Chelfham Station Autumn 2015 report and photos

Chelfham Station Restoration Update: Autumn 2015

Some quite amazing visible progress both outside and inside has taken place this year at the L&BR's second station at Chelfham (nearer Barnstaple).

1. Chelfham Station as seen from the approach drive, summer 2015.

2. The down platform. Frank with another bonfire!

Outside

John Mack Smith has laid along the down platform edge and is expected to complete the brick laying along the length of the down platform this autumn. We will then kindly ask him to start looking at the up platform (Lynton end).

Recent clearance has prepared the site for the initial excavations which should then reveal the whereabouts of the original stone foundations.

There have also been more additions of original features to the site at Chelfham this year. Visitors each Sunday have commented favourably on the progress to our very picturesque little station, whilst their generous donations have provided the funding for the restoration materials.

Inside

The two external doors (made by David Ely, Charles Summers, and the EAST group) were delivered this summer, and fitted by local carpenter Steve Woolgrave, with the glazing added by Martin Williams. The high standard of these doors is a credit to David and co. as are the Heritage carriages at Woody Bay.

The doors were largely funded by donations collected at Chelfham, as well as the kind and generous donation by the Colonel Stephens Railway Society after their visit and tour in May.

The doors are currently being painted Southern Railway Green and are having various heritage style fixings installed to complete the period look.

3. Charles Summers with the two doors after delivery from Great Yeldham, Essex in July 2015.



4. The doors wait to be fitted.

5. As fitted by Steve Woolgrave in August.



6. Martin Williams glazing the new doors.

Jim Pounds has completed cleaning and relining the partition woodwork. David Payne Hilton has fabricated and fitted a new partition door, complete with ticket office window and shelf. The plan here was to create a 'door that doesn't look like a door' which David has achieved with great success.

7. David at work.

8. The completed installation.

The next stage will be for Jim Pounds to work his 'magic' staining the new wood to match the rest of the partition. Finally, the plywood template will be removed and replaced with the glass ticket office window, generously donated by Chris Groves of the Tamar Belle Railway Museum, Bere Ferrers.

For those who are interested in the history of the building: it had been assumed that the door opening in the partition had been made after closure when the station was converted into a bungalow. However when the panel door and frame were removed it was found that 'Indian Red' paint had been applied to the cut edges. Indian Red had been applied all over the originally varnished partition at some stage, so the opening was there when the railway was operational.

Dave Evans and John Edmonds have been busy this year decorating the two original rooms in advance of them being fitted-out to complete the internal restoration.

With these recent additions, once we have obtained planning permission for the proposed alternate accommodation on site, the unsightly post-closure extension can be removed to reveal the restored station building in all its glory.

AUTUMN GALA WEEKEND

Chelfham Station - together with the adjacent trackbed and woodland walk - will be open from 10 am on both the Saturday and Sunday of the Autumn Gala weekend. With some catering available on Sunday afternoon.

Our second-hand bookshop is now open in the 'garage'.

Please note: parking at Chelfham Station is very limited, but spaces are normally available along the lane under the viaduct.

If using sat-nav, the postcode is EX31 4RP.

Chelfham Station is, of course, open to visitors every Sunday throughout the year.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson and John Edmonds.