Great British Road Journeys - Cambridgeshire - Wisbech to Ely Ep. 8
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- Опубликовано: 16 мар 2024
- #driving #infrastructure #cambridge #cars #roadtrip
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We're back in Cambridgeshire this week for a fun filled episode.. we've got it all going on, trains, train stuff, train crossings and illegal raves. There's some lovely railway stuff too. In a journey that takes us from Wisbech to Ely, we'll enjoy some of Cambridgeshire's very flat countryside through some of the smaller towns and villages that there's little point in visiting. And not a punt in sight.
Using a copy of the 1923 Michelin Guide, I'll be travelling the country to see what remains and what's changed since it's publication. The guide offers suggestions on thing to see and where to stay all with the goal of getting you out there and exploring in your motor vehicle. 
Авто/Мото
Sunday isn't Sunday until I've seen Auto Shenanigans.
Have you had a good week?
I have@@MostlyLoveOfMusic
Sunday Fun Day 😂
My break time ritual. Facebook, Auto Shenanigans 😂
Eel day shenanigans
“The third disagreement- now upgraded from small to medium” 😂
a bunch of people were not to happy during that period of, plates were in fact thrown
Lovely cameo from Black Bag the faithful border bin liner.
This could be a new feature to rival Geoff Marshall's station bin bag blowing in the breeze.
He was quipping the film Donny Darko
@@Dan23_7 *American Beauty
Coming to an industrial-estate carpark near you, soon!
@@GeneralThargor Viz did that joke in the 1980s, had a whole comic strip ...
"Best jump in the car then, as no-one wants to get the bus". As a Bus Driver myself, I approve this message!
Someone said after a few pints I wouldn't be able to drive my car, so take the bus instead. Turns out I wasn't able to drive that either.
A nice way for him to say hi to his mum; "I'm on the interweb, so you're wondering how I got into your computer". It's things like this that make you fun to watch, Jon
High-six to all my fenland homies. Fun fact: I once arrived at an accident in the fens where a motorcyclist had ended up in a ditch cos he had hit a potato that had fallen from a farmers trailer. It wrote off his brand new vtr firestorm.
It gives the term "mashed potato" a whole new meaning, or does it?
You'll only get a high-five from me because I wasn't born here. Also, I'll make sure to inform the local bikers about the sugar beet that's been lying on the A1101 roundabout just north of Outwell for the last three weeks. We don't want accidents like that happening again!
I live in Essex ex London, I have several friends from Norfolk/Suffolk, and one of my e-signatures is ......on the other hand, five fingers and a thumb, I also enquire how the scars on their necks are after the removal of the second head
Ah, the land of the extra-wide footwear🤣🤣🤣
The Thor Missile launching site. There would have been a button specifically for that.
Brilliant
Best comment. We can close the internet now.
‘Abandoned railways’ could be a series in the future, seeing railways feature more & more. Next week you’ll be presenting from a Peterborough freight train😅😅
Try Paul Whitewick for abandoned railways...
And half the video would be segments where old roads cross the abandoned rail line.
And canals, Roman roads too @@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne
@@dave_h_8742Roman roads would be a story all of their own. I know one passed through Hedge End but I'm not able to find any conclusive evidence.
@@dave_h_8742for lost canals @lifeat2.3milesanhour57 is ya man
Oh my, that level crossing - low bridge combo! 😮
There's a similar one next to Ely Station, though the underpass has more clearance. Since the Ely bypass opened lorries don't need to go anywhere near it.
Makes the 11'8"+8" seem benign.
I just wait for the day when someone causes the railroad tracks to get misaligned causing a notable incident.
@@pgwalling6478when I saw the thumbnail, I thought it would be Ely Bridge.
Too much choice for me.
@@pgwalling6478They closed the level crossing at Ely Station, when they opened the bypass, but many of the bridge strikes there were vans, not lorries, although some still managed it, which as you're sitting at about eye level with the top of bridge does beg a few questions as to the level of attention of the truck drivers involved.
More unsolicited railway trivia: Whitemoor prison is on the site of the former Whitemoor marshalling yard, built in the 1930s, capable of handling 8,000 wagons a day, it was ultramodern technology using a hump that wagons were pushed over then using the speed they picked up they were split into trains to various destinations. The largest of its type in the UK and second largest in Europe it all fell into disuse in the 90s when we stopped manufacturing real things.
I remember there was one of those shunting humps back in the 60's at Dagenham Dock shunting yard where I spent many happy days exploring and watching the London to Tilbury (iirc) trains 😁
Do you know what that bit of single railway track was that he was stood next to right at the end of the video?
Oliver Cromwell inherited a property in Ely and its now a museum. He was the leader of one side of our own homegrown disagreement.
English Homegrown Disagreement 3 I think? The homegrown disagreements are like Fast and Furious movies, they're not numbered neatly.
@@sIightIybored When is a disagreement not a disagreement though?
@@sIightIyboredcromwell was number 2 ? ..... watt tyler was in at number 1 but then neither bothered to make airports the lazy twats .
@@godzillas6301 I was thinking The Anarchy was No1 and The Wars of the Roses was No2. Making The Civil War No3.
@@sIightIyboredAh well the anarchy was a war betwixt the brits and the bloody french . Yeah it was all a mess with kings owning bits of this and that but it wasnt really something that cropped up in every town so i dont really count that as something on the same lines at the war of the roses . Theres no end of a chance someone was born within this time , grew , spat out 8 kids and died at the ripe old age of 30 all within the time of this conflict and without even knowing about the actions elsewhere .
Theres was the civil war though where it was 40 years of people grumbling with the locals in charge who would vanish in the night just around the time tithes were to be gathered/stolen from the peasents . It came super dooper close to taking out king john and it created democracy that the entire world followed right up until blair got in .........
War of the roses was a legitimite kick off with house by house being against each other based on to whom you answered to and had to point your bow at . To this day if i hear a yorkshire accent i say my mrs is from manchester and are they from lancaster ?. Its a public service and you get great responses .
Cromwells lot doesnt really need saying that is if you dont have a priest hole ....... did the reformation count i wonder ? saying that prick next doors a caff-lick and you are simply fed up with the priests coming and going every sunday night was a sure fire way of gaining new land as a brucie bonus from the local bowel head ...... `enrys in ability to find a productive lady without a face like a bucket of sick is the stuff of legend and when he threw his teddy from the pram over a comly wench it did impact on every house in the land also .... ummmm.... need to think about that one , could it be considered a civil type war ? ... well there was 2 sides killing each other so maybe .
4:30 the Gratuitous rail content what I'm all here for.
All that abandoned infrastructure feels like a metaphor for the state of the country!
If it weren't an actual true representation of the state of the country 😢
If Brexit weren't just a blag by persons who want to pick everyone's pockets and dodge taxes more readily we'd be re-industrialising and having infrastructure renewal aplenty. The hollowed out state of this country is a house of cards that is collapsing but we're all pretending is not too bad, really and should stabilise for no apparent reason
1:38 hope you dont mind if i lore dump here but
Toby the tram engine is based on a real tram engine that worked on the Wisbech and Upwell tramway. Specifically a J70 class tram, numbered 68221. The story "Toby and the Stout Gentleman" was based on Rev. Wilbert Awdry (the author of the Railway Series) own experience with 68221.
Correct Rev Awdry was vicar at Emneth at the time along the Tramway route.
Wait that wasn't a joke omg
The drone is back! Though i did like the run away from camera last week😂
I live a few miles away from Ely, been here nearly 30yrs now. My 1st job was recovery truck driver, the amount of transit type vans we had to drag out from under the bridge was amazing, let all tyres down and drag out. they've got more warnings now but it still doesn't stop people.
Road signs are most helpful in alerting to the danger of a low clearance. However, if one doesn't bother to pay attention to the signs then stupidity ensues. You just can't fix stupid.
@@cbrue1896 gotta agree, stoopid is as stoopid does, was an Hgv driver for years, seen stoopid so many times it's scary
52% voted brexit so additional signs won't work
I just love the adventure combined with the sarcasm 😂
Glad to see the drone is fixed. And the slow metamorphosis into a railway channel. Good job.
Ring's End with a straight face. Masterful delivery.
I'm surprised he didn't mention that it's not far from Three Holes!
'The Wilbrahams' or, more formerly 'Grunty Fen' I know which I prefer... 😀
My wife and I looked at buying a house there some years ago until she realised where it was and refused to live in a place with such a name🤣
I only discovered a few weeks ago that it got it's name from the junction of 3 rivers😁
@@kevinmothers904My wife and I looked at buying a house there some years ago until she realised where it was and refused to live in a place with such a name🤣
I only discovered a few weeks ago that it got it's name from the junction of 3 rivers😁
The most twatted bridge in the UK, a great honour.
Great British Road Journeys is far more exciting then the FA Cup
Anything is more exiting than the FA cup.
@@simontay4851Is that because FA happens?
Actually, as someone who doesn't generally like football, the FA cup seems to be a bit more exciting as it sometimes has David vs Goliath type events.
Some people like exciting team sport and programs about roads too. We think those moaning about one or the other are boring cnuts
Chatteris is one of many small towns namechecked by the finest band ever to come from Merseyside, Half Man Half Biscuit.
Not just name-checked, they have a whole song "For What Is Chatteris?" about it, which could have had some road-related fact-checking in this episode. "One way system, smooth and commendable" (Is there?)
"go by bus, they're highly dependable" (seems unlikely based on the rest of the video)
"three good butchers, two fine chandlers,
an indoor pool, a first class cake shop," (a quick Google tells me the pool is still there, at least)
"OFSTED plaudits, envy of the fens,
prick barriers at both ends" (I always thought this meant speed bumps, so would be an important feature to note)
The song ends with the lament that, now that his love has left him he "May as well live in Ely or St Ives" which suggests that neither Ely or St Ives are as nice. But again, citation needed.
home to a infamous criminal family
Wasn't expecting a rendition of "American Beauty", but I gotta respect the hustle. Your mother should be proud.
Punts, punts everywhere
Bunch of punts....
They should all go back to Spunthorpe!
3:10 I worked for the railway (on the footplate of diesel freight trains as a Train Driver's Assistant) from 1986, and back then "Whitemoor Prison" was the largest rail freight yard in Europe. So technically I've been in and out of that prison yard dozens of times.
@8:08 That's a Short Stirling mate.
You beat me to it!
Let's check in with our friends at RAF Luton.
, @@EmyrDerfel The Stirling has radial engines, (as in the picture) the Lancaster had V12s.
#pedantarycorner 😂
@@harry130747 The Lancaster was available with both Merlin V12 and radial engines. The B.II had Bristol Hercules engines. About 300 of these were built.
Nice to the see drone is back in working order 👍👍
Hi Jon. Watched a couple of series now, Motorways, service stations etc. The two constants that run through all of these productions are:
1. Your great sense of humour and word play and
2. Above all, planners in this country just don't have the first clue about anything. In Yes Prime Minister, 3 articles of Government "Its takes longer to do things quickly, It's more expensive to do things cheaply and more democratic not to tell people they are wasting money.
Fun fact: the railway line to Wisbech was open for freight up until the late 1990's or early 2000's
Do we have to guess which one?
@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOneYes..... yes, you do 😊
The tracks, except for the level crossings, are still in place but very overgrown.
@@davidrobert2007Price is Right rules?
@@neiloflongbeck5705 Indeed, would be relatively easy to re-open the line from March and ironically this would help with capacity at Cambridge. At the moment a number of trains terminate at Ely (rather than wait at Cambridge) because terminating at Cambridge takes away too much capacity. There are plenty of examples of services that terminate beyond their busiest destination for this reason. Or why we have bay platforms like the new one at Stevenage for the Hertford loop.
The ironic part is they closed the railway line but if it was here today, it would be popular. A large town without railway and the link to the rest of the network is only a few miles away.
They are thinking of reopening the line to Wisbech. It's still there, needs work.
@@JamesHughes65 I remember them saying this for over 25 years now, it'll probably take another 25 years to get it to fruition, yet track bed lies just out side of town and it's only a 12 mile stretch to the main national rail network. Problem is nobody in any position wants to take ownership.
@@dylancarter1831they're doing more surveys and research right now because Ely doesn't want tracks going through even though they literally have a train station -_-
@@theevauwu7853 I thought the track bed runs to March, it could bypass Ely and it literally starts up just outside of the town centre. I suspect for decades they thought it wasn't profitable, but in the last decade alone, Wisbech has seem to of been rebuilding fast and expanding population, a Peterborough to Kings Lynn, via March service could be quite popular.
@@dylancarter1831 It would help with Capacity on the KL line as the daily sand train (For Glass) leaves King's Lynn to go to Ely, then on to Peterborough and then North.
I lived in Ely from when I was born to 2017, then in witchford until 2021. I can confirm vehicles always crashed into the bridge. 5 years ago they closed the level crossing and built a bypass around the Tesco area and over the railway.
I have never heard of an Ely eel parade lol
I am a former resident of Mepal (pronounced like people) and I can confirm that nothing has ever happened there other than that I married the current Mrs Wells there! Our MP did used to be Clement Freud though!
I later emigrated to Sutton, up t’hill, which thinks very highly of itself and has never quite forgiven the famous airfield for be Mepal Aerodrome and not Surron!
I like Ely! It’s a large mock Georgian market town with a big church and that’s good enough for me!😂. The most exciting thing to happen there since the Normans built the cathedral is the southern bypass that now means less vans hit the Ely railway bridge of the same Ely to Peterborough line.
Peterborough thinks it’s in Cambridgeshire but it isn’t really! Lovely to see my stomping ground achieve international coverage on your show!
PS. Great book about the airfield called Luck and a Lancaster. ❤
I like this video so I pressed the button specifically for that👉🏻
I love your sense of humour, the random interjections are spot on. Always got me laughing, and learning 😂
4:32 The 11foot8 bridge got nothing on this bad boy!
Didn't the 11'8 bridge channel update like last week ago after nearly a year of silence? Kinda reminds me of that
Fantastic, with appropriate reverence. Didn't realise Thor missiles were kept at Mepal. As for the River Nene, in Northamptonshire it is 'nen', changing to 'neen' at Islip lock, Thrapston, for the remainder of its meanderings into Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and The Wash. Cheers.
I get in on a Sunday afternoon to sit down with Jon and his witty banter, I might just learn something too. Good afternoon Jon.
I still cannot fathom why Taylor Whimpey (🤪) built a mahoosive cathedral in the middle of nowhere. Great video, and series, John. Keep up the good work.
Mother Church and rural landed interests carried a lot of clout back then!
If you think that's the middle of nowhere, try St David's.
Diversifying from the burgers...
I've always wondered why they built Conwy Castle so close to the railway.
@@Graham_Langley how else were they to get all the stone on site?
ELY EEL DAY! I have my ticket from Virginia USA to come to the UK for that! That's over the bar, John.
Went to school in Ely and was a chorister in the cathedral. We used to go to Mepal activity centre! Because I knew how to sail I'd end up teaching the tiny kids in some very battered Wayfarers. Good times.
Railway Shenanigans coming on well I see. 🙂👍
Idk how I’ve only just found this channel! Binged watched everything over the last couple days good work bah!
For those wondering, Ely is a City; not a town
Another great episode of Great British Railway Journeys
In my town, I knew it would happen sooner or later.
That stub of old road at the crossing gives beautiful photo features in the otherwise featureless Fenland in late autumnal sunsets.
PS I helped my dad and brother slab the reveals you can see under the bridge in late 70's! [ when the r'bout and fly-over were built ]
Another great edition.
I'm sad to say that you missed the best thing in Mepal today, the Locust Farm, one of the largest in UK.
Could you do a video on the difference between Watford and Watford Gap? I think it would be interesting as many folks believe they're in the same area.
Yes, a definite gap in his portfolio....
Also, Loughborough and Loughborough Junction.
Sorry that pun deserves a groan!@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne
Watford Gap is indeed close to Watford (the village in Northamptonshire, that is).
And the folk who want to visit Leeds Castle so head north to Yorkshire.
Thanks for making me smile
Really enjoyed this episode Jon, especially the most twatted bridge!
As Half Man Half Biscuit once opined:
"For What Is Chatteris?"
"You never hear of folk getting knocked on the bonce, although there was a drive by shouting once" 🎵
Ely cathedral is a beautiful place
That black bag was magical
Where is he standing at the end?
Kudos for getting Toby in!
Near the railway curve (freight line I think) just north of Ely.
You missed the world heritage dogging site at Mepal, it very popular........ apparently.😶🙄
You should cover the needham market railway bridge next in Suffolk. Constant hits, delays, bridge repairs. The fence next to it gets sailed through every few years too
I love waving at the end of each episode
Why do you wave? He can't see you....
The bridge Reminds me of the 11 feet 8 bridge
This just popped up on recommendation and I've just laughed so much, some wee came out! Just found my new binge watch. Thanks very much 👍
So many abandoned places, such a waste.
Interesting as always Jon.
Thanks for sharing again.
Jon talks about this Jon's previous journeys of road works....quite an epitome!
Ely Eel Day is an example of the English doing odd things because it's traditional ... and if there isn't an odd tradition we will just have to invent one ...
I love that Ely is pronounced correctly over there. We have an Ely in Minnesota US and too many people call it Ee-Lie. Just makes you want to slap them with a Walleye.
What is it with Americans & mispronunciations! It's Iraq not Eye-raq. Ditto for Iran. AluminiUm. And as for the Welsh towns in Pennsylvania, they just get butchered!
Sadly it happens in the UK too. Many times I've had delivery drivers or companies call it Ee-lie.
Hi Jon's Mum
Fun fact, just off the A142 is the A1421 which is one of the most renumbered roads in the uk. It is currently pending approval to be changed again.
This is a great series Jon 👍
Top work!
There was talk about reopening the railway to Wisbech ,from March , a few years back .But it came to nothing .No one was prepared to stump up the money . The line didn't actually close until about 1996 because it was kept open for freight ( The Spillers Dog Food factory in Wisbech ) . My Mother lives in Chatteris and whenever I visit it's always on the local news about a vehicle hitting that low railway bridge at Stonea !
Superbly presented as always !
Frickin love your sense of humor
Outstanding! Another fact filled fun exploration of our wonderful Island. What what!
Marvellous 👍😀
Always look forward to your show every Sunday 😁
This is the best video I've ever seen about anything
Brilliant John 👌
Your delivery of dead pan comedic quips gets better and better! These are becoming comedy gold! 👏👏👏👏
Once again, showed me stuff I never knew I needed to know about!
You’re in my neck of the woods with these recent ones. Great video with amazing drone footage as usual. Around here we call it Mee-pul, not Mee-pal, and while I did enjoy the outdoor centre as a kid, TIL about those cruise missiles. Mind blown.
Top notch railway p0rn, thanks John!
I adore your humour (and engaging knowledge)! Stay brilliant!
Thanks John, another great video and this time covering my home area of The Fens.
John's sense of humour is in full flow today. Great episode.
Awesome video.
Great video John, glad you fixed the drone,a pleasure as always 👍😀👌
Hi Jon, Great facts of the Cambridgeshire area, sounds fun eel throwing, have a good one
Watch out for them punts
This is ALL my manor, and I take no joy in being reminded of it.
Awesome Video
A journey that brings back memories...
yep nearly drove a renault master hi roof into stoney underpass in the very late 80s… stopped just 8n time as gf (now missus) screamed “sttoooopppppp youre too tall!”
Loving these road trips. You seem to be visiting all the places I once lived.
Best presenter on RUclips by a country mile
Keep them coming
Brilliant as usual, the dry humour makes your videos unmissable each week.
great video
Love this series. Even better than secrets of the motorway. Which was itself great.
Great to see the drone functioning properly again. 👍
Thanks
Thanks a lot buddy, appreciate that!
Surprisingly interesting
Good afternoon, Jon, duck.
I was half expecting the last shot to be a "James Burke" moment, where your last words were followed precisely by a train appearing from behind you...
Your abilities to make the mundane interesting are astounding, keep up the good work.