Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

It not only scones that have clotted cream applied, it is a favourite with cornflakes. certain pancakes and really what you fancy.

 

While I was not there this weekend, I am sure that afternoon tea was served at Woody Bay, along with the various Ales in the tent

 

This is what the railway is about , look at that Crowd !

 

My contact in the EA ranks had mentioned some time back that there is confidence that soon there may be enough track bed to run the little diesel along and give occasional rides. I had been thinking that meant perhaps Chelfham to (or towards) Bratton Fleming. Latest news I gather, might be more like from nearish Barnstaple to Snapper and onwards. Whether this would include the viaduct is unknown at this time (I doubt it would). More info to come in due course, no doubt.

 

This would seem to be much in line with what I read in the latest message to EA Shareholders.

It is hard not to note the ever-growing contrast between EA and the Trust, in that almost every announcement from EA seems to be of yet more progress towards getting yet more - hopefully one day operational - trackbed, whereas the Trust seems on that front to be almost moribund. Admittedly no doubt there is work going on behind the scenes on the chosen Options, but it does seem to be a case of 'waiting and watching and waiting even more' with no obvious end in sight. It is hard not to feel very positive about one and rather negative about the other.

 

I suggest less "rather negative" so much as "deeply neutral" - the sense is that the Trust has at least recognised that it needs to do things better.

 

Maybe...but recognition is one thing, actually doing something positive to rectify that remains IMHO still to be seen....

 

Agreed. I'm taking a half full approach to this glass, but it is still no more than half full.

 

If only the legal profession had a 2nd or 3rd gear, sometimes it gets very frustrating but hopefully it will all be worth the wait

 

Ah, but which half is full?



Tom

 

This non-scientist imagines a pint glass with 284ml of beer in it. If that's anywhere but at the bottom, it's definitely in a bad place!

 

...beside which, it will evaporate over time while we are waiting

 

Anywhere but the bottom bad??

 

To get back to the railway, does anyone know what would need to happen to bring the Chelfham viaduct back into use? A lease from the Highways authority?

 

You would need to be a statutory body, even for a lease

 

The Exmoor Associates website FAQ says:
“The viaduct remains property of The Highways Agency today. It can be viewed from the public road, but is not accessible to the public. The Grade 2 listed viaduct can only be sold to another statutory body who is in possession of a T&WAO (to include the structure). Until such time as a railway is ready to be built across the viaduct, it will remain in the hands of The Highways Agency, who will continue to be responsible for its maintenance.”

 

...and keeping it like that for the foreseable future is a good idea IMHO, given the possibility of further substantial maintenance costs at some future date.

 

I predict we see a train over it before the 100th anniversary of the line’s original closure date…

 

I am sure we will, and also some more of the tracked, just how much will depend on the amount of money the project can attract