Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

I'd gladly settle for an Empire flying boat!

 

Whats wrong with a Handley Page Hannibal?

 

The 500mile range at cruising speed of 100mph might be thought lacking

 

Was thinking more like a civil version of the Martin P6M-2, a jet seaplane bomber developed in the fifties and described as "an impressive aircraft; its Mach 0.9 (1,100 km/h) performance "on the deck" could be equaled by few aircraft of the time” : see wikipedia, whose image is: .

After all to be workable the proposed service can’t be too far behind modern transatlantic airliners!

 

I wonder if this is quite the direction the OP thought a request of “what would you do in North Devon with unlimited money and no reference to the L&BR” would go?

Tom

 

I'm not completely sure the same Wiki entry's mention that the "normally docile and pleasant handling characteristics of the P6M-1 were replaced by some severe compressibility effects above Mach 0.8" quite sells itself to me as a passenger.

 

...or that 'request stops' probably meant being dropped out of the bomb-bay with a parachute while passing over Parracombe...

 

Sounds fun

 

I would have thought that an airship would be more in keeping. Leisurely Atlantic crossing whilst enjoying haute cuisine and full orchestra on the observation deck.

 

I think that was Imperial Airways (along with the other HP42s/45s).



RAS were most notable - at least in their pre-war heyday - for using various DeHavilland biplanes (Dragon, Dragon Rapide or the four-engined DH86).



Any of those would entice me down to Devon!

Tom

 

Or have the Queen Anne or Queen Mary 2 dock into Lynmouth for the crossing? Or perhaps the Royal Clipper or Golden Horizon for the luxury sailing experience?

Cash unlimited?

Chartered steam hauled sleeper from Paddington to Barnstaple direct, overlaying at Exeter St David's until breakfast, all 1st class including Champagne breakfast.

Transfer to the L&B at Barnstaple, as others have said, on an extended L&B across the river. Leisurely travel on the L&B steam hauled of course and in 1st class, stopping at Blackmoor Station for a Champagne afternoon tea, dainty sandwiches, cakes and a selection of fancy teas and coffees if required etc.

Onwards to explore Lynton for the afternoon and traveling down the Cliff Railway to look around Lynmouth and onto the cruise ship of your choice for the evening Black Tie gala dinner, and then the full monty high class travel across the Atlantic for a week's cruise to which ever rail destination on the Eastern seaboard and be met by UP 4014 and the sleeper train to California.

Luggage is transported by porters at all points of transfer.

This may seem to be a fantasy now, but I do believe at one time it was envisioned that paddle steamers would pull into Woody Bay, if that had taken off, could be cruise ships by now? hehe

Just as a point of interest, the modern luxury sailing cruise ship Royal Clipper is a 5 master square rigger based on the German built Preussen which was built in 1902. With her masts reaching over 200' from sea level this is equal to the height of the funnels of the Cunard cruiser Queen Anne.

So by the time you are just over half way down the Cliff Railway you would be level with the top of either of these ships and they would take up a large proportion of the bay, just shows how big they are!

 

Only one issue with that - the sleeper from Paddington???.

It has to be from Waterloo (or, just conceivably on today’s railway, Victoria)

 

Money no object, fantasy, I would like it to be a sleeper from Paddington, via Bath and Bristol! Lol

 

They'd certainly entice me far more than Statfold Southwest that seems to be advocated by certain people on here. It's the rare chance of starting with a blank canvas and being able to recreate (within reason) what was there previously, yet some seem to want it be a glorified train set.

Anyway, back to old airplanes with wicker seats!

 

...and the line direct across Exmoor from Taunton?

 

Since it’s a fantasy project, I would like to arrive via Broad Gauge train as God intended all gentlemen should travel!

 

...but what about their ladies ?

 

That's a possible! In fact, as Captain Picard would say...Make it so (Throws more big handfulls of cash)...we now overlay at Taunton, Champagne Breakfast once on the move again across Exmoor

 

I know IKB had a high opinion of himself, but God?

 

GWR = God's Wonderful Railway!