Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Autumn Gala 2018 LYD & LYN first time together YEO & EXE launch

For Lynton & Barnstaple Railway followers it's going to be hard to top this for a while. For the first time in eighty-three years, to the very day, an authentic double-headed train operated on the L&B. Back then of course, it was the last train, hauled by YEO & LEW. Sunday 29th September 1935, with some three hundred passengers crammed into nine coaches. A party atmosphere prevailed on the journey from Barnstaple to Lynton, the train cheered by the locals on its journey, the passengers enjoying an afternoon in Lynton & Lynmouth. However, with closing darkness for the evening return, the strains of 'Auld Lang Syne' from the Lynton town band, there were tears of regret from many as the train pulled out of Lynton for the last time. Overheard "There! If they'd turned out like this once in a while, we would've done better". But they were too late. It was greeted in the rain by a crowd of a thousand and more at Barnstaple Town station as the L&B slipped into history. The next day, Woody Bay resident, retired Captain Thomas Woolf, sent a wreath of bronze and yellow Chrysanthemums which was placed on the stop block at Barnstaple Town station. Accompanying it, a black edged card, bearing the message 'To Barnstaple & Lynton Railway, from a constant user and admirer, perchance it is not dead, but sleepeth'. The most incredible part of this story is that a railway member, discovered the card contained within in a second-hand book and is now in the railway's care. Thomas Woolf died less than two years after the railway and lies in Martinhoe churchyard, just a couple of miles from Woody Bay Station. Most fitting that the revival of the railway started from his local station. After our Autumn galas the commemorative wreath is placed on his memorial. In a way, it makes the project to rebuild this charming railway even more enthralling.
Our four and a half mile extension project is gathering pace. With a longer railway, we need more kit. Local MP, Peter Heaton-Jones launched the project for TWO more new-build locos, YEO and EXE. The originals were built for the L&B by Manning Wardle of Leeds in 1897 and scrapped in 1935. To start things off 'STEAM RAILWAY' magazine kindly sponsored the new name and number plates. YEO's chimney also survives and was on display but is not in good enough condition to reuse. You will be able to sponsor a component or make a general donation to the 762club.
For further details, make a donation or join the ever growing membership please go to
lynton-rail.co.uk
762club.com
As always, I recommend newly interested people to have a look at the 1987 BBC programme 'The Little Train to Lynton' easily found on YouTube. It's the perfect introduction in two parts.
We also have some lovely photo books available at Wood Bay station or via our on-line shop.
The latest being 'The Human Story' from the perspective of those that worked on and used the railway. 'Lynton and Barnstaple Railway - A Celebration' is the most comprehensive photographic collection yet with 190 pages by the railway's own Tony Nicholson.