Exmoor Associates - Acquisition of More of the Old L&B Line

It 's good to see that EA is making a start so soon after the acquisition on refurbishing Snapper Halt and its environs. I certainly look forward to see some of the "after" photos to go with the "before" images we've already seen! By the way, what is the condition of the bridge (No. 15 IIRC?), and is any work planned for that, either this month, or for future work parties?

Just for information, details of the developments at Woody Bay and around Parracombe are available from the L&B website, http://lynton-rail.co.uk

 

In Response to your direct question Martyn ( Bridge 15 ), cattle pass, time has taken some effect. masonary to the abutment and wing walls has been blown and some vegitation, has been detrimental all materials are remaining on location.

I would think with some remedial masonary work, likely to be during the warmer & drier period of the year, it can be put into reasonable condition.

The deck is short on this bridge, being only about 6 feet span, of the standard steel encased in concrete "Southern adaption", has not yet been uncovered from the top and inspected , but from the underside looks intact, without serious defect , it is in a slightly elivated position and has remained well drained.


As you say wait for the photo's, and written remarks, beginning of March, everyone will be able to see the before and after.

Best Regards

 

If EA were so minded ,(this would mean that a proportion of its shareholders desired or promoted that activity, it is not in line with EA objectives), yes there is a possibility, but it is not on the agenda to do such work, and it might antagonise other people by doing so, who ever they might be.That would be non prefered.

The work to be carried out by EA, is restoration and civils where required, for the benifit of visitors to the site and access and has been described previously hope thats OK and answers your question.

Thank you All.

 

Work weekend at Snapper Halt and Collar Bridge this weekend. Anyone who is interested and in the area, your welcome to come and visit.

Parking is very limited and the road is used by a lot of fast drivers so please take care if your intending walking about, there is no sensible parking on the road near Snapper.
Updates of what we get done will be published on EA's web site and on this thread next week.

Regards to all Readers Andy

 

Good Evening All

Update on "Operation Snapper". I traveled down Saturday to meetup with many others who came from far and wide, with all the materials to re roof the shelter. Double Roman Tiles, clay Ridges and Rafters etc , Dave was already stripping the old roof off when we arived and by the time we had unloaded we were ready to cut timber, about 12 mid day ishby 4.00 we had all the wallplates and rafters in place and stopped while Twiggy lopped the tree above.There were about 20 various people there all engaged in tasks, in small groups. All very happy to be there.

By dark I guess about 6.45 PM most had gone home, we had all the timber back on, felt on and the front face tiles on , partway up the back tiles so we finished the back side tiles by floodlight from the road. Many Thanks Chris with the 24 hour gear !! for staying late and missing your tea.It got the job done.

"TWIGGY" spent the day armed with 3 chainsaws and his climbing gear. He was hoisted up the large pine tree just by the Station shelter to remove dead bows from near the top, about 30' up above road level and 65' above the platform level.

We packed up by 8.45 PM having got all the tiles on .

Today the team were cutting and grouting the Ridges on, fitting all the capping boards and barge boards. A grand job, good Team effort. That's the little waiting shelter dealt with and watertight again.

In 4 days they have transformed the field, widened the gate and put in a parking area for 12 cars, cut back hedges, removed several big trees, that were causing concern, put up the station platform running in Board and path up to the road, distinctly looks like a Railway has been there now and "Snapper halt " looks like a station again even though it has no track, through it.

When all the members of EA met up down there in October, it was impossible to walk on much of the formation for undergrowth, trees and bramble and not very apparent in places where the trackbed used to be.

CJ spent two days there with a big machine 12 Tonner 360 machine and the whole 700Yd length has been cleared, end to end, many of the culverts and cross drains have been identified to be worked on and cleared.Its all scraped off down to formation top, yes its a bit muddy in places but ready for a small machine and people to scrape off the soil deposit, remaining. In the summer we shoud be able to get Land Rovers down onto the track bed from the road and back up again , to carry out more work that is needed.

EA's web pages should be updated shortly with pictures.

Best Regards. The Engineer.

 

A lot has been achived at Snapper - well done to all those who took part. There are a couple of photos taken on Saturday, at http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/story/3544

 

Clarification To readers.

whilst there is a news article on the L&B site, thank you, it helps spread the information , those people working at Snapper this weekend, are not drawn from the regular supporters of the Woody Bay operation.

The working volunteers are supporters of the aims and objectives of EA, and are generally not ever engaged with the L&B operation, even if they may have been at some time in the past.

If it is suggested here or elsewhere that this work is a draw on resources of the current L&B operation . It is not. EA's vision is all and any part of the original 19 miles, that becomes availible to aquire.

The volunteers who turned out at "Snapper" this weekend support a wide view, and support other objectives personal to them, different than those promoted by the current L&B group policy.

EA is an opportunistic organisation,taking its momentum to where ever the opportunity arises. Small planned and effective movements.With very effective use of the Money provided by its Shareholders.

Thank you all .

 

Er Andy, the photos on lynton-rail were supplied by the L&B Volunteer co-ordinator, who was at Snapper of his own volition, to share in the activities, as were, I believe, others who regularly volunteer at Woody Bay. Many people support the aims of both organisations. Can't we just celebrate the success of the weekend's activities and leave the politics out of this?

 

A semi serious suggestion about the land. What about a Model Engineering society taking on part of the site for a club track? In the wait until the 2 foot arrives, that station site looks just right for a 7 1/4" line..

 

Yes I don't want this thread to be about issues. Its not about Politics,or it shouldn't be. Its about who traveled from where to do what and how the result worked out.

This thread is about EA's progress,and what they are doing, not orientated or planned by other people, or other organisations and yes many people joined in, a few came out of interest,many took pictures,and were from WB, and are generally L&B orientated in whatever form that takes wherever it is.

The overwhelming majority, this weekend came from elsewhere and are not involved elsewhere on the L&B except with EA and the Yeo Valley Trust. Lets be clear about this . Thank you .

Martyn could you write on Exmoor NG about it, to all your readers, and I will write on here to inform the world about what's been going on with EA. If we stick to that it would work well.I don't have a problem , but would like the readers of this thread to understand the facts.

Thanks Andy

 

Adrian Thank you, yes a very good idea, certainly a nice location, subject to a club being in the area and wishing to do such and undertaking. Not sure what the take up might be ?? Does anyone else on here have a view.

Personally I would like to see a short lenth of track and clean ballast in the station 600 mm gauge and I know from this weekends conversations others have this view also, this may go through an approval process, but EA is not in the business of building operating railways .

An L&B coach would be nice there ( Pre 1960 feel to the place ) or 7.25" could be laid in the 2' .Still leaves plenty of space for Model Engineers. I think its probably better for image to just have a static image, but its only my view.

 

Judging by the photos on the L&B web site, it looks like you guys had an amazing weekend. I look forward to seeing additional photos on the EA web site.

Congratulations to all involved.

 

One wouldn't want any of the coaches being currently refurbished by the L&B Essex group to sit out in the North Devon weather without any kind of protection. Perhaps a mock-up of an old coach would do, or a non-L&B coach acquired from another NG railway where it was surplus to requirements?

 

Quite Martin

In order to get it in there it would need really to be section built (modern) to look like an original. Probably GRP on steel with timber internal lining . Not one of the works of art from Essex.But certainly currently a thought .

A length of track with ballast just longer than the platform length both ways, is both easy to do and would enhance the ambience further without encroaching planning or regs.

A coach even on bogies and moveable, would need habitation and income stream to keep it in good order, possibly a camp coach or two together resembling L&B stock. Such a plan would I suspect need facilities and planning which may be a possibility? but is far more longer term.

We did what we set out to do this weekend , see what the future holds, there may be the next section to concentrate on soon !!!!

 

Great to see EA are continuing to do outstanding work keeping the dream of a size-able L&B alive! Don't really mind who builds it, who operates it or who maintains it, as long as I get to work on a sizeable chunk of the L&B!

 

Fantastic job and an astounding transformation in just one weekend - well done EA! But the political situation at the L&B remains a worry. I am not a member or shareholder of EA but I am a member of the Trust and I was dismayed to see in the latest member's magazine what can only be described as an attack on EA's activities on the grounds that "some shareholders of EA apparently would not agree to their donating the land to the Trust". Well I can't honestly say that I blame them - what company in its right mind would spend all its shareholders' money on acquiring land only to then give it away free of charge to a completely separate company? If the L&B Trust wants to run a commercial train service over EA land then it's only right and proper that they pay a reasonable rent to EA for the use of that land.

Reality check urgently needed at Woody Bay guys!

 

Thank you for your posting Widge, many people share your concern and understanding.

There are some strategic moves that need to be made for this organisation (L&B) and before this can happen certain attitudes and views need to change about others (EA).

An investigation and addressing party is in place and has met, hopefully the issues are being understood and addressed correctly and clearly to an ammicable solution.

Behind closed doors and in a clear manner.It has taken a long time to get to this point, and it may be some time and with some changes before it can be resolved totally.The two companies and the corresponding people in them have different operating methods and ideology.

We have all been in this with the same objective some for many years, others for a much shorter time.But we all have the vision of a rebuilt L&B.

There are issues, many people still do not understand them clearly. Many people have demonstrated how not to get on, and others have found alternative ways of making what they see as progress toward a common aim at some point in the future.

Everyone please stick with us, we will get there, there are some very good tallented people on board working very hard, to acheive what must be done. Some people will enevitably be "not impressed with the outcome" I feel sure .

I hope you start to see the results of the small groups work soon.

Last weekend was a demonstration by some members and shareholders on the physical side, showing what can be acheived when people work in harmony with enthusiasm .

The amazing thing is we did not budget or spend thousands of pounds to acheive this work, it was mainly voluntary.

The other work which is going on is not so obvious. But may be in time.

"We are comming up with the goods". Steam hauled of course !!! We are in the loop waiting for the signal , but there is a clear road ahead and the engine steams well and has a full head of steam !!. And might I add a well competent crew on the footplate of EA.

Best regards To All Thank you for reading.

TheEngineer.

 

I am also a Trust member, but not (yet) an EA shareholder (one day, funds permitting). I was disappointed with the tone taken in that article in the magazine. I see absolutely no reason why the two bodies can't exist side-by-side. The FAQs on the EA web site clearly state the position, and apart from the land owned by EA at Parracombe, it is likely to be many years before other EA assets are required by the L&B Trust, so why argue about it now?

I very much doubt that EA shareholders have invested their money to see a return (if they had wanted a return, they would have surely invested in more "normal" investments). The only return they want is to secure the future of the L&B.

I for one am excited to see progress by both the L&B Trust, with current operations, Heritage Coaches, Lyn, breaking out of Woody Bay, etc. and by EA in their continued acquisitions. Rebuilding the L&B is such a huge challenge - let's hope that everyone can focus on what is important today and stop worrying about hypotheticals!