Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Thanks for these updates Chris. They are much appreciated.

 

I like the description of Welsh & French side

 

Can someone explain, please?

 

One side faces Wales, the other faces France I presume.

 

Given the twists and turns of the trackbed that makes a lot of sense!....But I do look forward to seeing those views...... from a carriage window.

 

I suppose north and south would be far too prosaic for a route through such poetic scenery.

 

Why not "up" and "down"?

 

We have had a previous discussion about up and down. Do you mean up to London or up from sea level Barnstaple to much higher level Lynton?
Welsh and French prompts people to visualise the map and avoids ambiguity.
I was similarly puzzled when I first came across the terminology but now I simply accept it as just one more of the idiosyncrasies which help to make the L&B such a unique and delightful project to become involved with and to support!
Mike P

 

I think it's brilliant, as quite a lot of the time, "Welsh" side faces Cornwall, and, on odd occasions, France!

 

'Up' and 'Down' is quite simply whatever the railway had defined for itself, which in the case of the L&BR was UP to Barnstaple (as the junction) and DOWN to Lynton (as the terminus).

Given the tortuous nature of the L&BR route, and (in very simple terms) its overall south-north alignment, I'm wouldn't be surprised if someone talked about the 'American' and 'European' sides

 

Or maybe the "jam then cream side" and the "cream then jam side" (Ducks and runs for cover - very fast!)

Tom

 

Not the "west" and "Somerset" sides then?

 

Ouch!
Pat

 

Did they use 'Welsh' and French sides in pre 1935 days or is it more recent?

 

Reference to the "French" and "Welsh" sides was introduced during 2004 or 2005 soon after public train operation commenced from Woody Bay station to Bridge 67 and back.

 

I think that is far too many sides to visualise. . . .

 

Because "up" generally came to mean "to the capital/HQ" and "down" meant " away from the capital/HQ" this did lead to come absurdities on lines with a coastal headquarters/capital city and lines leading up hill into the interior. Normally local redefinitions were used but not always. I forget which but I remember one intrepid traveller who'd gone to see ex colonial steam around the world relating a very confused conversation as he gradually realised that if he wanted to see and hear the old steam locos tackle the fearsome climb up country he needed to catch the down train...

On the Central of Peru, they realised the nonsense of using "up" for the (decidedly downhill) journey to Lima and "down" for the trip scaling the Andes...
Instead the adopted "north" and "south" for "away from the coast" and "towards the coast".
This was fine for the Lima-La Oroya stretch, and even for Mollendo-Arequipa-Cuzco on the Southern line, but meant that La Oroya-Huancayo trains were officially "southbound" when heading northwards, and vice versa!

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Could be abbreviated to "Us and Them" sides!

 

As has been said, it is really up to the individual railway - and anomalies abound. On the FR, despite Port always being very much the HQ, trains heading away and towards Blaenau were and are, UP trains as they are going uphill. With the addition of the WHR, trains downhill to Port and passing through to Caernarvon continue to be DOWN trains when they pass onto the WHR heading north. So trains southbound from Caernarvon are UP trains. Which is logical as they are going up hill. For half of their journey. Once they pass the summit, they are most definitely downhill but naturally continue to be an UP train. Conversely trains heading north are DOWN trains when they reach the big hill at Nantmor and face 6 miles at an average of 1 in 40 against! Confused? Your are not alone....

It is not widely used any more but it should also be noted that FR engines have a 'clock' side. Depending on how they stand when in Boston Lodge works erecting shop...

 

I wonder then ..... which direction was 'UP' on the old NWNGR?