Portal:Trains/Selected article/Week 26, 2006

The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway was a narrow gauge railway running through the rugged and picturesque countryside of Exmoor in North Devon, England. It was constructed under its own Act of Parliament rather than through the later 1896 Light Railways Act consequently higher standards of construction and operation were required than later lines that were built under the Light Railways Act. Opened as an independent railway in May 1898, it was just over 19 miles (31 km) long. In 1922 the L&B was taken over by the Southern Railway, and closed by them in September 1935. Even after seventy years, much of the formation is still visible, although in private hands. The most spectacular evidence of the line is the imposing brick-built Chelfham Viaduct. Extensively restored in 2000, its eight 42 foot (13 m) wide arches reach 70 ft (21 m) above the Stoke Rivers valley, making it the largest narrow gauge railway structure in England. Woody Bay Station is the centre of the current revival and a short section of the line was reopened to passenger traffic in 2004. After Bridge 67 was generously rebuilt as a gift by Edmund Nuttall Ltd, the line was extended to Killington Lane in 2006, with plans well in hand for a further extension to Cricket Field Lane at Parracombe.

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