Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

For answers to any questions like that I suggest the best bet is to phone Woody Bay Station on 01598 763487 or 01598 763683

Do enjoy your visit whichever loco might be running!

Mike P

 

Your neighbouring railway, the WSR, goes to great lengths (within tight budgetary constraints) to keep things GWR. 53808 notwithstanding (at least this loco worked the majority of its life in Somerset). As a regular, active, WSR volunteer I can confirm that, from my public facing experiences, many of the visitors are only concerned that they are pulled by a puffing steam locomotive and not that the loco is prototypical. I suppose one can look at the NYMR which has an eclectic collection of locomotive types from a number of pre-nationalisation companies.

 

The rostered loco was on the website, but not any more.
From the entry on Issac

Lyn can do all the runs with Issac as a backup (and no need to publish this), except for the Remembrance service where Axe is more suitable. But Axe may not take 5 coaches?.

From the other thread looks like Issac will leave and Charles Wytock will become the backup loco till the new MWs are built.

 

Lyn and Isaac currently operate when one or the other is out of service for pm's, washouts, etc. A necessary requirement with steam locos. Axe is not capable of hauling 5 coaches. There is no confirmation at this time that Isaac will be leaving the railway.

 

At this moment Isaac is the rostered engine for week commencing 20/10.

 

New Blackmore Gate Planning Application - https://planning.northdevon.gov.uk/Planning/Display/70504

 

Out of curiosity, what is the rationale for submitting a planning application for a property that you don't own? I don't imagine it's constructive when in dialogue with the owner

 

by the look of it this planning had already been passed in 2016,obviously now expired and a re-application needs to be submitted,at a cost of £900.
previous application number 60675 as can be found on the L&B website

 

New update from the L&B East Group, with mention of the Blackmoor Gate planning application and work on Van 23.

https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/trust/groups/pages/east-group-workshop-october-update

 

Anyone know what will be running on Friday?

 

Having looked at the Council's website - I notice a lot of identical objections have been lodged - using a pre-printed letter.

 

It does seem a pretty strange thing to do. I know I'd not be very pleased (to put it mildly) if someone submitted a planning application for my house.

 

It is a fairly reasonable thing to do (and happens with areasonable degree of frequency in commercial transactions) , if its part of a potential purchase by the railway or someone associated with it. There is no point in negotiating the purchase of the pub if there is no chance that change of use will be granted.

 

'Lyn' is in service Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

 

This campaign-type letter is not unusual in planning applications, and will be seen as such by the planners, but these individuals are as entitled to object as anybody else is to support the application. The statutory consultee responses are as in the previous application, which was granted.

I haven't seen a response this time round from the current owners, and I understand that the L&B and they are still "in negotiations".

 

Interesting. Having looked at the Campaign letter, it merely states "The plans set out to destroy a long-term local amenity". I understood that the plan included the retention of the Pub and Restaurant together with the external areas.

I looked at the earlier application and could not find a response from the current owners - maybe I looked in the wrong place.

I read somewhere else that the plan was to initially re-instate the line from Blackmoor Gate to Wistlandpound. This would be detatched from the current line.

 

There is no plan to operate Blackmoor to Wistlandpound in isolation-such a move would require duplication of service infrastructure, as the application for the permanent depot is separate, under ENPA's jurisdiction, and therefore subject to the TWAO, so such a proposal would be folly.

 

That was my thoughts

 

Details of all the Planning Applications made to both NDC and ENPA originally submitted in 2016 are available from links on this page of the L&B Website.

The current application, for a change of use of The Old Station Inn, is a reapplication of NDC 60675 which was previously successful but had expired due to unavoidable delays in starting the project. All the submitted documents, consultee responses, and public comments (pro and con) can be downloaded from the respective websites.

The recent reconstruction of bridges 54 and 55 (in the NDC planning area) is an indication of the L&B's intention to reopen the line between Killington Lane and Wistlandpound, as Phase IIa of the greater project to reunite Lynton with Barnstaple by rail.

 

I had a brief visit with Domestic Facilities Management & the children on Saturday.

I am sure that the drive from Blue Anchor did the DPF a power of good and with discussions about a return visit to Exmoor going on, I decided that I cant put off replacing the clutch any longer.

The weather made it all rather dramatic & the children not having been to Exmoor before were impressed.

With mist & rain blowing around Woody Bay station it was very atmospheric, and the little blighters refused to travel in the 3rd class observation car, forcing me to have to cough up for First Class all round.

Domestic Facilities was rather taken by the line, even if it is currently rather short. We were made most welcome, even if I did start by asking for tickets to Waterloo, via the Devon Belle, and the buildings and catering marquee were nice and warm.

The only comment I might make was that while the cake selection was large, they were a bit dry.