As well as building its passenger carrying capacity, the modern L&BR owns and operates a number of ex Ministry of Defence wagons for works train use in track maintenance, construction work and for equipment and mobile storage along the line. Wagons are numbered in the 50s and 60s sequence to avoid clashing with current and future projects to build replicas of original L&B wagons.

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  "TITCH", A Motor-rail Simplex 4wDM 20HP (No. 8729 of 1941).

Privately owned, TITCH had been working for the L&B since 1994, initially for construction and works trains at the Lynbarn Railway at the Milky Way, Clovelly, before transferring to Woody Bay in 2003.  At Woody Bay, although very underpowered for the 1 in 50 gradient, TITCH was used in a variety of works train duties with the first smaller ‘Hudson’ type flat wagons and ballast/skip wagons. TITCH was also used on the extension construction after temporary relocation to Killington Lane in February 2006 and became the main locomotive used with the tracklaying programme prior to the link up in April 2006. After then TITCH was used regularly with a variety of works trains moving coal, rails, sleepers, and blocks around the railway.

With the standardisation of the larger ex-MOD wagons, TITCH’s use became very occasional, being unsuitable for shunting and braking the heavier wagons and was subsequently stored from 2008. After being sold between members based in Essex, TITCH finally left Woody Bay in November 2010.   (TITCH had been in L&BR service for a total of 16 years - 3 years longer than LEW!)

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Flat Wagons

   

L&BR No.52  with L&BR No.50 at Woody Bay

These are ex MoD flat wagons regauged by the WHR (P) and purchased by the L&B in 1995. Three flat wagons were first used by the L&B at the Lynbarn Railway to store parts of steam loco Axe. No.50 was transferred to Woody Bay to assist with the early track laying in 2002. No. 52 followed soon after with the frames of No.51 being converted at Bratton Works to become the ballast hopper.

The rotting and damaged planks of both wagons were replaced with newer planks during 2003-4.

Both wagons are currently in service assisting in the transport of track and building materials.

 

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Bogie Open Wagons

  

Bogie Open wagon Nos. 53 & 54 (with coal)

Purchased second hand from the Bala Lake Railway in 2002 these wagons have proved very useful around the site at Woody Bay in a variety of roles from the first demonstration freight trains in 2003 to sleeper transport for the tracklaying, spoil, coal, ballast and aggregate storage and even turnout rail and buffer stop movement over the years. Recently the wagons are used for moving steam locomotive coal from the car park dump to be off loaded at the coal bunker outside the shed.

Titch, with wagons 53 and 54 

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"Wagon 12" in the Woody Bay loading bay, August 2009  and a model of the original

An ex MoD bogie flat (again, regauged from 2’6") has been rebuilt at Woody Bay by ‘The Wednesday Work Party’. This wagon has had new plank sides fabricated in the style of original bogie goods wagon (L&BR No. 12, SR No.28301). Painted in SR brown livery, the wagon is now used to store steam engine coal.   

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 Box Vans

The five Box Vans currently at Woody Bay (Spring 2009) are all ex MOD (No’s 63-65 ex Trecwn) 2’6" gauge and have been regauged for use on the L&BR ‘s works trains and for mobile storage. In their former role the vans were used at MOD munitions depots to move various bombs and missiles between the storage bunkers and servicing yard. Most of the Vans also had a unique sliding roof to enable top loading of upright standing bombs.
 

All 5 box Vans together in the loading dock (Left-Right No’s 64,61,62,63,65)
 
Van 61 arrived at Woody Bay in early 2002. First being stored in the car park before being moved across and onto the the newly laid track during the summer 2002. In 2003-4 The van received a complete overhaul, floor and roof repairs, and a full repaint. Currently No. 61 is used to store permanent way tools and equipment.

 

Van 61 after a recent repaint in the loading dock siding at Woody Bay

Van 62 also arrived back in 2002 and more recently after a repaint and some bodywork repairs was fitted out to become the S & T department tool van.

Side on view of Van 62 in the loading dock.

The L&B purchased 3 more vans from ex MOD Trecwn in 2004 which were eventually regauged on site in the loading dock.

Van 63 was originally in a yellow livery and still retains its sliding roof. Some restoration work was carried out in 2006 which included a repaint into SR Brown livery. The van is currently used for railway equipment storage.

 

Van 63 in SR livery by the up-starter signal at Woody Bay

Van 64 received extensive body work repairs in 2005-6, the removal and sealing flush of the sliding roof, and a repaint into SR Brown livery. Inside the Van has been fitted out for permanent way tool storage.

Van 64 stands on the engineers siding during the tracklaying work near Bridge 67 in 2006.

Van 65 needed major bodywork repairs which were carried out in the shed in 2006. Painted in the Grey-black livery this van is currently used for storage.

Van No. 65 in the loading dock alongside Original Restored Coach No. 7 in Sept 2006
 

 Hunslet Diesel ‘Heddon Hall’ with a works train of the Box Vans crossing Bridge 67 in October 2006.

 

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Brake Van

  

 L&BR No.60 Ex MoD Hudson Bogie Brake Van

This Brake Van originally from the Armaments Depot at Broughton Moor, Cumbria would have been used with the heavily laden munitions trains around the 2’6" gauge railway complex. The steel body and slab bogies together with extra weights inside was useful to help brake these trains particularly during propelling movements downhill.

The L&B purchased the Brake Van (BV10) in 1997 when it was delivered to the Lynbarn Railway. Originally in a khaki green livery with ‘wasp’ strips, the body was restored and repainted into the works train grey livery. The van was jacked up to remove the bogies for the regauging. The bogies are formed of just one piece of steel block from which further sections needed to be cut away for the wheels to run. During its time at the Lynbarn only one bogie was fully regauged.

After transfer to Woody Bay in 2003, the regauging was completed, brake shoes and hand wheel connected. The brake van received a final coat of grey paint before entering service in time for demonstration freight trains that spring and summer.   

Since then Brake Van No.60 has seen extensive use in a variety of works trains. With bench seats capable of carrying up to ten people seated and standing, the van is often used to transport volunteers to site and when other unfitted wagons are used in the works train. The van is usually marshalled at the Barnstaple end of the works train and a ‘freight train guard’ tasked to operate the hand brake as required during propelling movements in engineering possessions. No.60 is also often to be seen as part of the freight train during Galas, marshalled with the matching ex MoD Box Vans and Flat wagons. 

 

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Mini Digger

Not quite part of the Works Train, but a vital tool for the railway, 2009 saw the purchase of  a Takeuchi TB153FR Zero Swing Excavator.   With a range of attachments available, able to lift over 2 tons, and vital statistics such as:

• Weight: 12,450 lbs.
• Width: 8’ 6"
• Height:8’ 7"
• Length: 17’ 7"
• Dig Depth: 12’ 10"
• Dump Height: 12’ 9"
• Max Reach at Ground Level: 20’ 4"
• Ground Pressure: 4.92 psi

The digger has saved the cost and inconvenience of having to hire in plant for several tasks, and has already proven its worth around the railway.

The digger laying floors in the shed extension, Spring 2009

Summer 2009, tidying the sidings at Killington Lane …

… and further landscape management