Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

hopefully both the up and down starters will be fully working replica's

 

its been a long time coming,possibly too long but i think i can safely say all those who help at Chelfham are over the moon with how its turning out

 

I hope so too, especially as there is a lever frame in the signal cabin. The signals are being made using my field notes from a full day measuring the original up starter at Clannaborough Rectory which detail every constituent part, so working replicas are possible. The resulting drawing (and one of the concrete down starter based on the still-surviving post and metalwork at Chelfham) were transcribed and appear in 'Measured and Drawn' pages 162 and 159. There is also a copy of the SR Signal Diagram now hanging above the frame in the signal cabin. (see the photographs posted on May 19th) This was reproduced in 'M & D' page 163.

 

Online at the L&BR website is an illustrated report showing the Chelfham platform being surfaced with road planings, leveled and compacted to create a smooth surface.

See >>> https://www.lynton-rail.org.uk/story/chelfham-report-wednesday-19th-may

 

But....will the Down Starting be a pre-1923 EoD replica or a post-1923 SR replica ????
At the moment it would appear (but I stand to be corrected) that the Trust does not have any formal policy in place for such things at the various locations along the line.

 

I'm quite happy to let things go along at the pace of the team working there and admire what they are doing rather than wanting chapter and verse on future steps. Let's just treasure the achievemnts to date, which are remarkable, for a while and wait for the next steps. And I hope to see for myself with a visit next Sunday, ready to seek out the donations tin.

 

The timber eod went up yesterday but didn't get the chance to take any photos, should have some by the weekend, the base of the concrete one was found and the timber one dropped right in front on the facing edge to provide some extra support

 

From the L & B website.......
L&B | 23 MAY
The Autumn Gala has been confirmed for 25th and 26th September, with the AGM's (postponed from the spring gala) to be held on the Saturday night at Lynton Town

 

I would agree with the sentiments, it's all been really very nice work, a credit to all those involved, but......would it not be better to do work now in the knowledge that it aligns with longer-term requirements rather than risk having to spend time, effort and money making alterations later? At the moment there would appear to be something of a 'make it up as we go along' approach.

From a personal viewpoint, Chelfham in full EoD mode gets my vote

 

The 1927 concrete post was installed "close to" the original wooden post, so using the same spot would seem 'authentic' enough.

 

EoD?

Tom

 

Evans O'Donnell signalling equipment

 

I'd go along with that completely. What's been achieved to date is nothing short of spectacular and I'd reckon the team, who can be justifiably proud of their work, obviously know what they're doing and (in my books, at least) have more than earned their right to spring 'unscheduled' updates on the rest of us, when they consider there's something worth reporting, which is precisely what they do.

It's not as if the work at Chelfam is holding up train services, so what on earth is wrong with exercising a bit of patience, when it's so richly rewarded with such pleasant surprises?

 

In these two pictures of Chelfham there is a structure between the running in board and the signal box. Can someone with knowledge of the station say what this structure is, if it survives and if it is planned to restore/recreate it?

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LBR-Chelfham-1.jpg

http://www.009.cd2.com/albums/lynbarn/images/28.jpg

Thanks in advance

 

Err...the 2nd photo is Lynton not Chelfham

Is not that 'structure' the gent's urinal? There seems to be a 'Gentleman' notice on a post outside it. Not quite sure how 'authentic' you want a restoration of that to be

 

Sorry, I'm not sure what happened there - the pic I tried to link to was definitely Chelfham! Link now edited

I wasn't sure what the sign said and had never seen reference to it before. Do you know if it survives in any form?

 

It has been mentioned in the Chelfham updates, not that long ago, IIRC. It is stone built, and open roofed. From the photographs, rebuilding has already begun, and the recreation is intended, I believe, to be authentic! If you enlarge my avatar, which is of a painting of Chelfham, you may get a slightly better view, although of course, it's only as good as my interpretation of the source photographs I used!

 

Thanks Mark, I must have missed it in the updates - good opportunity to go back and have a reread and appreciate what has been achieved.

 

They have been rebuilding the front and flank walls over the last few months, I think they have pretty much got as far as they can go without the workshop roof coming off, storage space needs to be arranged before that can happen though

 

Many thanks for the update, I assume the garage (workshop?) will be removed at some point too, so storage will become even more of an issue. (Does the garage currently cover this structure?)