Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

I believe that your assessment is correct, at least at present.

 

You may think gluing ballast is a joke, but a product exists for doing just that. Its called ballast bonding and stabilisation and is very useful where you want to hold ballast in place when you need to excavate adjacent to the existing line that is in traffic. There are numerous other uses for it and it is becoming more common. I have attached a link if anyone is interested.

http://buildingchemicalsupplies.com.au/services/rail-track-ballast-bonding/
(Moderator Note: This is a link to an Australian site but the equivalent exists in the UK as well.)

 

Equally there are forms of 'track spikes' which are stuck into the ballast to prevent the rails from shifting sideways....

 

Interesting article and a completely new one to me. Even so, I'm aware there are more than a few locations where ballast retention is an issue.

Would I be correct in assuming that, where used, it's applied in such a way as to direct runoff at existing drainage arrangements, or is it a technique requiring more fundamental changes? How, I wonder, does it affect operations such as tamping?

 

The technique was used at Woking when the junction was relaid about a dozen years ago. The affected areas had signs instructing tamper crews to not slue (all they would do is break the tamper). To walk on it is absolutely solid, but seems to allow water to percolate through.
Pat

 

According to the L and B facebook page work has started on the new Tea Room at Woody Bay. See LINK.

 

In South Devon, it is in use at Dawlish to prevent the sea moving the ballast around. It drains very well too!

 

The report mentioned above in Mark's posting has been updated to include 11 further photographs.

Note that the page has been updated using a different URL, which is now >>> https://www.lynton-rail.org.uk/story/chelfham-progress-report-february-2022

 

Hi Chris - Thanks for letting us know about the update however the website seems to be down at the moment.

I hope you have recovered from your recent health problems.

Harold

 

The L&B website is now online once again. Those pictures are great, especially the twilight photos - well done Nigel!

See https://www.lynton-rail.org.uk/story/chelfham-progress-report-february-2022

 

Just checked and it is working again - great pictures.

 

Not just "great pictures" ... great pictures and excellent progress. Resuscitated Chelfham is clearly going to look stunning. Many congratulations (and admiration) to all involved.

 

Regarding Chelfham's progress................
The gent's building with the temporary window and door will be removed as soon as we have the space else where on site for all the bits kept inside. Also the roof will be replaced too.

 

I didn't know it ever had a roof. I've not been able to see one in period photos.

 

Originally it had no roof. During the ??50's?? a corrugated one was put on and it needs replacing. So a clear one is going to be installed, just like Woody Bay.

 

Excellent progress indeed. Now we know that no running of trains are planned for a long time ahead, don"t we? But what about a 5.5" or 7.25" miniature railway giving rides along the trackbed as a fundraiser for Chelfham? Perhaps Woody Bay doesn't need its miniature railway anymore? I don't know, I'm just flying a kite here but I would be interested to hear whether this might make some sense.

 

As I understand it, the problem with Chelfham is parking. Anything onsite likely to attract visitors in cars would therefore be a no no.

 

Presumably this is what was published recently to the members? - https://www.lynton-rail.org.uk/stor...panels?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook


I'd forgotten that they had a turntable, an good (temporary) use for it at Parracombe

Will

 

Oddly, I suspect parking mightn't be the issue we perhaps think. I wonder, come the happy day, whether (photographers aside) Chelfham will ultimately be much more than a crossing stop?

One of those things which stand out on many lines is the dearth of custom, at intermediate stations away from a principal embarkation point. It'll be interesting to see, with official aspirations to discourage road traffic in the twin villages, whether the L&B might buck this trend. Here's hoping!