Welcome to the L&BR Trust Devon Area Group

The Devon Area Group was relaunched in October 2007, with the primary purpose of -

• Actively encouraging local members to volunteer on the railway to support the day-to-day operations and the many development projects that are needed
• organise local social events so members can meet each other
• follow up the recent publicity by building a wider membership base in Devon

We believe that by talking to our local members we can establish a register of who can do what, how often and when. This will enable the management team at Woody Bay to plan their projects and make best use of volunteer time.

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Upcoming Social Events

Wednesday 16th December 2009

Xmas Rail Trip around Devon Devon Day Ranger ticket £10 or £6.60 with a Railcard

Meet Barnstaple Station at 0815 in time for:

0843 departure to Exeter and beyond….

(Exact route to be decided on the day but expected to include a ride on the new timetable’s FGW loco hauled train, Class 67s, to Paignton. Other possibilities could include a trip on the Waterloo line as far as Axminster to view the new passing loop and platform in operation.)

Returning to Barnstaple either at 1807, 1913, or 2010

Lunch should be at a Rail/Real Ale guide pub somewhere subject to timetable……

 Names to Nigel Thompson or just turn up on the day:

Details of forthcoming events will be posted here as soon as arrangements are known.

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Recent Events

Friday 30th October 2009 - Film show and social evening

Skittles & Social Evening, Thursday 9th April

L&B members enjoyed another friendly skittles night at the Reform Inn, Pilton, Barnstaple on Thursday 9th April. Two teams topically named 'us' and 'them' comprising of Woody Bay regulars and not so regulars respectively, contested a hard fought match. Dave Tooke from the 'us' team achieved the highest mens score with Jenny Driver the highest womans score. Afterwards a 'killer' game saw Frank Daff eventually emerge as a well deserved winner.

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Film Show and Social evening,  Friday 13th February
 
Some 40 L&B members and friends packed into the upstairs meeting room at Barnstaple Stationmasters House Tea Rooms on Friday 13th February to enjoy a fascinating multi-media film show of the Ilfracombe Railway by Dave Tooke.
 
Dave began by showing the DVD 'Memories of the Barnstaple-Ilfracombe Line' by Ian Pringle. This gave an interesting historical background into the final route taken and some photos and cine footage of the line in the early days. Next was a selection of photographs from Dave's collection on his PC including some taken by his late father, George Tooke, in the 1950s. After a short break, we reverted to the traditional railway slide show with more of Dave's photos showing trains along the route of this steeply graded line including the Bulleid 'West Country' & 'Battle of Britain' class locos on the Devon Belle, the Atlantic Coast Express, and Warship hydraulic diesels at Ilfracombe. Finally there were a few views of the line since closure in 1970 with the derelict stations of Barnstaple Town, Braunton, Mortehoe, and Ilfracombe.
 
Photos by George Tooke

 34013 being turned on Ilfracombe turntable. 

West Country 34013 OKEHAMPTON waiting to depart from Ilfracombe, probably in 1953.

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Train Trip to Looe, Wed 11th February 2009

Six L&B Devon Group members took a break from the work at Woody Bay in order to have a nice day out travelling on the train from Barnstaple to Looe (Cornwall). Using a Group-Save ticket for four and a couple of cheap day returns with the Devon & Cornwall Railcard, the train fare worked out at a respectable £8.40 each.

For the record, the trains travelled on included a Class 142 Pacer Railbus on the Barnstaple-Exeter Tarka Line, a First Great Western HST from Exeter-Liskeard and a single car Class 153 DMU on the Looe Valley line. The Looe branch with its own separate platform at Liskeard winds its way down to the valley to reverse at Coombe Junction.

1.  The group at the Looe branch platform at Liskeard

 

2. 153370 ready to return to Looe

Then a scenic ride down the valley passing the attractive halts with all heritage signing before reaching Looe. This years winter timetable provides the best ever service for this farely little used branch line as this time of year with some 12 return journeys each weekday. 

3. After arriving at Looe, the group all pose for the record shot

 

At Looe we wandered around East Looe before having lunch and some Cornish Real Ale at the Ship Inn.

4. Wandering around the harbour at East Looe

  The return journey was troublefree and even time for another Real Ale at the Great Western Hotel Loco Bar adjacent to Exeter St Davids station before catching our connection back to Barnstaple.  

5. Enjoying Real Ale at the GW Hotel Loco Bar, Exeter

 We all enjoyed this relaxing trip with no rail problems. This has been the second rail trip this winter to sample a West Country Branch Line taking advantage of the cheap fares on offer from First Great Western. Should any L & B Devon based member wish to come along on the next trip please contact Nigel Thompson  for further details.

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Friday 5th December 2008 - Film show and Social evening.

This time we were upstairs in the newly decorated meeting room at Barnstaple Stationmasters house. Over 20 members attended to see some really excellent slide photos of "Narrow Gauge Around the World" taken by Mike Squire over the past 40 years or so.  Mike, from the North Gloucester Railway at Toddington, is a part owner of the Jung 0-4-0WT steam loco 'Justine' currently on loan to the L&B to help run the steam hauled Santa Specials this year. So the first slides included views of 'Justine' with the L&B train this autumn. There was also a few shots of 'AXE' taken during the armistice memorial day on 11 Nov.

Mike's very well travelled and has been able to organise and attend many photographic charters both in the UK and abroad and his collection of photos showed this. In Britain there were shots at Launceston, Sittingbourne and some of the Welsh lines such as FR and the Talyllyn Railway. Next we toured Europe from the Vivaris in France, to lines in Austria and Eastern Europe before the Cold War ended. Then across the Middle East to India and Pakistan. Then China and over to various lines in the USA, Cuba and into South America. Finally to South Africa and some more memorable views of steam in the spectacular landscapes. The quality of his collection was superb with most photos taken in good sunlight and Mike recounted a few experiences from the visits as well as the detailed information about the locomotives and trains involved.

During the break members enjoyed various refreshments from the Stationmasters House Cafe downstairs.

Nigel Thompson

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Saturday 22nd November 2008

'A history of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway since 1935' - 

Nearly 50 L&B members and many local people packed into Pilton Church Hall for the Devon Group's latest public meeting.

Keith Vingoe began the talk with a DVD of historic cine film taken of the line shortly before the closure in 1935. Next was an interesting group of photos depicting views of the last train, the auction, the coaches left at Snapper, the demolition of the line, and some photos of the overgrown and dereliction of the stations and trackbed during the 1940s-1980s period. Finally Keith talked about the early years of the Association with pictures of Axe at Landkey.

During the refreshment break, everyone had a chance to purchase some L&B Christmas cards, books and other souvenirs from Robin Horne who was running the sales stand. Around the hall several photo display boards reminded people of our progress in recent years.

For part two, Nigel Thompson gave a talk and slide show of the period since 1994. Begining with Van 23's finding and restoration, the fund raising Lynbarn Railway and some early views after the purchase of Woody Bay Station. Next was real progress after the first track was laid and finally opening the station to the public in May 2003. More recent photos showed how the trains had developed from a diesel with one coach in 2004, then BRONLLWYD with 2, then 3 coaches. STATFOLD with 3 and finally SID with 4 coaches in 2008.

The evening was rounded off with Ian Cowling giving a Powerpoint Exmoor Enterprise presentation for the future plans. Many facts and figures putting forward our case for grant funding in order to extend and rebuild the railway from Lynton to Wistlandpound and eventually back to Barnstaple. 

 

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Fri 24 October 2008 - Film Show & Social evening

Twenty seven members and friends attended a very successful social evening at the new tea rooms at Barnstaple station. A couple of members even travelled up from mid and south Devon by train.

The evening was for many the first opportunity to view and sample the tea rooms now occupying the ground floor of the old station masters house at Barnstaple Junction station. Member Mike Day has spent a couple of years fighting through the 'red tape' with Network Rail to achieve opening the tea rooms to the public this autumn. Later this winter he also hopes to open the first floor as a 'North Devon Railway Museum' displaying a few artefacts and information from all the local railways as appropiate.

With the film show the L&B members enjoyed viewing a variety of photos and video/DVD ranging from the 2005 and 2006 Galas, a Dutch TV program on the L & B in 2005, photos of building the extension to Killington Lane in 2006 and some very up to date shots of the 2008 Gala and views of AXE nearing completion. Thanks to the collections of Dave Tooke, Nigel Thompson and to Ian Cowling as projectionist.

Nigel Thompson

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Every Thursday - Track Gang

The Thursday gang continue their winter track maintenance program after the recent relaying of the curve north of Bridge 67. The photo below was taken on 8 February where the gang assisted in packing ballast near bridge 67.

 

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The Devon Group committee comprises:  Jim Pounds, Nigel Thompson and Ian Cowling.

If you would like to be part of the group or want any further information, please contact Ian Cowling on 01769 550266

Nigel Thompson