The World's only new-build American steam loco is now at Woody Bay!
LYN at Woody Bay September 2017. The new LYN arrived at Woody Bay in September 2017. Running-in trials showed that the ex MOD 1 in 5 turnouts at Killington Lane could not accommodate the loco safely. New turnouts were installed and LYN can be seen in operation on selected days. (Photo- D.Hallett)
At its opening in May 1898, the legendary narrow-gauge Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in North Devon was equipped with three Manning Wardle 2-6-2 tank engines. Two months later they were joined by a Baldwin 2-4-2. The Baldwin was named 'LYN' but commonly referred to by the staff as 'The Yankee'.
LYN was built to a unique design, ordered and delivered in a very short time by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, USA. When the Southern Railway took over the line in 1923, they added a letter E (For Eastleigh works - the Southern shed Pilton was seconded to) as well as the number 762.
Despite a few teething problems, LYN was a popular and distinctive engine that was also the most powerful on the line - on occasion pulling five-coach trains, one more than normally allowed.
Closure of the line came in September in 1935, and after the November auction - when LYN was sold for £50 - the loco was quickly reduced to a pile of scrap with only the nameplates, head-lamp and gauge glass surviving.
The 762 Club (link is external)- a registered charity - was set up to construct, own and maintain a new LYN for operation on the new Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. The loco is not a replica, but a new-build and is the most advanced steam engine to-date built in the UK and has a gas producer combustion system.
LYN in bits - Pilton Shed 1935 (LT Catchpole)
New Lyn Specifications |
|
|---|---|
| Wheel arrangement: | 2-4-2T |
| Gauge: | 1ft 11½ |
| Length: | 23ft 9in (over buffer beams) |
| Width: | 6ft 8in |
| Height: | 8ft 11in |
| Weight: | 21.1 tons tare, 25.7 tons gross |
| Coal capacity: | 12.5 cwt |
| Water capacity: | 660 gal |
| Boiler pressure: | 250 Ib/sq. in |
| Combustion system: | Gas producer combustion system with exhaust steam admission into primary air stream below the grate |
| Grate area: | 8.1 sq.ft |
| Heating surfaces - Firebox: | 46.9 sq. ft |
| Tubes: | 276.3 sq. ft |
| Superheater: | 73.3 sq. ft |
| Cylinders: | 2 x (8.66in bore x 16in stroke) with inside admission long-travel piston valves |
| Exhaust system: | Four-nozzle Lempor system plus Kordina |
| Driving wheel diameter: | 2ft 9in with Porta high-adhesion wheel profile |
| Leading wheel diameter: | 1 ft 10in |
| Trailing wheel diameter: | 1 ft 10in |
| Rigid wheelbase: | 5ft |
| Total wheelbase: | 18ft 3in |
| Tractive effort: | 7456 lbs (85% wp.) |
| HP: | 319 |
| KW: | 238 |
| Bearings: | Roller bearings fitted to all axleboxes and motion, including valve gear. |
| Build date: | 2017 |
| Builder: | Alan Keef Ltd, Ross-on-Wye |
| Works No.: | 92 |
