Since our last Work Progress Report there has been considerable rainfall in North Devon. At Snapper Halt this resulted in the already churned-up trackbed becoming water logged in some parts where several drainage pipes were blocked. As a result it has been necessary to clear the drains thus allowing the trapped surface water to escape the trackbed.
1 & 2. The above two images taken earlier in January show the severity of the flooded trackbed in the vicinity of the Snapper Halt platform. It is believed that the drains were unintentionally blocked by the movement of heavy machinery along the trackbed during the works reported in our Work Progress Report: October 2015.
3. The stagnant muddy water was unable to drain away in several places.
4. Rob our volunteer coordinator has been working hard to remedy the situation by draining the surface water from the trackbed in the vicinity of the Snapper Halt platform. Here we can see one of the temporary water channels that were dug.
5. The permanent drains have been cleared and are now flowing again. Unfortunately at this time the two vehicle tyre tracks along the trackbed still remain a quagmire of waterlogged mud and only a halt to the regular rainfall allow this to improve.
6. The trees near to the Snapper Halt shelter that were felled during last October’s working weekend have now been sawn up and removed from the field adjacent to our trackbed.
7. Since our previous News Report contractors employed by Western Power have removed the trees that were becoming a danger to overhead power lines. The logs have been cut and are now stacked awaiting removal.
8. Consequently the trackbed between the site of the Platelayers Hut and Blackwell Bridge (Bridge 16) is now clear of all trees.
9. We welcome Lawrence a new volunteer to our team. On his first turn on Saturday 23rd January his first allocated task was to paint the ex-LSWR lamp column and he is seen starting to apply the first coat of the ‘peppermint’ under coat.
10. Two coats later and the column now stands awaiting its top coat of SR green.
11. And finally on the same day Andy and Lawrence are seen working on the preparation work needed for us to relay the footpath between the station platform and the public highway above. The image has been taken from the platform ‘side-on’ to the footpath, the lamp post being just to the left of the photographer. It is apparent that the public highway has been elevated due to road resurfacing, and also erosion and/or slippage of the embankment over the years of non-use means it is no longer possible for the footpath to safely follow the original gradient profile down the embankment. The route of the footpath will be retained over the course of the original, but its height and gradient is to be improved to make it safer for public access. You are assured that the remedial work will be as aesthetically similar as possible to the original pre-1935 footpath.
Purchasing the many pieces of the former Lynton & Barnstaple Railway back together is very
hard work, and we only have limited funds with which to do it. If you would like to help us with
future acquisitions, please spare a few moments to view the “Support Us” page on this website.
Photo credits: Andy Hearn 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 & 8; Rob Sadd 4, 5, 9, 10 & 11.
3 thoughts on “Work Progress: January 2016”
Great stuff. Keep up the good work and let us see trains running along the full length of the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway once more.
Wonderful work. This is the hard groundwork on which successful railway preservation is based. Very heartening to see. Bit by bit, you are indeed stitching back together the old (and new) Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. Do keep up all this good work!
Splendid work – I wish I could participate, but I am far away in Norway – still, I will go on providing some funds as and when I can ,