railway railway opened independent railway single track narrow gauge railway slightly miles long running rugged picturesque area bordering england opened light railways act came force authorised constructed prior act railways authorised act parliament built higher costly standards similar railways time united_kingdom notable narrow gauge line required use main line standard signalling short period line earned modest return shareholders life loss taken eventually closed september railway association formed short section reopened passengers extended following year plans announced open miles track linking station woody bay new terminus extension original line closer town new station reservoir present track narrow gauge history following opening devon somerset railway calls extension serve twin villages popular holiday makers middle 19th century schemes proposed established railway companies independent developers scheme suggested electric power proposed line schemes offered sufficient prospects encourage investment got initial plans difficult terrain scheme suggested narrow gauge use sic ease construction scheme supported sir publisher chairman company railway bill passed june line opened public service commencing connecting trains scheme meet universal enthusiasm beginning doubted true intentions promoters curves having maintain gradient observers oblivious fact shorter line gradient resistance local landowners route guide published whilst line built stated seldom attracted sufficient passengers remain viable journey nearly miles took average hour half satisfy influential residents terminus distance town cliff railway declining tourism world war improved roads increased car ownership depleted line income longer economic published described situation despite numerous cost saving measures extra investment line unable reverse trend closed line train ran september observer time wrote southern removed use november lifted track woody bay station november auction held railway failed attract interest rolling stock scrapped coaches use garden sheds class seats garden furniture class seats found way local halls december plymouth ship breaker won tender railway remaining track lifted june september surviving shipped brazil stations track bed auctioned safety record members public killed injured year existence accidents road claim lives track workers route route railway scenery passes described times 1920s guide area note station actually renamed geographical feature woody bay station named subject attempt develop tourist resort rival pier constructed developers felt spelling woody attractive tourists changed original station changed accordingly cycle routes followed today mentioned article remains popular venue singular gradient profile rises falls times length starting feet sea level miles stays relatively level marks start mile climb mainly shallower gradient follows miles start climb miles feet highest railway station southern england line falls station feet sea hidden landscape town minimum radius curves chain rolling stock distinctive aspects rolling stock locomotives appearing originally plain lined holly green later black base chestnut frames hauling passenger carriages coloured white upper panels light grey goods wagons schemes simplified individual vehicles southern arrival slowly changed passenger stock goods wagons black painted red locomotives contractors locomotives construction unusually temporary track wider final gauge section example spanning valley built gauge locomotive known fifth locomotive named little known sold believed left result financial problems litigation railway contractor coal fired steam motive power submitted designs eventually order placed leeds named local rivers supplemented built company realised insufficient baldwin selected deliver based largely standard components quickly domestic suppliers orders caused national engineering dispute hour working day resulting lock employers july january construction baldwin shipped atlantic parts assembled railway staff steamed july manning delivered ahead lock final stages construction stored locally stable received attention thieves stole brass fittings fixtures absorbed began upgrade programme coaches southern green wagons track buildings improved fifth locomotive purchased improvements original manning design fate bought auction believed december working railway work completed july september moved rail loaded destined port renamed brazil relevant shipping records destroyed world war vanished despite attempts trace locomotive evidence fate far found passenger stock sixteen passenger carriages delivered opening built comprised different types size long wide steps high large narrow gauge standards certainly superior previous british narrow gauge stock coaching stock extremely constructed offered levels accommodation far advance time certainly compared narrow gauge railway years later design basis new carriages built testament excellence original design body coach built local firm mounted steel constructed railway workshops marginally longer earlier coaches contained smoking non smoking accommodation class passengers brake van space goods stock southern railway introduced new items goods stock purchased war department travelling cranes line goods trains rarity usual practice attach goods wagons scheduled passenger services whilst wagons intermediate stations doubt added interest tourist occasional traveller added marginally journey time open goods wagons originally delivered single hung door proved inefficient eventually converted hung double doors fitted rails goods fitted double sliding doors open doors originally hung converted railway originally contractors railway opened modified entered revenue service long tons short tons preference long ton short ton wagon reduced overall weight train van restored prepared service woody bay built stock entirely wood travelling cranes stock fitted rated long tons short tons foot radius long tons short tons intended recovery cranes event saw use crane match truck kept long use goods yard goods originally fitted heavy diagonal wooden cross end later replaced single diagonal angle iron present eighty years closure line evidence spectacular evidence bridge brick built fully restored foot wide arches reach feet valley largest narrow gauge railway structure england stations private residences restaurant school woody bay serve new station currently restored open visitors weekend main centre operations purchased private company dedicated securing restoration railway short section line reopened passengers bridge rebuilt gift firm descended manchester main contractors original construction allowing extension work progressing section restored new temporary southern terminus reservoir total planning applications submitted february decisions expected summer restoration unlike welsh highland railway track bed sold original owners paying sold originally minor development parts route flooded track bed close mid point open countryside sections identifiable railway association charitable trust formed woody bay station purchased effort short section railway reopened passengers extended mile steam diesel hauled trains running new temporary terminus lane railway way theme park near created operated volunteers profits funded purchase restoration reopening woody bay handed park established continues operate attraction little original rolling stock survives heritage coaches mentioned largely restored van display woody bay removed restoration team essex november refurbishment fitting brakes remains coaches storage awaiting reconstruction coach summer house display original locomotives coach recovered restored railway running coach longer smaller loading gauge roof profile altered pass tunnel september coach visited replica class bought named axe restored working order axe worked passenger trains woody bay december named owned members steam service end sold railway museum line sweden replace privately owned built use south african platinum arrived woody bay december principally use hauling restored original heritage coaches trust owns industrial diesel locomotives hall backup axe maintenance trains number visiting diesel steam locomotives seen service line heritage coaches sixteen coaches originally built built railway broken railway closed parts survived retrieved stored railway following year restoration returned woody bay april enter passenger carrying service absence years coach followed september coach returned april initial heritage coaches inaugural service autumn gala weekend september entered regular service hauled santa specials december modern type replica named operational railway steamed spring visited september mark 75th anniversary closure moved steam august underwent running trials visiting september coach observation car replica baldwin currently built assembled operational set frames new built storage awaiting funds continue construction prospects restoring passenger services woody bay major undertaking enthusiastic volunteers track bed survives intact obstacles including overcome greater route restored fulfilling hopes expressed card left day line closed dead october railway announced plans reopen miles track linking station woody bay new terminus extension original line closer town new station enterprise working group leading project estimated project considered likely cost million including building replica rolling stock original coaches van improving line important local tourist attraction railway management scheme generate million south west economy years working closely international engineering design trust held series public june providing information local communities plans obtaining phase south west north east eventually longer term plans reopening line
Lynton and Barnstaple Railway