The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Circa 1935

A 9.5mm black and white silent film showing scenes of The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway in North Devon, England in and around 1935 when it was owned and operated by the Southern Railway. Also to be seen is the last down train over the route on Sunday 29th September 1935, the auction of railway stock and equipment shortly after and finally, footage of the line being dismantled in 1936. Today the railway is slowly being rebuilt by volunteers and replica carriages and locomotives are being constructed. For further details on this fascinating railway, both as it was then and as it is today, please visit the following; www.lynton-rail... My source indicates that this archived footage is no longer copyrighted and is now understood to be in the public domain.

[@richardjelley3074]

Great film. Such hard times back in the thirties. When it was built it was a good alternative to the rough roads and ships which linked to Lynton and Lynmouth. Unfortunately it couldn't compete with the developing road network and hauliers. I look forward to seeing the reinstalled line, it'll be up there with the Welsh Highland.

[@johnmyerson]

Look forward to seeing it all reinstated!

[@Wheelsx3]

5 stars what a rare piece of L&B history wonderful..

[@SteamboatWilley]

A wonderful piece of history. Liked.

[@FannyAckin]

nice video , Brilliant concept by the new Lynton and Barnstable railway group , we are going to put all back again starting at Woody Bay and working in both directions .

[@user-ie1lz4oi3o]

Iconic film brings to life the spirit of the Lynton & Barnstaple railway.This toy train of Devon has only grown stronger in spirit since its sleepeth. Perchance not dead but sleepeth.

[@epj900]

FANTASTIC!! I never thought there was film of the L & B, but to see this brought a lump to my throat , especially the demolition scenes

[@HALOWAP]

It looks like Railway Paradise!

[@chrisbunker]

You can help via the Lynton and Barnstaple website Originally opened in 1898, and closed in 1935. Today at Woody Bay is just the beginning of an exciting project to rebuild one of the world's most famous and picturesque narrow gauge railways; the legendary Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. A major fundraising effort is currently underway, to raise £100,000 to allow us to obtain a "Transport and Works Act Order" that will allow us to expand along the remaining 18 miles of the original railway.

[@alistairkewish651]

I was doing some browsing on KZbin about the L and B and was rewarded, if that is the right word, to see curious footage of an abandoned section + track + rolling-stock, apparently left to rot. Having had the good fortune to live elsewhere in Devon on account of my job at Exeter, I got some measure as to how things are run locally.I cannot think of any other use for a disused trackbed other than for it to be restored to its original purpose. sections of the same that have been converted into bye- roads is going to be a tad harder to purchase! Good to see that the Barnstaple Town station survived various road building schemes in the middle of Barnstaple!I don't think the re-opening will come about in my lifetime. Unless a major benefactor steps in - a latter day George Newnes, ex Hollerday House.Alistair

[@nigelclark7360]

More good stuff keeping these railways going is very demanding 3 cheers for all the staff who work for this Private railway.

[@Quaysider47]

Brilliant! Most interesting and thanks for sharing this.

[@Cubbyrover]

Brilliant!! Thank you.

[@yeojohn]

Fantastic footage. It will live again.

[@UKWMO]

Let's hope so! As I read the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust's newsletter and magazine for September 2015, I am very pleased to read that all seven planning applications for a 4.5 mile extension from Killington Lane (5.5 miles in total from Woody Bay) to Blackmoor Gate and Wistlandpound have been submitted! The Exmoor National Park Authority and North Devon Council have agreed to rule on the Trust's planning applications within six months of receiving them so let's keep our fingers crossed for good news!

[@austinjones7737]

UKWMO barstable ilia ombré railway

[@HughTerry69]

Marvellous legacy footage. So sad this line was closed. The vandalism at the end is heart-breaking. Would love to see it all reinstated!

[@FannyAckin]

dont worry people , this ones coming back ! they just need you to sign up as members and get down to give a few weekends of hard graft . Well dont just watch the video do something to help .

[@JawTooth]

The railroad in my town just ran the last train in April 2014 after 130 years of operations. I filmed the last one for KZbin.

[@UKWMO]

Hello, what a shame it is these railways being dismantled. At least you were able to get some footage. Have enjoyed looking at your videos, hope to see all of them when time allows. Kind regards.

[@Bugster42]

Fantastic. I was hoping there would be more footage of the L&B in existance Steve

[@cadcamcreations]

Seeing the railway being dismantled and the view of the bare track bed looks shocking. It seems so incongruous somehow.

[@alexishamer6427]

This is the Lynton and Barnstaple railway 🚃 that ran from 1898 to 1935 is for 37 years had a short life. It’s a narrow gauge. I think 🤔 the reason why trains 🚆 stopped running 🏃‍♂️ from Barnstaple to Lynton via Blackmoor Gate is perhaps 🤔 because the line wasn’t viable and was forced to close down the line. At present 💝 in 2023, there is limited parts of the Lynton to Barnstaple railway 🚃 line. The railway 🚃 track 🛤️ was single with a limited short passing loop 🔂 on the single line to allow the other train 🚊 to pass. It’s not part of BR - British Rail. In the carriages, it’s nice and and warm inside. The line is not dead 💀, however is sleep 🛌 😴 💤 . The track 🛤️ was ripped out. I think 🤔 it’s because that north Devon is a rural area. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@tacticalbattledroid]

some amazing footage ';-)

[@timwebster8122]

Perchance it is not Dead but sleepeth. What a interesting but sad film of the end of the Toy Railway. Much different to the Beeching era closures. note the ganger still sutting the grass on the lineside with only months to go till the end. What would most of us give to be at that sale, id certanly bid for lot 8 (Taw), pity most of the stuff there ended up as scrap or lost in Brazil. Will they ever find Lew? we can only dream...

[@porno6361]

Glad somebody had the foresight and equipment to film all this,shame it was ever shut in the first place,what an amazing heritage railway it would have been,I know it’s currently being reinstated,but would have been so much better in its 100% originality

[@DeanMorrison]

I used to live at the Station at Chelfham Mill in the 1980's

[@neilbain8736]

Quite an amazing document. Lots of detail. 6:03 Unique perspective, it's lucky the camera missed the water ( from the injector? ).

[@FishAndFingerPie69]

Also I know it's a long-shot but I think the guy mentioned earlier may be pushing hay through the fence for the animals in the cold conditions (note all that melting snow). Maybe it's dropped off from the train in remote areas.

[@spencerhardy8667]

When they said "Lynton & Barnstaple versus Leek & Manifold - There's only one way to sort it out" they misinterpreted the word Scrap!

[@FishAndFingerPie69]

In all the photographs in the many books I have on the line I've never noticed that little luggage truck like a bus trailer on the back of the train at 3:47. Surely more than just a covered truck?

[@michaelbishop5047]

This looks like a 4w wagon tagged on the back of a train with a lamp at the rear instead of the front of the train. Whereas this may not have been usual in the summer, it was certainly done in winter in order that carriages with steam heating fitted (of which there were 8) would be connected to the engine.

[@kingorry7223]

One thing I still don't understand is how is the platform the same level at Barnstaple Town Station. How do people get off the standard gauge trains

[@UKWMO]

King Orry of the Peel Godred Branch: The L&B trackbed in the Barnstaple Town station was obviously higher than the standard gauge side.

[@RediscoveringLostRailways]

Please may I use your excellent footage in a film I am making about this railway? Do see my channel to see how I have incorporated archive footage in many of my films to date. Best wishes.

[@Biraphile]

It's showing at 16 to 9 instead of 4 to 3 aspect ratio :(

[@musicurio]

AH! Thought so - but what a find!

[@sightscreen66]

Nine years late but thanks very much indeed for uploading this. Superb footage, I can't think how I missed it. For anyone who wants to adjust the stretched aspect ratio, you can use www(dot)stretch(dot)site to narrow it down to 4:3. The website explains what you have to do to adjust AR. I put the dots in because KZbin sometimes seems to suppress posts with external links.

[@johnkeepin7527]

Thanks for that! There are many KZbin uploads of old film output that has been converted & presented in an incorrect format. There is some footage of a recent visit of mine here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnXCXn2jicRlrMU

[@tomburnham5119]

Is this from film by L T Catchpole? If so, he only died in 1986.

[@michaelbishop5047]

The quality of the reproduction suggests it was copied from the Oakwood Press Video, in which case it is surely copyright of L T Catchpole's family. It would also be Oakwood Press copyright presumably inherited by Stenlake Publications when Oakwood Press was sold. The same issue appertains to the 'Little Train to Lynton' television programme now on the internet which is BBC copyright. They have never issued a DVD because the historical film in it was copyright - British Transport Films, Donovan Box, and a copy of the 16mm 'Exeter' film in private hands. This programme was made in Bristol in 1987 and the film used (before the internet) on the undertaking that the film was copyright of the various owners and would not be published without the owners' permission. Much as people want to see historical film that does not excuse blatant breach of people's copyright.