Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Talking of south of the border, I was interested to see the new trackbed 'map' in the most recent Trackbed Trails. However, I wasn't sure how to work it out! There are two parallel vertical bars one labelled in terms of ownership, one with coloured blocks - but they don't seem to correlate! Anyone worked out how to read these?
In any case the clear message from this issue is that there is more likely to be an operating line from Snapper to Bratton Fleming before we see one from WB to Parracombe ...

 

Indeed.

Whatever the rights & wrongs of their respective situations, reading the latest Trackbed Trails and Viaduct Views issues was something of a 'breath of fresh air' compared with the 'stagnation' which seems to hang over Trust communications. The EA/YVT seems to manage to give out quite a lot of useful information far more readily and frequently than the 'keeping it under wraps' approach which seems to persist at WB.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one flummoxed by that.

 

This has been noted, and the authors will no doubt be looking at improving the presentation of the map for inclusion in a future edition and/or on the website.
On the plus side, at least it got everybody thinking!

 

The left hand column is the key.

 

Thank you. The chart does now make some sense, but showing the key as a second vertical column was a bad idea. It would also be helpful fot the right-hand column, with the lengths of trackbed, to show place names.

 

Steam on the Moor Episode 3 starring L&BR General Manager Stuart Nelhams has been released!

 

Well done Stuart. At last some recognition was given to the Area Support Groups.

 

There's a few sections at that end which I cannot foresee ever being restored, not least the section between bridges 16 and 18, and the section that goes through someone's garden and driveway just after bridge 26. That said, I've got more hope seeing that done then any progress beyond Woody Bay. The whole project has stagnated

 

We just have to be very patient.
Horsted House farm on the Bluebell, and Udiam farm near Junction Road spring to mind.
Both said they would never sell, but we got there in the end.

 

Updated article (with link to information pack) posted - https://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/news/...on-barnstaple-railway-to-cricket-field-lane-1

Public meetings being held this evening and tomorrow morning in Parracombe Village Hall.

 

An excellent, concise and informative pack in my opinion. I sincerely hope it is well received.

 

I notice that it does not - as far as I can tell - make any comment about the apparent need to raise the trackbed level at CFL.

On a more general point, whilst I can understand that this is a Trust publication i/c/w CFL specifically, I feel it is a shame that the 'railway in numbers' section does not appear to take into account anything to do with land owned by and/or work done by EA/YVT. Surely, if the railway is trying to impress about its benefits to the community, the more that is included the better?

 

Let's give them credit for what they've done, see how that lands, and then hope that the Trust responds effectively to constructive criticism*. As for the role of EA/YVT, I'm tempted to agree, but the focus is on the railway itself - I suspect less is more.

* - I'm not naive enough to assume that all criticism will be constructive, and part of the art of responding will be to address constructive criticism while working out how to deal with the other sort.

 

I don't disagree with your point, but the EA/YVT and L&B are separate organisations (although do share a common objective). So any claims concerning EA/YVT and their work and overall benefit to the area could be dismissed by objectors as not being relevant to this. So I think that keeping it simple is probably best at this stage.

 

I hope the meetings go well and that the tone is positive.

 

I understand your point and have some sympathy with that. However if the railway is trying to make clear just how much contribution it makes to the local economy - and something which perhaps has not been emphasised enough in the past - then maybe it is time for the Trust to be less 'parochial' and embrace the wider picture. Look on it as a sort of "this is what we are doing in the north, this is what others are doing in the south, think how much better it would be if the two could be connected" pitch.

Whatever, it does seem a much better attempt at communication than in the past

 

I think the CFL presentations are too specific to bring in EA/YVT at this stage, but a more appropriate place to deal with that might be in the "Steam on the Moor" videos featuring L&BR General Manager Stuart Nelhams. The series is only 3 episodes so far, but they are (to me) something I look forward to and a clear sign of a change of emphasis in communication. They haven't left Woody Bay yet, but if visits to other sites, including Parracombe, Chelfham, Blackmoor (all L&B), Bratton and Snapper (both EA) could be included, then this could go a long way to improving the railway's credibility among the local communities.

 

Absolutely agree with this. Also perhaps Pilton East?

 

Looking at the plans the CFL station is off the original route (seemingly in alignment and in height). Is this deliberate for future expansion or simply necessary due to the compromises made in extending to CFL alone?