Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Is it just me, or is the formatting on this site playing up

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Colin, maybe it's trying to tell you something...

 

1. Please don't look her up, except to get an impression of what she has done. I am absolutely NOT suggesting her.
2. It is not for you, I or any other random member of a society to go and approach consultants about projects we're interested in. Allow those in positions of leadership to do that - and if you have capacity, offer your services to support them.
3. The information on the membership list is private, and many on it (including me) will specifically have asked not to be rung about giving. Otherwise, see (2) and do it as part of a proper fundraising exercise.

 

Colin,
Not for the first time, I have to disagree.

What the L&B Railway project needs, is not more, or fewer, Organisations; what it needs is better, clearer organisation, structure, communication and direction. In recent years, there are signs that this is coming about.

Taking item 3 above, for example, no new Civil Engineering Company is needed. There are plenty of those around Deveon and around the country as a whole. What is needed is a Civil Engineering FUNCTION - a focal point that will determine the requirements of any specific sub-project, then (after the necessary funding) obtain these from the most advantageous source, be that volunteers, paid staff, temporary employees, or external contractors. We have to be generalists - we can't be specialists in all the skills we need.

You will remember L&B Transport - I can't recall the details, but it was a subsidiary of the Trust (or was it still the Association?) formed to own and maintain a low-loader so that we could move rolling stock around the country. Whatever happened to that?

Well, that is what I think...

 

Ah yes, then not an example at all of what @lynbarn was talking about. Apologies.

 

@lynbarn, I couldn't agree with @35B more. Please do get in touch to see how you can practically assist, but leave fundraising well alone unless/until you're on the Board and tasked with this.

 

1 Don't panic, I am not going to approach anyone; it is just a case of looking at her CV

2 Even if I were in a position to do so (which I am not), I wouldn't dream of approaching anyone on behalf of the trust without first letting the trust know about a
possible contact

3 Also, and not forgetting data protection, will also apply

 

Martyn.

Your point about the Civil Engineering Function is closer to what I have in mind.

As for L&BR Transport, was that not more to do with the workshops at Bratton Fleming?

 

Toby, bridge 23 in particular should not be rebuilt in a way that you suggest, it was as far as I know basically a wide bridge structure with an embankment on the top, the only one of this style and therefore should be rebuilt as such,

 

@Meatman - apologies I think I have the wrong Bridge number - the perils of posting without notes to hand.

 

To put the facts on the

table.
The Railway at woody bay 1998-2009 the L&B at that time did not have a transport section or group .
It didn't have two quid to scratch it's arse .
The only money it had was that firstly generated from operating the Lynbarn at Milky way .
And various stands at local events .
However in deciding to build the railway at woody bay it needed to move a lot of materials from various places around Britain to woody bay or to other places for the items to be worked on so that when they arrived they would fit together .!
Someone in connection with someone else had to plan this . I had been on the scene for ten years and knew most of the current Management of the railway in waiting . Mike Buse , Tony Brown ,Mile Selby John Hedderly Doug Hill , Dave Tooke ,and many others .
I had the Engineering expertise to design. Draw manufacture , Deliver (find what was necessary by whatever means for the absolute lowest price if not for free) but transport had to be bought in there was no other practical option at that time so yes the L&B Association later Trust Directors had direct contact with me and as a group we made decisions on affordability and best solution .
About 2003 Les Driver Appeared , and his first words were " we can't afford all this hiring of transport " costing a bloody fortune .
Leave it with me .
Many people found Les Difficult to get on with but Les had the skills and background with DVSA and could set up and be responsible for the tractor unit and trailers we would need , so what's the price ? Les got together with Tony Brown , Tony registered a company with Company's house and "Exmoor Transport Ltd " was born Tony was co secretary and treasurer Les was transport manager and Driver , the company had a share issue to raise £10k with which Les specified what he wanted a Volvo F12 three axle tractor capable of 44T a low loader trailer and a step frame I went around the country searching for what Les wanted I found an A reg F12 mid lift with all the hydraulics and the King break neck trailer . It was owned then by Engineering Services Horndon on the hill in Essex by Rod Donne.
The shareholders bought that and the work started .
There was NEVER any financing from the L&B , yes they had to pay the costs of employing the kit but it meant we had an At cost operation as flexible as you could get at less than half the cost of any contractor .
We did it to enable building a railway or at least we thought we were going to build a railway and it all worked like a well oiled sewing machine until 2007 when the L&B board changed . Not as we had intended it to be . A railway built by the people for the people became an autocratic nightmare this new board decided it didn't need transport or self defining engineering and the two groups parted with considerable animosity .
The reborn railway had been built to Killington lane by a lot of volunteers working with self funding companies , now it had become something that just wanted your money ! How much did 762 cost ? Just one project cost more than building the railway .

 

It is my understanding that 762 was paid for and is owned by The 762 Club Ltd and therefore did not cost the railway anything (in the same way as you have explained that the railway didn't pay anything out for the transport company).

 

If we are going to build a railway in the vicinity of Barnstaple which it appears some people have in mind , it will necessitate a construction, logistics throughput yard or hub that connects road supply to rail transfer the only practical place I can see for this without massive groundwork is Collar Bridge .I would suggest that some thought be put into replicating the Exmoor Transport company with it's base being at that location or maybe someone has a better and more friendly haulage contractor, The industry is designed by govt to stop small contractors operating they are going bust at a very sad rate. South Molton transport being a prime example .

 

If we are going to build a railway in the vicinity of Barnstaple which it appears some people have in mind , it will necessitate a construction, logistics throughput yard or hub that connects road supply to rail transfer the only practical place I can see for this without massive groundwork is Collar Bridge .I would suggest that some thought be put into replicating the Exmoor Transport company with it's base being at that location or maybe someone has a better and more friendly haulage contractor, The industry is designed by govt to stop small contractors operating they are going bust at a very sad rate. South Molton transport being a prime example .

 

My point as an ove

 

My point was an over view and is relating to what you can achieve from what you spend , what certain people have achieved with very little and virtually no funding but also with knowledge and experience .

 

The L&BRT/CIC have today published notification of the 2026 AGMs, to take place on 16th May

https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/news/view/2026-agm-elections-and-trackbed-walk

 

Thanks for the clarification from somebody who was closely involved at the time. Much appreciated.

 

I am sure you are correct- the 762 club raised the money and paid for the building of 762. I put a few quid in myself, and I think the result is fantastic.
However, the money that went toward building 762 might have gone to the carriage restoration fund, or the lets get to Parracombe fund, or the buy some sleepers fund, the buy a Volvo F12 fund (someone knew what they were at)- to me, it is all "the railway" and if the railway is having a particular push to achieve something I will look in the 'train money' teapot and see if I can help*.
I suspect most people will see things a similar way. We understand that for legal or other reasons, some projects are managed separately, with a separate title, board etc., but it is still just the one railway.
*Unless you they a pub

 

It ought to be just the one railway, but the very existence of separate organisations for separate sections of the route suggests that some of those in charge don't see it that way.