LYNTON & BARNSTAPLE RAILWAY GALA, 25-27 SEPTEMBER 2010
August 27th, 2010 by Martyn de Young
The Ffestiniog Railway’s newly completed, full-sized L&B Manning Wardle replica LYD is coming to Woody Bay in North Devon – accompanied by original L&B coach No.15 (now FR No.14) and Ffestiniog Railway 1st class carriage No.102 to form a heritage train especially for our Autumn Gala.
How many of us thought that, 75 years after the L&B’s closure, everyone would now have the opportunity to ride into Woody Bay behind an engine of the type that was used on the L&B and in the last carriage to leave Woody Bay Station on 29th September 1935?
As well as the visiting L&B steam loco replica LYD, our resident steam locos, AXE and SID, will be in action and there will also be Real Ales, a Hog Roast, Model Marquee and free entertainment for the kids, and maybe one or two surprises as well.
LYD and the heritage coaches will run alternately with AXE and the resident coaches during the day.
The ‘first ever’ LYD train will be on Saturday 26th at 9 am. Tickets for this unique occasion will be £20.
Tickets to ride in the Heritage Train are only £5 at other times during the Gala Weekend and seats will be allocated in the L&B Coach first and then in the Ffestiniog coach if the L&B coach is full.
LYD tickets can only be purchased with Gala Entry tickets. With fewer than 40 seats on each heritage train we strongly advise booking your seat in advance.
Park & Ride will be operating from the market site at Blackmoor Gate and from Caffyns Halt with only Blue Badge parking available at Woody Bay Station. There is no parking at Woody Bay.
Gala entry tickets cover Park & Ride, entry to the site and all-day travel behind AXE (subject to capacity).
If for any reason we cannot operate the heritage train, refunds will be available on entry.
Locomotive LYD
Built largely at Boston Lodge, and destined for service on the Ffestiniog and WelshHighland Railways, LYD was first steamed in June 2010, and is the culmination of a fifteen years plus project to build a replica L&B locomotive. These fine engines were last seen in operation in 1935, after which the line closed and the locos were scrapped – with the exception of one which was exported to Brazil and never seen again.
In the early part of the 20th Century the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway formed, arguably, the most sophisticated development of the British narrow gauge. Its story has been told in numerous books and articles, culminating in the unhappy closure in 1935. It was a line connected in many people’s minds with Sunny West Country holidays. This may account for the enormous nostalgia on a par with other lost lines such as the Somerset and Dorset, and for the large number of period amateur photographs. These often featured the three elegant locomotives purpose built for the line in 1897, followed by a fourth in 1925.
One or two of the project supporters actually rode on the line in their childhood. Many who missed the opportunity dream of recreating similar scenes from the past for the benefit of present and future generations. These ambitious proposals have now becoming reality.
http://www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk/lydproject.htm
Ffestiniog Railway Carriage No.14, Ex-L&B No. 15
One of 16 carriages built especially for the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway in 1897 by the Bristol Wagon & Carriage Co. L&B No. 15 was delivered as a brake third, but was soon altered to a composite. When the L&B was sold to the Southern Railway in 1922, this carriage was renumbered No. 6993. As part of the last train, it was the last coach to leave Woody Bay at approximately 8:20pm Sunday 29th September 1935. After closure the carriage was purchased by a local farmer who kept it on a short length of track on the trackbed north of Snapper Halt. It was used by evacuees during the war, and later as a hen house, before being bought by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1959. It was transported to Boston Lodge where it was rebuilt into a buffet car. It has now operated in North Wales for longer than it operated on the L&B. Returning to Devon for a brief visit after more than 50 years.
Ffestiniog Railway Carriage No.102
As the profile of this and other centenary stock is based on that of the former Lynton and Barnstaple Carriage 14, combined with the spacious interiors, significantly larger than previous FR carriages, they were given the affectionate nickname, “The Barns”.
A First Class Observation carriage similar to 100 and 101 – No.102 entered service in August 2005 – the 50th anniversary of the restoration of passenger trains in 1955. Fitted with moveable seats and tables in the observation end to allow wheelchairs to be accommodated, it is sumptuously appointed and also provided with heating.
The visit of this loco and carriages – the first time ever to another railway – has only been made possible through to the massive support and assistance given by Paul Lewin and his team at the Ffestiniog Railway as well as from the FR Company and Trust. The L&B wishes to express their heartfelt thanks for this unprecedented show of solidarity by one of the “old guard” to one of the newcomers.
More Information:
Ffestiniog: http://www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk/carriages.htm
Lynton & Barnstaple: http://lynton-rail.co.uk (for details of how to book online – coming soon)
A one-third scale Manning Wardle 2-6-2 has arrived at the new 7¼ in gauge railway at Woody Bay Station.
The 762 Club has started to build the replacement Baldwin 2-4-2 Lyn for the L&B. A small start so far, but patterns for the wheels were recently on show at Woody Bay. More info on the 
Martyn de Young