Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway
Web Site:- www.cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk/ |
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Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway
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In June 2000 Members of SWEHS visited Lynton and Lynmouth and Mike Williams wrote the following review of the cliff railway :-![]() It was not one, but two “L”s of a day, when some 25 members joined us for the visit to Lynton and Lynmouth on Sunday 25th June. Barrie Phillips had arraged for us to commence with a talk by Mr.M.Wilde, the MD of the Lynton and Lynmouth Lift Company. It was held in the splendid surroundings of the Lynton Town Hall, which was built in 1900 by Sir George Newnes, publisher of “Titbits” and “The Strand” magazines and who was also responsible for the funding of the Cliff Railway. Lynton is situated about 500ft vertically above Lynmouth and until 1890, the only way to travel and transport goods between the two communities was via a very steep and tortuous road. This severely tested the animals used to haul the loads up the hill. It was also realised that they were in danger of losing the growing holiday trade with the lack of adequate transport. The Company was formed by an Act of Parliament in 1888 and was granted perpetual rights to take water from the River Lyn in order to power the funicular railway. This describes a railway operated by cables with ascending and descending cars and was designed by George Marks, a “disciple” of Isambard Brunel. When each car is docked with one at the top and one at the bottom, their water tanks are full. When passengers have boarded, the drivers exchange signals and the lower driver discharges his water tank, which makes the top car heavier and thus starts to descend pulling the lower car up the cliff. A reservoir exists at the top of the cliff fed from the River Lyn. The Lynton Railway is unique in that it does not require any other form of energy. |
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One of the unique features of this railway is the braking and safety system employed from the very first. Here is a description given by Bob Jones, the grandson of Bob Jones who was the original builder employed, to a visitor xxx xxx who accounted it.
For additional safety, at the bottom of each track there is a hydraulic ‘grab’ which, when the car arrives, grips a protrusion down below the tank. That grip has to be released by the driver before he commences his ascent. An interesting site by Michael Azema, which gives very detailed descriptions of the workings together with illustrative photos, is :- http://www.funimag.com/funimag19/Lynton01.htm
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Also see our other pages on Electric Transport in the South West
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