Chelfham Station Spring 2015

Chelfham Station Spring 2015 Report

A selection of views showing restoration progress at the L&BR's second  station at Chelfham, nearer the Barnstaple end of the original line.

2. By early March the first daffodils were out along the entrance drive.

3. Later, the primroses appeared giving a pretty view of the station here.

4. The rear of the original station building at Chelfham.

5. & 6. The bird feeders are always well patronised. Blue-tits especially enjoy the peanuts.

7. Standard view of Chelfham from the parking area.

8. The 1960s extension over the up platform still blocks the front view.

Restoration progress over recent years continues to prepare the original building to eventually ‘stand alone’.
In the foreground the route of the down siding has recently been marked out with some topsoil removed.

9. View of the station from the woodland path.

Many visitors have enjoyed the walks available at Chelfham recently. The trackbed for almost half-a-mile is clear for walking, together with an upper path through the woodland area.

10. The viaduct always attracts much interest. This is the view of the western side from the hedge boundary by the parking area.

11. Almost dark, the replica down-platform concrete running-in board.

12. The station building, floodlit one evening in early March 2015.

13. An inside view showing the original station building and restored booking office window.

14. The view through the door frame into the original waiting room.

Two replica doors are needed. Measurements and costings have been made for the L&B East Group’s carpentry team to take on this project but still without claiming any funds from the L&BR at this time, some more sponsorship may be required to help fund  this project - any takers?

15. Inside, over the past winter, Jim Pounds has been painstakingly restoring the original partition between the two rooms.

16.  Jim has cleaned up the wooden panelling, and after removing all traces of paint, began to re-paint and restore the wood grain around the partition.

The door between the rooms will be replaced by a replica incorporating a ticket office glass panel as originally fitted.

17. Close up of Jim in action with his detail brushes and paints.

18. In the booking office, plaster repairs and the redecoration has recently been completed.

19. Dave Evans, who has done most of the work in the original rooms, paints the inside window frames in  ‘Indian red’.

20. Outside, John Mack Smith has continued rebuilding the down platform edge. This year, John has laid more of the stored bricks along the exposed foundations.

21. Further along the platform edge, John has had to rebuild the foundations, using surplus stone from last year's rebuilding of the headshunt retaining wall at Woody Bay. 

22. Among railway artefacts and equipment stored at Chelfham are the surviving sections of a ‘Howard Van’.

Several years ago, parts of the wooden body of an original Southern Railway Bogie Goods Van built especially for the L&BR were moved to Chelfham for storage.

23, 24. Recently, these sections have been sorted and moved away from the platform edge.

Although time has taken its toll, rotting away some parts, enough sections currently remain to allow a future restoration project. In due course the L&BR Trust will be restoring and replicating wagons such as the Howard Van to run with the Heritage carriages, re-creating typical original L&B mixed trains.

25.  Further progress this spring has been the restoration of the surviving Chelfham signal cabin. The wooden cabin had been stored on the up platform by the sheds built after the railway had closed.

26. The restoration of the signal cabin (now sponsored by a local member) required the cabin to be moved from its temporary site.

27, 28. Much brute force, plenty of muscle and a trolley were required as everyone on site dragged the cabin to a new location nearer the station giving space to allow the sponsors to begin the restoration project.

29. The cabin is in place, the gang pose alongside after their endeavours.

30. It's lunch time, and the volunteers relax outside with the newly positioned signal cabin nearby.

31. Evening view of the cabin prior to commencement of the restoration.

32. The signal cabin is now quite near to its original operating position. After restoration, the cabin can be moved the short distance to its 1930s spot.

33. Finally, another project has been to survey the route of the original down siding. Andy Hearn has dug out the position of the sleeper buffer stop.

34. A sleeper was installed at the location of the end of the down siding, and a paraffin tail lamp was displayed  (and lit!) for the camera.
 

Chelfham Station and the surrounding site is open to visitors every Sunday throughout the year including Saturday 9th May 2015.

Visitors can view the latest restoration progress and enjoy a trackbed and woodland walk. Limited parking at the station but further on road parking is available along the lane under the viaduct.
For SatNav its EX31 4RP, then follow the signs from underneath the viaduct.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson

Chelfham restoration team currently includes Jim Pounds, Dave Evans, John Edmonds, Frank Daff, Andy Hearn, Rob Sadd, John Mack Smith, Dave Robinson, Graham Lee, Jim McFarlane and Nigel Thompson. Any offers of help are always very welcome.

Work parties take place most Wednesdays and every Sunday, from 10am.

Contact Nigel Thompson for further details.