Integral to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust’s aim to recreate the atmosphere of the original railway is not only the L&B’s carriages and E762 Lyn the solitary Baldwin, but also its unique Manning Wardle locomotives.

Back in 1996 it was thought appropriate that As Yeo was the first of three engines delivered to the original Lynton & Barnstaple Railway from Manning, Wardle & Co of Leeds in 1897 it should be the first MW to be built for the new L&B and a project to construct the loco was launched even though we had only just bought Woody Bay Station the previous year and did not have an operational railway on which to run the loco.   Amazingly , the first attempt to create a replica Lyn was also launched in 1996 - but it was not long before it sank without trace unlike the current scheme which has gone from strength to strength. See HERE

In 2007, the Trustees decided that as it was unlikely that there would ever be sufficient funds to support the simultaneous construction of two Manning Wardle replicas- let alone one - with a burgeoning railway and no steam loco of our own, the L&B should instead put all its effort behind completing Axe - which we had by this time owned for over twenty  years!  With Axe immediate priority, the Yeo Project was then put on hold until such time as Lyd was in service all the bugs ironed out.

The new L&B at Woody Bay is happy to both support and promote the Ffestiniog Railways Lyd Project - after all it is the first time in over 70 years that we have seen one of these aesthetically pleasing locos and we will certainly be able to benefit from the knowledge obtained by the Lyd team during the years of construction and also from operating experiences. Click on the  Lyd Project to visit the project’s webpage for more information.

With Lyd’s very successful visit to Woody Bay in September 2010 - for which thanks must go to L&B Life Member and Lyd Project founder, James Evans and also FR General Manager and L&B aficionado Paul Lewin the relationship between the L&B and the FR has grown significantly.

All the lessons learned in building, and operating Lyd can be applied to the design and construction of  our own Manning Wardle, Yeo - although as is the case with Lyd, concessions will be made to modern techniques and regulations - Lyd has already sent the benchmark for a 21st Century Manning Wardle.

With the completion of two of the heritage coaches and the replica Lyn as well as our plans to extend the railway, hopefully it will not be too long before another L&B locomotive will be needed for the new L&B and this time it will certainly be our own Manning Wardle, Yeo destined for permanent service on the new L&B.

However, the current estimate of the finances needed for a Manning Wardle replica of our own is £350,000 - £500.000.  No small sum when there are so many other things that need funding including the current funding priority - the permissions needed to extend the railway.  So a considerable fundraising initiative will be required before the project can be recommenced.

Yeo will be constructed entirely under contract with the timescale for completion dependent on the availability of funds.  .   

If you are interested in supporting the Yeo Project when relaunched, please let us know that by sending an email to the 21st Century Yeo Project

Yeo’s frames in storage at Gartells, October 2008