The National Transport Trust has awarded the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway the coveted ‘Red Wheel’ award. The award recognises the railways importance as a Transport Heritage Site and has been awarded in recognition of the unique water powered nature of the railway. The Red Wheel was presented by Stuart Wilkinson, Chair of the Transport Trust, and unveiled by Councillor Andrea Davis Cabinet member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport and Deputy Chair of Exmoor National Park. The nomination for the Red Wheel heritage plaque was received from Malvern Tipping at Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, a similar funicular which opened in 1892 and also designed by George Croydon Marks.

The Red Wheel seeks to highlight the most important sites of transport heritage across the UK and the cliff railway now joins the 125 heritage sites across the UK that have achieved ‘Red Wheel’ status including iconic sites such as Southend Pier, The Middlesbrough’s Tees Transporter Bridge, the Ffestiniog Railway and Saltburn Cliff Lift.

Rob Newman, Chair of the Cliff Railway, said “We are delighted to have been awarded Red Wheel status, it recognises the daily hard work and attention to detail that the Chief Engineer, Ashley Clarke, and his whole team provide in maintaining and preserving the wonderful heritage of this Victorian Cliff Railway.”

Picture: From left to right – Rob Newman, Chair of Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, Ashley Clarke, General Manager & Chief Engineer, Stuart Wilkinson, Chair of the National Transport Trust, Councillor Andrea Davis, Cabinet member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport and Deputy Chair of Exmoor National Park.