Meeting and Trackbed Walk on 26th September
It was a morning walk, and an afternoon General Meeting of EA and B&YVRT supporters.
The walk was along section 2 (see adjacent linear map), a 418m section bought a while ago, but one which may feature again as we seek to make Barnstaple the B&YVRT's starting point.
A largish number of supporters turned up at the car park next to the Barnstaple Croquet club, so much so that we had to double park most of the cars.
We then streamed across the field to the trackbed, which runs right alongside the Yeo.
After just 50 yards we reached the Barnstaple end of the section, which terminates at a missing bridge next to Raleigh weir. You can just make out the water on the left. The river makes a double bend here, while the railway went straight on across it.
After a while the crowds cleared, and we were able to get a view of where the bridge abutments used to be.
The steel post is actually a remnant of the bridge - the L&B bridges had sloping posts alongside the bridges, with wire strung between them. Many concrete fence posts were also visible, a handy property marker.
The electricity pole marks the continuation of the route - you will see it again further down as we check out the other side - and the grassed area with the white house is a neighbouring field which is one option for a workshop site, or terminus.
We then set off in the opposite direction, along a footpath which had been cleared for us by B&YVRT troops on the ground.
It follows the Yeo, placid and shallow here, for the whole of the stretch.
After a while it opens out, with the manicured grounds of the Cricket club to the left.
The banks of the Yeo had signs of animal activity, which was nice, so close to human habitation. We are just on the outskirts of town here.
Eventually we reached the northern end of the trackbed that we own. There was a culvert here in the hedge, and not long after the Yeo swings left and there is another railway bridge crossing it, bridge 10 on the linear map.
The next field is section 3, 170m long. It has multiple owners, so probably a trickier deal there.
We then turned about, with the cricket field now on the right.
This short walk demonstrated on the ground what the issues are at both ends of this key piece of trackbed.
While at the southern, town end of this section 2 and by the missing bridge adjacent to the weir, we heard that the trackbed followed the line of pylons into some trees. It was possible to see this from the other end, by walking from the Co-op, which we did. All the urban bits from the weir are bundled into 950m section 1, but that does not mean that there is one owner. Generally speaking the trackbed is free, but has been used for other purposes, such as a playground, roads, and the grounds of a social club.
This is now beyond Raleigh Weir, on section 1. If you look carefully, you can see the half-buried original L&B overbridge of white bricks in this picture.
The grounds of the social club are on the left, as well as a childrens' playground, while Raleigh Weir is off to the right. Very urban, but not impossible, with a bit of good will.
We then took two pictures looking over the parapets.
This one is looking up the valley to Raleigh weir. It's not obstructed, and you will recognise the electricity poles by the trackbed.
The look south over the other parapet shows the social club on the left, and the childrens' playground behind the fence. Pilton Yard is a total of 950m from the weir, through the sites in the picture, and then alongside a ring road, part built over the trackbed. Again, with some accommodation, it would still be possible.
The Meeting
This took place across the river Taw in the Roundswell Community Centre, chosen this time as it was larger and had more parking. Supporters nonetheless all but filled it, with over 100 attendees.
Chairman Bruce Knights once again outlined the B&YVRT's aims - firstly, to build a good relationship with the LBRT (i.e. Woody Bay). He was pleased to say that this was well on its way, with a memorandum of understanding signed. A quick question to the room revealed a forest of hands; almost everyone present was also a member of the LBRT, underlining our common goals. Secondly, to lay track at Snapper, now in its preplanning stage, and thirdly, to acquire 6 more sections of trackbed within the next 12 months. Of this, 3 had been achieved, and three more were in the pipeline. Sadly, no further details could be given, but this has always been the case, until a deal is signed and final. Hence: watch this space.
To make laying track at Snapper possible, we need funds. An appeal for £150.000 is being launched, and readers are referred to this video to learn more about it:
https://youtu.be/4HXyXkPvGFo?si=nmPjrnznIOrLpLg1
It's a brilliant little video, which, with a little help from AI, shows what we would like to achieve, with a successful appeal.
An Acquisition
To help build the railway, and in addition to the buggy and trailer reported last time, the B&YVRT has been gifted a second trailer trolley. Here it is:
This will be converted to 2ft gauge, and is a key part of the need to transport materials up the track laid, as the L&B trackbed is narrow and can't accommodate any vehicles running alongside it - everything has to be brought up by rail.
The trailer was loaded a week ago, with the help of a Telehandler.
And here it is, ready to te taken down to Barnstaple, for conversion. It has now arrived, an work on it has already started.
We're hoping to be able to use it in the first half of next year.
New B&YVRT Website Launched:
A lot of work by a valliant volunteer, and here it is:
It contains details of our £150.000 track laying appeal, and some FAQs about it. We hope that you will be able to support it, otherwise the track laying is not going to happen.
Update on Work over the Last Month
On the section at Snapper preparations for track laying include a small cross drain, which routes water flowing from the road under the trackbed.
Previously, the pipe from the road just emptied on to our property, and with the help of a sump, it will now go underneath.
The pictures show the building and raising of the sump, and then back filling it.
Not much to see afterwards, but that is the general idea.
Further along, the culvert on the Snapper section had concrete poured in preparation for the head walls.
This picture is the 'before' one, with the segments put in place last time.
Shuttering was then put up, and with some reinforcing laid in, the concrete was poured.
The concrete was then levelled. On top of the segments are the blocks for the headwalls.
Finished! Now we wait for the concrete to go off.
This lovely photograph over the Snapper sections 7 and 8 shows surveying equipment set up in readiness for track laying (if the appeal succeeds). It's also the section shown in the lovely video linked above, but looking the other way.
In the distance, just round the curve, is the little shelter at Snapper halt.
Also on the Snapper section a volunteer is strimming the fence line below the trackbed.
The B&YVRT would love to hear from more volunteers who could do this sort of job (or any others)
Andy Hearn is the man to speak to. Send us a note if you need a phone number.
Here is the result of the strimming, in this instance, at underbridge 15, recognisable by the same angled posts as down by Raleigh Weir.
Here the mould is full. Excess air is being removed from the cast.
The design of the mould is evolving, to make it simpler, cheaper, and easier to use multiple times.
Up at Bratton Fleming a new sewer trench is being dug from the station building. It's a tremendous job to unearth the old, malfunctioning pipe in all that rock and debris.
To complete this blog post, a night time picture of Chelfham viaduct. Site owners Growforward have back lit it, and the moon is also playing a role,
Isn't it stunning !
