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Lynton and Barnstaple Grant

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by SpudUk, Feb 12, 2013.

  1. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    Not noticed this posted yet, but brilliant news to see that the L&B has been award a grant of £150,000 from the Costal Communities Fund. Suprised that money is going to be spent on a third Heritage Coach, seeing as there is still no sizeable L&B locomotive to pull them, although a fully heritage set (3 coaches and Van 23) would make a brilliant sight. Fantastic news!
     
  2. Selsig

    Selsig Member

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    I thought it was a 4th coach, as rebuilding of 7 and 17 is well under way, a contract with Boston Lodge has been signed to recreate No 16 as a backup brake vehicle, and the news item on the L&B temporary site suggests this grant funded coach will be No. 11.
     
  3. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    Woops, yes it'll be a 4th then!

    Begs the question, where are they all going to be kept!?
     
  4. brmp201

    brmp201 Member

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    I believe I recently read (in the newsletter?) that Van 23 will be undergo a restoration this year, to make it operational. Four heritage coaches plus van 23 soon to be available. Is Axe capable of hauling a train that size?

    I see that an update on the Lyn website is imminent.
     
  5. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    Is the line capable of a train that size!? If it was Paracombe to Woody Bay I'd argue that the L&B did need that many large heritage coaches, but it really doesn't at the moment, especially with no Lyn to haul them, or a large diesel for off-season trains. Still, I am really not going to complain as it's absolutely brilliant news!

    Any idea if any items of heritage stock will appear in Southern colours?
     
  6. lynbarn

    lynbarn Well-Known Member

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    Yes so we shall see coaches 7, 11, 16 and 17 at Woody Bay in the next few years plus LYN and then also hopefully the Manning Wardle Project might be able to take a few steps forward as well. It is all begining to come together, I take my hat of to everyone who is doing such a fantasic job for the railway either in front of or behind the scenes, thank you guys
     
  7. lynbarn

    lynbarn Well-Known Member

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    As I understand it all the Heritage stock will apper in L&BR livery, only new tourist stock coaches (18 and onwards) as and when it gets build may appear in Southern livery.
     
  8. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Is that L&BR as in the pre-1923 livery, or does the "new" L&B have its own livery?

    Tom
     
  9. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

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    It means pre-1923 L&BR livery
     
  10. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

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    Chris - we are looking forward to the fact that the line will soon be longer. By the time the 4th heritage coach and van 23 are ready, and Lyn is finished (maybe 2 years) the expectation is that the extension from Caffyns to Wistlandpound will be being constructed!
    In the meantime, we will of course have two possible train sets, as we'll have two brakes and two non-brakes. So, on the shorter railway we can save wear and tear by using sets alternate weeks (or whatever).
     
  11. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    thanks...
     
  12. lynbarn

    lynbarn Well-Known Member

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    Yep I think that the grants the railway has been obtaining so far are only the begining. I do hope that there will be more to come, I can also see that as this is such a big project for the North Devon area employment is going to be a major issue.

    Who know may be Michael Portilo will be back sooner than he thinks to see a rebuilt L&BR.
     
  13. SillyBilly

    SillyBilly Member

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    I can't help but think there is still a lack of realism in this idea Lyn will be finished any time soon. Don't forget that Isaac currently being completed at Boston Lodge is expected to go here, I'm sure that will cope with the new stock even if it's not a correct combination.
     
  14. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

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    The question of carriage livery is a trifle unclear. At the moment, heritage vehicles (that is, any where we still have some original parts) are currently being rebuilt in pre-1923 L&BR livery. The discussion on the L&B Yahoo group last year noted that non-heritage vehicles will probably be built in Southern livery. But it is unclear whether this refers to newbuilds of original types where we do not have any original parts, or of different design vehicles.
    This comes down to a decision as to whether we need more than 17 carriages, and/or whether we need modern design ones. The originals are most impressive but lack corridor connections or loos. Once the L&B gets all the way back to Barnstaple this lack might be a bit of a problem. Of course, a loo could be added to one carriage per train, but the lack of corridors means the passenger needing to use it would have to switch carriages at a station stop! It also means no snacks trolley. However, these issues are currently less pressing, even with the extension from Lynton to Wistlandpound.

    In answer to Chris's earlier question about accommodation, I understand the recent rejig of the shed at Woody Bay means that the carriages will be under cover.
     
  15. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

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    Remember that the Lyn project is not a direct L&BR one, and so does not rely on cash input from the railway. It is a separate club where at least up to now all moneys have come from club members and supporters. At the moment a total of 190 memberships (plus parts sponsorship that are the equivalent of about 30 more) have been made. Clearly, the time frame for completion relies on their being a substantial increase in these numbers as the current funding is probably just over the 50% mark. So, if donations dry up, then 2 years is optimistic, if they carry on then it's realistic. It's also worth noting that several parts of the loco are now complete or nearly so, including the boiler and firebox (see Gallery 6 at The 762 Club - Recreating locomotive history in North Devon).

    How about 10 readers of this thread donating a membership each to get the number to 200? C'mon Narrow Gaugers - your chance to part-own a loco!! :)
     
  16. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

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    Courtesy of R Wilkinson's "NOTES ON THE LYNTON & BARNSTAPLE COACHES", here are pictures of what the 4 different types of L&B carriages will look like when complete (some are in different liveries in these pictures, of course). In order, they are 7, 11 (actually 14, but the same type), 16, and 17. Here's the link to the Heritage Carriages website:
    http://lynton-rail.co.uk/heritage_carriages_project

    7.jpg
    11(14).jpg
    16.jpg
    17.jpg

    We've been reminded on the L&B Yahoo Group that the L&B has parts of the following original carriages, which eventually 'could' be rebuilt if the railway feels they are needed: Nos. 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 14 and 15 (thus, with the 4 being rebuilt at the moment, 11 of the original 17). No. 2 is currently at the NRM and likely to stay there, and although most of 15 was rebuilt into FR 14, some parts were left over and belong to the L&BR. This would leave only the composites (5/6) totally unrepresented.
     
  17. Old Kent Biker

    Old Kent Biker Member

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    Talking of large diesels, keep an eye on the L&B website over the next few weeks. You might see something of interest there... ;)
     
  18. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    Presumably - and I'm not being critical - some of these rebuilds will be in the "Taliesin" mould of "that handle...those two door pillars...and that roof ventilator"?
     
  19. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Out of curioisty (and I know I really should keep up more, but despite it's SR leanings, this is not a project I have really closely followed up to now), are the aims of the L&B project to "create a new railway on the route of the old L&BR" (rather like the WHR) or to "recreate the historic L&BR as faithfully as possible within modern constraints" (more like a traditional heritage railway as we would understand it). I realise those two possibilities are extremes and probably hide many complexities - but I guess the nub of it is, if I were to visit in 20 years time or so, would I likely be seeing replica locos in L&B / SR livery, hauling rebuilt or replica coaches through stations rebuilt to the original building designs past semaphore signals; or would I see modern designs of carriages, colour light signals and stations in designs other than the characteristic "Swiss Chalet" style of the originals?

    Tom
     
  20. Old Kent Biker

    Old Kent Biker Member

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    Tom, I'm not speaking here in any official capacity, but as I understand the current plans, the objective is to achieve an as authentic-as-possible recreation of the original line, but one that will meet modern regulations (of which there are many!) and appeal to modern (and future) visitors. To this end, the buildings will be maintained as close as possible to their original design, and new buildings (such as the proposed new station at Blackmoor) will be designed to a similar style (although only three were of the "Swiss Chalet" style) but with the modern conveniences that are expected by the visiting public.

    The current rebuilding plan for the heritage coaches is to retain and recreate as much original design as possible, within modern requirements. For example, they will carry vacuum brakes (actually, they are dual-braked, having air brakes as well, to allow a wider range of visiting locomotives to be used), communications cords are being fitted, which were never included originally, electric lights will be fitted in replica original fittings, and passenger brake vans will be adapted (with sliding panels) so that wheelchair passengers can join their parties in comfortable accommodation.

    The fleet is likely to comprise a mixture of replica L&B (two projects are already underway, to recreate Lyn and Yeo) and similar steam locos, plus a range of visiting locos, and, as now, diesels for off-peak, emergency and occasional use.

    Modern coaches will also be built, using lightweight, modern construction techniques, and although there as yet not any formal designs, these will match the overall "look and feel" of the originals, and be uniform in size. So far as I know, all existing stations will retain semaphore signalling, although where new locations are concerned, colour lights may need to be employed.

    I hope that gives you some of the answers, although as I said, I am not speaking officially for the L&B. For details of all the above, take a look at the L&B website (click the links in my signature)
     

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