'Exmoor Enterprise'
Why The Last Railway Adventure?
In 1951 the Tallylyn, a narrow-gauge steam railway in rural mid-Wales became the world's first preserved railway. Tom Rolt , the General Manager wrote a book entitled "Railway Adventure" about those early days of railway preservation. The closure and subsequent loss of the L&B has often been cited as the inspiration for today’s heritage railway movement. So after "sleeping" for more than 70 years the Lynton & Barnstaple is slowly waking and in all probability will be the last "Railway Adventure".
Why Rebuild the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway?
Having an instantly recognisable identity, In the midst of outstanding countryside, characterful towns and delightful villages, with park and ride potential, there are many benefits that the revival of this historic railway could bring not only to this part of England but to the greater Exmoor area, the Westcountry and beyond.
Putting this railway back together was never going to be easy, which is why it has taken so long for no other railway was dismantled in such a complete fashion with its trackbed sold off on lots making it almost impossible to put it all back together. However, supporters of the L&B have shown time and again that not only are they detemined and single minded, but that they also dont give up or give in! It took several years of hard work and some difficult negotiations just to put back the short railway you see today, but having come this far, we have no intention of stopping until the railway is complete and once again runs all the way from Lynton to Barnstaple.
The three phases involved in the rebuild:
Phase 1 - Woody Bay to Killington Lane. This is now completed. However, the cost of creating the existing operational railway - Woody Bay to Killington Lane has been high – estimates put the figure at well over £1m and currently we have neither the funds nor the planning consent to extend the railway. But what we do have is a successful operating railway which we can use to demonstrate that rebuilding the L&B can be both feasible and profitable.
Phase 2 - Woody Bay to Lynton and Wistlandpound - a 9 mile railway.
Trackbed at Higher Bodley
The Lynton & Barnstaple Trust is assisted in its aim of rebuilding the railway by Exmoor Associates who purchased the section of trackbed at Higher Bodley for eventual reinstatement of the railway. The Trust already owns the land from Parracombe Lane Head to Cricket Field Lane.
Now that all the land from Killington Lane to Cricket Field Lane is secure, it is only natural to want to know what happens next. As always money plays a part - the cost of developing just this short section of trackbed has been estimated as close to an eye-watering £1M!
Exmoor Enterprise - The Project To Rebuild The Legendary Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
Historically no heritage railway has ever been able to fund any extension from current revenue, and so it is extremely unlikely that the L&B will be an exception. Exmoor Enterprise was created to manage the reinstatement project and to also seek the necessary funds.
Created in 2007 by the L&B Trust, a team was assembled to manage the project to rebuild the railway. It is currently comprised of L&B Trustees or Railway Company Directors, although anyone with the necessary skills and time can be seconded as required.
Members of the Exmoor Enterprise team have already attended public meetings, met with several landowners and other interested parties and done much with regards to publicise the scheme to recreate the railway from Wistlandpound to Lynton. In addition discussions have been held with Exmoor National Park - our planning authority - as outline plannng is being sought for the complete nine miles.
As most of the detail is of a sensitive nature we are sure you will understand why it cannot be made public at this time, but be assured much is being undertaken to facilitate the extension of the railway and hopefully not before too long.
With the necessary finance in place, what appears to be impossible will happen - from the Tallylyn to the Welsh Highland Railway, others have already shown us that where there is a will, there is a way.
Phase 3 - Wistlandpound to Barnstaple - The future
This is destined to be the third phase of reconstruction and although it will be some time before it is undertaken, already plans are being drawn up for its accomplishment when the Lynton & Barnstaple will once more link the two towns in its name.
"Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth"
On Monday 30 September 1935, the day after the railway closed, a wreath of bronze chrysanthemums was laid on the Barnstaple Town Station stop block. Sent by Paymaster Captain Thomas Alfred Woolf, R.N. (Retired.), of Woody Bay, it bore a black-edged, hand-written card on which was written:
“To Barnstaple & Lynton Railway, with regret and sorrow from a constant userand admirer. Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth".
An auction was arranged to sell of all the equipment and although locomotives could be bought for as small a sum as £34, little was actually sold. In late 1935 a dismantler was brought in to lift the track and dispose of what had not been sold at the auction. By the summer of 1936 all the track had been lifted.
Captain Woolf died on 12 May 1937, aged 55 and was buried near to Woody Bay Station in Martinhoe Churchyard.
Since reopening Woody Bay Station, an event is held on the last weekend in September each year to mark the closing of the railway when a wreath of bronze chrysanthemums is carried by one of the locos, and afterwards, laid on the Captain's grave in remembrance, and thanks for these inspirational words.
