Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Any such marking can become stress raiser and could develop into a rail breaking.
One big cause is the use of steel tracked excavators and dozers accessing the rails instead of using rubber tracks and designated access points.

 

Meanwhile...over on the L&BR FB page someone has raised an interesting question.

It would appear that, in a letter sent to 'Parracombe residents' on 1st February (is there a copy of that anywhere on the web?) the L&BR wrote:-

"The Trust now owns all the track-bed land from Killington Lane to Parracombe Halt and has the finance available to construct this section." {my emphasis}

...in which case, they ask,why has the Trust now launched an appeal for money to help built the extension to Parracombe if the necessary finance is already available?

It has been suggested that perhaps this is just a 'typo' and that it refers merely to the rebuilding of Bridge 65 or some other preparatory work, but such things can be picked up and portrayed in a negative way. Clearly the railway needs money anyway in order to complete Phase 2 in full at some date, so any extra money raised now will not go to waste, but hopefully clarification will be forthcoming in due course.

 

Finance doesn't have to mean cash in the bank.
I'm not involved, but it would be entirely possible to mean that they have agreements in place to fund the works if needed, but that doesn't stop the need/desire for cash (which is cheaper and saves credit for where it might be needed later).

 

I've always known these as 'unbroken crossings'. There are a very few on London Underground. Here's a blurry photo from a colleague, from about 6 years ago, which I'm sure they won't mind me sharing:

In this instance, the road to the right is a trap road so should, in theory, never see a train. At one time they had the odd one here and there in sidings, but not sure if they still do.

 

I understood that the Trust had received a substantial legacy which was going to finance or partially finance the extension to Parracombe. I have no idea how much the legacy was worth or how far it would go in financing the extension

 

According to the update on 25th May £50k has been donated in first two weeks. Assume this must be on top of the 450k Legacies. Looks like the green line has moved towards Paaracombe.

https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/news/return-parracombe-appeal-update

 

Thanks, I couldn't remember where I'd read about the legacies and I hadn't checked the website for an update.

 

Agreed not particularly clear but pretty sure the start point was 450k and we have moved down the line a little. 50k in under two weeks seems pretty impressive.

 

My thoughts too

 

I do like the visual effect each stage of money gets the line, £100 donated to the L&B.

 

IMHO a little bit more 'relatable' to physical progress on the ground than the typical skyward-pointing 'thermometer' style used by some other appeals.

 

Just submitted my support letter, but my god, they make you jump through enough hoops, don't they? At least if what you want to say is more than 2000 characters. Word? Forget it- has to be in another format (Why?).
I've just noticed a brave few from the Parracombe area are now putting their heads over the parapet in support. Good for them. That takes guts.

 

My approach to life has been built up out of the realisation that, if you do nothing, that is what you get.
That's how it happened with the Broadway canopy. Three of us realised that if we said nothing, we'd get one 'a la Cheltenham Race Course'.
Better to get a punch on the nose, than live with yourself that you did nothing.
So, come forward, say your bit on the planning website, send your contribution.

 

That's the realisation I came to 40 years ago with the history of this railway. If I did nothing all the misapprehensions, and myths (and inaccurate models) would continue to be perpetuated and built upon by people writing about it from other people's writing and model manufacturers would continue to produce models that jarred when compared with old photographs. The often dead-end digging in every conceivable place for authentic information sometimes has it's rewards and you get somewhere near what motivated people 125 years ago to create a beautiful railway. There is the thought that in another 60 years someone else will have the same idea. But by that time we should have a totally rebuilt railway between Barnstaple to nearer than before to the town of Lynton. And Lionheart/Dapol will have produced a complete range of the line's rolling stock.

 

Interesting lengthy objection from a local resident. Part of this says:- "Planning Permission was granted in March 2018 for the railway to be extended as far as Blackmoor Gate subject to certain conditions. Many people believed at the time that it was highly unlikely that these conditions could ever be met. The project is a huge and very expensive undertaking and they do not own all of the land and are unlikely to ever do so."

At the time of the original application the local residents got the conditions imposed and were very concerned that the recent 'red line application' kept the conditions. They do not think that the railway will be able to raise the funds and they know that one of the landowners has no intention to sell.