Lynton and Barnstaple Railway - heritage line, plans for expansion (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[Umberleigh]

Pleased to be able to report that the L&BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) are now in a position to acquire another, significant section of trackbed. Location is members-only at this moment, so you'll get no more from me 

[TonyK]

Pleased to be able to report that the L&BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) are now in a position to acquire another, significant section of trackbed. Location is members-only at this moment, so you'll get no more from me 

Woo-hoo! I shall ask in the pub....

[Umberleigh]

Urge all of you with an interest to visit the L&BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) website:

http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk

There you will find details of the Extension Appeal and other exciting news 

It may seem a bit quiet up North but a huge amount is going on behind the scenes and - funds permitting - the railway will not be long in breaking out beyond Killington Lane...

[Red Squirrel]

Very amused by the understatement in this comment on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway's website

We do not operate trains to either Lynton or Barnstaple. The rail service to these two destinations is currently suspended pending reconstruction of the railway.

Perchance it is not dead indeed. Peter Miles, Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust Chairman, is quoted in Steam Railway (Issue 415) as saying:

It's now unstoppable... it's not 'whether', but 'how' and 'when'.

Let's hope he's right!

[TonyK]

Fair play to them! I know a couple of the leading lights in this, and they refuse to countenance anything other than reinstatement of the route. Next to West of England Partnership's feeble efforts, they seem titans of public transport.

[grahame]

http://m.westernmorningnews.co.uk/8216-Bullying-8217-row-land-derail-plans-extend/story-26384992-detail/story.html

A landowner is hoping to derail ambitious plans to extend a steam railway.

Louise Grob owns land alongside the trackbed of the old narrow gauge railway on the outskirts of Barnstaple, which now runs between Woody Bay and Killington Lane Halt.

and

The plans were unveiled at a public meeting last Saturday. The trust would also restore the railway stations at Blackmoor and Parracombe, and create an engineering centre and rolling-stock sheds at Blackmoor Gate. Planning applications will be submitted shortly to the Exmoor National Park and North Devon planning authorities.

The ^16 million project could create about 80 jobs in the area, and is supported by local councillors, businesses and landowners, Ian Cowling, Lynton and Barnstaple Railway trustee, said.

Mrs Grob said: "We are appalled at the idea that not only will they try to compulsorily purchase our land but will also turn the Western Gate to our national park into something more akin to a theme park.

She claimed the supporters were using bullying tactics to try to acquire the properties they need.

Mr Cowling denied he had used bullying tactics. He said there had been three previous public meetings and he had sent out 500 invitations to local residents to last Saturday's meeting. He said he had arranged three face-to-face meetings with Mrs Grob, but she had cancelled them all.

[Red Squirrel]

You can see the proposed plans here: http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/story/lynton-barnstaple-railway-public-consultation-saturday-18th-april

Oh, and a bit of background information on the Grobs:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/3342564/Pioneers-who-blazed-a-trail-to-the-West.html

[trainer]

Much similar exaggerated language as reported to have come from the lips of Mrs Grob was used against the West Highland Railway restoration.  Apparently there is going to be 'the demolition of many homes' if the plans go ahead.  Not on the plans as submitted there isn't.  Wonderful example of hysterical vapours - presumably in the spirit of 'heritage'!

[TonyK]

I can only see mention of demolition of a 2-bedroom bungalow, to be replaced by two houses, one affordable, one not. Have I missed something?

[grahame]

I did a bit of research too .. and found Tam Tim Grob who I thought must be a family member until I clicked on the link.   Couldn't find much on West (or Welsh?) Highland issues.

[trainer]

Of course I meant the Welsh Highland...apologies. (Can't find the 'embarrassed' emoticon.)  They were still subject to some vociferous opposition even after trains started running.

[chuffed]

Are you absolutely sure that the aforementioned Mrs Grob really does have an 'r' in her surname ?

[TonyK]

I did a bit of research too .. and found Tam Tim Grob who I thought must be a family member until I clicked on the link.   Couldn't find much on West (or Welsh?) Highland issues.

Looks tasty, although I love the instructions for the water chestnuts:

...soak them in water for 10 minutes first before soaking...

Reminds me of Spike Milligan "There was a short pause, followed immediately by a longer one"

[johnneyw]

Plans submitted for ^16m extention to L&B Railway:

http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/Plans-submitted-16-million-extension-Lynton/story-28606416-detail/story.html#ixzz3yNtyipdX

[Chris from Nailsea]

Many thanks for posting that welcome update, johnneyw! 

I was so delighted with the news that I've taken the opportunity to copy the whole of that North Devon Journal article here, for future reference:

Plans submitted for ^16 million extension of Lynton and Barnstaple Railway


A Lynston and Barnstaple Railway steam engine at Woody Bay

Plans to extend Lynton and Barnstaple Railway have moved one step closer to reality.

As part of a ^16 million expansion of the line, the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust wish to extend it by four miles to Wistlandpound Reservoir and restore the railway stations at Blackmoor and Parracombe.

This week, the Trust's outline application, which includes plans for an engineering centre and rolling-stock sheds at Blackmoor Gate, was submitted to North Devon Council.

A spokesman for the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust, Tony Nicholson, said: "If the planning applications are approved the extension of the line will provide a major boost to the tourist industry of North Devon. It will directly support 24 full-time jobs and many more in the wider service sector locally.

"Apprentices will also be trained in the engineering centre. The net local economic benefit compared to continuing current operations is calculated as an additional ^62 million into the local area over the first ten years of construction and operation."

The steam railway currently operates over a mile of track between Woody Bay Station near Lynton and Killington Lane and carried a record 48,000 passengers last year.

As part of the plans, The Old Station House Inn at Blackmoor Gate will be redeveloped to include a ticket office and a shop and a bank at Parracombe will be reconstructed with a culvert larger than a double-decker bus.

The project is expected to create about 80 jobs in the area, and is supported by local councillors, businesses and landowners.

But not all residents are in support of the plans, including Louise Grob who owns land next to the trackbed of the old narrow gauge railway on the outskirts of Barnstaple.

Mrs Grob believes that the project will turn the Western Gate into something more akin to a theme park and that many homes will be destroyed to make it a reality.

But Mr Nicholson said that the extension would be "North Devon's Eden Project," only one house would have to be demolished and that the Trust was proposing to build two affordable homes in its place if they could agree a price.

The narrow-gauge line across Exmoor was opened in 1898 and closed in 1935 before being reopened in 2004.

A minor typo in the caption to their illustration by the North Devon Journal, but never mind.