Lynton and Barnstaple Railway

Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
Lyn at Woody Bay in 2017
Locale	Exmoor, Devon, England
Terminus	Lynton & Lynmouth
Commercial operations
Name	Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
Built by	Promoter: Sir George Newnes, Bart. Engineer: James Szlumper Contractor: James Nuttall
Original gauge	1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)
Preserved operations
Owned by	Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust
Operated by	Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Co. Ltd.
Stations	2
Length	0.9-mile (1.4 km)
Preserved gauge	600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in)
Commercial history
Opened	11 May 1898
Closed	29 September 1935
Preserved era	Woody Bay: mid-1930s
Preservation history
1979	L&BR Association formed
1993	Railway Company formed
1995	Woody Bay station purchased
2000	Association reformed as Trust
2004	First train from Woody Bay, 17 July
2005	Bridge 67 reinstated
2006	Killington Lane opened
2007	Over 100,000 passengers carried since reopening
2008	L&B's first steam loco since 1935 – "AXE" – returned to steam
2010	"Lyd" – visits Woody Bay
2013	Three restored Heritage Coaches re-enter service and ISAAC – Bagnall 0-4-2T No. 3023 of 1953 enters service
2017	New build replica of "Lyn" is completed and unveiled

The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway (L&B) opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track, 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) narrow gauge railway and was slightly over 19 miles (31 km) long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, England. Although opened after the Light Railways Act 1896 came into force, it was authorised and constructed prior to that act. Therefore, as with all other railways, it was authorised under its own Act of Parliament and built to higher (and more costly) standards than similar railways of the time. In the United Kingdom it was notable as being the only narrow gauge line required to use main-line standard signalling. For a short period the line earned a modest return for shareholders, but for most of its life the L&B made a loss.^[1] In 1923, the L&B was taken over by the Southern Railway, and eventually closed in September 1935.

The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust was formed in 1979; and a short section was reopened to passengers in 2004. This was extended in 2006; and the following year plans were announced to open 9 miles (14 km) of track, linking the station at Woody Bay to both Lynton (at a new terminus on an extension to the original line, closer to the town) and Blackmoor Gate, and to a new station at Wistlandpound Reservoir. The present track is now 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow gauge.