Chelfham Station Spring 2016

Chelfham Station Spring 2016 Report by Nigel Thompson

1. The rear of Chelfham Station 2016

2. 2016 has already seen considerable progress, such as the completion of the Waiting Room with the delivery of the bench seats and table and the exterior doors which were erected in the winter.

3. A view of the completed kitchen showing the new exterior door.

4. Outside, work has focused on the down platform with Dave Evans constructing the wooden post and rail fence as per the original. Dave began this work back in February.

Wednesday 4th May was a busy day in the restoration plans of the L&BR’s station at Chelfham as today a delivery of old ballast was used to back-fill the platform up to the level of the recently reinstated platform brick edging.

5. Whilst Dave Evans (left) continues work to complete the last sections of down platform fence, Bob Palmer assists by moving some of the old ballast to commence back filling the platform.

6. Bob Palmer took a break from maintenance duties at ‘Distant Point’ today to help with this very physical and laborious job of shovelling the ballast into wheelbarrows to tip on the platform.

7. Nigel Thompson with the ‘Devon shovel’ spent all day shovelling this ballast across to build up the platform levels.

8. At lunchtime another load was delivered and tipped onto the trackbed. The tractor and trailer moved three loads from Killington Lane to Chelfham today. The old ballast had been dug out of the up and down platform roads at Woody Bay prior to the track relaying last winter.

9. The tractor departed, leaving a vast heap of ballast on the trackbed. Time for lunch!

10. After sandwiches and tea, it was back to moving the old ballast - gradually building up the platform levels.

11. Throughout the warm afternoon, - occasionally pausing for a breather- Dave and Bob continued to shift ballast to the ‘Lynton end’.

12. The sun shines on the up platform replica running in board.

13. The view looking north with the partially backfilled down platform to the left.

14. Late afternoon looking towards Barnstaple with the fence nearing completion and the ballast heap diminishing.

15. By 6 pm the heap had been halved – sufficiently to get a small vehicle past it.

The steady restoration progress at Chelfham has only been possible thanks to the kind and generous donations by several Trust members as well as from the frequent visitors every Sunday.
Chelfham Station will be OPEN both Saturday and Sunday of the Spring Gala Weekend. Visitors are very welcome to view the restoration progress both outside and inside. Trackbed and woodland walks can also be enjoyed - the bluebells are in bloom at this time of year. A second hand bookshop will be open and limited refreshments will be available.

Parking at the station is extremely limited. However, roadside parking is available underneath the viaduct. Use EX31 4RP in your Sat Nav.

Words and pictures by Nigel Thompson

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

Contact; Nigel Thompson for further details.