Lyntons other railway, the funicular cliff railway

As always when visiting the L&BR we go along

to Lynton itself and walk down to Lynmouth. The

Walk up being pretty arduous to me these days

we get the cliff railway back up. So I thought it 

time to do some proper research and article on

this now listed monument of funicular railway

The Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a water-powered funicular railwayjoining the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth on the rugged coast of North Devon. The high cliffs separating the two towns (then villages) were a major obstacle to economic development in the 19th century. Because of the remoteness of the area, and rugged geography, villagers had to rely on the sea for most deliveries of coal, lime, foodstuffs and other essentials, which had then to be carried by packhorses and carts up the steep hill to Lynton.

The cliffs also posed problems for the burgeoning tourist industry. Holiday makers began to arrive at Lynmouth on paddle steamers from Bristol, Swansea and other Bristol Channel ports, from about 1820. Ponies, donkeys and carriages were available for hire, but the steep gradients led to the animals having only short working lives.

The first proposals for a rail-based lift, able to carry passengers and goods, were made in 1881, although this first scheme was to have been steam powered.

The water-powered railway was designed by George Croydon Marks (later Baron Marks of Woolwich), and paid for mainly by his business partner, the publisher Sir George Newnes. Newnes, who owned a large residence at nearby Hollerday Hill, also backed the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in 1898, and the Lynton Town Hall in 1900.

Construction work — relying entirely on manual labour — began in 1887 and was completed in less than three years.

Opened on Easter Monday in 1890, the railway has been in continuous use ever since. An Act of Parliament formed theLynmouth & Lynton Lift Company in 1888, and a further Act gave the company perpetual rights to the water from the Lyn Valley.

An unusual feature for such a line is a halt just below Lynton station, with road access, at North Walk. This was used to transport larger freight items (the car bodies can be removed to provide a flat load bed). Early motor cars were carried up the hill in this way. During rail replacement over the winter of 2006, the halt was used extensively for access and material storage.^[1]

The railway is now classified as a listed monument.

Many thanks Wikipedia for the above notes.