the gala have insisted on LYN in full service ,no matter what damage will be done to either locomotive or trackwork, let's just hope there isn't an accident for the railways sake just because of a few over inflated egos time, I think some at the top were sent packing, they have become too self obsessed and are no longer fit for purpose

 

Now come on an accident caused by a small ridge (for want of a better word) in a loco tyre it's not likely in any stretch of the imagination. The worst type of effect of these tyre profiles could be slightly increased wear in the head of the rail - not ideal true but also not a show stopper either. They obviously have made that decision to live with that wear but to think they would allow a loco to run and risk a derailment or a accident to use your words is to be quite frank one of the most far fetched postings I've ever read on NP.


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I have been told that it's a little bit more damage than that, not only are the points at killington lane being damaged but also the ones at woody bay but time will tell I guess and no doubt like many other things any issues that do happen will be kept from the members

 

And so they have made a commercial decision to live with that extra wear, but you appear to have an axe to grind?

Let's hope the reprofiling of these tyres is quickly expedited after this w/e and the loco gets into regular service as soon as possible.


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Lyn is serviceable and issac should be ready well before the end of the year?

And meatman, would you care to explain your axe your grinding?.... And maybe a name so we know who you are?

Yes, it is damaging the points at woody bay BUT its minimual damage and one more weekend of running wont be an issue, axe is coming out of. Ticket but will be worked on near enough stright away and issac is getting worked on currently.

So wheres all these issues coming from?

 

By

By the railways own admittance only a few weeks ago it was stated that Lyn would not be in service due to the problems she was causing with the trackwork yet all of a sudden all is fit for the gala, something doesn't ring true here, it seems to me that some are trying to save face, as stated already the general manager would have accepted limited use of Lyn but has obviously been overruled by those above him, I'd rather see no news rather than bad news

 

Other than periodically dropping in at Woody Bay (possibly tomorrow, depending on a variety of factors), I have no connection with the L&B. However, I'm familiar with the idea that a locomotive can be used on a limited basis but not in regular traffic; as this weekend is a gala, that doesn't strike me as an unreasonable approach to take.

 

I thought Axe went out of certificate at the end of June - pretty sure it has been put on the website. If it is the end of the year, then Isaac will be servicable if everything goes to plan, and Lyn will hopefully have its issues solved over the next few months - teething problems are to be expected with any new locomotive and a few weekends use is unlikely to have any serious impact on the track.

 

There is probably a perfectly satisfactory arrangement available to the L & B if required. The FR's Lilla has been to Woody Bay before and is vacuum braked so very suitable for running at the L & B. Lyn could go to Boston Lodge as a return load, have the tyres turned there and carry out the eagerly awaited trial runs on the WHR.
Swapping them back again is another two-way load.