Armed Forces Day at Woody Bay Station

Families and railway enthusiasts enjoyed Armed Forces Day celebrations at Woody Bay Station, home of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in North Devon.

As part of several other national events our 100-year-old steam engine AXE- built to carry troops and armaments to the trenches during the First World War - made several special journeys across the North Devon countryside in aid of the Haig Housing Trust fundraising campaign Coming Home, which raises much needed funds to buy and adapt houses for wounded servicemen and women.

The locomotive AXE was built in 1915 in Stoke-on-Trent, and delivered to the French Army, then later handed over to the British for service during the Great War. AXE served on the front for over four years. On Armed Forces Day, June 27, the locomotive celebrated its centenary by making several special 'coming home' journeys. The narrow-gauge railway line runs through breathtaking scenery

Beautifully restored AXE hauled carriages of visitors throughout the day. All ticket receipts and cash collections were donated to the Coming Home Appeal.

The Coming Home charity made worldwide news last year as part of the team that organised the "Poppies in The Moat" appeal at the iconic Tower of London. The exhibition of 888,246 ceramic poppies raised millions for armed forces charities and was visited by millions of sightseers from around the world, including The Queen, Prince Philip, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Peter Miles of The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway said: "We are proud to support Coming Home and raise much needed funds for wounded personnel on this special day, Armed Forces Day.

"This year sees the 100th anniversary of the delivery of our locomotive AXE to the French Army for service in the Great War. In 1916 the railway lines around the Somme were taken over by the British Army, this included all the 600mm narrow gauge lines where Axe and her sisters ran. The Army continued to use these lines into 1919 after which the French took over and used them for reparation of the battlefields and other areas.

"Many years later five of the Kerr Stuart ‘Joffre’ class engines – including AXE – were discovered in a quarry in Boulogne and repatriated. They ‘came home’ and ‘AXE’ was the first to be rebuilt and restored to running order, it has been a mainstay on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway until larger steam engines arrived and entered service.  It is still a powerful and useful engine.

"It seemed appropriate that given the incredible military history of our engine Axe that we should recognise Armed Forces Day by linking up with Coming Home."

Chief Executive of Haig Housing Trust, Brigadier James Richardson MBE, said: "We are very grateful to Lynton and Barnstaple Railway for supporting our charity during Armed Forces Day.

"The history of this railway and in particular the engine AXE has a lot in common with the roots of our trust which helped wounded soldiers returning from the Great War. I wish them well for Armed Forces Day and look forward to a lasting relationship with the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.

"Haig Housing Trust and the Coming Home campaign have been extremely busy after the hugely successful Poppies at the Tower of London. As a consequence General the Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff and now Constable of the Tower of London, has chosen Haig Housing for his Charity of the Year 2015.

"As well as many events up and down the country raising funds and the awareness of the charity we are proud to be unveiling 'Tower poppy houses' bought with Tower poppy funding and also 'For Queen and Country', a celebration of our Queen's milestone year."

The L&BR is currently working on impressive expansion plans with the intention of reopening all of the railway from Lynton to Barnstaple in phases. Subject to the planning applications being successful the aim is to build and operate a 19 mile steam railway as a tourist attraction and local service with reproduction locomotives, rebuilt and new carriages, restored stations all within the beautiful countryside of North Devon and Exmoor.

The current line draws visitors from all over the world. This railway has always been iconic and world famous and its restoration is eagerly awaited by enthusiasts and public alike. The L&BR is intending to purchase and develop the Old Station House Inn at Blackmoor Gate, one of the original stations, and this will become a central part of the planned expansion.

Words and photos Ian Edmondson