Parracombe Deviation Contractors Railway

Afternoon all,

I have recently found out about the Parracombe Deviation contractors railway, then at one point ran over the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway to aid the main road construction/improvement in the Parracombe area in the 1920's.

This line used 4 Kerr, Stuart 'Wren' locos.

Does anyone if there are any photos that exist? So far I have not come across any in any books.

Thanks in advance,

Rob

 

Ironic that the L&B should facilitate the construction of its own nemesis.

 

The following site has some great images of Devon County Council Wren locos includng a couple of the Parracombe diversion under construction.

Enjoy!

Devon County Council - UK - Railways - Gallery - Photos of Narrow Gauge Railways

 

that's a great link! thank you!

 

The contractors line ran from the nearby Beacon Quarry, across Killington Lane Bridge (which had to be substantially strengthened) and onto the roadway site, but it was never operated or connected to the L&B, so the L&B, didn't really facilitate the construction

 

Thanks for the link goughball01, a fine set of images, especially of the locos working. in Devon.

I see that the photos were posted by Max Sinclair. Mr Sinclair seems to have very active at an early stage in the fifties & sixties saving small industrial locos from the scrapman; He looks to be something of an unsung hero for saving locos at a time when money was very tight and there was nothing like the facilities that have been available for the last 30 to 40 years. Anyone have anything to add to his story??

Cheers

Alan

 

Interesting to note that Mr Sinclair states that Peter Pan was found in Parracombe quarry.
Were the locos simply left in the quarry after the road diversion works or were they used elsewhere afterwards?

 

There is a bit on the history of Peter Pan on the L&B website: Peter Pan | Lynton_&_ Barnstaple_Railway