Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

I don't see why it shouldn't. My father was born in Somerset and he always referred to them as stooks.

 

Stooks was a name I knew as a child in Warwickshire. But so was sheaves.

 

My understanding is that a sheaf is a single bundle of stalks, and a stook is a pile of sheaves stacked together.

Seems like it is a more widespread word than I thought...

Tom

 

That's my understanding as well.

 

Actually, you're right. Looking at the original caption it, it does say oats.

 

Used round Leicestershire as well.

 

Nice photograph, I like the fact that the locomotives are deliberately "movement blurred" with the people/foreground as the focus of the picture - it reminds me of some of the Winston Link photographs.
It is great that the L & B is steadily returning from its long "Sleep".

 

Stooks and Sheaves also to be found in Ireland as my Uncle used the words on his farm in Sligo.

 

Stooks and sheaves here on the Isle of Man. Until new strains of wheat came in relatively recently the staple grain here was oats due to the short growing season.
Ray.

 

Looking at the photo, I think saying the loco movement was deliberately blurred is a charitable assumption! 1930s cameras were - in the most part - rather less flexible regarding shutter speed than modern ones. Having said that, it is a lovely picture.

 

The last stooks I can remember seeing were close to Georgemas Junction in 1975. Perhaps they migrated north.

 

This latest from Group East:

The new underframe now in place under carriage no.5

 

Is it intended to fit steam heat to locos & coaches in the future?

 

Absolutely fabulous work by this team.
Earlier they reported extensively on the L&B home page. For this coach project there has been very little on the Supporters/Heritage Coaches/East group subpage.
Anywhere else they have a more comprehensive report on the progress?

 

Strewth Dag .... they had to up sticks and move the whole kit'n'kaboodle .... give 'em a chance! Mind you .... I'm just as eagerly anticipating the next update too. The ongoing work on Van No.23 is intriguing me no end as well and it'll doubtless look absolutely superb when it gets back to the line .... coz that's the kind of standard we've got used to from the East Group. Can't wait!

 

Unfortunately, none that I can find, although I also believe they have a Facebook group somewhere which broadly mirrors what they produce on the Trust's pages. I agree, this group does need to have a higher profile, because the work they do is truly epic, and every bit of exposure they get will increase their funding potential.

 

Absolutely no criticism.
Read about all the trouble they had, thus I was thoroughly surprised that they had got so far with No. 5 already.
I know how much work it is in such a project, we have had one going on for several years.
http://museijarnvagenimariefred.se/

 

Indeed ..... that new jig for squaring the bodywork looks as though it'll help a lot. Roll on a review of No.5's construction from the horse's mouth. It's amazing how the 'production line' has speeded up since the first restoration, though AIUI, each carriage turned out now will include less and less original material. Still .... if Blodge could get away with 'Rebuilt' on Taliesin's works plate, courtesy of (I believe) just the reversing lever, perhaps it's time someone scoured all the out buildings around Exmoor for L&B hinges etc*.

Is anyone aware of current L&B thinking on what gets built, carriage-wise, once the original components are used up? In any event (hopefully), 17 carriages, to original designs, ain't gonna be enough once the Blackmoor - Lynton stretch is fully open, never mind the full line to Barnstaple.

*looking at the bits they've recovered to date, I wouldn't put any money on finding much else!

 

Chelfham Station site will be reopening on Wednesday 6th February.

Only Trust members are able to volunteer on the site, but a day membership scheme is being introduced to facilitate non-members who wish to participate in restoration activities.

Chelfham - like the rest of the L&B - reawaketh...

 

A sight to gladden the eye. Chelfham emerges from hibernation, blinking in Wednesdays bright winter sunshine:

(Photo by Nigel Thompson)