NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 66
The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
Michael L. Roach
What is the most sorely missed railway line in Devon and Cornwall? Near the top of some enthusiast's list would be a line that probably no living enthusiast has ever travelled on from end-to-end, because it closed 90 years ago this month. That railway line is the narrow-gauge Lynton and Barnstaple where the last trains ran on 29 September 1935. The L and B Association's Autumn Gala and Annual Meeting are held each year on the last weekend in September and this year will take place on Sat/Sun 27/28 September 2025. The line was more than 19 miles long and was originally 597 mm gauge but is now 600 mm gauge. Unfortunately the last owners the Southern Railway could not make it pay and closed it completely in 1935. This was a great shame as if the line had survived four more years to September 1939 it might have survived the Second World War and with continuing fuel shortages after the war to the early 1950s when the preservationists might have stepped in much earlier taking their cue from the very similar lines in Wales that were saved.
As I was writing this article I had also been bringing along a story about the Cambrian Coast and a trip on the equally wonderful and dramatic Vale of Rheidol narrow-gauge line, and that also made me think about the Festiniog Railway. All three railways were approximately the same gauge. How did the V of R come to survive and the L & B not survive and be closed 90 years ago. There is no obvious reason at first glance. All three lines started at a locally important coastal town. All three made their way up into the hills on steep gradients. Two terminated in relatively isolated small towns, Blaenau Festiniog and Lynton, but the third (the V of R) terminated in a remote hamlet (Devils Bridge) with a small fraction of the population of the two towns. All three railways lost their original purpose long ago and yet it was the V of R that survived the easiest. Why was that and could the L & B have survived had it had different owners in the 1930s. The L & B was the longest at 19¼ miles with a journey time of 1½ hours and the V of R was 11¾ miles with a journey time of 1 hour. The V of R has been a summer-only operation for a very long time operating between one and four trains a day in the 1930s according to the day of the week. Perhaps the Southern Railway should have operated the L & B as a summer-only operation and tried to develop somewhere in the middle as a tourist hot-spot, for connecting motor bus tours of Exmoor. If Blackmore Gate had been selected for this role the excursionists would have had nearly an hour and 11¾ miles of narrow gauge travel from the Barnstaple end and 7½ miles from the Lynton end. The railway could have operated a round-robin for car owners parking at Blackmore Gate; by train to Lynton; bus or walk to top of the cliff railway to Lynmouth; and then bus across Exmoor from Lynmouth back to Blackmore Gate.
In this short piece I have said little about the history or operation of the line because there is plenty available in books and online. On 29 September I hope that we will remember the Lynton and Barnstaple and pray that one day in the future conditions will be right for the line to be resurrected in its entirety. I finish with a log of a typical journey along the line in the 1930s in which the train left Lynton one minute late and arrived Barnstaple two minutes early.
As I was writing this article I had also been bringing along a story about the Cambrian Coast and a trip on the equally wonderful and dramatic Vale of Rheidol narrow-gauge line, and that also made me think about the Festiniog Railway. All three railways were approximately the same gauge. How did the V of R come to survive and the L & B not survive and be closed 90 years ago. There is no obvious reason at first glance. All three lines started at a locally important coastal town. All three made their way up into the hills on steep gradients. Two terminated in relatively isolated small towns, Blaenau Festiniog and Lynton, but the third (the V of R) terminated in a remote hamlet (Devils Bridge) with a small fraction of the population of the two towns. All three railways lost their original purpose long ago and yet it was the V of R that survived the easiest. Why was that and could the L & B have survived had it had different owners in the 1930s. The L & B was the longest at 19¼ miles with a journey time of 1½ hours and the V of R was 11¾ miles with a journey time of 1 hour. The V of R has been a summer-only operation for a very long time operating between one and four trains a day in the 1930s according to the day of the week. Perhaps the Southern Railway should have operated the L & B as a summer-only operation and tried to develop somewhere in the middle as a tourist hot-spot, for connecting motor bus tours of Exmoor. If Blackmore Gate had been selected for this role the excursionists would have had nearly an hour and 11¾ miles of narrow gauge travel from the Barnstaple end and 7½ miles from the Lynton end. The railway could have operated a round-robin for car owners parking at Blackmore Gate; by train to Lynton; bus or walk to top of the cliff railway to Lynmouth; and then bus across Exmoor from Lynmouth back to Blackmore Gate.
In this short piece I have said little about the history or operation of the line because there is plenty available in books and online. On 29 September I hope that we will remember the Lynton and Barnstaple and pray that one day in the future conditions will be right for the line to be resurrected in its entirety. I finish with a log of a typical journey along the line in the 1930s in which the train left Lynton one minute late and arrived Barnstaple two minutes early.
Many thanks as always Mike - and don't forget that we have a CRS outing to the L&B this coming Saturday - more details in the outdoor events section.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
Class 153 test train
David Tozer
Network Rail Class 153 153379 passes Exhibition Way, Exeter with the 1244 2Q14 Yeovil Junction to Exeter Riverside and return to Yeovil Junction. Crazy we will have had three Network Rail trains in eight days. Last Thursday we had the NMT, today the above working and next Thursday the overnight 3Q07 with a Class 37. 21.09.2025, copyright David Tozer.
Many thanks Dave, good to see the 153's getting some use.
The Britannic Explorer Returns
Jon Hird, Tony Shore & Steve Clark
Viewed from St. Winnow's Church, GBRF 66701 leads 'The Britannic Explorer' to Lostwithiel after its overnight stay at Fowey Docks. 21.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
66744 on the rear of the train as its skirts the bottom of Lantyan Woods. 21.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
A lovely reflection shot as 66701 prepares to lead the train off the branch and into Lostwithiel where passengers could alight for various excursions to the Mid-Cornwall attractions. The train would then reverse once again to come back onto the branch. 21.09.2025, copyright Steve Clark.
A support van containing a large water bowser waits at Pill Farm level crossing for the train to return from Lostwithiel, so that it can refill the coaches water supply tanks. 21.09.2025, copyright Tony Shore.
66744 idles at the rear of the train at Coulsons Park. The gentleman walking towards the camera is none other than renowned railway photographer and author John Vaughan. 21.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
66744 pulls the stock forward as the ground crew add water to the coaches. 21.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
With just one more coach requiring water the train has pulled towards the token exchange at Coulsons Park. Eddie Holden is deep in conversation with two interested (and colourful) cyclists. 21.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
At around 1330 the train emerges onto the mainline once again to collect the passengers who had chosen to alight at Lostwithiel earlier in the day. 21.09.2025, copyright Tony Shore.
The passengers reboard the luxury train. 21.09.2025, copyright Tony Shore.
66744 on the rear as the train departs for its next overnight stop at Cranmore, East Somerset Railway. 21.09.2025, copyright Tony Shore.
Many thanks all for your photographs.
The Britannic Explorer is next due to visit Cornwall on October 4th - Details in the Railtour Calendar.
The Britannic Explorer is next due to visit Cornwall on October 4th - Details in the Railtour Calendar.
Par for the evening
Steve Clark
43098 heads a Penzance - Plymouth service through Par. A 150 sits in platform 3 ready for another trip to Newquay. 20.09.2025, copyright Steve Clark.
150207, the days Newquay mule. 20.09.2025, copyright Steve Clark.
66701 passes through heading for Lostwithiel and Fowey. 20.09.2025, copyright Steve Clark.
An IET in a spotlight of warm evening sunshine arrives at Par with a service for Penzance. 20.09.2025, copyright Steve Clark.
Many thanks Steve - great lighting.