Steam train at Woody Bay station on the Lynton and Barnstaple railway, Devon, UK: the locomotive is "Axe", a Joffre class built Stoke-on-Trent in 1915
The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway opened in May 1898. It was a single track narrow gauge railway and was slightly over 19 miles (31 km) long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, England. In 1923, the L&B was taken over by the Southern Railway, and eventually closed in September 1935. The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust was formed in 1979 with the intention to reopen parts of the line; and a short section was reopened to passengers in 2004. This was extended in 2006; and the following year plans were announced to open 9 miles (14 km) of track, linking the station at Woody Bay to both Lynton (at a new terminus on an extension to the original line, closer to the town) and Blackmoor Gate, and to a new station at Wistlandpound Reservoir. This extension is planned to open in 2026. “Axe”, No. 2451, a Kerr, Stuart & Co Ltd steam locomotive, was built at Stoke-on-Trent in 1915. A side and well tank locomotive, it was one of seventy 60cm gauge "Joffre" Class (named after the French First World War Commander) ordered by the French government for service on the Western Front. By around 1956, 2451 along with four sister locos, was found lying derelict at Rinxent in the Pas de Calais. In 1974 all five locos - thought to be the only survivors of the class - were repatriated to the UK. Purchased by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Association in 1983 for £2750, it was hoped that 2451 would be in steam by September 1985! Christened AXE in line with the L&B's policy of naming its locos after three-letter Devon rivers, members laboured for many years. She was eventually transferred to the Gartell Light Railway at Templecombe in Somerset who completed the restoration. AXE first steamed at the railway as part of her dedication ceremony by the Bishop of Exeter on November 11th 2008. With eventual completion in January 2009, , she arrived back at the railway for steam trials and hauled her first revenue earning passenger service on March
Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Woody Bay Station, Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, North Devon, UK
Photo credit: © will Perrett / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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