Axe Project News

L&B Member Trevor Garnham has produced a 58 minute DVD featuring video and still photos of Axe at Woody Bay in November 2008.

Available ONLY from the shop at Woody Bay (and online from HERE). and for only £7.00  

All proceeds from the sale of this DVD will go to The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust.

AXE hauled its first passenger trains to begin the 2009 season.

It was a clear, dry day and the sun eventually appeared to enhance the photo opportunities. Visitors were about, as well as several members enjoying seeing AXE and riding the train. The newly completed toilet block was well received, with many favourable comments on the high standards achieved both inside and out. The shop and catering also did a healthy trade with the 110 passengers carried today.

A special ceremony to dedicate AXE - the L&B’s restored WW1 steam locomotive - to all those who served on the railways at the Western Front during the First World War took place at Woody Bay today.

Beginning at 10:50am, the dedication was performed by the Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Rev Michael Langrish, and Rear Admiral Ric Cheadle, the Devon County President of the Royal British Legion.

The event was organised jointly by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust and the Royal British Legion, with music by the Barnstaple Youth Band.

Axe has arrived at Woody Bay, in time for tomorrow's dedication service.

I think the picture (thanks to Tony Nicholson) speaks for itself! (click on image for a larger view)

More pictures to follow tomorrow...

The following press release appears in today's online North Devon Gazette:

Bishop will dedicate rebuilt wartime locomotive

Work is continuing on Axe at the Gartell Light Railway at Templecombe in Somerset - in preparation for the forthcoming delivery to Woody Bay in just a few weeks time.

Two recent visits to the workshops show how close the L&B is to having its own steam loco in service, for the first time since 1935.

(Click on any of these images, to see a larger version)

Axe's boiler was given its first steam test last week which it passed without fault.

On Friday 23rd May,  Axe's boiler was collected from Israel Newton & Sons Ltd of Bradford. The boiler is now alongside the locomotive in the Gartell Workshop.