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Bridge 67 to Killington Lane

 

Construction of the railway to Killington Lane started in early 2005 with the building of Bridge 67. Nuttalls who built the original Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in the mid 1890s kindly donated Bridge 67 for the new railway.

Nuttalls contractors at work on facing up the walls of bridge 67 Bridge 67 topping out ceremony

Bridge 67 was topped out in spring 2005. Work on the line to Killington Lane beyond the bridge commenced after the end of the 2005 season.

Bridge 67, not long after completion Newly laid ballast on bridge 67

Ballast was laid over and beyond the bridge in late 2005.

Bronllwyd makes an appearance after passenger trains - the first steam loco onto the new line Bronllwyd poses on bridge 67 for photos

Bronlwyd was posed on the bridge at the end of the 2005 season, before the hard work started on constructing the next two-thirds of a mile.

The trackbed half way between Killington Lane and Bridge 67The start of ballast on the extension at Bridge 67

Again the trackbed beyond the bridge was very clear, having previously been used as a farm track.

The track gang prepare sleepers up to the first occupation crossing Track gand hard at work, knocking in Pandrol clips

All the line to this point has been laid with 50lb rail on wooden sleepers with Pandrol clips. The sections of track through the platforms are secured with coach bolts and some sidings are left spiked.

The view looking down the trackbed towards Killington Lane, taken near Bridge 67 Contractors levelling out ballast near the first farm crossing

Base ballast was all laid by a local contractor using locally quarried stone.

The view from near bridge 67 Newly laid track at the first occupation crossing

The views out from this longer stretch of line are fantastic, giving a real feel for a journey on the old Lynton & Barnstaple. In the distance over Exmoor is the Bristol Channel and Heddon's Mouth.

The second occupation crossing under construction The first occupation crossing nears completion

Two occupation (farm) crossings have been constructed between bridge 67 and Killington Lane. New reinforced concrete gate posts were cast to complement the SR fence posts on this stretch of this line.

 Temporary station site at Killington LaneWork progressing on the excavation at the start of the cutting

The area approaching Killington Lane is formed of a filled in cutting. One of the first jobs was to excavate the cutting. This provided fill material to build up the adjacent land for the temporary station.

Excavation continues The first ballast is laid over the throast of the new temporary terminus station

Earthworks were completed over winter 2005/6 and ballast was laid in the new station area, early in 2006.

Applying ballast on the first turnout A machine brings in a turnout, with the cutting in the foreground

The cutting has now been half excavated but no track will be laid into it.

The new platform road at Killington Lane. Track laying nears completion. The start of Killington Lane  station area, the original formation branching to the left

Track was laid into Killington Lane station in early spring 2006.

The station area rapidly taking shape with the platform on the leftAt work on turnouts at the end of the day

The temporary station has been built to the full L&B loading gauge, which will allow larger rolling stock to use the railway.

The track gang at work... Killington Lane Station with the ballast hopper in the loop

The railway to Killington Lane was completed not long after Easter 2006. Within a few weeks of our original target date.

HMRI inspection by the first occupation crossing, May 2006 First train arrives at Killington Lane

The inspection of the new railway took place in the middle of May, and the first passenger trains ran on the end of May bank holiday weekend.

The completed formation looking back up towards Woody Bay Bronllwyd waits to depart from Killington Lane

2006 now sees the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway operating over a mile of track with two stations.

Killington Lane Opening, May 2007 Cllr Brian Greenslade addresses the passengers of the first official train at the opening

The extension of the railway to Killington Lane was officially opened on Saturday 12th May 2007 by the Leader of Devon County Council.


The next section of railway to be built will be from Killington Lane towards Blackmoor Gate.


 

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