NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 66A
The Lynton and Barnstaple
Michael L. Roach
When I completed Part 66 about the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway I included a log of a typical journey along the line from the Lynton end in the 1930s, but I could not find the details, which turned up soon after the article was submitted. The 9.25am train off Lynton was hauled by Manning Wardle 2-6-2T “Taw” and consisted of two bogie coaches and two empty bogie wagons weighing a total of 25 tons. Taw had hauled the first passenger train on 14 March 1898. The 9.25am was driven by Alfred Nutt of Yeo Vale, Barnstaple (1878 – 1964); in 1921 he was a fireman on the L and B, and he was also a fireman in 1901 and 1911. The log is repeated here:
I also include with this addendum scans of the July 1922 Lynton and Barnstaple timetable which was probably the last summer before the takeover by the Southern Railway which itself was formed in 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921 known as The Grouping. It shows that the L&B exaggerated the length of the line to 19½ miles so that from the Barnstaple end the mileage of most of the stations was a nice whole round number. It would be interesting to see timetables, summer and winter, from the 1930s if anyone has them.
July 1922 up timetable L to B.
July 1922 down timetable B to L.
Many thanks as ever, Mike.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
And please don't forget we have a CRS outing to the L&B this weekend for their gala - click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
And please don't forget we have a CRS outing to the L&B this weekend for their gala - click here.
A week of firsts in West Cornwall
Craig Munday
An Indian Summer spell has highlighted the super colours in the trees, and provided an ideal backdrop for the inaugural Class 175 training trips into West Cornwall. I promised Jon I wouldn't overdo the class 175 subject, as they will become the norm after a while. Least to say the ATW livery certainly pops more than the GWR dark green.
I was fortunate to capture 5Z35 heading west a touch late passing 2P21 heading for Plymouth. The Castle set terminated at St Austell with door problems.
Also pictured is another inaugural run! This time GBRf take over the RHTT working in the South West from DB. The train is pictured at Penzance with contrasting liveries on 57303 / 310. The programme starts in earnest 1st Oct, unfortunately under darkness as Taunton Forwater is now the base for the train.
I've included the first visit of the train in 2007 with Rebecca and Demelza in charge in 2007. Recognise the loco design?
I was fortunate to capture 5Z35 heading west a touch late passing 2P21 heading for Plymouth. The Castle set terminated at St Austell with door problems.
Also pictured is another inaugural run! This time GBRf take over the RHTT working in the South West from DB. The train is pictured at Penzance with contrasting liveries on 57303 / 310. The programme starts in earnest 1st Oct, unfortunately under darkness as Taunton Forwater is now the base for the train.
I've included the first visit of the train in 2007 with Rebecca and Demelza in charge in 2007. Recognise the loco design?
The changing face of GWR - a 'Castle Class' HST set heads East at Trenoweth with a Penzance - Plymouth service passing a pair of Class 175's heading west on a training run. 22.09.2025, copyright Craig Munday.
57310 at Penzance having just arrived with a test run for this years RHTT. 23.09.2025, copyright Craig Munday.
57310 on the opposite end of the RHTT at Penzance. 23.09.2025, copyright Craig Munday.
The same - but different! The start of the RHTT back in 2007 utilised Colas Class 47's 47727 and 47747. This years service evokes memories of this era thanks to the use of the class 47 converted 57's. 28.09.2007, copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks indeed Craig - a super lucky shot of the 175 and some lovely night shots of the RHTT. More on that below..
The RHTT
Karl Hewlett & Roger Winnen
2025's southwest RHTT is this year being covered by GBRf using Class 57's, rather than the more familiar DB Cargo Class 66's we have become used to.
Sadly, all trips to the west are scheduled to be run after dark with no intermediate stops.
The below information is from Karl Hewlett and we are thankful to him for the schedules:
Sat 24/5/25 to 13/12/25 3S13 Westbury to Fairwater Yard via Salisbury
Sun 18/5/25 to 07/12/25 3S11 Fairwater Yard to Penzance
Sun 18/05/2025 to 07/12/2025 3S12 Penzance to Westbury via Paignton and Okehampton
Mon to Fri 19/05/2025 to 08/12/2025 3S13 Westbury to Fairwater Yard via Salisbury
Mon to Fri 19/05/2025 to 12/12/2025 3S11 Fairwater Yard to Penzance
Mon, Wed 19/05/2025 to 08/12/2025 3S12 Penzance to Westbury via Paignton, Crediton and Whatley Quarry
ThuO 22/05/2025 to 11/12/2025 3S12 Penzance to Westbury via Paignton and Okehampton
Tue and Fri 22/05/2025 to 11/12/2025 3S12 Penzance to Westbury via Paignton, Exmouth and Crediton
And now for some pictures from Roger:
Sadly, all trips to the west are scheduled to be run after dark with no intermediate stops.
The below information is from Karl Hewlett and we are thankful to him for the schedules:
Sat 24/5/25 to 13/12/25 3S13 Westbury to Fairwater Yard via Salisbury
Sun 18/5/25 to 07/12/25 3S11 Fairwater Yard to Penzance
Sun 18/05/2025 to 07/12/2025 3S12 Penzance to Westbury via Paignton and Okehampton
Mon to Fri 19/05/2025 to 08/12/2025 3S13 Westbury to Fairwater Yard via Salisbury
Mon to Fri 19/05/2025 to 12/12/2025 3S11 Fairwater Yard to Penzance
Mon, Wed 19/05/2025 to 08/12/2025 3S12 Penzance to Westbury via Paignton, Crediton and Whatley Quarry
ThuO 22/05/2025 to 11/12/2025 3S12 Penzance to Westbury via Paignton and Okehampton
Tue and Fri 22/05/2025 to 11/12/2025 3S12 Penzance to Westbury via Paignton, Exmouth and Crediton
And now for some pictures from Roger:
Still wearing its DRS blue with GBRf stickers overlaid, 57303 arrives at Penzance with the RHTT at 2200 hours on 23.09.2025. Copyright Roger Winnen.
Still wearing its DRS blue with GBRf stickers overlaid, 57303 arrives at Penzance with the RHTT at 2200 hours on 23.09.2025. Copyright Roger Winnen.
The RHTT wagons and water tanks at Penzance. 23.09.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
57310 in full GBRf livery at the opposite end of the train. 23.09.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
57310 in full GBRf livery at the opposite end of the train. 23.09.2025, copyright Roger Winnen.
Many thanks to Roger and Karl.
Colas '67s' go West
Alan Peters
Colas Rail class 67's made a rare visit to the West Country on 21st September. 67023 'Stella' and 67027 ran as 0Z67 from Westbury to Newton Abbot and return for a Driver handling course, the colourful duo will be used on the Gloucester RHTT circuit and are seen on the obligatory photo stop at Exeter St Davids. Copyright Alan Peters.
Many thanks indeed Alan - it only feels like a short while ago that the 67's were still a regular sight in the South West.
Historic England - new railway listings
Simon Hickman
Hi there
As part of the Rail 200 celebrations, Historic England have listed a number of preserved railway buildings, including several in our area. It's quite surprising that some of these were not listed before. I thought you might be interested in an article for the website - if you click on the links, there's detailed info about each building and its history:
Havenstreet Station, Isle of Wight Steam Railway:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1494608
Swanage Engine Shed, Swanage Railway:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1493991
...and the adjacent Northbrook Street overbridge:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1493992
Woody Bay Station, Lynton and Barnstaple Railway:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1494278
Outside our area, there's a few more:
Sheringham Station, North Norfolk Railway: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1493608
Weybourne Station, North Norfolk Railway:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1493615
...Plus the first known railway hotel in the world, the Cleveland Bay at Eaglescliffe:
Cleveland Bay public house and proto-railway station, Egglescliffe - 1491983 | Historic England
All the best,
Simon Hickman
As part of the Rail 200 celebrations, Historic England have listed a number of preserved railway buildings, including several in our area. It's quite surprising that some of these were not listed before. I thought you might be interested in an article for the website - if you click on the links, there's detailed info about each building and its history:
Havenstreet Station, Isle of Wight Steam Railway:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1494608
Swanage Engine Shed, Swanage Railway:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1493991
...and the adjacent Northbrook Street overbridge:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1493992
Woody Bay Station, Lynton and Barnstaple Railway:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1494278
Outside our area, there's a few more:
Sheringham Station, North Norfolk Railway: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1493608
Weybourne Station, North Norfolk Railway:
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1493615
...Plus the first known railway hotel in the world, the Cleveland Bay at Eaglescliffe:
Cleveland Bay public house and proto-railway station, Egglescliffe - 1491983 | Historic England
All the best,
Simon Hickman
Many thanks for bringing this to our attention, Simon - great to see some local buildings get the recognition they deserve, and having their futures secured. Well done.
Mainline Steam Memories
Paul Barlow
5029 'Nunney Castle' passes Marsh Bartin with the 0915 Bristol - Kingswear 1Z27 on 21st September 2014. Copyright Paul Barlow.
34067 departs Exeter St. Davids with the 0848 Bristol - Par 1Z37 on the 21st September 2014. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks, Paul. No steam to Cornwall this weekend sadly - 'The Royal Duchy' is to be hauled by a pair of WCRC class 33's.
Swindon Scenes
Ken Mumford & Colin Pidgeon
Locos 66096 and 66176 with 0Z67 [Westbury Down to Swindon Transfer] just leaving [note colour signal + indicator] from UML to the Transfer Yard. 23.09.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
66096 and 66176 leaving Transfer Yrd coming into the station to reverse then heading [as 3J41] to Swindon Transfer via Didcot, Reading, Hungerford, Westbury [where it reverses], then back to Swindon Transfer via the same route as outward. Went beyond the station to stop opposite the transfer yard where it is supposed to go. First time it has done this in a long while. The 'leaves on the line' season is about to begin!! clean locos NOW, but at the end of the season? 23.09.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Meanwhile Ken has motored to a foot crossing just south of Purton Common Foot Crossing and about 150 yards north of the site of Purton Station just in time to hear a distant warning hooter of 1Q15 [Derby to Landore, Swansea via the world] consisting of 43013 and 43062 - see RHTT for times and route] and got this photo. 23.09.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
Ken has now moved to about 200 yards south of the site of Purton station and got this shot with the front of IET unit 800033 - 1L76 [Cheltenham Spa to Paddington]. 23.09.2025, copyright Ken Mumford.
67027 & 67023 on 0Z67 Westbury Down TC to Swindon Transfer. 24.09.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
37884 on 5Q76 Wimbledon Park Depot Sidings to Newport Docks with 455910 & 455920. 24.09.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
66619 on 6Z42 Tytherington Quarry to Appleford Sidings. 24.09.2025, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Many thanks as always to 'The Swindon Duo'!