''Lyn'' was a

2-4-2 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles and two trailing wheels on one axle. The type is somet ...

tank

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, oil or, rarely, wood) to heat water in the locomot ...

built by the

Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) was an American manufacturer of railroad locomotives from 1825 to 1951. Originally located in Philadelphia, it moved to nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania, in the early 20th century. The company was for decades t ...

in 1898 for the

Lynton and Barnstaple Railway The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway (L&B) opened as an independent railway in May 1898. It was a single track, narrow gauge railway and was slightly over long running through the rugged and picturesque area bordering Exmoor in North Devon, ...

in England.

History

Between July 1897 and January 1898, employees of many British engineering companies were striking in an attempt to win the right to an eight-hour working day, leaving locomotive builders with large backlogs of unfulfilled orders. The Lynton and Barnstaple consulted the US-based Baldwin to produce the engine they needed. A typical American engine with bar frames, multiple domes and impressive headlamps, the loco was erected in Philadelphia, then disassembled and shipped to Barnstaple. It was reassembled by L&B staff in their Pilton workshops. ''Lyn'', like all the locomotives on the L&B, was named after a local river with a three-letter name, the River Lyn. In 1907 ''Lyn's''

boiler A boiler is a closed vessel in which fluid (generally water) is heated. The fluid does not necessarily boil. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications, including water heating, central h ...

was condemned when the inspector's hammer accidentally penetrated one of the plates, and a replacement boiler was built at

Avonside Avonside is an eastern suburb in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is one of the oldest suburbs of the city, with only Heathcote being older. History The suburb was named after Holy Trinity Avonside, which was built beside the Avon River in 18 ...

. After the Lynton and Barnstaple became part of the Southern Railway in 1923, Lyn was taken to

Eastleigh Works Eastleigh Works is a locomotive, carriage and wagon building and repair facility in the town of Eastleigh, in the county of Hampshire in England. History LSWR The London and South Western Railway (LSWR) opened a carriage and wagon works at Eas ...

for a major overhaul in 1928, returning the following year in Southern Green Livery and carrying the number E762 on the side tanks, as well as the original nameplates on the cab sides. ''Lyn'' was scrapped in 1935, after the line closed.

Modern Replacement

In January 2009, The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust announced a project to build an advanced modern replacement 'Lyn' for use on the restored railway by 2012. By 2013, ''Lyn's'' wooden cab had been built, along with the boiler and most fittings, wheels, cylinders and many other components. CAD and modern engineering techniques were employed to ensure that, while the finished locomotive remains true to the original in appearance, it will perform much more efficiently and be easier to maintain and operate. Final assembly was carried out by

Alan Keef Alan Keef Ltd is a British narrow gauge railway engineering company which manufactures, overhauls, and deals in narrow gauge locomotives, rolling stock and associated equipment. The Limited Company was formed in 1975 at Cote, Bampton, Oxon, ...

Ltd. who has had experience with other Baldwin locos, such as the restoration of Baldwin 794 for the

Welsh Highland Heritage Railway The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway is a short reconstructed heritage railway in Gwynedd, Wales. Its main station is in Porthmadog. History The origins of the WHHR lie in a small group of railway enthusiasts, including some disgruntled volunt ...

. First steamed on 8 July 2017, ''Lyn'' is finished in the colours and configuration of the original ''Lyn'' after returning from overhaul in 1929. The locomotive had its public debut at the L&B's September 2017 gala and is now resident at

Woody Bay railway station Woody Bay, within the Exmoor National Park, is a station on the former Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, a narrow gauge line that ran through Exmoor from Barnstaple to Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon. The station was situated inland, about ...

.''Railway Magazine March 2017''

Notes

External links

* {{official website, http://762club.com of the 762 Club - the team that built the replica Lyn Lynton and Barnstaple Railway locomotives 2-4-2T locomotives Baldwin locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1898 Individual locomotives of Great Britain Scrapped locomotives Mixed traffic locomotives

History

Modern Replacement

See also

Notes

External links