Lynton & Barnstaple (Heritage) Railway

Route Name: Lynton & Barnstaple (Heritage) Railway



Route created by: Ben Vincer

Route Type: Preserved Narrow Gauge Line.

Route Mileage: 2 miles.

Route Era: Current.

Additional files required – if not already installed: NewRoads V4.0, Xtracks 3.20 and re-work of MSTS UKN narrow gauge track system by Reg Furniss.

Route Description:

This is a route for MSTS and can be downloaded from UKTrainSim.

Stock can be downloaded from Bubbles Railways for the current price of £4.99. (The route is also available as a free download from the same site.)

The Lynton and Barnstaple railway originally opened in 1898 as major link between the two Devon towns named in the title. It ran for 19 miles and was built to light railway standards with tracks two feet apart. It unfortunately ran at a loss for most of its life, including the period when it was absorbed into the Southern Railway from 1922. Eventually, in 1935, the railway closed and was lifted for scrap. Most of the rolling stock was sold off for scrap or for other purposes with the only hope being left on the stop block at Barnstaple town station.

Unlike many closed lines however most of the trackbed remained unscathed, returning mainly to the ownership of local farmers and in 1979 a group of enthusiasts formed the ‘Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Association’ which had the aim to rebuild the line. In 1995, Woody Bay station was purchased and restored to its railway glory. They also operated a short line at the nearby Milky Way theme park using some ex-Thorpe Park railway equipment. Slowly but steadily they rebuild the first section of the line, and in 2004 the first train pulled out of Woody Bay station for nearly 70 years.

Once reopened, the effort was placed on extending the line the extra half a mile to a new terminus and run around loop at Killington Lane. This then gave the railway an out and back run of around two miles.

This review was mainly put together by Justin with a small input from Alec.