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Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

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

  1. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for these updates Chris. They are much appreciated.
     
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  2. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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  3. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Can someone explain, please?
     
  4. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    One side faces Wales, the other faces France I presume.
     
  5. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Given the twists and turns of the trackbed that makes a lot of sense!....But I do look forward to seeing those views...... from a carriage window. :)
     
  6. Biermeister

    Biermeister Member

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    I suppose north and south would be far too prosaic for a route through such poetic scenery.
     
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  7. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Why not "up" and "down"?
     
  8. mgp

    mgp New Member

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    We have had a previous discussion about up and down. Do you mean up to London or up from sea level Barnstaple to much higher level Lynton?
    Welsh and French prompts people to visualise the map and avoids ambiguity.
    I was similarly puzzled when I first came across the terminology but now I simply accept it as just one more of the idiosyncrasies which help to make the L&B such a unique and delightful project to become involved with and to support!
    Mike P
     
  9. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

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    I think it's brilliant, as quite a lot of the time, "Welsh" side faces Cornwall, and, on odd occasions, France!
     
  10. RailWest

    RailWest Part of the furniture

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    'Up' and 'Down' is quite simply whatever the railway had defined for itself, which in the case of the L&BR was UP to Barnstaple (as the junction) and DOWN to Lynton (as the terminus).

    Given the tortuous nature of the L&BR route, and (in very simple terms) its overall south-north alignment, I'm wouldn't be surprised if someone talked about the 'American' and 'European' sides :)
     
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  11. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Or maybe the "jam then cream side" and the "cream then jam side" :) (Ducks and runs for cover - very fast!)

    Tom
     
  12. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Not the "west" and "Somerset" sides then?
     
  13. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    Ouch! :D
    Pat
     
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  14. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Did they use 'Welsh' and French sides in pre 1935 days or is it more recent?
     
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  15. Axe +1

    Axe +1 New Member

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    Reference to the "French" and "Welsh" sides was introduced during 2004 or 2005 soon after public train operation commenced from Woody Bay station to Bridge 67 and back.
     
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  16. mdewell

    mdewell Well-Known Member Friend

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    I think that is far too many sides to visualise. . . .:D
     
  17. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

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    Because "up" generally came to mean "to the capital/HQ" and "down" meant " away from the capital/HQ" this did lead to come absurdities on lines with a coastal headquarters/capital city and lines leading up hill into the interior. Normally local redefinitions were used but not always. I forget which but I remember one intrepid traveller who'd gone to see ex colonial steam around the world relating a very confused conversation as he gradually realised that if he wanted to see and hear the old steam locos tackle the fearsome climb up country he needed to catch the down train...

    On the Central of Peru, they realised the nonsense of using "up" for the (decidedly downhill) journey to Lima and "down" for the trip scaling the Andes...
    Instead the adopted "north" and "south" for "away from the coast" and "towards the coast".
    This was fine for the Lima-La Oroya stretch, and even for Mollendo-Arequipa-Cuzco on the Southern line, but meant that La Oroya-Huancayo trains were officially "southbound" when heading northwards, and vice versa!

    Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
     
  18. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    Could be abbreviated to "Us and Them" sides!
     
  19. Hunslet589

    Hunslet589 New Member

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    As has been said, it is really up to the individual railway - and anomalies abound. On the FR, despite Port always being very much the HQ, trains heading away and towards Blaenau were and are, UP trains as they are going uphill. With the addition of the WHR, trains downhill to Port and passing through to Caernarvon continue to be DOWN trains when they pass onto the WHR heading north. So trains southbound from Caernarvon are UP trains. Which is logical as they are going up hill. For half of their journey. Once they pass the summit, they are most definitely downhill but naturally continue to be an UP train. Conversely trains heading north are DOWN trains when they reach the big hill at Nantmor and face 6 miles at an average of 1 in 40 against! Confused? Your are not alone....

    It is not widely used any more but it should also be noted that FR engines have a 'clock' side. Depending on how they stand when in Boston Lodge works erecting shop...
     
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  20. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I wonder then ..... which direction was 'UP' on the old NWNGR? :confused:
     

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