Chelfham Special - Late Summer Report.

Some very visible restoration progress at Chelfham - the L&BR Trust's second station.

Chelfham Station from the south September 2014.

The volunteers of the 'Friends of Chelfham Station' group have continued to restore the station site at Chelfham recently. Although inside work has been very limited recently due to volunteers other commitments at Woody Bay, work has focussed on maintaining the grounds and the reconstruction of the first short length of the original down platform.

Bob Palmer on his regular visits from Herefordshire has maintained the laurel hedge behind the down platform. Bob with his own extendable hedge cutter trims and levels the 2014 growth.

Andy Hearn (taking a break from his Snapper Halt volunteering) was able to come along and strim down the bank area above the approach drive.

Later Andy has progressed sufficiently to show a tidy grassy bank as seen from the approach driveway.

John Edmonds digs out more spoil from the (Lynton) end of the short down platform section which is to be restored next.

These are the remaining original red bricks of the ramp at the Barnstaple end of the platform.  These foundations were dug out earlier this year by Rob Sadd, Andy Hearn and John Edmonds. The down platform was originally bisected by the down siding which ran from the down loop close by the running-in board.

The plan is to relay the top of the whole down platform using blue engineering bricks. In 2002 we were fortunate to obtain several of the correct type of bricks from the demolished Fort Dunlop Tyre factory in Birmingham.  After using several to restore the up and down platforms at Woody Bay to their full length, the remainder came to Chelfham to await the day when the platforms are restored.

8. Jim McFarlane spent a day sorting and cleaning many of the bricks and is seen here removing the old mortar with a hammer.

We still don't have enough to complete the restoration of both platforms so again we appeal to anyone who may know of a suitable source...

The main section of the down platform was excavated by John Edmonds in 2012 to reveal the foundations. John has now cleaned up the top surface once again ready for brick laying to begin.

John Mack-Smith surveys the line of the edge and height of the down platform, Nigel Thompson assists with the staff.

John surveys with Andy Hearn to get the right height so that temporary bricks can be laid at the correct line and height and spaced out to act as a guide. 

John begins the project of the down platform restoration by first rebuilding a base of missing stones for the end ramp at the Lynton end of the short platform section.

John pauses to pose for the camera. Behind is the replica concrete running-in board on the down platform which John fabricated and installed last year.

During breaks in his holiday week, John was able to lay all the bricks and re-create this short length of the down platform.

Close up of the newly laid bricks along the top of this short platform section.

Looking across the surviving up platform edging bricks to the newly restored section of the down platform.

A view showing the finished first length of the down platform.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson

The station will be open on both days of the September Gala weekend. Visitors are invited to call in on their way to or from Woody Bay. Parking at the station is very limited but space is also available along the lane under the viaduct. The Sat Nav postcode is EX31 4RP.

Chelfham Station is also open every Sunday from 10:00am throughout the year. Visitors can view the latest progress both inside and outside as well as enjoying the quiet picturesque surroundings, the trackbed, and woodland walks.