Surrey Area Group Projects

Our number one project is, of course, the generation of funds to reinstate of the railway. This is primarily carried out by a team headed by Geoff Kingate who attend several exhibitions and shows each year with our sales stand.

The stand has display boards with photos and maps depicting the line and the progress made thus far.

The last major project was the installation of the down starter post at Woody Bay.  A major undertaking requiring a sizeable piece of seasoned oak.    Click here for more details and photos.
 

• During 2007 the Surrey Area Group sponsored and led a project to provide a new 4000 gallon capacity water tank at Woody Bay. Purchased from the Lavender Line, the 3m square tank (as acquired) comprised 21 sections. The sections we require were shot blasted and re-galvanized. The foundations and support walls were then constructed, followed by the assembly of the tank and the cover. The water tank now feeds one water outlet located outside the shed. The final part of the project is to provide a pair of replica Lynton & Barnstaple Railway water columns, one placed at the starting ends of the Woody Bay 'Up' and 'Down' platforms.

Former Projects and Achievements

In the 17 years the Group has been in existence (since 1991), we have successfully achieved a number of goals, quite apart from increasing public awareness of the railways resurrection.
 

• One of the first projects undertaken by the Group was the overhaul of two Hudson skip wagons. One was stored in the grounds of the Surrey Society of Model Engineers at Leatherhead, and the other in Adrian Maunders' garden at Shalford. These were subsequently numbered 25 and 26 respectively. Wagon No 25 is currently in use at Woody Bay, and No 26 is at the Lynbarn Railway;
  
  

• Another early project was the restoration of a Booking Office ticket rack;

• Also at this time a Group member produced the "SNAPPER HALT" enamelled station sign;

• Another Group member, Richard Hoyland produced a set of 24 unpublished photographs of the Lynton and Barnstaple taken by his uncle;

• Later on a platform luggage barrow was restored by Phil Rawstron;

• When the railway at Thorpe Park (near to Chertsey) was offered to the L&BR Association (now the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust), Surrey Area Group members helped in dismantling and transportating it to Devon;

• Paul Gower was instrumental in saving a signal at Woodside Station on the former Elmers End to Addiscombe line in South London. Surrey group members spent several days dismantling it and cleaning it up. Components from the salvaged signal were used to construct both the Down home signal and also the Up platform starter signal at Woody Bay;