24 May 2023 – The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

Presenter: Mike Pearce

On 24^th May Mike Pearce gave a talk on the Lynton and Barnstable Railway to some 40 attendees. The line was the ambition of the publisher George Newnes and his wife who had a holiday home in Lynton. They were concerned about the plight of stagecoach horses climbing the very steep roads in the vicinity. Options were considered and a route to Barnstable was selected with a 600 mm gauge. Construction by Nuttalls started in September 1895 and the first public service commenced 16^th May 1898. 4 locomotives were sourced from the USA . The line rose from sea level at Barnstable to 700 feet at Lynton and locomotives always faced Barnstable to ensure water was above the fire grate.

The railway was purchased by Southern Railway in 1923 who invested in some lineside improvements and acquired a fifth locomotive from the USA. However, the line was losing money and the SR announced closure in 1935, which took place despite much public objection. All the assets were auctioned or cut up for scrap.

The abandoned route caught the eye of a few enthusiasts in the 1970s and in 1979 the Lynton and Barnstable Railway Association (now Trust) was formed. In 1981 land was bought at Cricket Field Lane and a derelict French World War I trenches locomotive was purchased. This was restored and named Axe. Other land purchases were made and track clearing started, funded by various money raising efforts. Woody Bay station was purchased in 1995 and restoration of the station building, platforms and track bed was started and a public car park constructed. Track laying commenced and public service started on 17^th July 2004. The current route extends about 1 mile to Killington Lane and the Trust has plans to extend to Cricket Field Lane and then onwards to Blackmoor, an 11 mile round trip.