Axe Project Page

Axe in revenue service at Woody Bay, March 1st 2009

The 11:30 steaming up the 1 in 50 towards the station with a train full of passengers on the first day of service.

Axe in steam at Woody Bay, Armistice Day , 11/11/08

Steaming past the newly installed advertising boards on the Down Platform during the Armistice Day commemoration and dedication. More pictures of the event can be found here

A high-quality restoration programme

A 93-year Journey...

From this (1915)...

... 1983 ...

   ... 2006 ...

   ... October 2008 ...

     ... 10/11.2008 ...

   
      To this! ... 11th November, 2008 ...

Why AXE was so important

Although there were always long-term projects for new-builds of the L&B's Manning Wardle 2-6-2Ts and LYN the Baldwin engine, when the railway re-opened at Woody Bay in 2004 we had no steam locos of our own so had to hire them  in. The Railway needed a steam engine of its own. That's why rebuilding Axe was so important.