If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by 50044 Exeter, Dec 25, 2009.

  1. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,429
    Likes Received:
    3,559
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    That is just wonderful news! Really, really great. Ok, let's all dip in for that extra few thousand plus disbursements, and get the job nailed down.
    If anything, this bridgehead is a major psychological leap as much as physical.
    A HUGE well done to everyone at EA and the Trust who have put this together.
     
  2. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,429
    Likes Received:
    3,559
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Removed as duplication
     
  3. Forest Rail

    Forest Rail New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2012
    Messages:
    101
    Likes Received:
    63
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Hammer wielder!
    Location:
    Forest of Dean
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Fantastic!
     
  4. Breva

    Breva Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2010
    Messages:
    2,158
    Likes Received:
    3,790
    Location:
    Gloucestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    This is great! I'd love to know the story.

    But it won't happen without us, so I've just bought a second 'slot'. So far they only boosted their funds with loans, so please everyone consider a top up.
     
    Greenway and Mark Thompson like this.
  5. H Cloutt

    H Cloutt Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2018
    Messages:
    884
    Likes Received:
    1,329
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Battle
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Great news - Let's hope all goes smoothly with the legal work and an exchange of contracts expedited without delay. This positive news should generate some further funding.
     
  6. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,906
    Likes Received:
    3,704
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Hopefully it will bring further funding. It goes to show that this line in the Exmoor area is worth supporting and not a picture of doom and gloom.
     
    green five, 62440 and Tobbes like this.
  7. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,429
    Likes Received:
    3,559
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Doom and gloom?
    I never got that in the slightest, rather hope and (steady) progress, even if several fronts are having to be covered simultaneously.
    Prævaleamus.
     
    62440 likes this.
  8. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,940
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I suspect @Greenway was referring to another railway not too far away from the L&B with that comment!
     
  9. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,906
    Likes Received:
    3,704
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I was Alex, thanks for pointing it out. I support the aims of the L&B, after all it is a Devon line. ;)
     
  10. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,429
    Likes Received:
    3,559
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Ah, yes. I'd forgotten about them.
     
    Greenway likes this.
  11. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,940
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Lucky you, ignorance is bliss!
     
  12. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,906
    Likes Received:
    3,704
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South Hams
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Don't forget them, Mark. There are plenty of lessons there on how not to run a railway! :D
     
  13. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,429
    Likes Received:
    3,559
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Rather lke a slow motion car crash. Except that eventually I had to look away, as their thread became even more depressing than GMB.
    just had a quick glance at their thread now, and it's like nothing has changed in 2 years. Somebody saying what so-and-so should have done long ago, and somebody else quoting Oliver Cromwell's "You have sat too long for any good you may be doing..."
    Holy cats. And people read this stuff on a daily basis?!
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2020
  14. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,500
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Hopefully the Stamp Duty may not be needed in these Covid times, if the rumoured temporary change happens.
     
  15. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,967
    Likes Received:
    5,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.Ireland
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Obviously it is still a work in progress and the tracks will not reach BF for some considerable time, but...

    When the railway does extend through the site, would there be any merit in keeping BF as a residential building and renting it out, either long term or as a holiday let, rather than restoring it as a station building?

    There are a number of reasons why this might be worth thinking about:
    The lane approaching the station is very narrow which would discourage anyone from walking to/from the station
    The village of BF does not seem to be a particularly touristy place
    The income from renting out would help finance the maintenance of the station/railway
    Less cost in renovating the building
    Less demand on scare volunteers to man another station

    Obviously the railway would still work through the site so any rental option would have to work with that caveat and the rest of the site could still be returned to 1930s appearance. If thought necessary the building could be renovated and the modern extensions removed and replaced with something more sympathetic, but obviously this would have a high cost.

    Just a random thought for the distant future!

    Keith
     
  16. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2011
    Messages:
    3,803
    Likes Received:
    7,439
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Country
    Interesting observations, but one could argue that several of them also apply to Chelfham. I doubt that even Woody Bay could be described as a 'touristy' place :)
     
  17. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,967
    Likes Received:
    5,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.Ireland
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Indeed, although Chelfham may have the advantage that people could get off the train just to spend some time at the station and the views of the viaduct/valley below etc. I'm not sure that Bratton Fleming would have the same attraction?

    Woody Bay has the advantage of a good area of parking and of course it's the HQ at present so has the engine shed, tea rooms, shop etc, but perhaps in years to come some of those functions may move to Blackmoor Gate and WB returns to being a sleepy station perhaps with holiday or volunteer accommodation upstairs?

    Keith
     
    2392 likes this.
  18. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2007
    Messages:
    824
    Likes Received:
    694
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cymru
    I expect the house will be run as a holiday let until the railway arrives. At that point the owners / railway can decide what to do. Is there precedent? Yes, but not unambiguous! Chelfham is being turned back to 1930s condition and is no longer liveable in. On the other hand, the plans for Blackmoor are to keep the additions and to keep running it as a restaurant. Who knows!!
     
  19. Meiriongwril

    Meiriongwril Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2007
    Messages:
    824
    Likes Received:
    694
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cymru
    By the way, if you look at the floor plan of the BF station, it looks as if it could be converted into a 3 bedroom let. Use the sitting room as bedroom 3, and the conservatory as the sitting room.
     
    H Cloutt likes this.
  20. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    2,696
    Likes Received:
    5,500
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Leicestershire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Now that this part of the puzzle is (nearly) complete, is there a map of the L&B showing which parts of the line are now owned by, or controlled by, the various L&B groups? I have looked on the website but it is not clear on there.
     

Share This Page