Barnstaple ('Tarka') Line - services, facilities, events and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[Witham Bobby]

To judge from the vegetation growing from many a masonry railway structure, this incident is one that is going to be repeated elsewhere

[LiskeardRich]

Don't know the area very well,but is it the small bridge over the railway line?

If so,put in a speed limit and could a watch person not just observe the bridge when a train is getting near.

The stone work is only going to fall on the roof of the train>

It’s a bridge connecting farm land either side of the track. Private use by the farmer. He’s clearly allowed it to overgrow from the roots. I’d say demolish and tough luck farmer you should have looked after it

[bradshaw]

Reopened this evening with speed limit, along with overnight working to restore damage.

[AMLAG]

This accommodation bridge has allegedly been out of use for sometime, but in any case would still be expected to be subject to regular inspection and maintenance by in this case Network Rail and/or its appointed Contractor.

[Witham Bobby]

It’s a bridge connecting farm land either side of the track. Private use by the farmer. He’s clearly allowed it to overgrow from the roots. I’d say demolish and tough luck farmer you should have looked after it

I believe that for all accommodation bridges, underpasses, level crossings, it is the railway's responsibility to maintain the infrastructure.  The duty will usually extend back to the original Act of Parliament under which the line was built.

It would be a good idea for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to buy-out the rights of landowners who no longer use bridges such as this, and demolish the structures, so that they no longer need maintenance. 

[Mark A]

From Google Earth, that particular bridge is in use by the farmer. (Also, on old OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) maps, it is named "Black Bridge") It doesn't look to be a location that would subject it to extraordinary loads, mind.

Mark

[CyclingSid]

I believe that for all accommodation bridges, underpasses, level crossings, it is the railway's responsibility to maintain the infrastructure.  The duty will usually extend back to the original Act of Parliament under which the line was built.

It would be a good idea for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to buy-out the rights of landowners who no longer use bridges such as this, and demolish the structures, so that they no longer need maintenance. 

I think this concept has not had an entirely positive reception in relation to historic railways assets. Demolition (or filling with concrete on unused routes) hasn't always found favour in the courts.

[RichardB]

Barnstaple Town Council has organised a range of events in the town to mark next Thursday's (1 August) 170th anniversary of the opening of the line to Crediton and Exeter.   A number of organisations have and are helping including the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Rail Association and ourselves, the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.

The events begin with a ceremony, re-enacting elements of the 1854 original opening, at Barnstaple station at 10 45 on Thursday 1st.

More information here   https://greatscenicrailways.co.uk/2024/07/rail-fest-barnstaple-celebrates-170-years-of-trains-to-crediton-and-exeter/

PS - we all know the Iron Bridge opened later than 1854 but it is a really iconic Barnstaple rail image.  I wish I'd seen it for real, particularly with a Bulleid light Pacific hauling a rake of green coaches crossing.

[grahame]

Barnstaple Town Council has organised a range of events in the town to mark next Thursday's (1 August) 170th anniversary of the opening of the line to Crediton and Exeter.   A number of organisations have and are helping including the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Rail Association and ourselves, the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.

The events begin with a ceremony, re-enacting elements of the 1854 original opening, at Barnstaple station at 10 45 on Thursday 1st. ....

Very tempted to come by some time during the events - when would you recommend?  I'm going to be on a FOSS^▸ (Freedom of Severn & Solent rover ticket) ticket and note I can extend that from Tiverton without breaking the bank.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Congratulations and best wishes for the day, RichardB! 

CfN.

[RichardB]

Barnstaple Town Council has organised a range of events in the town to mark next Thursday's (1 August) 170th anniversary of the opening of the line to Crediton and Exeter.   A number of organisations have and are helping including the Tarka^▸ (Branch line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Rail Association and ourselves, the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership.

The events begin with a ceremony, re-enacting elements of the 1854 original opening, at Barnstaple station at 10 45 on Thursday 1st. ....

Very tempted to come by some time during the events - when would you recommend?  I'm going to be on a FOSS^▸ (Freedom of Severn & Solent rover ticket) ticket and note I can extend that from Tiverton without breaking the bank.

Sunday or Monday I would say, Graham, when the Victorian Fair is on.

[bobm]

Some more details here

https://swheritage.org.uk/events/rail-fest/

[bobm]

Interesting exhibition in the Guildhall with plenty of archive photos and some facts I didn’t know.

One minor niggle - some of posters display boards were below waist level making them a little hard to read if you can’t bend that far.   Space was limited so probably no option.

[grahame]

Good to see your report, Bob ... sadly (but usefully) I got waylaid on the way and wouldn't have made it until very close to closing time. Train performance, especially with multiple connections, was awful over the last few days.