Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Then they need to either grow up, or quit.

 

Another thing to point out is that the magazines become the history - of the preservation scheme. I'm fortunate enough to have a full set of the GCR's Main Line magazine, and I have frequently dipped into those from the 70s and 80s to establish when a particular piece of rolling stock arrived, or last ran, or what the state of the signalling was in a particular era, or whatever. Put all of that detail on a throwaway newsletter or (worse) the completely transient internet at your peril - the next generation may want to know what went on and how you got there!

 

Absolutely. I’m acutely aware when writing for Bluebell News (but the point is generic) that in a modern social media age, writing about things that happened up to four months before readers see the magazine hardly counts as news. To a greater extent, I am writing for the reader of 10 or 20 or 50 years hence to document “what happened when, and why”.

Tom

 

That's why I still subscribe to Trackside magazine, the news articles they cover usually quote the 'official' news and cover more of the backstory than social media (trying to get details of some 'news' on NP can be like pulling teeth! ). The more historical articles are also interesting.

 

Good news that they will work with the railway. The new visitor centre, cafe and other facilities will also attract new visitors to the area and the station. Will be a long time till passenger trains return, but will it be possible to get a short demonstration test track at Chelfham station with the refurbished Ruston loco (recovered from Lynton) when it is ready (depending on the new owners?). Also perhaps sometime a temporary loan of the "Snapper" loco from Purbeck?
https://www.exmoor-associates.co.uk/2021/07/the-loco-now-leaving-lynton-station/

 

You have reminded me of Trackside, thank you mdewell.

 

My understanding of Chelfham is not to install a railway just yet. The main drive here is to clear all the trackbed back to Snapper and also towards Lynton at the other end of Chelfham. A few local issues need to be dealt with, plus the issue of whether we could lay a railway here or not.

The thing is, we can't generate enough money from a ride just across the viaduct without taking ownership and that means also having to take out all sorts of insurance policies to boot. The best that can happen in the short term is to have a clear and accessible trackbed when it becomes possible to lay track from Snapper back to Blackmoor in one go.

That said it is more than likely that track will get laid from Blackmoor down and around to North Thorne Farm first of all once a route has been agreed upon and the land has been purchased. I do think that currently there is still a lot of confusion around just what it is we are trying to do.

While I do get the heritage side of the operation is important, I don't think that unless we take a hard-nosed commercial view of the long-term development of the whole project, will we make any foreseeable progress in the next five to ten years.

 

Hopefully the restored Ruston (Rusto) will be returning to Bratton to start with

 

I assume that is dependent on the goods shed project being completed to provide covered accommodation for the loco?

 

Three observations here:-

1. The recent news about the repair work to be done to the viaduct pointing and parapets, resulting in the need to encase the viaduct in scaffolding again, IMHO highlights the benefit to us at the moment that such work is still the responsibility and expense for another body.

2. There remains to me what is an anomaly that the Chelfham site is owned by the CIC (and hence the Trust), but lies within an stretch of line notionally otherwise the 'responsibility' of EA/YVT. IMHO it would be far better for both CM and BF to be under the same management.

3. We are still lacking sight of any formal long-term strategy from the Trust as to how they foresee the future development of the whole line. Recent postings by Anne B about the apparent 'lack of initiative' over the BR-WD section merely highlight how everything under Trust control appears - even if not actually the case - to be almost stagnant anywhere other than at WB.

 

No, its dependent on sorting out the transport asap, a temporary multi purpose structure is being looked at in the short term, one which will be able to be utilised for other projects

 

Advanced notice of the L&BRT(& CIC) 2025 AGM and call for nominations has recently been posted on the website: https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/trust-notices

 

Latest episode:

 

It also says they hope to have "an interactive information session between the annual AGM formalities similar to that at the recent forum last November." Perhaps someone who attended that event can tell us what this consists of as I am not aware of any information imparted as to what was said (or discussed) at that meeting. Is there a realistic hope that this will be the equivalent to adding an agenda item "any other business" that we ought to have at these meetings ?

 

Perhaps one of these young computer Wizz kids could be persuaded to live stream it for all to see? Might make speakers think twice about their behaviour.

 

The last Winter Work Weekend of this Winter takes place the weekend after next. (28,29 & 30th March) We may well be working on the new carriage shelter at Woody Bay. Exciting times!

 

Latest on YouTube

 

There is a lot of good work being done and I'm looking forward to seeing the L&B continue to grow and support the local economy.

 

Is there any news on the planning application for the extension to Cricket Field Lane?

 

...not unless you can work your way thru' the mass of stuff on the ENPA Planning Portal and find it for yourself :-(