Lost Railway Tunnels of the South Downs
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- In this weeks video we visit the Four Abandoned Tunnels of the South Downs.
As always with our tunnel videos our goal is to have the upmost respect for the areas we visit, so its not always about climbing fences and breaking things. It is however 100% about our adventure and personal documentation of these amazing pieces railway architecture.
We visited the following abandoned railway tunnels:
- Midhurst Tunnel
- C***ing Tunnel
- Singleton and Drove Tunnel
- West Dean Tunnel
I hope you enjoy our little journey along the old Midhurst Railway line.
Links:
Our website: paulwhitewick.co.uk/
Patreon: / everydisusedstation
Railmaponline: www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php 
Развлечения
Hiya - I was the last Sussex Police response officer based at Midhurst covering Petworth aswell and I retired in 2007. My final year up there was on my own.
After that Midhurst and Petworth were covered from Chichester. They call it progress I guess.
I used to have great fun during a night shift on the occasional time when it was quiet, yes occasional, exploring the old tunnels and railways lines, sometimes due to the job which was a fantastic perk.
Managed to walk through most of the tunnels including Cocking going northwards as this was on my area. Happy days.
The first tunnel you looked into was still accessible both ends when I retired, but that was mainly due to vandalism. At night I used to walk through it on my own with no torchlight. You could get halfway and as it was on a bend you could no longer see the entrances and yes it was pitch black, I loved it LOL.
Not sure what is happening with regards to extending Centurion Way walk to Midhurst but I did see somewhere that they ware talking about putting a wooden tunnel through the Cocking tunnel so that it would not disturb the bats. That is if there are any bats still inside there now. So does that mean they are going to do the same with the other tunnels south of it, who knows?
Always get confused when they call it Singleton Railway Station when it is in East Dean. Now that used to be a fantastic place to have a look round but it is really overgrown now.
On days off or holidays prior to 2007 I would walk the route between Midhurst and Petworth which is a lovely walk but of course now a lot of it has been closed off sadly.
Also my job would entail me calling at places along the track due to offences committed but it gave me lots of opportunity to have a good look round and get a good idea of days long past.
My dream was to purchase some old building along the track and do it up and live there, alas my wages never came anywhere near it LOL.
Regards Chris
I am very pleased with your railway videos. I have worked for regional railways for almost 42 years as A Chief mechanical officer. I think what you are doing is invaluable for railway history.
I would like to applaud you both for doing this great work.
Cheers, Michael Wood
Thank you Michael. That means a lot.
During WW2 both Cocking and Singleton tunnels were used to store trains carrying naval ammunition. Each tunnel was fitted with two hinged iron doors at each end of the tunnel. When I visited many years ago the doors were still in place. Today all that remains appear to be the hinge brackets on the tunnel portals. See 6:02 and 11:22 . The small hut at the entrance to Singleton tunnels is the guardhouse for the Navy Guards who were detailed to guard the tunnel entrances.
For more detail google Cocking Tunnel 1981 and select images
Thank you Ian that's great. A lot of questions answered.
Brilliant interesting information!!😎 👍🇬🇧
I was not aware of that, very interesting, thankyou.
Cocking also has an old chalk pit, with lime kilns near the village. This could be another explanation for the long siding. I used to monitor quarries for West Sussex County Council
Rebecca’s facial expressions are a scream when Paul is getting the Facts out. I love your lovely explanatory commentary. Thank you Guy’s.
From a book on railways around Midhurst, there was a slight curse at the end of the long siding which was directed so that an extension could pass under an 8ft high bridge (too low for most uses - so probably only horse drawn wagons could use it) beneath the main line. The provision of the siding was a condition of sale of the land made by Lord Egremontin the case of chalk quarrying taking place to the west.
As a kid I used to live in Hassocks and this video just reminded me that me and my mates used to play in the entrance to an old tunnel there. You could go into the tunnel entrance (it wasn't fenced off at all) but when you got about 50ft in it was filled with debris up to the toop of the tunnel.
I spent a while exploring Cocking Tunnel today and whilst nosing around the northern portal I chanced upon the owner of a nearby house. He explained the history of the lines adjacent to the tunnel.
What appears to be an additional line running parallel to the main line was constructed to be a short branch to carry chalk extracted from nearby chalk pits.
The earthworks were at a lower level than the main line in proximity to the tunnel to allow wagons to be pushed through an underpass below the main line and then loaded with chalk. The underpass was not high enough to allow for the passage of an engine.
It's unclear if the track was ever laid or used. Remains of the underpass and parapets above it flanking the main line were destroyed by bulldozing activities connected with the installation of the barrier at the portal entrance. Some remains are extant; for example a section of parapet and railing which has been displaced from its original placement.
Apparently the barrier at the tunnel entrance is frequently removed in part by people wishing to enter the tunnel. The presence of the barrier is contentious because it is alleged that it was installed to protect a single bat found there belonging to a species not indigenous to the UK but of French origin.
There are plans to extend the nearby Century Way past Cocking but with a very expensive detour past the tunnel rather than going through it. This is also contentious.
I believe they are now going to build an enclosed walk/cycleway through the tunnel now.
You two make me want to move to England and explore.
I was a school kid on the Isle of Wight in the 60,s and remember exploring all the abandoned railway lines and stations , it was amazing due to all the stuff left behind when they closed them . Your video brought back some great memories of that time.
Glad that you found the tunnel at the end of Centurion way. The section from where you were by the tunnel to approximately a couple of miles south opened in 2015. My next door neighbour used to live in West Dean and she told me that they used to grow mushrooms in that tunnel when she was younger and she worked for the growers.
Cheers guys, another cracking video. I'm always blown away with the investment in property, time and energy that gets discarded when a line closes and tunnels must up there at the top in that regard. Thanks again.
Most definitely in terms of cost and time. Thanks Iain. 😁
Lovely video, both of you. I took a picture of Cocking tunnel in the 80s, when it wasn't blocked off. I do wish that all these tunnels were left accessible and not bricked up.
This is one amazing and beautifully filmed video. Absolutely, enjoyed your journey along the old line. So grateful for the time and effort you put in making these videos. Narration is brilliant. Great job.
Thank you Andrew 👍👍
A fascinating and educational lost railways video . My legs can't manage that distance so I sit back and enjoy your films . Keep exploring and thank you
Walked through cocking tunnel today, open both ends, no bats. If anyone is interested the north end has scaffolding up which is easy to walk round and the south end has a large gap in the gate
Oh wow.....
Interesting Content! I've Subscribed. Keep up the good work! Greetings from the French Alps. XX💖🐕❤️ xx
I remember in 1969 driving out to this line and walking along to Cocking tunnel and one of the others. I also did half-inch some Primroses and Cowslips from the embankment too. I know, bad boy. Lovely video.
Thank you so much for that. I am totally interested in everything train. I really enjoyed this
Thanks Linda. Glad you are enjoying the channel.
Thank you, love old tunnels, there is such a big variety of portals
There is a short tunnel (I think it goes under the road) South of West Dean Tunnel on the Centurian Way which you can walk or cycle through. I did all those tunnels (except Singleton, very securely closed) around 2000-2005 when SubBrit were looking at compiling a Disused Tunnels database; I think Forgotten Relics has largely taken this over.
Another brilliant video! I've always liked the architecture of Southern Railway tunnels just that little bit more!
"Mummy my legs are aching! How much further?".
"I don't know darling, but I saw a Pizza Express in Midhurst. Let's sneak off and leave Daddy here!".
Great video as usual guys. Informative and fun. Interesting to read the comments about the tunnels history during the war and the answer to small building outside the tunnel. Keep it coming!
Thanks for the video Paul and Rebecca. The designs on the front of the portals are distinguished and beautiful great home for the bats. One day we may get a look inside the bricked up tunnels!!😎🐓🐓🐓🇬🇧
I think your planning is excellent, regarding speech & annunciation, don’t change anything. Variation & speech excitement makes for interesting viewing. If people want perfect diction, go & listen to the speaking clock!!
Keep going with this brilliant challenge & keep us all involved in what you’re both doing. 👍👍
Thank you Paul, very kind.
Have a great Christmas and new year. 👍
4 wonderful tunnel portals. Do understand why entry can't be gained. The architecture is superb. Super video. Love it!
Thank you Paul and Rebecca very enjoyable,looking forward to next weekend.
Thanks Kim. Proper treat next week!
Fascinating. Thank you so much for making these videos. They take me to places I couldn't go on my own
Love the black and white shots they make a great contrast to the coloured views.
Great video both some of the craftsmanship on those Tunnel portals is amazing ! .......and the music is back !
Always..... You know we live the music. 😁
I’m pretty sure we filmed our tank video at the South Downs. So many places to explore around there. Awesome adventures as always guys, your storytelling is really awesome to follow and loving some of your shots. Those woods were beautiful leading up to it as well, shame they put a fences in front but safety first I guess.
Great job with mapping too, I like that idea. Fantastic guys.
Cheers Guys. yeah lots to see here. Never really come down this way before so we will certainly be back.
Brilliant video, the scout hut end is also blocked. The track by the lime works is how they used to get the chalk down from the quarry. There is even some of the track still there. Cocking limeworks closed in the 90's. There's also another tunnel which is on centurion way which goes under the road. The last tunnel at West Dean you visited is full of rubbish inside! Or always used to be as I kid we used to go in there... Good work 👏
I am a new subscriber. I really appreciate the effort you put in - it’s amazing!
Really enjoy these vids.
You both put a lot of effort into them👍👍👍😊
Thank you Aaron. 👍
There's a lovely Anglo-Saxon/Norman church at Cocking. (You missed the chance to mention the neighbouring village of Didling.)
I always feel like I want to be there with you on your explores and adventures. Love your Channel . 👍🏻
Awesome! Thank you!
More addictive viewing for this 'spong'. Beautifully shot and immersive. Funny how on a hot Summer's day how much the temperature drops next to a tunnel portal. Experienced that at Woodhead. Surreal.
Cocking was certainly a significant drop even within 50-75 yards. 👍👍👍
Another great vlog guys.
Life goal: going with you two on a mission!!! I absolutely love all of your adventures!!
Thank you Kiwi. Really pleased you are enjoying them
I second that!
We love watching your video presentations on our smart tele, family viewing, but not so easy to post comments. So, posting via my tablet to say thank you to you both for your thrilling adventures. Please stay safe. Best wishes.
Thanks Phillip. Really pleased to hear that you and your family are enjoying. Thanks for taking the time to comment. It really does help!
Another great video and you picked a nice day too!
My daughter and I explored the first and fourth of these tunnels last summer. We got inside Midhurst and the BRB/Network Rail have erected a fence two-thirds of the way in, which seems a bit odd. Not a bat sanctuary, although we did see one.
We found the north portal of West Dean to be unrestored and with a fair bit of undergrowth. We also avoided the Scout camp!
We turned north, forgetting that Singleton station was between us and Singleton tunnel. Very much private property, we came across a secure fence but I caught a glimpse of the platform end from afar. This station is largely intact (and occupied), including the water tower and goods shed.
Next time we'll go and see the other two tunnels for ourselves, being careful not to disturb the bats. Oh, and I was able to walk them both 30 years' ago!
Keep up the good work :-)
Thanks Paul, sounds like a very similar explore to us. Lovely area and certainly aided by the good weather we had at the time.
Lovely tunnel video, Singleton and Drove Tunnel and West Dean Tunnel had lovely portals and I can't believe someone named a a tunnel 'Cocking, someone must had cocked that up
Haha.... A particularly British village name!
Great video P&R. Good choice of music, you had good weather for the explore! The Westing portal looks really nice and in good condition. Brass band at fete - so British!
Thanks David, with all the randomness it did add up to a quintessentially British summer day!
You two are such a lovely couple.
🙏
Thank you for another very interesting video
Thanks Terry.
O what lovely weather for you . nice to see your daughter out too. cracking good interesting video. thanks again
Probably our first bit of sun in quite some time!
HI KEITH, YOU DISCOVERED THIS BEFORE, I ONLY FOUND THIS TODAY 25 JUL, HOW MANY OTHER FILMS HAVE REBECCA AND ROBERT DONE ????.
Alice? Alice? Who the f**k is Robert?!
A glorious view, that tunnel-like path through the shrubbery at 9:11. It well-nigh invites a Jamesian ghost story.
Lovely Summer Weather, nice and informative :)
Thanks
Always a step into a more relaxed world; a time gone past that has left clues for us to find. I think Cocking is okay but I appreciate your concern for sensitive bodies who view.
and more importantly sensitive organisations called RUclips
Nice one to watch, again. 👍
Thanks Marc. Much appreciated.
Takes me back to my youth, the midhurst tunnel at the fairway used to be badly boarded up so was easy to walk through
ahh, is the Fairway the flats side?
Great video. Thanks.
Thanks Carol
That put paid to that early night! Way off my patch Paul - I’ve rarely been to that part of the country but it makes you realise just what a labyrinth the railway was and how much the country depended on it. The portals are a work of art with such detail and imagination. Have a look at Graeme Bickerdikes’s “Tunnel Vision” RUclips video, you’ll love it.
This is it; ruclips.net/video/_c8jvixQGpQ/видео.html
Thanks Don. Your videos often cause me the same issue!.... 'shall I watch one more!?'.
Another nice presentation guys,keep up the good work,such a shame to see some lovely lines shut,well done you both.
Railway architecture was always about being..
Asthetically pleasing to the eye.. there is so much dressed stone and carved items that as a passenger u just dont see.. but might get a glimpse of.., u need to come up to manchester and do the..middlewood way, tissington trail and millersdale wroute, there are lots of tunnels there and u can walk thru them all as there lit up..enjoying the vids
Thanks Taffy. We will tap Martin up for a tour. Added to the list Sir. 👍
Another great vid, regards Paul.
Thanks Tracey/Paul. 👍👍
I cycled the entire Hayling Island branch line last weekend. Can't wait for you to do that one and the Southsea line!
Yup we keep getting asked to do that!
@@pwhitewick Hayling line , that starts at havant station ..crossing gates.. there's bridges , fence posts, and after you cross Langstone harbour , there's a restored semephore signal, where it crosses the water.. the bridge supports are still visible there too
Another great tunnel video, Paul and Rebecca! Most enjoyable - I did photograph Cocking tunnel in the 1980s, but there was no fence round it then! Was tempted to walk through it, but time did not allow. Looking forward to your next one. Cheers.
Thanks Simon. Very very rare bats I believe.
I grew up in cocking...in the eighties we used to walk thru cocking tunnel with the primary school as day visits. It was great. Once u got to the other side we would have a picnic. So many memories. Incidentally, if u had carried on walking you would have come across cocking station...beautiful grand house now...but kept alot of the original features. Wow..what a video. A great reminiscence.
Thank you Just brilliant
Awesome Railway History video
Thank you.
hey paul and rebecca , great video , loved the black and white segments , those tunnels looked really cool , well done both :)
Thanks Davie. Lots of Black and White and lots of me pointing very cinematically!
@@pwhitewick yea i loved it lol , keep up the good work :)
Just heard of you while watching Vicki pipe's adventures segment on all the stations. Cheers from your new sub from California !
Welcome Sir.
Great video thank you
Good . . light and easy to take in, regards Don
Thanks Don, thats our goal.
Great Video, they get slicker and slicker. What is it about tunnels? Do they feel like a secret? Is it because we can picture the scene in our minds of the steam trains thundering through? Is it their construction...brick on brick built by hand? Is it that they are slightly frightening with their dark recesses? I am not sure I will ever know, but I sure am a sucker for a good tunnel vid.
Thanks Garry. It's definitely all of those things for sure! Though they are a killer of time compared to abandoned stations they are definitely worth the explore.
Wonderful! Been to all these plus neighbouring Heathfield Tunnel and Baynards in early 90sish. Singleton was the hardest to get to. Backtrack magazine Vol 2 no2 summer 1988 has interesting article on all these tunnels. Also check out Vic Mitchell and Keith Smiths hardback books Branchlines to Midhurst and Branchlines around Midhurst from 1987
Thanks Alan. Thanks also for sharing the info. 👍
Lovely portal on #3 for certain-
Enjoyed this video of you both thanks. John Rooney
Cheers John. 👍👍
Shame you couldn't get inside! Brilliant video once again
Yup!.... Back to Wales soon!
very interesting as usual.
Thanks Richard.
I live just up the road from this tunnel!
Another fascinating vid. Thanks - from a new subscriber
Very nice.
Cheers
Thank you Paul and Rebecca , i live near ish. Its a shame but on the southern end of the centurion way at chichester they want to build houses severing the old line even more.
Thanks Peter. That's a shame, this is a lovely route up into the South Downs.
Rebecca, paul. Great video, lovely scenery and architecture. But oh such a waste ,to just block them off, health and safety gone mad!
Cheers Chris. Ah all for the bats at the moment, after our visit we also read that there are some very rare bats here too!
Nice video
You made reference to the BRBR (British Railways Board Residual Ltd) that took over disused structures from British Rail when it was privatised in 1994. BRBR was disbanded about ten years ago, with structures becoming the responsibility of the Highways Agency or local councils etc
Thanks Greg. Completely unaware of that.
@@pwhitewick en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRB_(Residuary)_Limited
According to Wikipedia, it was only dispanded in 2013! Not as long ago as I thought
@@Gregdotgreg yeh the Highways agency kicked off about been lumbered with all these tunnels and viaducts etc.
I saw these tunnels on the OS map, and cycled 70 miles round-trip from Winchester in November 1995 to visit them. Found C***ing tunnel open, but had left my torch in my bike-pannier. It was quite a trek from that road-bridge to the north portal, so I cycled to the other end hoping for easier access. Of course it was impossible at the other end, and so I never did walk through...!
The A272 to Petersfield was perfectly nice for cycling on a Sunday afternoon back then!
That's a big cycle! So you entered from the south?
Whitewick's Abandoned Railways I’d approached from the wonderfully named village of Bepton, making my way south to look at each tunnel. So the portal I got to and only shied away from for want of a torch must have been the northern. Thank you for rekindling these memories!
Hi Paul, Rebecca lovely video very interesting. beautiful engineering shame its not in use. thank you both xx
Thanks Colin. Quite a few lovely walks along here. Weather helps too!
Lovely
Thanks John
only just seen your video on the South Downs railway Tunnels . You may be interested in following .
1 I can remember after i left school and my first job was doing engineering work on farms that was about 1962-63 time . We did a job on a farm very close to Eastern end of the Midhurst tunnel and we watched a small goods train pulled by a Class 33 diesel enter the tunnel heading to Midhurst from Pulborough.
2 I understand the tunnels South of Cocking were used during WW2 to store "Ammunition" Trains in when required. Just north of Singleton tunnel adjacent to the track was Nissin hut which there until the early 2000s
3 West Dean tunnel was used for number of years as Mushroom Farm
Very interesting.
Cheers David.
Have you thought of doing the brussleton incline in the north east outside of Shildon? Lots of history including the beginning of the steam railways and the Stockton to Darlington railway?
Is that line the first line in history?
Personally I would like to see more of the maps of the locations, from county scale, down to the closer views which is what you do a lot of the time, anyway. That way it is easier to reference for someone who is not altogether familiar with the areas you visit.
I used to work for an agricultural contractor during the 70’s/80’s As far as I can remember west dean tunnel was used for mushroom growing hence power feed
Thanks Kev.
I feel like you need a small ROV with some good lights and a camera and a emergency pull back tether. put it on the ground and drive in it a ways for some good shots inside without risking your person and hopefully being able to pull it back if it gets stuck.
When you found Tunnel 3 you should have shouted "stop the clock". Bit like an episode of Treasure Hunt. I think we're of a similar vintage so hopefully you'll understand what I mean? Another great vid. I have to concur with other's comments about so much effort put in to railway infrastructure just tossed to one side. Thanks to both of you for giving it the credit it deserves.
Thank you Russ. So I am thinking "challenge Anika"
@@pwhitewick It was Anneka Rice but not the show you mentioned. It was Treasure Hunt with the helicopters? Had to fly to various locations to find the clues. At the end if she was successful, she shouted "stop the clock". Hope you're still awake after that explanation!!
@@gussmedways Kenneth Kendal and Wincey Willis were in it too, although I can't recall if that was just the names of each cheek.
Wincy Willis!!
Oh my god, I thought I had completely wiped that programme from my memory, we had 13yr olds at the youth club that had better map navigation skills than Anneka Rice and their base team and those jump suits... Arghhhhh, I am now going to have find video because my daughter is asking what the hell is Treasure hunt, it sounds cool!
Now everyone has cameras and maps on their phones, sane clothing ideas for trekking a cross fields and geocashing happened as a programme I think it could make a come back but with different celebrity teams each week maybe and no helicopter.
good video
Another great video! You should check out Lywood tunnel in Ardingly as well. Massive twin track tunnel with hugely impressive brickwork. 218m long I think. With a mail to the Bluebell railway you might just get to walk through it as well, currently fenced. Smaller one close to that in Newick as well.
Thanks John. I've screenshot this and will do just that!
Funny thing about your mentioning the BATS...when I was a kid in the 60's I walked through all the Cotswold tunnels and a couple in Wiltshire, they were all open then.......and funnily enough not one BAT did I ever see.....so these must all be trendy modern bats that moved in after they bricked up all the entrances.....and weirdly enough since some of the entrances have been bricked up, I have walked through (when naughty people have broken the locks)...and BATS millions of them....all invisible of course ....because I could not see any of them.
Learn something new every time - including your opinion on Ghosts, just say No! 8:30
Hahahaha...... Nooooooooooo 👻
Just a thought, the long siding at Cocking Station could have been used for "parking" the Royal Train when members of the Royal Family were visiting either West Dean House or Goodwood Races. The locomotive could have bee turned round if needs be at Midhurst.. This is of course pure hypothesis.
If you had followed the path north on the Dover estate you would of found the north portals north side which is nr Littlewood farm, there is a bridge that was blown up.
Last summer we found cocking tunnel and was able to walk through it
When you get to the West Sussex area there are some really interesting places in and around The Bluebell Railway (A recently reopened) viaduct, one tunnel which is in use as a single track only although if I remember correctly there was a second tunnel and/or viaduct which the Bluebell Railway have access to.
I know between Horstead Keynes (Bluebell) and Isfield (Lavander Line) which used to be connected back in the day there were lots of Stations along with changes and alterations and funny bits of track in that area.
While I think about it, just south of the Lavender Line there is a really nice pub about a mile and a half down a country road called the Anchor Inn where you can see some old trackbed as well as Elsie's Bridge... However if you climb up onto the track bed and walk north a few hundred yards you will find another bridge which you can walk over in the trees. Just be careful on the semi rotton timbers!
I would if I were you approach The Bluebell Railway to see if they could let you have access to any of the old infrastructure... It's worth an ask as it would essentially be free advertising to the Bluebell Railway to loads of people who have an interest in railways and infrastructure.
Robert Ede.
Thanks for that Robert. Very useful.
I had a look for the information... The Wikipedia page is really useful.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluebell_Railway?wprov=sfla1
They do have another Tunnel on the unused Ardingly Spur but the viaduct between that tunnel and Horstead Keynes got demolished in the 60's. That being said the other tunnel and viaduct is still in use on a single line. There was a 3 year period in which the line was totally disused before the heritage railway started running the first trains.
There was a cutting just south of the viaduct which was filled in, in the 60's & 70's with landfill waste but they managed to take it away using trains via East Grinstead and finally connected the Bluebell Railway with the main line at East Grinstead.
Hi guys, if I'd known you were coming I'd have treated you to a couple of coffees!!!!! This line has to be our best kept secret, so much architecture and none of it ever seen now. Cocking tunnel once used as an armament store hence the long siding and more recently for mushroom growing. Did you think about doing the stations along this bit as well? Looking forward to next Friday.
Cheers Bob. We could have used a cuppa! We did the stations as well although that will probably be a couple of weeks away as we have some interesting tramroad videos up next..... Very very interesting
Nice video of the old train entrances the victorians knew how to build beautiful things, , , oh and by the way i think you lost your daughter somewhere in one of those tunnels lol, ,
Hahaha..... I did wonder where she had got to!
Enjoyed journeying with you on your brilliantly narrated exploration. The Victorians really didn't stint on tunnel portal design: aesthetically pleasing as well being functional! Great footage, great editing, great soundtrack. Thank you!
Thank you Richard. Very kind words.
Another nice one love the way the misses bites tongue on we got a bit lost mmm it’s always the mans fault 😂
😅.... I didn't notice that!
Great video Paul and Rebecca,I love the southdowns,very beautiful, looking forward to the next video,just asking,are you coming down to the hayling Billy railway line any time soon.😀
Thanks Shaun. Our list keeps getting bigger and bigger! Drop us an email if you get a minute and we will stick it closer to the top!
Rebecca is what I call pretty fit :-)