Quote:
Originally Posted by steam for ever
The volunteers at Woody bay have an enourmous task ahead of them. The original railway was 19 miles long and curretnly they have around a mile of track operational. Exmoor associates is slowly buying up land for the railway, so it looks like there is a future.
I must first point out that although the original sheds and workshops were at Pilton, the trackbed also passes though Bratton Flemming, which is already home to two light railway firms. These are Roanoke engineering and Exmoor steam railway. Both have experience of building for two foot gauge. Both in steam as well, but Roanoke builds more diesels than steam, and also builds rolling stock. So, although Pilton might be a good palce for a shed and light engineering workshop once the line is complete, it would make sense to make use of these facilities in a place that the line actually happens to pass though. The douth devon railway acquired Pridhams boiler makers, so maybe Roanoke and Exmoor steam can be brought into the equation. Well it might not work, but if it's there then it would be sensible to make good use of it.
One combined works in the village with steam, diesels and rolling stock being chirned out to a good standard, with money also being made selling products to other railways like Boston lodge does.
With it's high viaduct and sweeping mooorland scenery, I reckon that this railway could be up to and beyond the standards of the welsh highland/ festiniog railway.
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The L&B did have an engineering workshop in Bratton Fleming for some time, a few years ago, but this was not (and, like Roanoke and Exmoor Steam Centre, never could have been) rail-connected to the L&B formation, which gave additional issues and costs related to transport etc. L&B engineering is now carried out at Woody Bay, (although a major carriage restoration project is being undertaken in Essex!) or contracted out - locally wherever possible. Bennett Boilers, in Somerset, for example, are producing the boiler for the replacement Baldwin "762 Lyn" currently being built.
The next section of the L&B to be reopened is expected to be from Killington Lane (possibly in stages) to Blackmoor Gate, where a new engineering centre (the shed at WB is intended to be transportable to a new location), among other facilities, will be located. This will not be for several years yet, as there are a number of obstacles to be overcome first, including around £300,000 to renew the bridge under Killington Lane, the current southern railhead.