Unique film! The Last Train to Easton, Portland railway 1965
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2018
- A unique record of the last passenger train to Portland, Dorset, on Saturday 27th March 1965. Ghostly images! From my original Super-8 cine film. A glimpse of a long-lost scene, before so many of Britain's lovely branch lines were closed after the Beeching report. This unique footage shows just a short section, between Wakeham and Easton. Further around, the cliff-hugging line was one of the most picturesque coastal railways in England. The normal passenger services on the Weymouth to Portland line ceased in 1952, but goods traffic continued until 1965. Three 'specials' ran on the last day. (Sorry about the typo in title, 'glimpse')
That's me sitting on the fence by the way!
I was on that train with my granddad. Until a house move a few years back I still had the tickets and booklet that was issued. The line passed our back garden and I used to love the (few!) trains going to Portland, and then.... there were none.
Yes, very sad. At least you have your memories.
I enjoyed this little documentary, nicely done.
Thank you Stuart, such a shame we lost so many lines in those years
I was on that train. I was 16 years old and had been unable to buy an advance ticket as the three runs had sold out weeks before. As luck would have it the guard let my pal and me travel in his brake compartment without a ticket! A memorable trip.
Lucky you! Well done.
It's wonderful that people like Stuart and his colleagues have kept these memories for us all to see,thanks !!
great video. went on this train to see my Gran in 63. father was post master in EASTON. Thanks for keeping these memories alive Stuart. Regards Simon White.
Felt sad watching this film Stuart with my own memories of Portland, and that wonderful steam train. Thankyou Stuart for sharing your memorable films.
I agree, such a sad loss.
Great footage! The line would be a fantastic tourist attraction if it still existed today - and a very useful link for Portland and other settlements along the route.
From Wikipedia:
“Nevertheless the decline in passenger carryings was inexorable, and it was announced that the Portland lines would be closed to passengers on 3 March 1952.
After the closure Melcombe Regis station was occasionally used for trains on the main line arriving at Weymouth, when platform availability was inadequate.
Goods traffic was not immune to the decline, and the last goods train ran on 9 April 1965, clearing last wagons, the goods service having closed on 5 April.”
Thank you. Excellent film. I must pay a visit and do the walk.
Wow. Great footage. Thank you so much for sharing.
When this line closed I was 15 and lived in west Wales; so I never saw the line in operation. But this very nicely produced documentary gives an excellent impression of what it was like. Thank you!
Many thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed it. It was a sad loss.
Magic magic magic, knew it had been there but to see it after all these years, just brilliant and thank you!
Thank you for all the time and effort you must have devoted to producing this. It's Excellent.
Many thanks. I'm please you enjoy it.
Absolute vandalism demolishing that wonderful bridge, to be replaced by the crane job!! But what a wonderfully evocative bit of film!
Great stuff. I’m not quite old enough to remember this line in use, sadly, being three when it was closed. What a wonderful heritage railway it could have made.
Lovely little film. How fortunate we are that you were there to record it.
Thanks for producing this, I remember my parents taking me on this last journey, I was 4.5 years old. My Dad took quite a few photographs, but unfortunately the colour processing was defective and they all came out with a strong blue cast.
Perhaps some editing in Photoshop or similar can correct the colour?
Thank you for that, very informative but very sad. Weymouth - Easton would be one of the best heritage lines today if there'd been more foresight in the 1960s
Amazing footage!
It's sad that this type of vandalism happened all over the UK to our rail network. Now they are regretting it with the amount of road traffic. The amount of lorries on the roads is just ridiculous.
Quite right Craigy. Yet another route that should have been kept open
Totally agree again governments being greedy and doing what they want is the issue. They never work with the public it’s just a small handful of people intent on making money
Careful, I mentioned this on another video and was immediately jumped on by someone who obviously didn`t like railways and loved roads. No accounting for taste.
@@DarrenJCalvertMarples - Minister of Transport - owned a road building company.
It’s no different in Australia, lines considered excess to requirements were unceremoniously ripped up. In many cases the rails were chopped up an shipped to China as scrap. Unbelievable a main electrified line from the Latrobe Valley to Melbourne, which is the centre of Victorian coal power generation had all the gantries and cantaries removed and now only has diesel trains. Is that progress? The short sightedness of all Government departments around the world. You had Dr Beecham, we had Premier Jeff Kenneth.🇦🇺
Thanks for sharing , Stuart. Another line that should have been preserved
Absolutely.
Greatly enjoyed this. I recall my grandfather (then station master at Corfe) taking me along this line in the early 50's. I can still remember the engine working hard against the gradient. It was my first visit to Portland.
I'm pleased you enjoyed it Leslie. I wish I had taken more at the time, but film was expensive. I expect your grandfather had some good tales of his life as a stationmaster.
*I took my son then age 5 there in 1985 and he kept pronouncing it **_Portland Bull,_** memories are made of this, would be a huge tourist attraction from Weymouth if re-opened today.*
Thanks for an excellent production. I was a passenger on that final journey! I took many photos, but now sadly lost.
That's a great shame. I hope this makes up for that loss a little.
What a really excellent, well-made documentary this is!
I had no idea a rail line could be constructed over such difficult terrain.
And we even get to see the handsome young film-maker at 6.50.
I’ve subscribed…
What an encouraging review! Very many thanks for that, it's appreciated. That brief clip of a young me back then sadly reinforces the toll that the passage of time has on us all!
Interesting that the line closed in 1952. I was born in 1944 and I have a clear memory of riding with two friends of my own age, Eileen Powell and George Newbold, on the line from Weymouth backwater station to (I think) Rodwell. So three six year olds were ok to travel on a steam train unaccompanied.
Yes, fond memories for many.
I knew an Eileen Powell. I wonder if it's the same?
@@StuartMorris7 Seems likely if she was born around 1944. I think (because she knew George Newbold) she may have lived near Goldcroft Road.
Well presented and a totally enjoyable and absorbing film but sadly, and yes my loss, have never visited this area.
Thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed it. I'm sad about the loss too.
I was living in Portland when HM came to visit HMS Eagle (A/craft carrier) in Weymouth Bay (1959?) - the Royal Train came to the Dockyard Station where HM came ashore - there was concern that the train may not be able to cope with the gradients back to Weymouth so the Royal cars all came to Portland just in case...
Great film - I didn't realise the line had stayed open so long - we moved away in 1960
Very nice
Well done: great effort: very pleasing to watch and hear the narrative and musical accompaniment ( very apt).
Thank you. Glad you like it!
The tearing down of that little bridge just feels like rubbing salt in the wound, couldn't that have been left alone at least?
I wonder if anyone has recreated this line as a model railway, it looks like it is crying out to be brought back to life, even in miniature.
Absolutely! I protested vigorously when I it was demolished, but the council just slapped their wrist. A model railway would be brilliant.
@@StuartMorris7 After watching your video (which was where I first learned about this railway), I spent some time in Google Earth looking at the site. The 3D mode is great for getting an idea of the gradient up to that bridge. Was even able to follow the old rail lines up across the bridge towards Weymouth, and can see the old rail tunnels and cuttings. Such a shame it had to go. Thanks for introducing me to this lost piece of history.
@@TheHongKongHermit I'm glad it's of interest. It is sad that it has all gone, and I wish I had taken more film and photos before it closed.
@@StuartMorris7 I did find a gentleman who just last year was working on a big project to model Easton railway station in OO scale. There was a long progress thread on a model railway forum. Sadly he passed just recently so the project died with him.
@@TheHongKongHermit That is so sad. Surely there are some model enthusiasts who would take on that project. It would be lovely to bring the line and station to life in that way.
What a wonderful heritage line this would have made if it had survived just a few more years.
Very true. It's on the now-designated Jurassic Coast too.
I can remember being told it was the last train, I was 5! Was at my grand parents in Easton and watched it.
We then moved to Victoria Place, trains still ran along there in 66, possibly 67, but not passenger trains obviously.
very lucky to still have steam in 1965 most were gone here in the States by then
Yes, but it wasn't for long. Apart from some heritage lines our trains have long been all electric or diesel
Thanks for that. It was wonderful to watch. What a crying shame. Such shortsightedness!
It closed to passengers in ‘52. 11 full years before Beeching. THAT’S how much of a dud it was.
Thank you so much for those childhood memories, have since walked most of the old track bed, but so nice to see these films to bolster old memories
Stuart, thank you very much for this. You might remember me although I think I might be a bit younger than you having been born in 1946. My father ran the shoe repairer’s on the corner where High Street joins Spring Gardens. I went to Weymouth Grammar as I think did you. I left Portland at the age of 21 however I still have a cousin in Weymouth and stay in touch with some old friends of my era from Portland. I now live in south west London but usually get back to Portland once a year. Once a Portlander always a Portlander.
I was and still am in some ways a railway enthusiast probably because of my father. When he first left school he worked for some years at the railway station in Victoria Square. I am talking of the original station which as you will know was a goods depot when I was a child. He then got called up during the war and took over the shop when he eventually returned after being wounded in Normandy. He also worked in the signal box.
As with some others I was also dismayed when the footbridge at Church Ope was destroyed. I think the railway builders did some incredible work.
I have enjoyed your previous videos and I do hope you can keep up the good work.
Richard Peterson
Hello Richard. yes I do remember you (i was born in Dec. 1942 and I did go to WGS). Your dad expertly repaired many of my mangled shoes. I can still recall that lovely aroma of leather in his shop, and could never fathom how he instantly retrieved pairs from what looked like a jumbled pile on the counter, (if my memory is correct). I didn't know his background. Thanks for getting in touch, and enjoy your occasional return visits
@@StuartMorris7
Stuart, I am pleased to hear that you remember me and of course that you were a customer of my dad. I had guessed that you were about four years older than me.
A couple of summers ago some friends of mine were walking the south west coast path. When they got to Weymouth I came down to meet them and walked them all around the perimeter of the island, or as much as is accessible. I had mentioned the Julia Bradbury programme to them and pointed out the spot where you talked about flying down the hill on bits of cardboard. We used to do that as well. You also used exactly the same words as I have done many times in the past when you described Portland as a giant adventure playground when growing up. It certainly was.
Times move on I know, but I find it a bit sad that so much of Underhill has been built on.
Richard
@@merape99 Yes, it's funny how the little things stick in your mind after so many years. We are still on the Island which has changed a lot, not always for the better. But there is still so much to appreciate.
What a great presntation and so well put together. Thank you
Thanks for your comment
A very enjoyable and well produced documentary. I wasn't aware this was accessible as the route from Castletown onwards is closed to public access.
The route through what is now Portland Port is closed to the public, but beyond that, through the East Weares, above Church Ope Cove to Easton is open, and is an enjoyable walk.
Really good footage put together, thank you. Portland had two separate railway companies.
Fascinating, thank you for publishing this.
Fabulous days sadly long gone.
My Grandfather worked as a guard on this line during the 1940,s into the 1950,s. His name was John Townends. Lived in upway but I think he was known as Jack
Lovely film, thank you Stuart 😀
There's a special place in hell for Mr.Beeching and Mr. Marples. Thanks for having the foresight to shoot this footage and Thanks for making it available.
Don't forget Barbara Castle who closed the Great Central.
Dr. Beeching didn't close any railways. He only compiled a report. All of these lines were loosing money.
The plain people of the U.K. wanted to keep up with the Joneses and own cars.
Freedom to go anywhere when ever they wanted to.
Don't tell Thomas and Henry, they're scared of ghosts!
BTW, thanks VERY much for this.
Thank you for the lovely video and accompanying information.
Interesting,I agree with the last comment.
Wonderful. Thank you.
I was on that train.
That's good to know! Very pleased that you found my film.
Nice film. Thank you :-)
A very interesting documentary - especially like the overlays of moving train footage over recent track line photographs - well done. Hairs in the film-gate make you appreciate digital cameras now, but now the images are "squeaky clean!"
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I remember that annoying hair. It appears in several of my 8mm films at the time, but I could not work out how to remove it. Perhaps it adds to authenticity (or maybe not!)
I use to have the same problems back in my standard & super-8 days of filming - very frustrating after waiting an age for the footage to be developed and often binned! Well done anyway!
@@StuartMorris7 *It can best be described as **_"probably a Pubic Hair"_** which would most certainly send it Viral !*
@@GrrMeister Which begs the question, how did it get in there?
Great film...thanks
Thanks for showing us your film. I was given the Julia Bradbury DVD for Christmas which features a walk on this branch so really interesting to see some original footage.
Cuddling up to Julia.
Sorry, I tried to add a photo of the day we were filmed, but it seems you can't.
*I understand Julia who presented a series of **_"Railway Walks"_** is currently unavailable having got married and had a son Zephyrus Cunningham and since twin girls Xanthe and Zena. However you were very lucky, all I got for Christmas was a bottle of Scotch, long gone !*
@@GrrMeister Julia has not let her family stop her. She has travelled the world for her new TV series juliabradbury.com/
Fantastic. Well done Stuart. Tony B
Wonderful film, so sad it was closed and demolished
Thank you.
Thank you. That meant a lot to me.
That's good, I'm pleased you like it. Does it bring back memories or something for you?
Hi Stuart
Yes it did. My Mother was from Easton Street & I went there a lot as a child into my early teens(from Barry) She showed me the line & told me she caught the train from work in Weymouth (where I was born). I remember the Easton Station. I've lived in Wales most of my life, but still feel a strong pull to Portland.
It was a lovely video. Thank you.
Best regards
Kevin
Such a shame this closed - imagine how much tourists would pay to ride behind Heritage steam locos! WE were told that the government would be reopening valuable lines. This being one of them PLUS I have done a 2 year survey of the S&DJR and most of the track bed bridges etc are still there! That would bring back rail connections to Northern Somerset. I lived in America for a whole and witnessed how THEY USE their rail for freight etc and value it. WHY DONT WE IN THE UK???
Very true/ I fear it's too late for this line though.
Nothing ‘valuable’ about this line at all. It closed to passengers a full decade before Beeching swung his axe. And the ‘freight’ moved onto the roads. It’s far more flexible and convenient than any railway ever was.
Good job
So interesting.
Great footage, alas another example of the Beeching axe, the idiot just didn't have a clue of the future damage he was to cause in later years.
a lovely walk does not replace a pretty coastal train line.
Needs reopening as a wide protected cycling lane - wonderful use for it and would encourage a huge number of Cyclists if safely linked to Weymouth
What island is this? So many videos are unclear about their whereabouts.
The Island and Royal Manor of Portland, Dorset UK.
35+ years of planning, design and hard won construction just thrown away in an instant. Criminal.
So true.
What we build our sons and daughters tare down.
I find this event literally sickening
Are you referring to the film, or the closure of the line?
@@StuartMorris7 the closure of the line of course ,
brilliant film! Not sure about the music tho
Which clip of music don't you like? The background music to the 'ghost train' part was meant to help it feel a bit eerie.
@@StuartMorris7 Any music is completely unnecessary for any railway footage. In the absence of any genuine railway sounds or narration, - silence is Golden.
I respect your opinion, but as with most TV and streamed documentaries, I find that subtle background music can accentuate mood and atmosphere. Most producers seem to agree.
I live here and I have no idea where any of this is 😂
The bridge carrying the road over the railway is at the bottom of Wakeham. The line curves round to end at the station, where Ladymead Hall is now, just off Easton Square.
Stuart Morris oh really ? Hahah I live in wakeham 😂
SSH did someone mention the R word?.
Did it ever make any money?