EAST Group Update, October 2021

Lynton & Barnstaple Railway – EAST Group

Group Update, October 2021

News:

In 2018, East Group had a very successful Christmas Lunch attended by 22 people, at the Blue Strawberry, Hatfield Peverel, CM3 2DW.

We have booked our Christmas Lunch this year for 27th November, lunch will commence at 12:30.

The party menu can be viewed HERE. Anyone who wishes to join us is very welcome, the price this year will be £ 32.00 for three courses, which includes a tip for the staff, but not drinks. Please contact Steve Arthurs at Little Oaks Farm, Bickenacre Road, Danbury Essex. CM3 4JH, to secure your booking. Once you have booked, please provide the balance to Steve Arthurs on the day at the latest.

This is the first chance that the East Group has had to meet informally and socially for two years, so let’s be sure we have a good time!

On Sunday 10th October, we took the Exhibition Stand to East Anglia Railway Museum at Chappel and Earls Colne, for their Small Trains Day. We were located in their Restoration Shed, which was a bit out of the way hidden behind rolling stock, but still enjoyed a good number of visitors with some purchases of L&BR items and a lot of interest, and possibly two new volunteers. Charles Summers erected his ‘Woody Bay garden railway layout which fascinated the young ones and encouraged older visitors.

Other News:

Van 23: We have completed the side doors, machined and painted to penultimate coat the inside and roof boards. The guard’s doors are in process of re-manufacture. Next big jobs are the two guards Duckets, this will be interesting as there is little of the woodwork of the old duckets that can be re-used except as a template.

Oak for the sole and cant rails has been seasoning in the workshop for well over a year and marking out will soon start prior to machining. Woody Bay are making the underframe but are unable to give us a delivery date as they are very busy with revenue earning and maintenance activities. It is likely that Van 23 body will be built on Stallages and be lowered onto the underframe for finishing when it is delivered.

Steve Arthurs., Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, EAST Group