WWI visitor steals show at L&B gala
VISITING from the Moseley Railway Trust's Apedale Valley Light Railway, War Department Light Railways Hunslet 4-6-0T No. 303 was the star of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway's September 25/26 gala, the first in two years.
The engine, works number 1215 of 1916 was repatriated from Australia by the War Office Locomotive Trust. Its restoration team's leader Martyn Ashworth joined No. 303 at Woody Bay and drove it during the gala.
The event saw an intensive timetable of both passenger and mixed services, as well as shunting and locomotive movements.
Also in action were the 762 Club's new Baldwin 2-4-2T No. 762 Lyn, Kerr Stuart 0-6-0T No. 2451 Axe and John Uphill's 0-4-2T No. 8 Faith.
North Devon residents in Victorian attire who visited the railway on June 13 during the Ilfracombe Victorian Week, returned on September 25.
The event was opened by North Devon MP Selaine Saxby who was joined by some of the `Victorians' in front of one of the line's original Victorian carriages which was specially constructed for the L&B in 1897 - the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee – by the Bristol Wagon & Carriage Company.
Selaine said: “I really enjoyed visiting the L&B September gala, and seeing some of their brilliant steam trains in operation. This fabulous heritage railway has welcomed a record number of visitors this summer, and I want to give my sincerest thanks to all of the volunteers who work so hard to keep it running. It really is a wonderful part of our local heritage, so long may it continue.”
L&B spokesman Tony Nicholson said: “The weather was mild, mostly dry and frequently sunny and there were lots of smiling faces around.”