L&B and the ENPA

The Exmoor National Park Authority are currently running a survey with regards to their priorities.

To help make the ENPA aware of the importance of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway on the area's economy, both as a more sustainable transport method and as a means of improving the national profile of Exmoor, please could you complete the survey below?

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e3q9ucqvgmoxainy/start

 

Well done Spud good move, I would not have spotted it if you had not posted the link , its a bit long to do but well worth the effort !! at least I think so that is If you care about feedback and Exmoor in general.

I suggested lots of other things they could do, but not a Narrow gauge railway.!!

 

"I suggested lots of other things they could do, but not a Narrow gauge railway.!!

Last edited by TheEngineer; 11-05-2011 at 05:48 PM. "


Unlike the Engineer, I suggested a narrow gauge railway would be a great idea for the area.

 

Survey completed and I highlighted the importance of developing the narrow gauge railway as an alternative to the car.

 

Care to enlarge on that one?

 

Here we go again...

 

It seems that Sheff stuck his head up too, so here is the answer, I was commending Spud, he did well to spot the survey well done, again , but the survey is about ENPA, not our interests, whilst we can suggest a railway ENPA have heard it all before.

You all want a Railway along the L&B . No problem, it can be done, It needs set objectives of short pieces, of a known cost.( we are working on it, buying the route), show us the money. The only way it will be built is action speaks louder than words, all we are hearing is words, and fairly muffled ones at that.

The latest paper to arive through my door ask's for contributions to an empty, open, bottomless pot to fill it . You have to be specific about what you are trying to do, how much the target is .1 objective at a time.

You also have to demonstrate how wisely you have spent what you have had, otherwise funders don't come back.

Enough said.

(Try that ammended)


Great idea and that is about where it ends, no one has the money.
I "would have" if I thougt it could be built , with a plan and the likelyhood of enough money being found to meet that plan and build it and it could stay in business, but personally I think TOO many people are dreaming with the current plan.

But in this survey ENPA are looking for ideas and comments that have immediate or short term effect on the community who live there on Exmoor and what the visitors use Exmoor for, mostly sightseeing and walking.

A Railway along the L&B would need either a massive injection of Public Money, which is not there anywhere, and which ENPA do not have to invest in it , and if they did would spend it on the other topics they indicate such as housing and land housekeeping .

Or a private company to structure it do it and fund it L&BRT & CIC. Whilst ENPA are not obstructive to such a plan of building a railway, they see limited benifit to them from its construction and operation , they are not going to be involved in building it however neatly it is dressed up, as a benifit to the area.

What would benifit the area, is Freely provided "Brown Road Signs" for one and they could see to provide that service to all new attractions.

Small hydro schemes, as Exmoor is a massive water shed 9 months of the year from a good head height , this would directly benifit its inhabitants NOW, and the cost of

£ 30 million if allocated to build a railway was availible and spent on capital investment in Hydro would build sustantial generating capacity , in excess of what a railway will generate year on year, because the rain is garanteed, the rivers keep flowing , the visitors may not .

This would also help them meet their Green Policies and carbon initiative a railway will not.

The survey is about answering questions for Exmoor Not the L&B

Hope that answers your point

Regards TheEngineer , I do all sorts of engineering not just railways. But "Well done Spud"

 

It doesn't actually say in the survey what time frame the improvements should be in. I also heartily believe that the L&B is one of Exmoor's best assets in terms of increasing its profile nationally. Irregardless of whether they can invest in the L&B or not, raising the awareness and the benefits of the L&B to the ENPA is a good thing. Any personal feelings towards the prospects of the project shouldn't get in the way of that.

I think the WHR proves what can be done if you dream a little bigger!

 

I don't disagree with your comments with reference to othe initiatives that would benefit the area. But equally I would have thought that making the ENPA aware of the possibilities of, and interest in, the L&B might help to colour their judgment in planning issues which would impact the line? Out of interest, as a fellow engineer, what is your engineering discipline? Iain

 

The ENPA have had massive and continuing dialogue with the old and new board of the L&B. ENPA are waiting for it to happen???

ONC Engineering Distinction in applied heat. Specialising in Machine tool repair and installed plant, Age 53 36 years in the company , 26 years as maintenance supervisor, turnover aprox £7 M big machine tool park, fair size and complex plant.

Currently very interested in renewables and suitable locations, for generation projects.

Renewables projects in hand 2.

Other interests Railway construction, Locomotives, and rolling stock. Archetecture of buildings and structures.Cranes ships and processes

Oh and Piston engined prop propelled aircraft 1930 onwards, especially floating ones!! "C" class Flying boats, C47's and things that were built to do a job like the Austin 7 and did it. That you can really see them work and feel them.

If you like and study all these things you start to understand them, how people acheived their objectives, often with hopless odds and sceptisism against them.

And having a Laugh with success doing it.

 

Could I ask Mr Engineer, the next time he includes one of my posts as a quote, to refrain from adding his own comments to it so it appears I have said something I have not? I did not say "Great idea and that is about where it ends, no one has the money," but his reply infers that I did.

Please do not do that again.

 

Appologies wording not intended to be in that location , its not so clear in edit where it is I have removed it into the bold text.Sorry it was misleading

 

I do agree with The Engineer that there needs to be smaller, more attainable targets within the grand strucutre of restoring the route. Next stop Parracombe, and plan from there! Bite-size chunks are easier to chew.

 

I have no axe to grind about the L&B as a tourist attraction, museum, whatever, but is it really perceived as a viable transport method? It wasn't exactly successful in its original form. How many people actually need to travel between points on its route?

 

I'd have thought it was analogous to an extent with the WHR and some other NG lines in that respect? People's priorities are much different now to the 1930's, when rail was old hat and the car/bus was the preferred means of touring these areas, with little road congestion to get int he way and no heritage attraction aspect attached to the trains. I doubt many of the revived lines will have any serious patronage from the local populous? Iain

 

I believe the idea is to use Blackmoor Gate as a park and ride for the rest of Exmoor to try and reduce the number of cars in the National Park itself

 

The L&B Trust AGM is this weekend and there seems to be momentum gathering towards beginning the next push. I expect there will be some news following the meeting.

The latest L&B newsletter (which arrived this week), states that a firm of solicitors and parliamentary agents have been instructed to commence work on the application for a Transport & Works Act Order. A new fund-raising program is also being put in place.

The Heritage Coaches seem to be making progress, with the underframe and bogies for coach 17 under construction at Boston Lodge, with completion due this year, and coach 7 not that far behind.

The magazine also states that, "serious efforts are being made improve relations between the Directors of Exmoor Associates and the Board of Trustees, following a lengthy meeting between EA Directors and representatives of the Trust. Several Trustees have been shareholders in Exmoor Associates from the very beginning and we expect EA to play a leading part in the development of the L&B".

All the usual L&B and EA suspects on this forum, take note! Serious efforts are being made to improve relations!

Let's hope that this is the start of the next phase of rebuilding the line and some serious progress is made over the next year.

 

Engineers response in ( brackets) in main text.

(I quite agree with you, but I will bet now there is nothing much to show in 12 months from todays date)( I will put up£ 2000 if the Killington Lane bridge is above foundation, but without deck, but near to that stage) ( and £5000 if the bridge is ready to accept traffic.) What is the take on that then.
I will give that money freely with gift aid as well.

 

That would be amazingly generous of you (I realise that you have already given much to the L&B). However, I have no idea how long it takes to get a TWAO, but I guess it's more than a couple of weeks. Therefore, wouldn't it be more fair to say 12 months from when the TWAO is granted?