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

Main Article: Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

L&B Route Schematic (1898 - 1935)

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.

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).

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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.

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Section 1: Barnstaple Town to Pilton Top - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - Bottom
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.	The box remained until the track was lifted and probably become a garden shed somewhere nearby.
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..
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 Top - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - Bottom
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 deposited near here, 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 eventually burned 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	Still exists.
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 Top - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - Bottom
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 accidenthere the second fatal accident on the line. Still exists though the timber decking is now almost rotted away.
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.
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 the north abutment and 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.	Still exists.
6, 76	11.185		Bridge 32 Mill Lane Bridge	desc.	abutments remain .
7, 14½	11.557		Bridge 33 Bratton Mill Lane Bridge	desc.	Gone.
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 Top - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - Bottom
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 2 foot gauge railway runs from a short distance on the Lynton side of this bridge, for about 18 chains.
7, 69½	12.664	SS 6439 3852	Bridge 35 Button Hill Bridge	stat.	Complete. The 2 foot gauge railway can be seen passing under the road from the parapets
8, 11	13.096		Bridge 36 Southacott Bridge	desc.	Still exists.Cutting is overgrown.
8, 20	13.277		Bridge 37 Water Shute	desc.	Still exists.
8, 26½	13.408		Bridge 38 Lower Knightacott Bridge	desc.	Gone - blown up.
8, 57½	14.031	SS 6458 3941	Bridge 39 Narracott Bridge	desc.	Still exists.
8, 73	14.343		Bridge 40 Narracott Occupation Bridge	desc.	Abutments only.
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	Half way 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 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 to Woody Bay Top - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - Bottom
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 Top - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - Bottom
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.
Top - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - Bottom

See also

• Lynton & Barnstaple Railway illustrated history, background, locomotives and rolling stock of the L&B.

• Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust The charitable trust heading the project to restore and reopen the L&B.

Further references

• Railwest - L&B Signalling information

• L T Catchpole: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway 1895–1935 published by The Oakwood Press. Eighth edition 2005. ISBN 0-85361-637-X.

• G A Brown, J D C A Prideaux, & H G Radcliffe: The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway published by David and Charles, First Edition 1964,
  • New Edition 1971, Third impression 1986. ISBN 0-7153-4958-9
  • New Edition 1980, Fourth impression. (Green cover) ISBN 0-7153-4958-9
  • Third Edition, published by Atlantic in enlarged format, 1996. ISBN 0-906899-68-0
  • Fourth edition, published by the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust, 2006 with additional material by G A Brown & P J M Rawstron. ISBN 0-9552181-0-1

• 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