Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Thats a useful legal clarification, Miff. One really does have to be very careful how one treads in these matters. Alright, alright, already- I'll get my coat... Oh and my hat- its that one... thanks. (Exeunt, persued by a TWAO)

 

it would be interesting to know where you got the information that Raleigh Weir is a designated public footpath as i can find no listing of this on the public footpath map or on the DCC public rights of way map!

also out of interest i have heard rumours that the diesel 'Pilton' has running issues,which is interesting seeing that it was overhauled not many years ago!

 

https://www.exmoor-associates.co.uk/2021/07/rusto-update/

 

Could Meatman tell us what's the longest continuous stretch of trackbed owned by EA and how long is it? The website does not give that info.

 

As a Director of EA would you not know if Pilton was having issues? If you don't know, would not a responsible Director be unwilling to pass on unsubstantiated rumours on a public forum?

 

As far as I am aware, the longest length of continuous trackbed owned by EA is 829 yards, between Quarry Bridge (Bridge 23) and the boundary fence at the top of Chelfham Wood where it butts up to the L&BR owned trackbed.

 

Why?
Although one might assume that EA Directors would have a reasonable knowledge of the current L&BR, the EA is a separate body from the L&BRT and the L&BR CIC, so simply being an EA Director is not IMHO a reason per se to expect him to have such information.

 

Martin Ball /Meiriongrill /whatever names you choose to go under, as a director of EA or not and like many others, I do not have up to date information about the comings and goings of the activities at WB, as AXE+1 obviously has a link to those in the know that is why I posed the question, my information came from a reliable source but I was just seeking confirmation, and just for the record a few years ago I was in the process of securing the old Pilton yard signal box, you asked me to privately message you explaining some of details of which you then twisted to your liking and posted on exmoor ng, resulting in the owner of the box reading your comments and thus withdrawing his offer, need I say anymore

 

Rest assured there is nothing wrong with 'Pilton'; not sure where that rumour started but that's all it is. The loco was in use yesterday without problems.

 

Andy, I learnt about the footpath from a Director of Exmoor Associates when I was charged with updating the EA website. And more recently the same message has been told to me by someone in the L&BRT.

See >>> https://footpathmap.co.uk/map/?zoom=17&lng=-4.05470&lat=51.08731

 

Chris,judging by the legend,red,pink,blue and green are footpaths,bridleways ect,i can see nothing running along EA's section of trackbed at Raleigh Weir,there is one that runs from the back of the social club as it is now called,over the railway bridge which im guessing is no 6,Derby lane bridge,down around the top end of Hole ground and out onto Raleigh meadow road.If you look at the river above Weirside way there is a circle in the river which is where the weir is,to the right of that is where EA's land starts and runs parallel to the river upto the far side of the green block (cricket ground) and this is where EA's land ends

 

I hope this helps where the line went and you will see it isn't anywhere near this footpath.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sid...08586&lon=-4.05523&layers=168&right=ESRIWorld

 

Because the WHR went bust there was no money to pay for an abandonment order so the 'right' to run a railway was never extinguished & the assets remained in the hands of the receiver. The situation on the L&B is quite the reverse with the line being formally abandoned & the trackbed sold off.

 

Many thanks to @Miff and @johnofwessex for clarifying the legal status of the old WHR. (There may be an edit here if I've not misinterpreted a passage in a certain old book in my possession)

 

For a brief time in 1978 I worked in the footpaths section of Gwynedd CC's highways department. I remember finding my boss pouring over the plans to renovate the "Fishermans path" that runs along the riverbank below the WHR through the Aberglaslyn pass. At the time it was impassable and there was little hope of getting the money required in the budget to re-open this statutory footpath. I commented in passing that I'd walked through the tunnels and asked him if that route was regarded as an official footpath as it had probably been used as such for many years. At which point he got a bit panicky and hoped that people wouldn't work that out - the thought of the cost having to install lighting in the tunnels and maintain them was not something that he felt the council would want to even contemplate! I realise now that he probably was unaware of the legal status of the track bed...

Steve B

 

Andy, yesterday was the first time I had seen the subject map. It literally arrived in my mail inbox shortly before it was posted here. I am unable to argue against what you have stated about the route of the footpath, so I agree the map should now be ignored.

However, the fact remains that I was informed albeit a few years ago by an EA representative, that shareholders and the public are permitted access to Raleigh Weir trackbed, as indeed you yourself have effectively also pointed out.

 

With respect, being permitted access is not the same as being designated as an official public right-of-way. For example, the cycle/foot path on the stretch of the old S&DJR line from Midford to the northern edge of Wellow is only a 'permissive path' on private land. The landowner shuts it on several weekends during the winter..... for pheasant shooting parties in the adjacent fields, so it is always wise to obey the 'path closed' notices then

But IMHO it is true that situations where the public have used old railway trackbeds informally over many years without the landowner taking any obvious steps to stop their 'trespass' have lead to problems when someone tries to re-open a heritage railway that impinges on that practice.

 

The classic example, mentioned by Boyd (FR Vol,2), had to be the old Festiniog company, during the years of closure, citing an an individual's use of a waggon to shift stuff as proof the line (i.e. the portion not leased to the quarries at BF) wasn't legally 'abandoned', whilst at the same time threatening said individual with a charge of trespass and illegal use of a waggon!

 

I remember walking with a NR inspector up a little used, but not closed, colliery branch in the valleys. It was somewhat overgrown, and we were doing a visual inspection before a weedkilling train was sent up there. Somewhat surprised to find a cow grazing, tethered to the LH running rail. It must have been a regular thing, because in that cutting the grass was short enough that we could see the rails

 

The recent report detailing the works at Bridwick Farm between Blackmoor and Wistlandpound has been updated with several more photos revealing the latest work undertaken.

See >>> https://www.lynton-rail.org.uk/story/works-bridwick-farm-july-2021-updated-august-1st