If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by 50044 Exeter, Dec 25, 2009.

  1. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2009
    Messages:
    843
    Likes Received:
    698
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cleethorpes
    I have to say I do find that rather charming myself, only either ride behind one engine because it's THEIR engine... how sweet. That said, they must be awfully sad at the moment, what with it out of service under overhaul right now.
     
  2. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    4,440
    Likes Received:
    6,546
    That does not alter the fact that for the sixty years of the preservation era the "core" fleet at Puffing Billy has been the near identical Baldwin tanks, so I do not think that you should worry if the L&B have a fleet of four similar MW locos. It really does not deter traffic growth if you have the right marketing approach.

    Peter
     
  3. Ian J

    Ian J New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2018
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    23
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Australia
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Hi,
    I don't know what railway you're looking at, but the only 2-6-2 tanks running on the Puffing Billy railway are the near identical Baldwin design, but all were locally built, that have been the mainstay for 100 years. The only significant difference between the locos is 8A has a different chimney and has recently been fitted with external steam exhaust pipes from the cylinders into the smokebox, and 14A has recently been converted to oil firing, to prevent the risk of a spark starting a fire, particularly through the Wright forest. ( The reasons for the external steam pipes can be found here https://puffingbilly.com.au/news/workshop-blog/continental-puffing-billy/ The ONLY other loco that operates normal services is the 2-6-0+0-6-2 Garratt, G42, soon to be joined by the NGG16. There are a number of other locos that are only used for special workings, ie., the Climax, Peckett, and the Couillet's. The other three locos in service are 6A, 7A, and 12A. Parts of 3A still exist, and there are some members suggesting it should be rebuilt, but quite frankly so little is left, and most of it is beyond restoration, it'd be cheaper and easier to build a new one from scratch. Historically a number of writers have claimed 3A and 4A were built from parts supplied by Baldwin with the original two which came out, 1A and 2A, but with the exception of a number of castings, this is now considered by some who have had a chance to examine what little remains of 3A to be more fable than fact.
    Regards
    Ian J
     
    torgormaig likes this.
  4. fergusmacg

    fergusmacg Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2008
    Messages:
    6,573
    Likes Received:
    3,950
    Occupation:
    Design Engineer
    Location:
    Cumbria
    It's probably my naff English and should have said the PB have "two loco's in their main fleet that are not Baldwin 2-6-2T's" sorry for any confusion.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  5. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2017
    Messages:
    1,002
    Likes Received:
    2,477
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Titfield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    We're discussing the emerging locomotive fleet because there's nothing to discuss at the moment as far as route, land purchase, track extension etc. Its very hard to disagree with the direction the management are taking, they are taking the steps they need to take, getting the permissions they need to obtain, maintaining the current infrastructure, repairing "soon to be needed" structures, getting funding in place for said extensions and arranging an apparently achievable motive power strategy,....Apart from taking issue with individuals personally,(which is not actually anyone's business but the parties directly involved) there's nothing to complain about-but the project is too exciting to keep quiet about.
     
  6. 2392

    2392 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2010
    Messages:
    1,902
    Likes Received:
    1,148
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Felling on Tyne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Reading through this thread, one thing [to me at least ] really stands out. What ever "we" here at Nat Pres think one way or another, the "management" of the current L & B, they have many irons in the fire and are beavering away on many fronts. So if the acquisition of land/planning permission is taking a bit longer or negotiations are more sensitive , then they switch to say planning/restoring/acquiring suitable rolling stock, improvements the current line as it stands at the moment etc. They certainly appear to be doing well..... on most fronts even if some of us here don't agree or think they should be taking things in a different direction.
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2019
  7. LesterBrown

    LesterBrown Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2009
    Messages:
    995
    Likes Received:
    761
    Location:
    Devon
    I have to admit that, particularly in view of the heritage carriages being in (the very attractive) L&B livery, it surprises me that it seems to be the intention that both Yeo and Exe are to be in Southern condition and livery. I would have thought that having one of the pair in original condition would have added some variety. The current corporate image seems to be firmly green locos and two colour carriages without variation.
     
  8. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2017
    Messages:
    1,002
    Likes Received:
    2,477
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Titfield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yeah, but so far they have (as far as the restored original fleet goes) they have one locomotive and one train of carriages. By that standard, I have a corporate image of a white van with blue signwriting exclusively.
    I suppose they could paint the other side of the coaches in Maunsell green.....
     
  9. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,429
    Likes Received:
    3,559
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    IIRC, the intention is to have one of the locomotives (I can't recall which one) finished in L&B holly green, to compliment the heritage carriages.
     
    MattA likes this.
  10. LesterBrown

    LesterBrown Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2009
    Messages:
    995
    Likes Received:
    761
    Location:
    Devon
    Sounds better, though I would like to think one might be in original condition with long cab roof if not the motion skirts. Their website does refer to getting sponsorship for SR number plates for both MWs which is why I thought both were to be in SR Condition.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2019
  11. Axe +1

    Axe +1 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2017
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    726
    Occupation:
    Retired {Electronics Engineer}
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    This week due to John Barton being away from the internet, the following video by Trevor Garnham featuring John Barton talking about the Bridges Project thus far is substituted in lieu of the regular written weekly report.



    Please support the project, all donations will be greatly appreciated.
     
    ross, Bluenosejohn and Snail368 like this.
  12. Small Prairie

    Small Prairie Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2006
    Messages:
    2,537
    Likes Received:
    171
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Coach Driver
    Location:
    North Devon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    *UPDATE*

    Lynton and Barnstaple railway are now apart of the rail riders club!
     
  13. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2015
    Messages:
    9,185
    Likes Received:
    7,226
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Thorn in my managers side
    Location:
    72
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    R Kenning and Small Prairie like this.
  14. Axe +1

    Axe +1 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2017
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    726
    Occupation:
    Retired {Electronics Engineer}
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Further to my last post, a short report covering the last 2-week period showing photographic images of Bridge 54 and 55 have appeared on the L&BR website.

    Here is the image of Bridge 55 now nearing completion.

    [​IMG]
    Photo credit - John Barton


    and for comparison here is the bridge as it stood back in 2017.
    [​IMG] Photo credit - James Bloomfield

    See Progress Report here >>> https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/page/phase-iia-construction-news
     
  15. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,500
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It is good to see these regular updates, it really encourages people to support the L & B when they can see what is happening on the ground.
     
    andrewshimmin likes this.
  16. Old Kent Biker

    Old Kent Biker Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Messages:
    858
    Likes Received:
    1,308
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    ex IT Consultant
    Location:
    Kent UK
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  17. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,485
    Likes Received:
    23,715
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    From what I've seen, Rail Riders membership gives members discounts at participating businesses. For those businesses, I assume it's like any other promotion, hoping that it encourages extra visits rather than cannibalising existing visits.
     
    Old Kent Biker likes this.
  18. Old Kent Biker

    Old Kent Biker Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Messages:
    858
    Likes Received:
    1,308
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    ex IT Consultant
    Location:
    Kent UK
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    There are online weekly "Work in Progress" reports, based on the sterling efforts of "The Thursday Group" volunteers, going back more than ten years, but the addition of the Phase IIa Construction updates are a welcome addition. They may not continue unabated, as construction progress will vary, but I do believe the L&B website is one of the most frequently updated in the Heritage Railway sector.
     
  19. Old Kent Biker

    Old Kent Biker Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Messages:
    858
    Likes Received:
    1,308
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    ex IT Consultant
    Location:
    Kent UK
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The L&B does feature on the RailAvent link, but not in reference to RR, and as RR doesn't come into play until next year, I'm not sure there is any formal link with the L&B as yet. Certainly nothing on the website.
     
  20. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,429
    Likes Received:
    3,559
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Does anyone know what the rostered engine for next week is?
     

Share This Page