Since I have retired I have found that I'm becoming so much more like Victor Meldrew (played by Richard Wilson in One Foot in The Grave). I am now the angry old man that I thought I would never become. But with age comes wisdom. How dare the Politian's who are supposed to serve us just throw away our heritage. The things that our grand fathers and great great grand fathers toiled to build in order to bring about a better England. For me it started with the Beeching report (can't call him a doctor because he wasn't). A patsy hired from ICI to bring about an outcome already decided to benefit one (if not more) politician, in this case Ernest Marples (Minister of Transport 1959 - 1964) later Baron Marples (shows how corruption has it's rewards). Marples was a corrupt politician due to his family interests in road construction. If the same review of Britain Railways would happen today, lines like this one would never have been closed. In a different world, one where the green agenda is becoming more urgent, we need the railways. All of them!!!!
However this particular route closed to passengers and freight before the Beeching Report was produced. I have done a lot of reading on the subject closures in the Edinburgh area and most of the stations and branches were closed before the Beeching Report with many closed by the LNER in the thirties.
Sorry but Beeching was necessary the railways were overstaffed and not making money. The problem caused was not leaving the route open so the lines could be reinstated as per great central.
I couldn’t agree more! Marples should’ve been brought back to Britain to face charges of corruption and vested interests. An absolutely selfish bastard!
I live not too far from this route and was aware that most of the track was still down but I've never actually been so this is my first ever look at it. Quality stuff as always, Thanks.
Hello, absolutely fantastic video! I’m delighted that you included some of my old railway videos from 1976. I’ve been planning to post some new videos of freight trains on the Stoke - Leek line for some years and your video has finally made me decide to get on with it! I’ve got some of the old clips remastered with AI and that makes a real difference. I used to live in Baddeley Green - between Milton & Stockton Brook and spent many hours watching trains go by. I’ll start publishing the new clips in the next month or so. Thanks again for a great video!
Cut a few trees down, scrape the moss off the rails chuck a bit of ballast down, jobs a goodun😂😂😂😂 What an excellent vid, not a bramble in sight!!!! Thanks Ant👍👍👍👍
We did basically that at Immingham when we reopened sorting sidings few years back , I never knew sorting sidings existed till run some Loco's through it ! . In hindsight track wasn't to good full of rotten sleeper's but this track looks ok
Hi ant cracking video as always !! As a stokie i can shed some more info on your video. Its pronounced cauldon as is cauldron but with don on the end !! The reason the ballast is missing at endon station is the station was totally overgrown and when they changed the use to the tearooms they were going put tables outside on the platform so totally landscaped it !! A massive part you missed is the ticket office at milton is still there but its above the road as like stockton brook !! The foxley canal is mainly intact to its end and still recogniseable as a canal !! Also the line from stoke to cauldon was set with a clause when mothballed that it had to be kept maintained and ready for use within 72 hours !! Regards john 😊
Cauldon Low is a limestone mine and portland cement factory. Was the area also used for wartime munitions storage? It’s remote enough and mines were often used that way.
That looks similar to a line near me, the Bramley Line from March to Wisbech, closed to passengers in 1968, then used as a freight line serving Metal Box in Wisbech with Steel coils, finally fully closed in 2000, but all the track in place to the outskirts of Wisbech, the Bramley Railway trust regularly go out cutting back brambles etc that are encroaching on the line. The local MP is pushing to reopen it as a light Railway.
I joined a branch lines rail tour which began at Helby [?] near Runcorn. This was in 1983. A DMU was the order of the day and we traversed many freight only and now closed branch lines in Cheshire and a little into North Staffs. This was one of the lines we travelled along as far as Oakamoor. I do recall photographing from the train the cantilever bridge over the canal at Endon [?]. It was a great day out. Sadly many of these lines are just byways for dog walkers today. I believe there are plans at some time in future to use this line as part of the reconnection project from the proposed new station at Leek back to Stoke mainline station. We'll wait and see!
It's one of the projects promised funding after the cancellation of HS2, though the recent change of government will have almost certainly ended that dream...
Great walk. Such a thrill to see so much Infrastructure especially rails still in situe. Most unusual these days.. what really rubs me up is the way Joe Public treats bridges and cuttings as his personal rubbish dump. Thanks Ant.
The steel used for these rails would be and still is much better than the crap used today. Often it can be re-used especially if for a heritage line used at 25 mph maximum line speed.
I tend to put your episodes on regular through the telly on the youtube app - makes up for the lack of quality TV shows these days! Tip for another - checkout a time capsule that is Broomielaw station, near Barnard Castle.
It's a real shame that there's no longer a direct rail route between north-east and north-west England such as the Lake District, formerly served by the Tebay line.
Thanx for this. Brilliant video as always. I lived in Endon and you've ignited all my childhood memories of playing and walking the line and canal in the 70's. Keep up the good work. I also have inherited the Bucknall Signal Box Sign from my late Father...
What an amazing video from start to finish. Very interesting and informative all the way through. Well done sir. I will definitely be watching again. Thank you once again. 👍🚂
Love the video!! I went staffs uni and stumbled upon this rail track when I was going to get my first ‘Rona vaccine in 2021 because the maps on my phone took me a really convoluted way under a bridge on the last section of track, which I had a little nosey at. Me and my friends walked this railway quite a bit that year, it was a lot of fun when we weren’t really allowed to get up to a whole lot from lockdowns. So this was a fantastic throwback and really good memories. Great to hear all the history behind it.
A really great video Ant, just a pity about that last bit towards Stoke station. I reckon that this would be a fantastic line to re-open, but the strengthening of that tunnel has left the headroom too low for conventional 12 to 13 feet height rolling stock to go through, unless, the track could be lowered, but then it could become flooded out. Many thanks, Ant for this production.
No it isn't. A business case has been submitted for funding. The decision hasn't been made yet. The local MP is making claims they can't back up, they dishonestly claimed work was ongoing to reopen, but they were stood back to a stretch used for training. I can assure you this won't reopen. Freedom of information requests to obtain the business case have been rejected. It's not hard to work out why.
Beautiful walk.Very thoughtful of you to cram in so much lovely content and the choice of background music was amazing to listen to.Unlike so much of contempory content it was like a breath of fresh air.Well done!
The line that runs up the middle of Anglesey to Amlwch is another with trackbed still intact. Used to serve the Bromine plant which is also worth an explore
Railway corporations never sell or give-up their property or right-of-way. It's too valuable more so after a line has become derelict. While the existing track and ties (sleepers) are decrepit and will not sustain rolling-stock traffic, there is money to be made once the gov't decides the line should be revitalized. Big money.
Thank you for a most informative (and enthusiastic) presentation. Let us hope and pray that the line will be reopened to passengers and freight in due course.
It was one of the rail reinstatement projects promised funding by the Tories after the cancellation of HS2... however, the recent change of government will almost certainly see the end of that dream...
That was amazing..thank you. To see all that track still in place. A couple of places along the route would require a heckof a lot of work to re-open even part of it. Very enjoyable...all the best.
my son lived in belgium and once when i visited him for the weekend we had a family trip, he took me to a disused railway line and we hired a four seater pedal powered trolley! it was brilliant all low maintainence, just wish someone would do the same in the uk! the line your portraying here would be ideal.
They do that in the USA ! they have little trollys with little motors on, in the USA they call them ,'Speeders;, and some folk go quite considerable distances on them !
Yet again another outstanding documentary into our history in this case rail . Thank you for going out of your way to bring this to our screens it’s much appreciated indeed!. I do look forward to your comprehensive commentary / documentary with the use of drone footage that adds a different perspective. It would be fantastic if this line was reopened if for nothing More than a tourist attraction . Well done sir !
The sand in the wagons would be Silica Sand quarried by British Industrial Sand (B.I.S.) at Oakamoor and was used to make glass. It contained very little iron so was white.
Another excellent video Ant, have you heard about the Anglesey Central Railway? unused since the 90s all the track is still down and there are plans to reopen it, might be worth a look
Thank you for this day’s video. Always a trek back in time. Reconstructing the remaining will not be simple. Invasion of trees in the lines path have to removed, ballast formation has to reconstructed, and maintenance has to be maintained. The idea of resurrection is fine in theory, but costly in expense. Reopening? In theory yes, in associated costs, I doubt it. Again, thank you for the video this day, Ant. Always a pleasure to watch. Cheers Ant! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸
This is an ace video! Brings back memories of how this interest all started for myself. Back in the early 90's as a kid my dad took me walking along the disused tracks from Dereham to Wymondham in Norfolk (think it closed to freight in the 80s also) Luckily in the years since it got restored and is now a great heritage railway fingers crossed this one gets the same result! Also hopefully there are some more gems like this left you can capture
Fascinating video! Thank you so, SO much for uploading. This was especially interesting to me as I have walked the section from Endon to Leekbrook during a holiday in the area several years ago. So, there is still hope!
@@TrekkingExploration Thank you for kindly replying to my comment. I really appreciate your doing that! Yes, you'd enjoy the section which I walked. Thinking about it, this was in 2017. This looks very similar with the track in situ throughout. There are, however, (or were!) some remaining semaphore signals.
It wouldn't be difficult to reopen. A contractor could easily clear the trees and brambles in a month. The trees are mostly birch, which grows straight. They can be sent to a sawmill for processing. Replace the rotton sleepers and trains can run again. The rails look in good condition.
@@22pcirish I totally agree. It seems many people like the idea of a railway without thinking of the reality. The passenger services on this line were ceased before Beeching, which ought to tell people something. In my personal view conversion to a guided busway would be better. The bus could then leave the line and come into Leek Town centre, and wouldn't need a new platform in Stoke. It would be far more flexible than a train and would remove delays to busses from regular traffic. Seeing as the bus services have been eviscerated locally it's difficult to see that happening.
This line has been reopening "next year" for a very long time. Always next year and never this year. The only reason the local Tory MPs keep obsessing about this line is because they are using it for propaganda. They know it's never going to happen, but they'll keep pretending it is until they lose the election. They'll then accuse Labour of scrapping it. The Tories have eviscerated local bus services in North Staffordshire. I find it genuinely remarkable anyone believes them when it comes to this railway. Mark my words, this will not be reopened.
I really enjoyed your video, well presented and interesting. I am all for reopening these abandoned lines wherever possible. The problem with most is that at some point they have been completely closed off so they can only ever be a short branch. This one can go no further than the outskirts of Leek as its Station is now I believe a car park. It would be great to see it in use again but at what cost, and there are others that would probably be more financially viable like the Midland line between Matlock and Great Rocks.
I love the idea that these lines could be reopened. The filming of these chunks of our industrial heritage is so important… to be honest I’ve worried a few folks who have bought houses built on very viable but closed lines with a sly wink claiming that the Railways Act 1890 (complete bluff of course) could be used to rebuild the tracks but also remove any obstruction involved including homes and factories, ..I know I need to grow up.😂
Hi. What a fantastic video. I grew up near stocton brook . There was a signal just before endon station. I use to climb up the ladder at weekend when no trains ran. The track that is now the cycle way closed in 1976. Norton and Whitfield collierys used the track to transport there coal
Another superb walk. How interesting that for so much of the line, the trees did not grow between the rails and you were able to walk quite easily! Loved the little tunnel too, of course! I do hope that it does get re-opened - maybe the Churnet Valley should take it on?
I first encountered this line on a canal cruise in 1973, no passengers , but busy for freight - from both Oakamoor (sand) and Caulden Lowe (quarry stone). The junction for the two lines was at Leekbrook. It's been earmarked for possible reopen ing, but doubt it will. Potential custom is questionable and despite the track still being in situ, it is in very in poor condition. One lives in hope, however: it's picturesque and would give the beleaguered Churnet Valley Railway a potential main line connection.
Thank you, really interesting to see the tracks going all the way (I assume), and the architecture of the bridges etc. Shocked at the amount of litter!
Fabulous video, never knew that existed. If stoke on Trent council were serious about creating a tram network in the city then they need to make use of lines like this, given the hard work of clearing a flat path with bridges and tunnels is almost done, be good to see it back in use again
Great walk good to see rails down don't think I've ever been on any railway walks with rails still down great to see shud try forge valley line most of buildings there still
Newton Abbott to Heathfield branch, Devon. Currently mothballed/disused. Walked parts of it last summer. I had my baby Daughter in a push chair, so could only look at parts from the parallel old canal towpath.
That's amazing, Ant! An abandoned railway with still intact track. I think it would be quite a job to clear that lot! Especially all those trees growing near and through the track! Fascinating! I didn't know such railways existed still!
Fantastic video as usual. It’s rather thrilling to have all that railway line. It’s a pity people have no respect and throw their rubbish everywhere. I did love the area you went thru. Lovely trees, railway lines, must make a great video. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care
Not aware of any other country that has closed so many lines. Especially when so many of them could find a valid use in the current times. An excessive and inflated operating cost of the current UK railway model does not help the cause...
It's pretty rare to find a disused railway as intact as this one nowadays, Ant! Our corner of NE Derbyshire was proliferated with places like this around 15 years back, alas, Network Rail lifted the lot. ☹️ Terrific stuff, again. 👍
If the intention is to reopen the line, they need to get a move on, before the land is gobbled up by the planners for some of the 1.5 million houses proposed!! 🤔
This one brought back some memories. I walked the section from Stockton Brook to Fenton in June 2016 and apart from a bit more seasonal greenery it’s exactly the same now as then. I posted my walk on the app/website Outdooractive (titled Stockton Brook to Fenton) and my text for the Fenton end was “the last access point is via Berry Hill Road.From here to the end (of the route) is good until between two factories it suddenly becomes impassable.” So the flooded area that you found was exactly the same 8 years ago! You also mentioned The Biddulph Way which I also have walked and posted on the same app/site. There is also the old potteries loop line which is now a walkway and several other old railway lines in north Staffordshire/south Cheshire which are quite interesting.
You missed the other Gosport station. It was right next to the Gosport Ferry, south of the castle tavern and I believe it finished being used in the early 70's.
I have experienced the efforts to reopen closed rail lines ...we get fine words but no action ..even though we can show the many benefits of rail ( ie much more green than motorcars. )..but we get nowhere ...when a line does reopen I always raise a cheer ...after all the Settle to Carlisle line was due to be closed but thanks to pressure on the government we managed to save it and the line is flourishing...stay optimistic..
They should renovate it into something similar to like the Avon Valley Railway, With a Cycling/Walking Path separated by a Fence with a Running Line the opposite side.
Another mothballed branch is between Wisbech and March, maybe 6 to 7 miles. National Rail issued a 2022 report considering restoring it for light rail passenger service. Most of the track in place and several rural crossing have gates and track. Wisbech passenger ended 1968 to the south station and that area redeveloped as housing in 2000. Before the station to west was a wye with west leg servicing the Nestle Purina factory. To south entering the wye was Metal Box (now Eviosys) which last received steel coil freight service in 2000. Don't know the station details. Most of the track is a straight line and mostly fields and a few level crossings. New Medworth Incinerator to start construction 2024, south of Wisbech with plans to use the railway right of way to run steam heat to Nestle Purina about 1 mile north.
Bucknall and northwood station always bring memories for me, I caught the first train I ever travelled on from there so has always held a place in my memories, my mother and myself and few others went to Windermere, it may have been the last passenger service from there as it was an excursion train in the early 60’s
its a shame if they dont do anything with the disused railway looks like a nice walk, not far from a canal and also some nice history also thanks for sharing ant 😊
I have walked this track bed twice from Stockton Brook while taking a boat up the Caldon (on two occasions - 2019 and 2023). As soon as I saw the YT video still I knew which railway it was - and I was right :).
The Blaenau Ffestiniog to Bala railway has track from Blaenau to the powerstation (disused) at Trawsfynydd. There is a section from just after the viaduct back over the viaduct and on towards Trawsfynydd is through such stunning scenery both sections are well worth a look
Walked it from the Stoke end through to Leek with the Railway Ramblers. A very long walk but worth it. For some reason, north of where you pointed out the lack of ballast, the line appears to have been recently re-ballasted with very white and clean "stones". We were unable to find out why, especially as only about half a mile was dealt with and it was nowhere near the preserved railway.
@@jpnixonWe did the second part of the walk from Leek last week. A member of the CVR said that he didn't think that they had anything to do with the re-ballasting north of Endon. He said that the distance from the CVR was far too much for any such work to be of value and that the relaying of track near Leek is much more important, allowing the turning of their locomotives. The CVR did, however, have some influence over the station buffet at Endon, but that was closed up when we got there. The line north of there is gated but we were allowed permission to enter and walk the rest of the track as far as we could get. The fact that it is gated (and that's in accordance with Network Rail rules) says that there must be something behind the re-ballasting, but none of us know who or why. I will continue to investigate.
Question. The part that has been reballased is the line still connected to the main line? Obviously ballast does not get there on it's own? May be they want to park up the royal train . For some reason ??? They used to park up in Shropshire at nr bridgnoth . At burwarton . Lord boynes estate. Between bridgnirth and Ludlow. ?? Just a thought. 😮
Went fo a restaurant in Stoke in 1962 . Was a railway carriage by the side of the line !!. Think we had Cumberland Sausage. Line was dying !. Thanks playmates. Dave
It was a good idea doing that walk in winter. You can see that during the year, there will be thick foilage everywhere making things much harder, even for photography.
the cvr had contractors clear the line towards caulden low using machines that ran on the rails i think they also did a bit towards endon too! which is why it looked very clear in places. also an excursion ran in 1994 over the line!
The Churnet Valley Heritage Railway. I Know the Town of LEEK is their Main Destination at the Moment for the Northern Terminus in the Future & they Run Trains to the East from Leek Junction.
Another great video Ant ,you certainly do your research , shame there is so much rubbish strewn about lets hope they do get the rail in use again it will start in leek just across the road from where i live
George James Crosbie Dawson my 2nd cousin 4x removed was Chief Engineer of the North Staffordshire Railway from 1886-1914. They built it well under his supervisoin. Nice to see some of it being reused.
There's a similar concrete side channel on the old tracks leading away from Littleton Colliery in Cannock, I'd wondered what it was for but it appears to be missing the sump at the end otherwise it would have been obvious
Im guessing at the end this line would have worked under the 'One Engine In Steam' principle hence no signalling. Also some of the track seems to be concrete sleepers with bullhead (ie chaired) rail. The Churnet Valley Railway is the most likely candidate to reopen it. A lot of firewood would be available too
For heritage use, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of that rail was still good. Ties (sleepers) would need to be replaced, and ballast, but the steel is likely to be useful still in the right type of service (not so much for commuter passenger or revenue freight, I would think).
Great to see, we’re all hoping this get returned and opens it up to passengers, freight and heritage rail! Leekbrook to Uttoxeter could be a good one next! Including Alton towers
There is an abandoned railway about an hour drive from me and the track is still there and yet you can walk along it and the railway was part of the Bristol to Portishead railway and recently there has been talk about actually reopening it for passenger use and the UK government will give funding towards it
It's such a shame rail doesn't get more funding. Near me in Essex National Highways want to spend a couple of billion on the A12 to cope with increased traffic volume. Yet the government have refused to pay anything towards reopening the Maldon branch line (though they've agreed in theory, just no £). If you put that money into rail, a new link to Maldon and to South Woodham Ferrers as well as several other places desperate for a rail link - then we wouldn't need the new road.
@@alanlittle4589 back in 2022 the government said that they'd give funding towards it and just recently the planning is in it's final stages and I read that it could reopen in 2026
It wouldn't be to difficult to restore the line to working order. bit of clearing of the overgrowth, replacing of the rails, sleepers and ballast and installation of new/refurbed platforms plus signalling.
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Since I have retired I have found that I'm becoming so much more like Victor Meldrew (played by Richard Wilson in One Foot in The Grave). I am now the angry old man that I thought I would never become. But with age comes wisdom. How dare the Politian's who are supposed to serve us just throw away our heritage. The things that our grand fathers and great great grand fathers toiled to build in order to bring about a better England. For me it started with the Beeching report (can't call him a doctor because he wasn't). A patsy hired from ICI to bring about an outcome already decided to benefit one (if not more) politician, in this case Ernest Marples (Minister of Transport 1959 - 1964) later Baron Marples (shows how corruption has it's rewards). Marples was a corrupt politician due to his family interests in road construction. If the same review of Britain Railways would happen today, lines like this one would never have been closed. In a different world, one where the green agenda is becoming more urgent, we need the railways. All of them!!!!
Couldn't agree more, worked through harsh winters to build the inferstuctre for what. To be cast aside to rot, due to a poxy report!
However this particular route closed to passengers and freight before the Beeching Report was produced. I have done a lot of reading on the subject closures in the Edinburgh area and most of the stations and branches were closed before the Beeching Report with many closed by the LNER in the thirties.
Sorry but Beeching was necessary the railways were overstaffed and not making money.
The problem caused was not leaving the route open so the lines could be reinstated as per great central.
Yes Beeching was just the hatchet man ,the real crook was Marples.
I couldn’t agree more! Marples should’ve been brought back to Britain to face charges of corruption and vested interests. An absolutely selfish bastard!
I live not too far from this route and was aware that most of the track was still down but I've never actually been so this is my first ever look at it. Quality stuff as always, Thanks.
Hello, absolutely fantastic video! I’m delighted that you included some of my old railway videos from 1976. I’ve been planning to post some new videos of freight trains on the Stoke - Leek line for some years and your video has finally made me decide to get on with it! I’ve got some of the old clips remastered with AI and that makes a real difference. I used to live in Baddeley Green - between Milton & Stockton Brook and spent many hours watching trains go by. I’ll start publishing the new clips in the next month or so. Thanks again for a great video!
Cut a few trees down, scrape the moss off the rails chuck a bit of ballast down, jobs a goodun😂😂😂😂 What an excellent vid, not a bramble in sight!!!! Thanks Ant👍👍👍👍
We did basically that at Immingham when we reopened sorting sidings few years back , I never knew sorting sidings existed till run some Loco's through it ! . In hindsight track wasn't to good full of rotten sleeper's but this track looks ok
Hi ant cracking video as always !! As a stokie i can shed some more info on your video. Its pronounced cauldon as is cauldron but with don on the end !! The reason the ballast is missing at endon station is the station was totally overgrown and when they changed the use to the tearooms they were going put tables outside on the platform so totally landscaped it !! A massive part you missed is the ticket office at milton is still there but its above the road as like stockton brook !! The foxley canal is mainly intact to its end and still recogniseable as a canal !! Also the line from stoke to cauldon was set with a clause when mothballed that it had to be kept maintained and ready for use within 72 hours !! Regards john 😊
Cauldon Low is a limestone mine and portland cement factory. Was the area also used for wartime munitions storage? It’s remote enough and mines were often used that way.
That looks similar to a line near me, the Bramley Line from March to Wisbech, closed to passengers in 1968, then used as a freight line serving Metal Box in Wisbech with Steel coils, finally fully closed in 2000, but all the track in place to the outskirts of Wisbech, the Bramley Railway trust regularly go out cutting back brambles etc that are encroaching on the line. The local MP is pushing to reopen it as a light Railway.
Yet another cracking video and drone footage.
Old photos and info fab.
Thanks again Ant 👍
I joined a branch lines rail tour which began at Helby [?] near Runcorn. This was in 1983. A DMU was the order of the day and we traversed many freight only and now closed branch lines in Cheshire and a little into North Staffs. This was one of the lines we travelled along as far as Oakamoor. I do recall photographing from the train the cantilever bridge over the canal at Endon [?]. It was a great day out. Sadly many of these lines are just byways for dog walkers today. I believe there are plans at some time in future to use this line as part of the reconnection project from the proposed new station at Leek back to Stoke mainline station. We'll wait and see!
It's one of the projects promised funding after the cancellation of HS2, though the recent change of government will have almost certainly ended that dream...
Great walk. Such a thrill to see so much Infrastructure especially rails still in situe. Most unusual these days.. what really rubs me up is the way Joe Public treats bridges and cuttings as his personal rubbish dump. Thanks Ant.
The steel used for these rails would be and still is much better than the crap used today. Often it can be re-used especially if for a heritage line used at 25 mph maximum line speed.
Nice to see lines re opening be great if this does . Traffic in and out of stoke is horrendous. Anything that can reduce it would be welcome.
I tend to put your episodes on regular through the telly on the youtube app - makes up for the lack of quality TV shows these days! Tip for another - checkout a time capsule that is Broomielaw station, near Barnard Castle.
It's a real shame that there's no longer a direct rail route between north-east and north-west England such as the Lake District, formerly served by the Tebay line.
Thanx for this. Brilliant video as always. I lived in Endon and you've ignited all my childhood memories of playing and walking the line and canal in the 70's. Keep up the good work. I also have inherited the Bucknall Signal Box Sign from my late Father...
I am really enjoying your series on here. Thank you.
Good morning Sarah thanks very much indeed
What an amazing video from start to finish. Very interesting and informative all the way through. Well done sir. I will definitely be watching again. Thank you once again. 👍🚂
Very kind thank you. I'm currently walking the Churnet Valley line between Denstone and Oakamoor this morning
Love the video!! I went staffs uni and stumbled upon this rail track when I was going to get my first ‘Rona vaccine in 2021 because the maps on my phone took me a really convoluted way under a bridge on the last section of track, which I had a little nosey at. Me and my friends walked this railway quite a bit that year, it was a lot of fun when we weren’t really allowed to get up to a whole lot from lockdowns. So this was a fantastic throwback and really good memories. Great to hear all the history behind it.
Your knowledge and passion shines through in every video, and it's incredibly nostalgic to journey along with you. Keep up the fantastic work!
A really great video Ant, just a pity about that last bit towards Stoke station. I reckon that this would be a fantastic line to re-open, but the strengthening of that tunnel has left the headroom too low for conventional 12 to 13 feet height rolling stock to go through, unless, the track could be lowered, but then it could become flooded out. Many thanks, Ant for this production.
Confirmed. This rail line is in the process of being recommissioned.
No it isn't. A business case has been submitted for funding. The decision hasn't been made yet. The local MP is making claims they can't back up, they dishonestly claimed work was ongoing to reopen, but they were stood back to a stretch used for training.
I can assure you this won't reopen.
Freedom of information requests to obtain the business case have been rejected. It's not hard to work out why.
@@RW-nr6bh Actually, it WILL reopen - it's just taking longer than would be the ideal
@@philrobinson8168 Push the new Government to give the go-ahead !!
Another great video. Well filmed and narrated. Thank you for all the research. Old photos so good. Well done Ant. Another masterpiece.
Beautiful walk.Very thoughtful of you to cram in so much lovely content and the choice of background music was amazing to listen to.Unlike so much of contempory content it was like a breath of fresh air.Well done!
Epic video, Ant. Great to see so much of the tracks still around 🤩
The line that runs up the middle of Anglesey to Amlwch is another with trackbed still intact. Used to serve the Bromine plant which is also worth an explore
Currently being cleared by Lein Amlwch.
Railway corporations never sell or give-up their property or right-of-way. It's too valuable more so after a line has become derelict. While the existing track and ties (sleepers) are decrepit and will not sustain rolling-stock traffic, there is money to be made once the gov't decides the line should be revitalized. Big money.
This is precisely why the Beeching cuts should have led to a mothball policy, so that the infrastructure could have been resurrected if required.
Thank you for a most informative (and enthusiastic) presentation. Let us hope and pray that the line will be reopened to passengers and freight in due course.
I hope so too! So pleased you enjoyed it and thanks for watching :)
It was one of the rail reinstatement projects promised funding by the Tories after the cancellation of HS2... however, the recent change of government will almost certainly see the end of that dream...
That was amazing..thank you. To see all that track still in place. A couple of places along the route would require a heckof a lot of work to re-open even part of it. Very enjoyable...all the best.
Love this video Ant, excellent content & it's what im so interested in thank you! ❤😊
I can’t see why this would reopen as there isn’t even a direct bus from Stoke to Leek
I reckon that bridge has been grouted and the corrugated material is the shutter
Another classic video Ant, Incredible the track is all still down. well researched and great photography as always.
my son lived in belgium and once when i visited him for the weekend we had a family trip, he took me to a disused railway line and we hired a four seater pedal powered trolley! it was brilliant all low maintainence, just wish someone would do the same in the uk! the line your portraying here would be ideal.
They do that in the USA ! they have little trollys with little motors on, in the USA they call them ,'Speeders;, and some folk go quite considerable distances on them !
Yet again another outstanding documentary into our history in this case rail .
Thank you for going out of your way to bring this to our screens it’s much appreciated indeed!.
I do look forward to your comprehensive commentary / documentary with the use of drone footage that adds a different perspective.
It would be fantastic if this line was reopened if for nothing More than a tourist attraction .
Well done sir !
not the only railway shut down in56 i am part of the group trying reopen the EBT IN the states
The sand in the wagons would be Silica Sand quarried by British Industrial Sand (B.I.S.) at Oakamoor and was used to make glass. It contained very little iron so was white.
Another excellent video Ant, have you heard about the Anglesey Central Railway? unused since the 90s all the track is still down and there are plans to reopen it, might be worth a look
Hi,
Have you done Skipton to Colne by any chance? That would be a good video to do.
Thank you 😊
thanks for this film. have done the caldon canal back about 10 years ago and was all visible then. caroline
Great video at 19:45 you can just make out what looks like the front of a steam loco to the left of sulzer😊
Thank you for this day’s video. Always a trek back in time. Reconstructing the remaining will not be simple. Invasion of trees in the lines path have to removed, ballast formation has to reconstructed, and maintenance has to be maintained. The idea of resurrection is fine in theory, but costly in expense. Reopening? In theory yes, in associated costs, I doubt it. Again, thank you for the video this day, Ant. Always a pleasure to watch. Cheers Ant! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸
This is an ace video! Brings back memories of how this interest all started for myself. Back in the early 90's as a kid my dad took me walking along the disused tracks from Dereham to Wymondham in Norfolk (think it closed to freight in the 80s also) Luckily in the years since it got restored and is now a great heritage railway fingers crossed this one gets the same result! Also hopefully there are some more gems like this left you can capture
Fascinating video! Thank you so, SO much for uploading. This was especially interesting to me as I have walked the section from Endon to Leekbrook during a holiday in the area several years ago. So, there is still hope!
Glad you enjoyed it! I.m thinking of going back myself to do the Endon to Leekbrook section
@@TrekkingExploration Thank you for kindly replying to my comment. I really appreciate your doing that! Yes, you'd enjoy the section which I walked. Thinking about it, this was in 2017. This looks very similar with the track in situ throughout. There are, however, (or were!) some remaining semaphore signals.
Love old railway tracks but annoyed by their closure. Up here in Scotland most of the routes have been built on but, you can walk part of them.
I walked along here the opposite way from Endon towards where it crosses with the churnet valley railway
It wouldn't be difficult to reopen. A contractor could easily clear the trees and brambles in a month. The trees are mostly birch, which grows straight. They can be sent to a sawmill for processing. Replace the rotton sleepers and trains can run again. The rails look in good condition.
It isn’t that simple, plus, who pays?
@@22pcirish Indeed, the Dartmoor line to Okehampton took £40 million, and that already had trains running on Sundays. It's absolute pie in the sky
@@RW-nr6bh Railway infrastructure is necessarily more expensive. But just reopening for the sake of reopening doesn’t make (financial) sense.
@@22pcirish I totally agree. It seems many people like the idea of a railway without thinking of the reality. The passenger services on this line were ceased before Beeching, which ought to tell people something.
In my personal view conversion to a guided busway would be better.
The bus could then leave the line and come into Leek Town centre, and wouldn't need a new platform in Stoke.
It would be far more flexible than a train and would remove delays to busses from regular traffic.
Seeing as the bus services have been eviscerated locally it's difficult to see that happening.
This line has been reopening "next year" for a very long time. Always next year and never this year.
The only reason the local Tory MPs keep obsessing about this line is because they are using it for propaganda. They know it's never going to happen, but they'll keep pretending it is until they lose the election.
They'll then accuse Labour of scrapping it.
The Tories have eviscerated local bus services in North Staffordshire. I find it genuinely remarkable anyone believes them when it comes to this railway.
Mark my words, this will not be reopened.
I really enjoyed your video, well presented and interesting.
I am all for reopening these abandoned lines wherever possible. The problem with most is that at some point they have been completely closed off so they can only ever be a short branch. This one can go no further than the outskirts of Leek as its Station is now I believe a car park. It would be great to see it in use again but at what cost, and there are others that would probably be more financially viable like the Midland line between Matlock and Great Rocks.
I love the idea that these lines could be reopened. The filming of these chunks of our industrial heritage is so important… to be honest I’ve worried a few folks who have bought houses built on very viable but closed lines with a sly wink claiming that the Railways Act 1890 (complete bluff of course) could be used to rebuild the tracks but also remove any obstruction involved including homes and factories, ..I know I need to grow up.😂
Hi. What a fantastic video. I grew up near stocton brook . There was a signal just before endon station. I use to climb up the ladder at weekend when no trains ran. The track that is now the cycle way closed in 1976. Norton and Whitfield collierys used the track to transport there coal
Another superb walk. How interesting that for so much of the line, the trees did not grow between the rails and you were able to walk quite easily! Loved the little tunnel too, of course! I do hope that it does get re-opened - maybe the Churnet Valley should take it on?
Absolutely marvellous you’re so interesting and the research you must do .well done mate
Very kind thanks very much indeed 😊
I first encountered this line on a canal cruise in 1973, no passengers , but busy for freight - from both Oakamoor (sand) and Caulden Lowe (quarry stone). The junction for the two lines was at Leekbrook. It's been earmarked for possible reopen ing, but doubt it will. Potential custom is questionable and despite the track still being in situ, it is in very in poor condition.
One lives in hope, however: it's picturesque and would give the beleaguered Churnet Valley Railway a potential main line connection.
To be honest, the track seems in very good shape, not taking in consideration the overgrowth.
Hi Ant, thank you for the video, love it, that track bed looks amazing, keep up the fantastic work.👍
Very kind and thanks so much for watching 😊
Thank you, really interesting to see the tracks going all the way (I assume), and the architecture of the bridges etc. Shocked at the amount of litter!
Especially at the stoke end
Fabulous video, never knew that existed. If stoke on Trent council were serious about creating a tram network in the city then they need to make use of lines like this, given the hard work of clearing a flat path with bridges and tunnels is almost done, be good to see it back in use again
Great walk good to see rails down don't think I've ever been on any railway walks with rails still down great to see shud try forge valley line most of buildings there still
Glad you enjoyed it i'll have a look online for your suggestion
Newton Abbott to Heathfield branch, Devon. Currently mothballed/disused. Walked parts of it last summer. I had my baby Daughter in a push chair, so could only look at parts from the parallel old canal towpath.
That's amazing, Ant! An abandoned railway with still intact track. I think it would be quite a job to clear that lot! Especially all those trees growing near and through the track! Fascinating! I didn't know such railways existed still!
Fantastic video as usual. It’s rather thrilling to have all that railway line. It’s a pity people have no respect and throw their rubbish everywhere. I did love the area you went thru. Lovely trees, railway lines, must make a great video. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care
Not aware of any other country that has closed so many lines. Especially when so many of them could find a valid use in the current times. An excessive and inflated operating cost of the current UK railway model does not help the cause...
It's pretty rare to find a disused railway as intact as this one nowadays, Ant! Our corner of NE Derbyshire was proliferated with places like this around 15 years back, alas, Network Rail lifted the lot. ☹️ Terrific stuff, again. 👍
If the intention is to reopen the line, they need to get a move on, before the land is gobbled up by the planners for some of the 1.5 million houses proposed!! 🤔
This one brought back some memories. I walked the section from Stockton Brook to Fenton in June 2016 and apart from a bit more seasonal greenery it’s exactly the same now as then. I posted my walk on the app/website Outdooractive (titled Stockton Brook to Fenton) and my text for the Fenton end was “the last access point is via Berry Hill Road.From here to the end (of the route) is good until between two factories it suddenly becomes impassable.” So the flooded area that you found was exactly the same 8 years ago! You also mentioned The Biddulph Way which I also have walked and posted on the same app/site. There is also the old potteries loop line which is now a walkway and several other old railway lines in north Staffordshire/south Cheshire which are quite interesting.
You missed the other Gosport station. It was right next to the Gosport Ferry, south of the castle tavern and I believe it finished being used in the early 70's.
I have experienced the efforts to reopen closed rail lines ...we get fine words but no action ..even though we can show the many benefits of rail ( ie much more green than motorcars. )..but we get nowhere ...when a line does reopen I always raise a cheer ...after all the Settle to Carlisle line was due to be closed but thanks to pressure on the government we managed to save it and the line is flourishing...stay optimistic..
Great walk, along what could be a very scenic railway, if it's ever reopened. Let's hope it is. Thank's for sharing some beautiful images.
They should renovate it into something similar to like the Avon Valley Railway, With a Cycling/Walking Path separated by a Fence with a Running Line the opposite side.
Another brilliant video thanks so much Ant 👍
Another mothballed branch is between Wisbech and March, maybe 6 to 7 miles. National Rail issued a 2022 report considering restoring it for light rail passenger service. Most of the track in place and several rural crossing have gates and track. Wisbech passenger ended 1968 to the south station and that area redeveloped as housing in 2000. Before the station to west was a wye with west leg servicing the Nestle Purina factory. To south entering the wye was Metal Box (now Eviosys) which last received steel coil freight service in 2000. Don't know the station details. Most of the track is a straight line and mostly fields and a few level crossings. New Medworth Incinerator to start construction 2024, south of Wisbech with plans to use the railway right of way to run steam heat to Nestle Purina about 1 mile north.
Amazing! Guessing this might have just been mothballed then initially, as presumably the tracks would’ve been lifted to reuse the steel otherwise?
Bucknall and northwood station always bring memories for me, I caught the first train I ever travelled on from there so has always held a place in my memories, my mother and myself and few others went to Windermere, it may have been the last passenger service from there as it was an excursion train in the early 60’s
its a shame if they dont do anything with the disused railway looks like a nice walk, not far from a canal and also some nice history also thanks for sharing ant 😊
I have walked this track bed twice from Stockton Brook while taking a boat up the Caldon (on two occasions - 2019 and 2023). As soon as I saw the YT video still I knew which railway it was - and I was right :).
Thanks for watching. I may go back and do the other half soon
There was talk of roadstone from Cauldon Low a few years back.but it never came to anything !
The Blaenau Ffestiniog to Bala railway has track from Blaenau to the powerstation (disused) at Trawsfynydd. There is a section from just after the viaduct back over the viaduct and on towards Trawsfynydd is through such stunning scenery both sections are well worth a look
Walked it from the Stoke end through to Leek with the Railway Ramblers. A very long walk but worth it. For some reason, north of where you pointed out the lack of ballast, the line appears to have been recently re-ballasted with very white and clean "stones". We were unable to find out why, especially as only about half a mile was dealt with and it was nowhere near the preserved railway.
I think churnet Valley railway has some sort of permission up to Endon
@@jpnixonWe did the second part of the walk from Leek last week. A member of the CVR said that he didn't think that they had anything to do with the re-ballasting north of Endon. He said that the distance from the CVR was far too much for any such work to be of value and that the relaying of track near Leek is much more important, allowing the turning of their locomotives. The CVR did, however, have some influence over the station buffet at Endon, but that was closed up when we got there. The line north of there is gated but we were allowed permission to enter and walk the rest of the track as far as we could get. The fact that it is gated (and that's in accordance with Network Rail rules) says that there must be something behind the re-ballasting, but none of us know who or why. I will continue to investigate.
Question. The part that has been reballased is the line still connected to the main line? Obviously ballast does not get there on it's own? May be they want to park up the royal train . For some reason ??? They used to park up in Shropshire at nr bridgnoth . At burwarton . Lord boynes estate. Between bridgnirth and Ludlow. ??
Just a thought. 😮
Went fo a restaurant in Stoke in 1962 . Was a railway carriage by the side of the line !!. Think we had Cumberland Sausage. Line was dying !. Thanks playmates. Dave
It was a good idea doing that walk in winter.
You can see that during the year, there will be thick foilage everywhere making things much harder, even for photography.
the cvr had contractors clear the line towards caulden low using machines that ran on the rails i think they also did a bit towards endon too! which is why it looked very clear in places. also an excursion ran in 1994 over the line!
Keep it coming.
What a well produced program, way and above what we would expect on prim time TV, well done...👍👍
Very kind thanks very much
Between Stoke and Leek. Walked along it myself two weeks ago. Very muddy at the moment, but will be great in the summer.
In Indonesia, they would just use a strong locomotive down these rails, a few man applying sand. And the line would be reopened....
The Churnet Valley Heritage Railway. I Know the Town of LEEK is their Main Destination at the Moment for the Northern Terminus in the Future & they Run Trains to the East from Leek Junction.
Another great video Ant ,you certainly do your research , shame there is so much rubbish strewn about lets hope they do get the rail in use again it will start in leek just across the road from where i live
George James Crosbie Dawson my 2nd cousin 4x removed was Chief Engineer of the North Staffordshire Railway from 1886-1914. They built it well under his supervisoin. Nice to see some of it being reused.
There's a similar concrete side channel on the old tracks leading away from Littleton Colliery in Cannock, I'd wondered what it was for but it appears to be missing the sump at the end otherwise it would have been obvious
Thank you for sharing. This is amazing ❤
another awesum video Ant so many disused railway lines to discover Thanks mate.
Great video, great narrative. Thank you.
Lovely, thank you!
Wasn’t Fenton station on the Derby-Stoke line?
The track on the Congleton line is still there though I’m not sure you can progress north of Ford Hall?
Im guessing at the end this line would have worked under the 'One Engine In Steam' principle hence no signalling.
Also some of the track seems to be concrete sleepers with bullhead (ie chaired) rail.
The Churnet Valley Railway is the most likely candidate to reopen it. A lot of firewood would be available too
For heritage use, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of that rail was still good. Ties (sleepers) would need to be replaced, and ballast, but the steel is likely to be useful still in the right type of service (not so much for commuter passenger or revenue freight, I would think).
Thank you very much for posting. I do not know the area but very interesting to learn about this line.
Thanks very much for watching :)
you are welcome; very beautifully filmed.@@TrekkingExploration
Great to see, we’re all hoping this get returned and opens it up to passengers, freight and heritage rail!
Leekbrook to Uttoxeter could be a good one next! Including Alton towers
Ill look into that
Only way to Uttoxeter would be via a major diversion as someone has stuck a yellow digger factory in the way!
@radioman1170 I went to a little yard next to the A50 at Uttoxeter and you could see the remains of this line across the river Tean !
Very interesting, thanks for posting.
There is an abandoned railway about an hour drive from me and the track is still there and yet you can walk along it and the railway was part of the Bristol to Portishead railway and recently there has been talk about actually reopening it for passenger use and the UK government will give funding towards it
It's such a shame rail doesn't get more funding. Near me in Essex National Highways want to spend a couple of billion on the A12 to cope with increased traffic volume. Yet the government have refused to pay anything towards reopening the Maldon branch line (though they've agreed in theory, just no £). If you put that money into rail, a new link to Maldon and to South Woodham Ferrers as well as several other places desperate for a rail link - then we wouldn't need the new road.
@@alanlittle4589 back in 2022 the government said that they'd give funding towards it and just recently the planning is in it's final stages and I read that it could reopen in 2026
It would be nice if any of our governments would be more forward thinking , and restore some railways if they are dead set on reducing car usage
@@Dilbert-o5k yes and bring in more routes to communities that didn't see a train since the 1950's
It wouldn't be to difficult to restore the line to working order. bit of clearing of the overgrowth, replacing of the rails, sleepers and ballast and installation of new/refurbed platforms plus signalling.