Editor's Links Submissions to GardenRail 
14th October 2007
First of all let me inform you that Atlantic books are now available to purchase 'online' via our secure server. Just click on the ‘Books & DVDs’ button above and then click on ‘catalogue of books’.
Now I know I am going to get some stick about more gauge 1 but another visit to Andy Dower’s G1 line provided a superb afternoon’s entertainment and, despite my own commitment to the narrow gauge, I most certainly got the hots for Andy’s Aster LNWR ‘Jumbo’, which not only is a superb model but I was very surprised to note that it ran for around half an hour on not much more than a thimbleful of meths.
“You can take it home for £****”, he said, but with a John Shawe coal fired narrow gauge tender locomotive to be paid for there was little chance of that!
Mike Dower’s modified 4F project loco, though nowhere near so pretty, pushed all the buttons as well however. This locomotive had a delightful chuff, a visible exhaust and a whistle – parameters I always go for in my narrow gauge adventures. The day 
was actually designated as a ‘problem locomotive’ day and Andy was on standby to check out any dodgy locomotives but, in the event, there were only a few boiler certs to be issued. I did run my 16mm scale much modified Roundhouse ‘Carrie’ – or rather young Billy Dower ran it for me.
Mark Cannon ran his ‘West Country’ Bulleid Pacific, turning in an excellent performance with the new ‘Welsh’ meths and a geared Merlin J94 (must be twenty years since I have seen one of those) also ran very well – although the regulator was a bit ‘all or nothing’. Andy's own much modified 'Patriot' performed well and David Lemar turned up with (among other things), this Pullman observation car. The interior has not yet been completed but the original vehicle may be seen running on the Paignton & Dartmouth line.
The LWR saw some movements over its metals on the previous day, when a visiting sailor brought along a brand new ‘Edrig’ which turned in a very good performance for a locomotive just out of the box and my ‘Carrie’ also took itself for a run. It has been so long since there has been a train movement on this line that, in many places, the track has disappeared beneath the boskage and now is only discernable by the twin lines of bruised ground cover over the railheads. You will be pleased to know however, that there was no derailment despite this lack of use.
29th September 2007
It is seventy-two years to the day since the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway closed, and for those who cannot be bothered to do the sum, the last train ran on the 29th of September 1935. ‘Perchance it is not dead but sleepeth,’ was written, more in hope than expectation, on the card placed, with a wreath, on the buffer stop at Barnstaple Town station to meet the last train. Except (as most readers of these words will probably be aware) the L&B is rising, phoenix-like, from some very cold ashes indeed and, at Woody Bay station, it is again possible to ride on the Lynton & Barnstaple railway with views across the North Devon alps to The Bristol Channel and Wales. Well – certainly there would have been such a view had it not been raining very heavily on our visit to the L&B gala today.
The station at Woody Bay is one of preservation’s gems. Against all the odds it is all still there and is picture-book pretty to boot! Don’t
expect to see Yeo, Lew, Exe or Taw in action however. All except Lew were cut up and the fate of this locomotive is shrouded in the midst of time and distance. A new Lew class locomotive – Lyd – is being built at Boston Lodge for use on the Welsh Highland Railway. Although an independent project, it is planned for Lyd to visit Woody Bay. So that it can pass Gernedd tunnel, and while looking authentic, the cab will have to have adjustable side panels. Locomotives at the gala consisted 
of Statfold built by Hunslet in 2005, and Sid constructed by Maffei of Munich in 1925. A late entry to the line up was Jack Lane, owned by the Hunslet Engine Company and visiting from Tamworth in the Midlands.
One could travel to Woody Bay by train or vintage bus from Killington Lane station and during the day many people traveled on both several times. The North Devon Chapter of the 16mm Association were in attendance with their layout and the live 
steam locomotion in action here attracted a lot of attention – and not just because they were close to the bar in the marquee.
Things are very definitely moving in North Devon – there are ambitious plans to use the L&B as the centerpiece of new development to open up this sleepy corner of the West Country and it is hoped that funding may well be in the offing for this little railway.
Meanwhile do try to visit if you can. Check it out here and do bear in mind that there are several other railway attractions in the area, from the West Somerset Railway to the Lynton & Lynmouth cliff railway. We had an excellent day despite the rain and will most certainly be visiting again. Why not join the society and be part of a railway that not only runs through some of the most attractive countryside anywhere, but has an exciting future ahead – just click here to join...my visit persuaded me. You will also find that many L&B members are garden railfarers and readers of GardenRail.
All Lynton & Barnstaple photographs by Graham Wilkins
24th September 2007
On the news front I should tell you that GardenRail is now available ‘on line’ as a digital magazine. As from today, you may subscribe to the digital version here where you will find a trial issue to look through. If you are considering a standard magazine subscription and have never seen GardenRail, then check out the trial issue. Online subscribers will currently have access to back issues as from May 2006. The rest of the back catalogue will follow in due course – and further arrangements will then be made for hard copy subscribers.
The UK weather this summer has really not been very kind to garden railfarers – or indeed anyone else – although the last month or so has seen some very enjoyable meetings here in the South West of England. I have visited Andy Dower’s excellent G1 line in a Devon market town and we had a very pleasant afternoon both running trains and comparing 16mm scale and G1 live steam technology. We both came to the conclusion that there is much to learn on both sides of the narrow/standard gauge divide.
The new 16mm scale 32mm gauge and G1 demonstration railway at Buckfastleigh
Railway Station (the home of the standard gauge South Devon Railway) has been a very successful enterprise and is an excellent way of showing off garden railways to a section of the public that have, in any case, at least a passing interest in railways – or they would not be there in the first place. At Buckfastleigh we can run the garden railway either as a Gauge One standard gauge line or as a 16mm or G-scale line on both 45mm and 32mm gauge tracks. Our only constraint is that we do not have any juice through the rails – or indeed any electricity to make the tea as yet!
The garden railway group will run trains every time there is a ‘special’ running day on the ‘big railway’ 
and otherwise on the thirdSunday of every month. If you would like to join us for a running session or just come along to watch, then do call first just to make sure the event is happening. For information call Graham on 0180 - 386 3429 or David on 0180 - 340 5464. Do come along if you can –
the atmosphere provided by twelve inches to the foot steam is a wonderful backdrop to our own activities and the garden railway can be accessed via the level crossing over the miniature railway.
As readers will no doubt have gathered, my own railway is largely steam powered and if you rather fancy this yourself (and if I am running on that particular date) then you are welcome to come along and try one of my locomotives for yourself. Just telephone me to check that I am running and my number may be found on page three of GardenRail.