Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

All that says about the previous history is a reference to "Barnstaple RGB", which a search engine tells me is a builder's merchant. What were they using the loco and wagons for?

 

This should help... https://www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/RGB-makes-rail-truck-donation-to-local-railway/42368
Mind you, I don't recall hearing about this in 2015.

 

Thank you. I had wondered why a timber merchant would have 2 foot gauge rolling stock.

But I am still a little confused, because Rolle's Quay is on the north-west bank of the Yeo, and https://maps.nls.uk/view/101442772 shows a tramway along it connected to the standard gauge line towards Ilfracombe, while the L&B line was on the other side of the river.

 

Yes, that confused me as well. But when they say "Having occupied the former site, which until 1935 was the headquarters of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, RGB utilised the bogies to move timber from the yard into the sawmill on the existing rail track. Timber was then loaded onto another truck and pushed by hand along the track to the timber storage area ready for sale." did they perhaps expand into the Pilton Yard site and actually use some of the old L&BR track? Intriguing - I don't recall anything like that being mentioned anywhere else.

 

The line at Rolles Quay was standard gauge, reached via trailing connection from the mainline to Ilfracombe.

The linked article notes that the builders merchant was originally on the site of the L&BR station in Barnstaple, but subsequently moved to Rolles Quay in 2005. But I think that is a red herring in any case - the reference to 2ft gauge stock is when they were still on the L&BR site.

Tom

 

On that map the buildings immediately below 'Pilton Park ' are what was the RGB site, that site and side of the river Yeo right down to the Taw has always been known as Rolle Quay, I'm sure there was a map with the layout of track on that RGB site where the trolleys were used, I can also remember that RGB had one of the old buildings in Pilton Yard probably in the late 70s-early 80s

 

If you look a a large scale map from the mid 1950s, you can see that there some tracks shown in the timber yard, linking the wharf, mills and timber shed:

https://maps.nls.uk/view/188608843#zoom=5.1&lat=5505&lon=4819&layers=BT

Tom

 

I know it is April 1st, but there is a genuine update on the construction of Bratton Fleming Goods Shed published today on FaceBook, if you can access it:
https://www.facebook.com/BarnYeoValleyRailTrust

 

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust and the Barnstaple & Yeo Valley Railway Trust have this morning issued a joint statement:

Start of a new chapter for the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Project


The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway (L&BR) Trust and the Barnstaple & Yeo Valley Railway (B&YVR) Trust are pleased to announce the start of a new chapter for the last great narrow-gauge adventure in Exmoor and North Devon.

Both organisations recognise the scale of their joint ambition to restore the world-famous railway and understand that cooperation will be an imperative in realising this goal.

Therefore both organisations are adopting a policy of active dialogue and cooperation to promote better the shared aims of rebuilding the former railway between Lynton and Barnstaple. This approach will be enabled via a regular joint working group which will report activity to their respective boards for any decision-making.

Giles Perkins, Chair of the L&BR Trust, said: “In the public’s mind there is only one historical Lynton & Barnstaple Railway and the two organisations working together to restore sections of the line can achieve so much more than separately. Over many years invaluable knowledge has been gained of how to build and operate a narrow-gauge heritage railway, expertise which should be capitalised upon. The two organisations share the same deep desire to see this unique narrow-gauge railway restored to a bigger operation for the benefit of all.”

Bruce Knights, Chairman of the B&YVR Trust, said: “This is really excellent news for both Trusts and all supporters of the former Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. A good dialogue with our friends at Woody Bay is essential and very welcome, in what promises to be a year of significant progress at the Barnstaple end of the old line. I am very optimistic that this will speed up progress towards what we all want to see, the rebuilding of the line from Barnstaple to Lynton.”

 

Fantastic news! Exciting times

 

This is just so right!

 

Two new Chairmen willing to make a fresh start - good luck to them!

 

At Last ! I would very much like them to come to an agreement about Chelfham. It's beautifully restored, with nothing to do, and local volunteers frustrated.

 

First thing to do IMHO is to sort out the ownership/responsibility.

 

Knowing this organisation, this is not going to be that easy to sort out, nor will it be done very quickly. Something that will need to happen before that is to agree on an outline for a new group structure.

 

Where there's will (hopefully now), then there ought to be a way.....

 

On the contrary, I suspect that with both organisations working together, tidying up existing boundaries will be much more of a focus, with simple working agreements the focus.

It’s amazing what can happen when people of goodwill engage with a common purpose.

 

Chelfham is a very special place as it is - even without rails and trains the site has a wonderful atmosphere.

Am I right in thinking though that laying rails north or south would be difficult? My understanding is that the very short missing bit of ownership to the north (where the footpath diverts off the trackbed) makes it relatively pointless to lay track in that direction as you can't get far.

Laying track on the viaduct would shift responsibility for the structure to one of The Trusts - not a light responsibility, but possibly needs to be grasped if there is scope to move towards Snapper relatively easily, although I think there is a missing bridge too?

Even without this, the fact that the two bodies are prepared to work together is a cause for rejoicing and I look forward to the day when it is possible to ride on sections of the L&BR beyond Woody Bay and Killington Lane.

 

I am extremely glad that the announcement was not made yesterday morning.

 

Ooo, you are naughty !