A History of 'LYN' & the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

The Lynton and Barnstable Railway was the product of a long campaign which began in the 1850s to link the two towns, narrow gauge being seen as a way of overcoming the high costs of running a standard gauge line over the edge of Exmoor. After many long years, and a number of abortive attempts to get the project underway, work finally commenced in 1895. The first train ran on Monday 7th March, 1898, with the official opening ceremony on the 11th May of that year.
Considering the delays and pitfalls that beset the railway from the onset, the line was initially well patronised with about 1200 passengers a week carried during that May, rising to 2100 passengers by August 1898. As one could expect, the line was particularly busy during the summer season

Acknowledgement: LENS OF SUTTON

and for one week each September when the Barnstaple fair was held, trains sometimes ran to the maximum permitted load of nine coaches with two engines!
Unfortunately, over the years passenger traffic did not develop in the way that was hoped. Many tourists preferred to utilise the many road services in the area and operator costs were rising. The Lynton &

Barnstaple Railway had seen its last days of prosperity and in July 1923 it was taken over by the Southern Railway. As a result of this new ownership, money was spent on the much-needed maintenance of track, buildings and rolling stock and the timetable was restored in line with the unrestricted pre-war format.
Despite these valiant efforts to breathe life into the service, there was little hope against increasing road services and by 1935 the very apparent decline in passenger traffic coupled with the need for expensive track renewals sealed the fate of the service. The decision was made to close the line at the end of the summer season, with the last train running on the morning of Sunday 29th September 1935.

THE STORY OF LYN

The 4th locomotive purchased to work the railway was LYN; a 2-4-2T produced by the Baldwin Company of the USA. The locomotive was delivered in parts for assembly
at Pilton yard, and first steamed in July 1898. LYN featured outside bar frames so typical of American 2-4-2’s of the period. She was the 15,965th locomotive produced by this prolific manufacturer and the sand domes positioned to each side of the steam dome were a further indication of her American parentage. LYN was also the only L & B engine to have a fully enclosed cab.
A number of modifications were made to LYN over her life including the fitting of coal rails to the bunker, changes to the smokebox door and re-boilering in 1907. Re-painted in standard Lynton & Barnstable

livery, LYN ran in this most attractive form until the railway was taken over by the Southern Railway in 1923. During her time in Southern ownership she saw changes to her name plates, chimney and numerous other details as well, of course, the adoption of a new livery.

The Lynton & Barnstable Railway ran its last train on the 29th September, 1935 and LYN, along with YEO, EXE, and TAW were sadly reduced to scrap at Pilton yard.

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