Work on the land and infrastructure belonging to the Barnstaple &Yeo Valley Railway Trust is undertaken by a small group of locally-based volunteers, the self-styled ‘Snapper Navvies’. Most of the group have been involved since before the creation of the B&YVRT and the concomitant decision to start rebuilding the L&B in the Yeo Valley.
The priority with newly-acquired land is usually clearing vegetation sufficiently to facilitate access. Most of the trackbed purchased by B&YVRT was actually little-used by its previous owners – which often explains why the land was sold – and some very substantial trees have grown in the decades since the railway closed in 1935.
Maintaining accessibility through regular strimming and mowing continues, and more tree felling is needed in some areas before the railway can be rebuilt, as well as the tasks common to all landowners: maintaining drainage, fences, gates, and structures. All B&YVRT land will eventually be entirely fenced off using replica L&B-pattern concrete posts manufactured by the Snapper Navvies.
Before Bratton Fleming station was bought, Exmoor Associates’ ‘flagship’ property was Snapper Halt, which still had its original shelter and platform. The halt has been substantially restored, complete with five ballasted track panels (50m). Recently, the halt was repainted in L&B livery, and one of the platform seats was rebuilt.
The 725m-long section at Snapper is intended to be the BYVRT’s first major length of railway restoration. This has included replacing a culvert and will involve laying ballast, sleepers and rails. The entire site has been surveyed by a recent recruit to the Snapper Navvies.
Additionally, work has proceeded at Bratton Fleming to restore the station to its former glory. This has involved demolishing some post-closure structures and erecting a large steel-framed shed, the completion of which will be undertaken by the Snapper Navvies. The main entrance to the station already has new, wider gates, whilst work is continuing to improve site drainage and prepare the way for restoring the platforms and laying track.
All this work has involved acquiring more machinery, but we are fortunate that amongst the Snapper Navvies is an experienced mechanic. Once the large shed at Bratton Fleming station is complete with workshop facilities, the B&YVRT will be even better able to maintain its growing stock of plant, locos and rolling stock.
As the railway in the Yeo Valley grows, so the variety of jobs to be undertaken increases, offering a growing variety of volunteering opportunities.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, work continues to promote the B&YVRT at shows and online, to raise funds, to create detailed plans for existing projects, to prepare for the ongoing restoration of the L&B in the Yeo Valley, and, of course, to buy more trackbed to enable the rebuilding of more of the legendary L&B.
We asked regular volunteers among the ‘Snapper Navvies’ to say something about who they are, what they do, and why they volunteer for B&YVRT. These are some of their replies:
Jo
I worked for an international bank, and was abroad for 35 years. I retired back to the UK and opted to live in Gloucestershire, about halfway between my sons in Oxford and Stroud. I always enjoyed building railway lines, so I joined my local project, helping to lay the tracks and putting up the building at Broadway.
I was intrigued by the idea of Exmoor Associates, another railway-building project. I lived too far away to be a regular volunteer on site, but I signed up to the idea of picking up any of the dozens of pieces of railway trackbed that might come to the market. That suited my location, and my interest in the L&B.
At Broadway I ran a blog, and in it I reported ad hoc on various other projects that I knew about. A report on Exmoor Associates caught Mike Buse’s eye, and he asked me if I could do one for the B&YVRT. So 3 months ago I started the B&YVRT blog. That fits in with my skills, and keeps me in touch with the other working members of the project. I make regular donations and joined the 200 Club, all things that I can do from Gloucestershire. I even found a small PWay trolley for them. At the moment I come down to Devon twice a year for the regular information meetings, but this could become more often if any track laying starts – my other interest in railway preservation. A week of track laying – now that would be fun.
Adrian
- Snapper Navvy (Four years) – 200 Club Administrator (Twelve months)
- Retired police Officer and Home Office Intelligence Analyst.
- Firm believer in rail travel as the best form of public transport.
- Always interested in steam & heritage railways – from age six to date! Works as a navvy to maintain fitness and complete the line from Lynton to Barnstaple!
- Currently tasked with making concrete fence posts (see photo above!)
Quentin
History: Dad introduced me to steam at an early age with visits to the last remaining steam sheds like Nine Elms, Guildford, Bolton and Carnforth in 1967/68. I became an active volunteer in 1983, helping restore 7828 Odney Manor and went on to form the 5199 Project and then the 6880 Betton Grange new build. I’ve served on both boards of the Llangollen Railway and was Joint Project Manager for the rebuild of Carrog Station.
In 2025, I retired from my job as General Manager of a courier business and, with my wife, moved to Minehead in Somerset. This allowed me to volunteer at both the WSR and Lynton & Barnstaple Railways. I soon decided to join Exmoor Associates/BYVRT to help bring back the L&B to the Yeo Valley.
I volunteer both midweek and at Weekends when possible. There’s always vegetation to clear, and we have drainage projects at Snapper and traditional concrete fence posts that we will manufacture on site. A large workshop/store shed is underway at Bratton Fleming and I have joined others cleaning up the reclaimed bricks.
The Project is growing, and we will require many more volunteers to build the railway and maintain the trackbed. It gets you outside in a beautiful environment and keeps you fit at the same time. This is a great time to join, as you can see the development from the initial stages.
Rob S. standing, Andy H. in orange and Phil H. in blue.
Phil
I moved to Devon five years ago (I live about seven miles from Snapper) intending to volunteer on the L&B. Having moved in, I went to an Exmoor Associates meeting and was enthused by the vision of restoring the L&B at the southern end. I volunteer to keep fit and to spend time outdoors in green spaces.
I generally volunteer outdoors three days a week, with additional time on my Trustee duties.
Before retirement, I worked for a large defence company in the Portsmouth area. I was in software management, then engineering project management, ending as a Senior Engineering Project Manager
I love spending time productively outdoors and, in particular, seeing our efforts result in a clear trackbed, which shows the potential for future restoration to all who see it (and can be maintained with minimal effort in the future).
If you want to spend a few hours in the great outdoors every week and are reasonably mobile/active, then coming to work as a volunteer with us could be for you. We are working towards a long-term goal of opening a railway so the jobs can be very varied!
If you want to know more about our volunteering activities, or would like to join us, please email volunteers@byvrt.org.uk for details.