Devon Railway Discoveries 6: Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

I visit Snapper, near Barnstaple, and see a stunningly preserved bridge. Later, I visit Chelfham Viaduct, and explored a cleared section of former trackbed.
#railways #lynton #devon

[@michaelpilling531]

Superb old friend. A fantastic video. Thanks for all the updates. It will be superb when the line is completely in use

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael. Hope you are feeling better. It is a lovely line on Exmoor with a beautiful scenery too. It would be great if it can be extended. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@WanderingwithWatto]

Paul this was very interesting indeed. Watched with Dad and thoroughly enjoyed. 👍🏻🚶🏻‍♂️🚶‍♀️

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Watto! Glad you and your Dad enjoyed it. I hope to return when it is in full steam soon. Lovely to hear from you. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@easygadets]

like 40 very lovely and refreshing vlog

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@classic-shirt-obsession9843]

Lovely relaxing watch to start the day Paul. I’m off next week hoping to get in a couple of walks

[@westcountrywanderings]

Enjoy your walks! Glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers, Paul 🙂👍

[@SouthWestSundays]

I absolutely loved this Paul! It was so fascinating to see where the track bed has been cleared.I really hope that the entire route can run again one day in all its glory. Thanks so much for showing clips of my video in it too of the steam train trip and for linking to my video at the end. Louise

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Louise! Yes, the railway wasn't 'in steam' when I was in the area (I was heading back from holidaying in North Cornwall) but I thought it may be of interest all the same. Your video captured it really well and I hope to return soon to see some steam in action there. Thanks for a lovely comment. Take care, Paul 👍🙂

[@royedwards8713]

Hi Paul nice video ,looks a nice walk 👌

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Roy! Glad you enjoyed it. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@faithg9766]

The Chelfham viaduct is an absolute delight. IT's good to see the plans for the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, well done for taking us on an increasingly squishy walk.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Faith! Yes, that viaduct is simply stunning isn't it! First time I had seen it 'in the flesh'. Be great when these ambitious plans come to fruition. Thanks for watching and commenting, take care, Paul 👍🙂

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Paul, That was a great intro again. I've seen bits and pieces in Steam Railway but didnt know much about the railway. A quick look on Wikipedia tells that they have changed the track gauge slightly from 597mm to 600mm. Looks like you had a great time discovering the old track bed, you really were walking in a green tunnel at the start, later it almost became canal like!! The Chelfham viaduct was in absolutely superb condition and really enormous for a narrow gauge railway. The points lever at Killington look like full size versions of the Hornby Dublo ones!! That will be a great place to return to in the future as things develop. Look forward to seeing the water powered funicular when you get to Lynton. I have a small project on the back burner to make a water driven funicular, I have a steam one but want to try and make it work off water!! All the best!!

[@westcountrywanderings]

I wonder why they added 3mm to the gauge? Strange! It is a lovely line though through some stunning scenery. Thank you David. It was very verdant in that cutting! I hope to be back there soon. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@westcountrywanderings I would guess that the 600mm gauge is more common these days. It makes sense as no original track survived from back then. As far as I can see Axe came from France and was gauged at 600mm so thats probably why. As a side point wiki also said that the track bed was engineered for standard gauge so they could have used that as well maybe😅😅

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, that would explain why that bridge was so wide at the start of the video ! Thanks for the reply David.

[@michaelmiller641]

"Success to the railway" as they said when the L&B opened originally. Exciting times, and another wonderful video, Paul. Thankyou!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, it would be good to see the line run back to Lynton, at least. Take care, Paul 👍🙂

[@chrishines6048]

2:08 I used to go to that school ( I was there from 2009 to 2013 ) and I have so many memories at that school

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Chris - there seems to have been some controversy over Chelfham School in its later days - I always find school closures like that a little odd, because it is the adults in the school causing the issues, not the pupils or buildings themselves. Sad to see that it has been subject to several incidents of arson. Thanks for watching and commenting. Take care, Paul 👍🙂

[@chrishines6048]

@@westcountrywanderings it is sad to see and I did read somewhere online that one of the staff made a student wear pyjamas to lessons and when I was in school and I can still remember one night I couldn't sleep and I happened to look out of my bedroom window and I saw the maintenance on fire and I heard that it was potential arson

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@chrishines6048 Oh, that's awful! I am so sorry that happened. I do hope that there was an inquiry into what happened there. Take care, Paul.

[@chrishines6048]

@@westcountrywanderings so do I and I hope the police get down to the bottom off how the fire started and find who or what caused it

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

This looks a very exciting project. The viaduct at Chelfham looks in magnicent condition, nearly 100 years after closure of the line. Your video gives a really good impression of the spectacular scenary through which the line passes, so let's hope it won't be long before the its in steam again. I have never visited the area, but it puts me in mind of the narrow gauge railways in North Wales.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Malcolm - I hope to be back soon to capture the L&B in steam. Take care, Paul 👍🙂

[@JessesGrandDaysOut]

Always love it when older railway lines are given a new lease of life and this looks like an exciting project to watch. The views from the viaduct must be fabulous and must be something to see when trains can run on it.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, I would love to have gone across that viaduct behind a steam train! As you say, it would have had amazing views. Hopefully, one day! Thanks for watching and commenting Jesse. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@dianarolph1770]

You can guess what I am going to say- I have never heard of this railway! I think there must be a fair few I don’t know. So I looked it up on Google. It does seem ambitious to expand in both directions - I hope they can do it. The viaduct will be a lovely addition- it looks in good condition after all those years. I will look at the website you recommended & go on a ride on the line!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Diana! Glad you enjoyed the tour of this lesser known heritage railway. It is in a super location on Exmoor. Take care, Paul 👍🙂

[@abandonedrailwaya2470]

Brilliant, Paul. I really enjoyed this little adventure. As always, thank you for sharing. Cheers. Ron🙂👍

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Ron! Glad you enjoyed this little Railway Series adventure. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@DonnaTaibossigai]

Marvelous tour, Paul! I enjoyed seeing the area, especially how you kept pointing out where the railways once ran. The viaduct was pretty amazing, too.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Donna! Glad you enjoyed this tour. It is a lovely railway going through some stunning scenery too. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@stephenchappell7512]

This was a proper 'mainline in miniature' which has survived in popular imagination rather more so than people's actual memories but 'never say never' if the Ffestiniog can put back the Welsh Highland (closed 1941) then perhaps the Lynton & Barnstaple's aspirations might not be so far-fetched??

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, they certainly seem to have some fairly ambitious plans! It will be good to see it get to Lynton from Woody Bay at least. Thanks Stephen, take care, Paul 🙂👍

[@johntimbrell]

Lovely to have an update. This will take you to a BBC film of the railway. 1987 BBC documentary - Barnstaple to Lynton railway - Pt.1 Type in KZbin search.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Ah, thank you John! I will have a look for that video. This is a lovely little railway. Take care, Paul 👍🙂

[@momatmach1]

Nice video but it’s pronounced Chellam locally and the rover mostly Yo

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Thanks for watching and commenting. Cheers, Paul