User:Lynbarn/Sandbox/Route of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

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Main Article: Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

L&B Route Schematic (1898 - 1935)
L&B Route Schematic (1898 - 1935)
L&B Crest

The Route of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway (L&B), over 19 miles (30 kilometers) long, ran from Barnstaple, and its exchange facilities with the L&SWR through picturesque North Devon countryside, along the Yeo valley, then up into the higher ground to the West of Exmoor, and eventually to the terminus at Lynton, 700 feet above and a mile by road from the ultimate destination of many of its passengers, at Lynmouth, on the coast.

Although some of the former trackbed has been restored, and has been reopened to the public, and other sections are owned and managed by those working towards the restoration of the line as a working railway, much of what was the railway is currently still privately owned, and should not be visited without seeking permission. With five principle stations, eighty bridges, and numerous cuttings, embankments and other works, there are still however, still many signs of the railway that can be seen from the public highways.

L&B Block Sections
(1898-1935)
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The nineteen-mile journey from Barnstaple Town to Lynton & Lynmouth stations took an hour and a half, with frequent stops en-route to collect and deliver goods as well as passengers. The line passed through the outskirts of Barnstaple, along the floor of the Yeo valley, then a long climb took the trains onto the higher ground approaching the wilds of exmoor, and so on to the outskirts of Little Switzerland, stopping just short enough of the twin villages so as not to spoil the view of the wealthy inhabitants. Waiting coaches would convey passengers and goods from there on into Lynton, or down the steep, narrow roads into Lynton, 700 feet below.

following tables describe key features along the route, as they were before the railway closed, and as they are today. For convenience, and mimicking the original signal block sections, the route is divided into six.

In common with established UK railway practice, "Up" refers to the direction towards London (i.e towards Barnstaple) and "Down" refers to the direction away from London, (towards Lynton).

All distances along the L&B were measured (in miles and chains - see first column) from the Barnstaple Town stop-block, which was itself 212 miles 20 chains (341.583 kilometers) from London Waterloo. In the UK, trains pass on the left, so the "down" platform is that nearest the station building at all L&B stations.

Section 1: Barnstaple Town to Pilton

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Miles, Chains Km. Dimensions Feature Description Current Status
00, 00 00.000 [1] Barnstaple Town Station The railway's junction with the LSWR and connection to the railway network.

Land was reserved for construction of an arrivals platform, but traffic (and profits) never justified the expense.

 The platform (originally 320 feet long on the L&B side) has been foreshortened and enclosed, and used as a restaurant. It is now used as a school. The stop-block, where the "perchance merely sleepeth" wreath was left in 1935, is still in-situ. Most of the platform has been removed, and apartments for elderly residents now occupy much of the station area, and. A riverside path replaces the former LSWR trackbed, part of the Tarka Trail.
...general notes like this
0, 10? 0.201?   Barnstaple Town Signal Box and Exchange Sidings The signal box was downgraded to a ground frame in 1925??? and all movements between Barnstaple Town and Pilton were then controlled from the ex-L&SWR signal box.[1] The box was sold of atthe auction in 1935, to become a garden shed somewhere nearby.[2]
0, 10? 0.201?   North Walk curve Until the area was drained and cleared for the railway, the area was an ornamental lake, surrounding Monkey Island. The trackbed between Barnstaple Town Station and here is now occupied by Barnstaple Civic Centre, from where a webcam is trained on the former station building..[2]
0, 18 0.362   Rolle Quay Coal, building materials and other goods were transferred from barges here, for delivery along the line to Lynton. Now in use as a car park, although the substantial warehouse is in good repair and still in use.
0, 23 0.463   Braunton Road crossing The first of two level crossings on the line. The first of two fatal accidents occurred here, in 1910. Gone
0, 23 0.463 W: 11' 5"
H: 10' 6".		 Bridge 1
Braunton Road Footbridge		 Brick abutments and steps. Ferro-concrete decking. Wrought iron handrails. Believed to have been a crossing-man's shelter built into one of the piers. demolished in 1936
0, 23½ 0.473   Bridge 2
Mill Bridge		 The Mill Leat passes under the railway at this point, just before returning to the River Yeo bricked-up arch
0, 24 0.483   Bridge 3
Culvert		 not known bricked-up arch
0, 27 0.543 W: 17' 1"
H: 10' 4".		 Bridge 4
Pilton Road Footbridge		 similar in design to Bridge 1, but curiously, wider and lower. demolished in 1936
0, 27½ 0.553   Pilton Road crossing level crossing leading into the main operating centre of the railway The trackbed was so narrow, the gates doubled over when closed to rail traffic. After closure, one of the pedimented gateposts was moved to widen the entrance for road traffic, which still survives although no longer in use. The gates are in storage awaiting restoration
0, 28 0.563   Pilton Yard Main operating centre of the railway After closure, the yard reverted to its previous owners, who operated the site as part of their tannery business. In the 1990,s the former carriage and loco sheds were destroyed by fire. The site is now mainly used for car parking, although signs of its former use are still evident (concrete marks the filled-in inspection pits, for example). The original railway offices are now in use as a shop.
Section 2: Pilton to Chelfham

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Miles, Chains Km. Dimensions Feature Description Current Status
0, 55 1.106 W: 13' 0"
H: 3' 0".		 Bridge 5
Mill Leat Bridge		 The leat passes under the track just beyond the extent of Pilton Yard - W.I. girders timber piles and decking. demolished
0, 64½ 1.298 W:10' 7"
H:10' 2"		 Bridge 6
Derby Lane Bridge		 Brick-built bridge carrying Derby Lane over the Line - Marland brick arch and abutments. Still in place - cuttings filled in either side
0, 69½ 1.398 W:16' 6"
H:4' 0"		 Bridge 7
Mill Leat Bridge		 The leat passes back under the line Abutments still exist
0, 75 1.509 W:11' 10"
H:4' 0"		 Bridge 8
Rayleigh Weir Bridge		 three arch, brick Abutments still exist
0, 75 1.509 W:6’ 0”
H:3’ 0”		 Bridge 9
Culvert		 Concrete deck over stone abutments. still in place.
1, 25½ 2.122 W:12’ 0”
H:4’ 0”		 Bridge 10
River Yeo Bridge		 two arches, brick piers timber deck. gone river is now much wider at this point.
1, 70 3.018 W:6’ 0”
H:5’ 9”		 Bridge 11
Cattle creep		 Masonry abutments concrete deck . filled in
2, 9½ 3.410 W:11’ 0”
H:12’ 9”		 Bridge 12
Stone Yard Bridge		 Brick abutments R.S. girders timber decking abutments only remain.
2, 20 3.621 W:7’ 7”
H:6’ 6”		 Bridge 13
Shepherds Yard Bridge		 Masonry abutments concrete decking still exists.
2, 41 4.043 W:11’ 0”
H:9’ 4”		 Bridge 14
Yeotown cattle creep		 Masonry abutments concrete arch. stat.
2, 54 4.305   Snapper Halt desc. Shortly after closure, two coaches were deposite near Snapper, on part of the formation, for use as summer houses. One was eventually rescued by the Ffestiniog railway, and still runs from Boston Lodge. The other was destroyed by fire in the 1960s. The steps down from the road, platform and shelter are now somewhat dilapidated, but still in place.
2, 61½ 4.456 W:5’ 10”
H:5’ 8”		 Bridge 15
Snapper cattle creep		 Masonry abutments concrete deck stat.
3, 5 4.929 W:14’ 8”
H:10’ 0”		 Bridge 16
Blackwell Bridge		 Two brick arches piers and abutments. only side abutments remain.
3, 42 5.673 W:12’ 3”
H:10’ 0”		 Bridge 17
River Yeo Bridge		 Two brick arches piers and abutments missing.
3, 50½ 5.844 W:12’ 0”
H:10’ 9”		 Bridge 18
Collard Bridge		 Brick arch and abutments. The name, although perhaps in use beforehand, was claimed by the loco crews, as it marked the start of an 8-mile climb at 1 in 50, and, particularly for the fireman, the real "collar work" Still in use as a road overbridge, condition: good - the parapets were repaired and foliage removed in 2003
3, 69 6.216 W:12’ 0”
H:10’ 6”		 Bridge 19
Northleigh Bridge		 Brick arch and abutments Under Barnstaple-Bratton Road filled in at council layby entrance road realigned top of bridge just visible
4, 12½ 6.689 W:12’ 0”
H:7’ 6”		 Bridge 20
Budds Wood Bridge		 Masonry abutments girders encased in concrete, concrete deck. Over farm drive only abutments remain. Easily seen on the r/h side of the road between Snapper and Chelfham.
4, 37½ 7.193 W:10’ 0”
H:14’ 11” ;		 Bridge 21
Goodleigh Road Bridge		 Masonry abutments girders encased in concrete, concrete deck Road under bridge intact repaired Summer 2000
4, 49 7.423 W:44’ 5”
H:44’ 0” SS 6097 3559 [2]		 Bridge 22
Chelfham Viaduct		 The largest narrow gauge structure in England, eight arches Fully restored to operating condition in 2000.
4, 54 7.524 [3] Chelfham Station desc. Owned by the new L&B used for volunteer accomodation
Section 3: Chelfham to Bratton Fleming

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Miles, Chains Km. Dimensions Feature Description Current Status
5, 39 8.831 W:10’ 1”
H:11’ 3”		 Bridge 23
Quarry Bridge		 Brick arch masonry abutments Quarry entrance by side of Bratton - Chelfham Road. Cracked abutments intact only
5, 54½ 9.143 W:10’ 11”
H:13’ 6”		 Bridge 24
Bratton Cross Road Bridge		 Brick arch masonry abutments Under Chelfham - Bratton Road intact.
5, 59 9.234 W:7’ 10”
H:7’ 2”		 Bridge 25
Cattle creep		 Masonry abutments R.S. girders timber decking Interestingly timber decked (most cattle bridges had been upgraded to concrete). The site of the 1913 accident.
5, 75½ 9.566 W:10’ 7”
H:10’ 6”		 Bridge 26
Holloways Bridge		 Masonry arch and abutments still in place, between two fields
6, 6½ 9.787 W:9’ 9”
H:10’ 0”		 Bridge 27
Chumhill Cattle Creep		 Masonry abutments girders encased in concrete concrete decking. still intact. It was close to here that the second fatal accident on the line occurred, in 1913.
6, 21 10.079 W:7’ 11”
H:5’ 9”		 Bridge 28
Cattle Creep		 Masonry abutments girders encased in concrete concrete decking. stat.
6, 36 10.380 W:5’ 8”
H:5’ 3”		 Bridge 29
Loxhore Mills Cattle Creep		 Masonry abutments girders encased in concrete concrete decking. stat.
6, 65 10.964 W:15’ 0” (x 8)
H:7’ 0”		 Bridge 30
Lancey Brook Viaduct		 Eight Spans Masonry piers and abutments R.S. girders timber decking. Used for demolition training by the Army in WWII, little marks the site, except remnants of the pier foundations, hidden in dense undergrowth. The brook also seems to have dried up in recent years, and its former course is difficult to determine.
6, 74½ 11.155   Bridge 31
Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
6, 76 11.185   Bridge 32
Mill Lane Bridge		 desc. stat.
7, 14½ 11.557   Bridge 33
Bratton Mill Lane Bridge		 desc. stat.
7, 54 12.352 [4] Bratton Fleming Station desc. With a conservatory extension on the Lynton side, the station building is now a private residence, but very much retaining the railway ambience. A large redwood tree blocks the trackbed just short of the station bridge.
Section 4: Bratton Fleming to Blackmoor Gate

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Miles, Chains Km. Dimensions Feature Description Current Status
7, 57½ 12.422 SS 6416 3849 Bridge 34
Bratton Station Bridge		 desc. Complete. a privately owned 71/4" gauge miniature railway runs from a short distance on the Lynton side of this bridge, for about half a mile.
7, 69½ 12.664 SS 6439 3852 Bridge 35
Button Hill Bridge		 stat. Complete. The 71/4" line can be seen passing under the road from the parapets, and occasionally, an L&B-inspired miniature steam locomotove is in use.
8, 11 13.096   Bridge 36
Southacott Bridge		 desc. stat.
8, 20 13.277   Bridge 37
Water Shute		 desc. stat.
8, 26½ 13.408   Bridge 38
Lower Knightacott Bridge		 desc. stat.
8, 57½ 14.031 SS 6458 3941 Bridge 39
Narracott Bridge		 desc. stat.
8, 73 14.343   Bridge 40
Narracott Occupation Bridge		 desc. stat.
9, 6 14.605   Bridge 41
Water Shute		 desc. stat.
9, 16 14.806   Bridge 42
Water Shute		 desc. stat.
9, 23 14.947   Bridge 43
Culvert in Hunnacott Bank		 desc. stat.
9, 35 15.188   Bridge 44
Hunnacott Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
9, 51½ 15.520   Midway Halfbway to Lynton Half way to Barnstaple
9, 55 15.591   Bridge 45
Miles Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
9, 58½ 15.661   Bridge 46
Water Shute		 desc. stat.
9, 77½ 16.043   Bridge 47
Ten Mile Bank Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
10, 17 16.435   Bridge 48
Thorne Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
10, 47 17.039   Bridge 49
Wistlandpound Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
10, 52 17.140   Bridge 50
Wistlandpound Bank Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
10, 62½ 17.351   Bridge 51
Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
10, 73½ 17.572   Bridge 52
Wistlandpound Occupation Bridge		 desc. stat.
11, 9½ 17.894   Bridge 53
Wistlandpound Bridge		 desc. stat.
11, 22 18.145   Bridge 54
Pound Lane Bridge		 desc. stat.
11, 49 18.689   Bridge 55
Occupation Road Bridge		 desc. stat.
11, 62 18.950 [5] Blackmoor Gate Station 'Nuremburg' style station building Now a licenced restaurant, sympathetically extended over the former platforms and trackbed. The former stables have been converted to cottages.
Section 5: Blackmoor GatetoWoody Bay

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Miles, Chains Km. Dimensions Feature Description Status
11, 66½ 19.041   Bridge 56
Blackmoor Bridge		 desc. Nothing visible, since road improvements, although the cuttings on both sides of the road are still in place.
13, 1 20.942   Bridge 57
Rowley Cross Bridge		 desc. stat.
13, 9 21.103   Bridge 58
Blackleg Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
13, 45 21.827   Bridge 59
Holwell Occupation Bridge		 desc. stat.
13, 69 22.310   Bridge 60
Culvert		 desc. stat.
14, 33 23.195   Paracombe Halt desc. A modern (1970s) bungalow and large wooden sheds/workshops now occupy the filled-in cutting, obscuring much of the former halt. SR concrete shelter and some original railings still in-situ. The post box beside the shelter whilst the railway was operating is still in use.
14, 38 23.295   Bridge 61
Churchtown Bridge		 desc. Still in use as a road overbridge, the down-side trackbed is clear into the bridge, used as a garden to the former station masters house. Both parapets in place, cutting on up-side filled in.
14, 41 23.356   Bridge 62
Churchtown cattle creep		 desc. stat.
14, 63 23.798   Bridge 63
Parracombe Lane Bridge		 desc. stat.
14, 77½ 24.090   Bridge 64
occupation bridge		 desc. stat.
15, 8½ 24.310   Bridge 65
Killington Bridge		 desc. Bridge believed largely intact under the road cuttings had been filled in. Lynton side cutting partially excavated, 2006.
15, 9¼ 24.326   Killington Lane Halt desc. Temporary terminus for operations from Woody Bay, opened in 2006. Not an original L&B station.
15, 19½ 24.532   Bridge 66
cattle creep		 desc. stat.
15, 48 25.106   Bridge 67
Pack Bridge		 Track/bridleway under. Stone abutments, concrete deck, iron railings Complete and in use for railway traffic. Fully rebuilt and funded by Edmund Nuttall - the civil engineering firm decended from the original contractors of 1895 - in 2005, Brige 67 was a crucial development in the restoration of passenger services between Woody Bay and Killington Lane.
15, 54½ 25.237   Bridge 68
occupation bridge		 desc. stat.
15,77 25.689 [6] Woody Bay Station 'Nuremburg' style station building Now the main operating centre of the L&B. The station has been restored to evoke the atmosphere of the line in the 1930s, and is regularly open to the public, and can offer steam and diesel train journeys between here and Killington Lane
Section 6: Woody Bay to Lynton & Lynmouth

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Miles, Chains Km. Dimensions Feature Description Current Status
16, 10 25.951   Bridge 69
Martinhoe Cross Bridge		 desc. Believed to be intact under the road, which has been widened considerably since closure. Barnstaple side cutting largely excavated and widened to accomodate temporary carriage shed and fuel siding
16, 15 26.051   Bridge 70
Martinhoe Bridge		 desc. stat.
16, 38 26.514   Bridge 71
Ranscombe Cattle Creep		 desc. stat.
16, 72 27.198   Bridge 72
occupation bridge		 desc. stat.
16, 70½ 27.168   Bridge 73
Lower Ranscombe Bridge		 desc. stat.
17, 4 27.439   Bridge 74
occupation bridge		 desc. stat.
17, 35 28.063   Caffyns Halt desc. Little remains of the halt, although the trackbed is clearly visible all through the site.
17, 39½ 28.153   Bridge 75
New Mill Lane Bridge		 stone-built arched road over-bridge arch still stands, with most of the abutments, although most of the earthworks have been removed
17, 53 28.425   Bridge 76
Dean Steep Bridge		 desc. stat.
17, 77 28.908   Bridge 77
Dean Lane Bridge		 desc. stat.
17, 77½ 28.918   Bridge 78
Dean Cattle Creep		 desc. Down-side abutment remains largely intact - Bridge and large section of up-side embankment has been cleared
18, 36 29.692   Bridge 79
Kibsworthy Bridge		 desc. stat.
18, 77 30.517   Bridge 80
Larkscleave Bridge		 desc. stat.
19, 23 31.040 [7] Lynton and Lynmouth Station 'Nuremburg' style station building The station building chimneys were removed by the Southern during refurbishment work. It is now a private residence, with a small NG diesel loco in the garden! The Goods Shed has been converted into two cottages, and the station approaches are now mostly the gardens of a number of properties built since the line closed.
 

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[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Railwest - Details of L&B Signalling
  2. ^ a b P Gower, B Gray & K Vingoe: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway — Yesterday and Today published by The Oakwood Press. First edition 1999. ISBN 0-85361-537-3

[edit] Further references

  • L T Catchpole: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway 1895–1935 published by The Oakwood Press. Eighth edition 2005. ISBN 0-85361-637-X.
  • P Gower, B Gray & K Vingoe: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway — Yesterday and Today published by The Oakwood Press. First edition 1999. ISBN 0-85361-537-3
  • D. Hudson & E. Leslie: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway— An Anthology published by The Oakwood Press. First edition 1995. ISBN 0853614857
  • C Leigh: Portrait of The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway published by Ian Allen. First Published 1983. ISBN 0-7110-1330-6
  • V Mitchell, K Smith: Branch Line to Lynton published by Middleton Press. First Published 1992. ISBN 1-873793-04-9
  • J D C A Prideaux: Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Album published by David & Charles 1974 ISBN 0-7153-6809-5
  • J D C A Prideaux: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Remembered published by David & Charles 1989. ISBN 0-7153-8958-0
  • J R Yeomans: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway published by Bradford Barton. First Published 1979. ISBN 0-85153-259-4

Magazines:

  • The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Magazine published three times a year by The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust. 1979 to date