Hey folks, do you like this style of Video? Where would you suggest we explore next with regards to specific town/city history? Comment and let us know.
Love it! How about a video about the fascinating web of lines that used to exist here in Lowestoft? There were freight only, dock lines, the Norfolk and Suffolk joint railway and the Great Eastern lines too. Plenty of interest.
How about Edinburgh. Lots of old railways now used as paths, plus a disused one to meadowbank for the Commonwealth games, the historic innocent railway that's towered over by Arthur's Seat and the fantastic tunnel at Colinton... Just a thought🙂
As an expat Brit your videos always bring back the beauty of the UK to me. Today’s video also rekindled memories of how dire the car park hallways are!
A great watch. I was a Basingstoke fireman in the 1960s who fired most Southern steam locos up and down the 'main line'. 'Twas good to see some of the landmarks we couldn't! Thank you from Western Australia.
AMAZING camera work Rebecca! Brilliant video of the Secrets of Winchesters Railways, ever only been there once but nice to see a trains journey as well
I remember exploring Worthy Down Halt as a child in the mid to late 60's. The station was very much dilapidated but recogniseable. I remember my cousin putting his foot through the rotten stair treads of the signal box - we kept to ground level after that.
Very informative. What a research . Well done. Lovely walk ways as well. Drone footage great. Double bridge amazing. Thank you for taking us with you. Love Rebecca’s hair.
while at the University I did my best to walk everywhere in Winchester, and now watching this, i still realise theres places I missed! This video was a real eye opener.
Hi Paul and Rebecca. I lived in the railway terrace houses in Chesil Street between 1958 and 1962. We used to catch trains from Chesil St to Eastleigh and Romsey. My dad commuted to Eastleigh MPD and was sometimes pulled by City Of Truro! My mum hated the Q class engines as they waited for work at Chesil St spewing ash over her washing! If you walk over the footbridge up to Giles Hill you'll see that the fence posts are actually sections of old GWR broadguage track! Great videos, thanks, Neil.
On top of the tunnel, to the north of Chesil Station there was, and probably still is an ornate Station Masters house, ( now private property) Also speaking of the Watercress line, North of Springvale , Kingsworhy, there was a bridge over the Sutton Scotney road that was built of corkscrew bond bricks.
no. sadly, some idiot gave permission to demolish it and build two eyesores in its place. Was very disappointed when I was there last year and discovered this crime.
I was wondering who pulled that pan shot when you got up from that bench. As always, love seeing your videos as you show me all around the area. It is always a great escape from the day to day.
Ah, Winchester Junction. Been there, done that. Like you say, it is spectacular, especially since few know about it. Many thanks again, Paul and Rebecca.
For a moment then Paul & Rebecca i thought i was watching a BBC TV documentary - your so good at presenting, every camera angle is thought of..very well done.
I’m not from the Winchester area but would travel there on business from 97 - 2004, using that very same multi-storey car park. Fascinating to learn about the history in that location, thank you👍
Another great production , I live in Bedfordshire , many railways suffered the beeching axe , however a fair few are cycle paths / public footpaths etc , with remnants of railway infrastructure remaining .
Another great video! I really enjoy the Railroad explorations and learning about your great country. Could you please hold on the maps for a few seconds longer.
From a railway history page "Through trains from Waterloo to Southampton Terminus (via Alresford and Alton) ran from the opening right up to 1937, when the tracks as far as Alton were electrified. leaving the Mid-Hants as a country railway running push-pull trains from Alton to the coast."
Thanks for doing these videos, so interesting. I’ve been through Winchester many times but had no idea about the extent of former railways in the area.
When 'City of Truro' was first put back on the main line (from York Museum ...1959?) it was put to work passenger trains on the DN&S when not hauling specials. I saw a lovely photo of it at Chesil Station on a northbound local, A pity that my association with Winchester came too late for me to view this scene.
Rebecca - Director, Camera operator, sounds engineer. Amazing stuff. Anytime you want to look into say Edinburgh to Dolphinton & Cartairs to Dolphinton and its strange double station at Dolphinton that allowed passengers to change trains but didnt provide a through service, drop us a line. Lots of disused/abandoned lines and stations in the Borders - not to mention the Waverly line which is slowly reopening.
Fantastic video. I grew up around Winchester and the walk from Shawford into Winchester along the Itchen Navigation is one of my favourite walks. I don't know if it is relevant but Eastleigh was a major railway works and is on the mainline between Southampton and Winchester.
Another fascinating video.Really enjoyed it.Somehow it is the history of lines or stations that don't exist today are probably more interesting than those that do.Many thanks once again.
Loved that video, did you plan the train? It was just beaut to see it whilst you talk about it. Would love more of these style videos it was fabulous. Thanks for taking me along. Please stay safe and stay safe
Very high quality video - edits + music. And most informative. The straight line concept is interesting and probably used today for the high speed lines. (But let's avoid that controversy!)
Just subbed,chandlers ford has good railway links,station, land being bought and sold by railway owners from eastleigh,small river leading to the Itchen, Kings route to Winchester,, thanks a lot
Another great video … for me Winchester is remembered for the King Alfred Bus Company … I only got to see their buses down there once Hants & Dorset had taken over the company & routes … actually rode in one of the three single deck Metro Scanias still in full King Alfred livery prior to them being swapped with 3 Leyland Nationals with London Country. Of course the wonderful King Alfred Running Days keep the company’s buses and memory alive
When I was a boy in Winchester 70+ years ago, the only bus services were Hants and Dorset (which ran to Southampton), Wilts and Dorset (which ran to Romsey and Salisbury), and Chisnels , which ran via Bar End to Owlsbury. There was also a Coach Station up Andover Road for the Blue Coaches to London and Bournemouth.
It has a slight curve to it, which means if you measure the outside of the bend, you get the 441 yards, the inside 339. The council us the station end for storage - you can walk the majority of the way through until you hit a wall which has a gun club not he other side.
Thank you for bringing this amazing history to us. Brilliant video as usual but for some reason even better than usual (if that is possible!!). Travel safe.
I really like this video It just shows how much history on top of history there is in railways and canals You mentioned you might be coming to an area near me at the end I’ve lived in South London all my life and yes there’s always been railways around me But I remember when lines were shut down and I’m still astonished when I find out even more history I didn’t know I realise it’s not the countryside that you usually visit but it might be interesting to look into
Awesome, love it. Sunderland has so many disused railways, with the north dock and several collieries plus the old route over the top of queen alexandra bridge, plus the shipyards and the coal drops on the river, and how the south dock branch used to be so much larger than it was.
It certainly would. In a different world, and with proper investment, I imagine it would have possibly been extended beyond Didcot.....right up to Oxford (via Abingdon). Then, with some of the smaller stations in the middle of nowhere closed (such as Highclere, Burghclere, Sutton Scotney, and Worthy Down Halt) you would have a very useful and quick cross country line running all the way from Oxford to Southampton. You wouldn't need to go into London from Oxford, and then back out again! Really useful cross country lines, which are still plentiful in countries such as Germany, and France - but few and far between, here in the UK.
Great video guys. I live only a few hundred yards from Hamworthy Station near Poole. There is a disused bridge just to the east of the station. Be great if you could explore it for a video!!
Great series of videos . Check out the great western line out of Paddington . Exit the M4 at Jn 7 ( West of Slough ) and take the A4 towards Maidenhead. Eventually the main line passes over the A4 with a wide tunnel , to the left flank by the road is a boarded up section? It used to have a set of steps that ran up to the line . It I believe was the entrance to a station which formed the terminus of the line out of London . This predated the 1835 masterpiece created by Brunel to span the Thames at Maidenhead. Further on past the A4 tunnel is a mini main dealerships, it stands on the site of an old pub - The Old Station Inn . Much later the station was abandoned and the current Maidenhead station was built . One other point , on the western side of the Sounding Arch used to be a big Edwardian Hotel at Maidenhead, it fractured in the Classic Ealing comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets with Alec Guinness. In the film the Hotel is featured ( next to the railway line ) with the old eel traps clearly visible up river . If you walk over Maidenhead river road bridge and look down river at the sounding arch ( railway bridge ) the eel trap little bridge can still be seen today .
Great video thank you! Did you know about the railway that used to run down the middle of a residential road in Elm Grove Road, Farnborough, Hampshire. There is some evidence of the tracks on the corner with Union Street and apparently the rails still glisten on the road surface in the sunshine. The line connected the main line to the RAE railway. I cant find much more evidence than possible crossing gate now used as a barrier in asda car park, but maybe you could? There is also a display on thr RAE railway in the FAST museum at the airport.
After watching this video I dug out some papers and maps of what might have been. I then fantasise of it beings completed; of the “GWR” station where the shopping centre is now; Southampton Central is closed and a junction in its place (heading east through the tunnel, west and north). If the LSWR and GWR weren’t enemies the docks could still be built and 21st century containers travelling the country.
As the DNSR was originally meant to go separately to Southampton, some preparatory work was carried out. A small section of embankment still survives in Southampton.
When I first moved to Winchester I am sure you could see the relics of the junction of the other lines disappearing across the country from the main line but not now
There used to be (among other things) a small-bore rife shooting range in Chesil tunnel. I used to practice there in the late 90's. It was a fantastic place for a range as the air was completely still. The shots echoed from the tunnel roof some distance above us, however.
Extraordinary. I know the area to the east of Winchester like the back of my hand but have never heard of the Avington branch line. Thanks. I’m off to Google to see what I can find out.🙂
Interesting. I was at school in Winchester from 1963-1970; I think the Chesil station had only just been closed when I first went; it was still very obviously a railway, although the site was used for (I think) a laundry service.
Hey folks, do you like this style of Video? Where would you suggest we explore next with regards to specific town/city history? Comment and let us know.
Love it! How about a video about the fascinating web of lines that used to exist here in Lowestoft? There were freight only, dock lines, the Norfolk and Suffolk joint railway and the Great Eastern lines too. Plenty of interest.
Semington end of the wilts & berks, Rode for more Fussels, and a visit to gate of Midway Manour :)
Railways seen in film or tv would be good, how about the old Cliddesden station in Oh Mr Porter
How about Edinburgh. Lots of old railways now used as paths, plus a disused one to meadowbank for the Commonwealth games, the historic innocent railway that's towered over by Arthur's Seat and the fantastic tunnel at Colinton...
Just a thought🙂
That was interesting. How about Netley Abbey and Hamble? Lots of history (particularly at RVCP) and track/remnants still present in local area.
Paul,you are a brilliant presenter, as good as Robinson and Clarkson ,just to name a couple, you have a future in the media imo,keep it up.
Thank you, very kind.
Nicely done! Glad to see the 'Amazing' Rebecca there too.
The amazing Rebecca 🥳
Great vid as usual guys! Stop hiding the good looking Rebecca behind the camera!!
As an expat Brit your videos always bring back the beauty of the UK to me. Today’s video also rekindled memories of how dire the car park hallways are!
Thank you Paul and Rebecca for advising me of the link to the Itchen Navigation. appreciated.
A great watch. I was a Basingstoke fireman in the 1960s who fired most Southern steam locos up and down the 'main line'. 'Twas good to see some of the landmarks we couldn't! Thank you from Western Australia.
AMAZING camera work Rebecca! Brilliant video of the Secrets of Winchesters Railways, ever only been there once but nice to see a trains journey as well
Cheers Simon, much appreciated.
I remember exploring Worthy Down Halt as a child in the mid to late 60's. The station was very much dilapidated but recogniseable. I remember my cousin putting his foot through the rotten stair treads of the signal box - we kept to ground level after that.
hi paul and rebecca , another cool interesting video , really well done again and thank you guys 😃
Very informative. What a research . Well done. Lovely walk ways as well. Drone footage great. Double bridge amazing. Thank you for taking us with you. Love Rebecca’s hair.
while at the University I did my best to walk everywhere in Winchester, and now watching this, i still realise theres places I missed! This video was a real eye opener.
Love the video - I live in Winchester and run along some those paths you were on!!
Hi Paul and Rebecca. I lived in the railway terrace houses in Chesil Street between 1958 and 1962. We used to catch trains from Chesil St to Eastleigh and Romsey. My dad commuted to Eastleigh MPD and was sometimes pulled by City Of Truro! My mum hated the Q class engines as they waited for work at Chesil St spewing ash over her washing! If you walk over the footbridge up to Giles Hill you'll see that the fence posts are actually sections of old GWR broadguage track! Great videos, thanks, Neil.
On top of the tunnel, to the north of Chesil Station there was, and probably still is an ornate Station Masters house, ( now private property) Also speaking of the Watercress line, North of Springvale , Kingsworhy, there was a bridge over the Sutton Scotney road that was built of corkscrew bond bricks.
no. sadly, some idiot gave permission to demolish it and build two eyesores in its place. Was very disappointed when I was there last year and discovered this crime.
Another great video, thanks Paul and Rebecca
Used to live in Fareham and there's so many hidden relics in the area so thank you for sharing
I was wondering who pulled that pan shot when you got up from that bench. As always, love seeing your videos as you show me all around the area. It is always a great escape from the day to day.
Another belter of a video guys, thank you. There is so much out there that is hidden away, it’s great you’re showcasing it for the world to see 👍👍
Ah, Winchester Junction. Been there, done that. Like you say, it is spectacular, especially since few know about it.
Many thanks again, Paul and Rebecca.
Ooo I did enjoy that, thank you for showing us these intriguing overlooked bits of railway history
For a moment then Paul & Rebecca i thought i was watching a BBC TV documentary - your so good at presenting, every camera angle is thought of..very well done.
Your videos are well shot, informative, and a pleasure. From your fan in Nebraska USA.
I love Sundays. It’s either Martin Zero and/or you guys. Sundays are great!
No lie one of thee most interesting videos you've done for months
...cracking stuff.
M=
Lovely video. Thank you for posting it!
Thanks. I really enjoyed this one. As a pensioner, I can remember the days of steam, branch lines and Halts!
Very enjoyable video with so much history of that area thank you from NZ
My hometown... never knew bout the branch to avington for WW1. Awesome!!!!
Thank you guys for making this
Very enjoyable and well researched. Videography excellent. Go Rebecca!
I’m not from the Winchester area but would travel there on business from 97 - 2004, using that very same multi-storey car park. Fascinating to learn about the history in that location, thank you👍
Another great production , I live in Bedfordshire , many railways suffered the beeching axe , however a fair few are cycle paths / public footpaths etc , with remnants of railway infrastructure remaining .
If you think the Beeching Axe hit Beds. hard you've never been to Lincs.
Thank you x
Absolutely fantastic,chandlers ford would be a good place,thanks a lot 👍
Another great video! I really enjoy the Railroad explorations and learning about your great country. Could you please hold on the maps for a few seconds longer.
Excellent. very enjoyable
Lovely storytelling!
Great vlog , walked many of the routes your on , the viaduct gives great views
Interesting subtitles - the "Itching River"! And the "Kenneth and Even" canal!
As usual informative and everything one has come to expect from Whitewick Inc.
Thanks Andrew.
She is indeed amazing! But so are you, Paul, and your content most definitely is, too!
Winchester was historically important as the former Capital of England
From a railway history page "Through trains from Waterloo to Southampton Terminus (via Alresford and Alton) ran from the opening right up to 1937, when the tracks as far as Alton were electrified. leaving the Mid-Hants as a country railway running push-pull trains from Alton to the coast."
Loved it - amazing what you can do with a camera and a drone.
Another great video - thank you! 👍
Great video - more of this type please!!
Thank guys for another interesting Vlog
Very interesting! God bless you guys
Thanks for doing these videos, so interesting. I’ve been through Winchester many times but had no idea about the extent of former railways in the area.
When 'City of Truro' was first put back on the main line (from York Museum ...1959?) it was put to work passenger trains on the DN&S when not hauling specials. I saw a lovely photo of it at Chesil Station on a northbound local, A pity that my association with Winchester came too late for me to view this scene.
Great video lots of other interesting railway features around Winchester and it's branch lines.
Brilliant video thanks ..
Rebecca - Director, Camera operator, sounds engineer. Amazing stuff. Anytime you want to look into say Edinburgh to Dolphinton & Cartairs to Dolphinton and its strange double station at Dolphinton that allowed passengers to change trains but didnt provide a through service, drop us a line. Lots of disused/abandoned lines and stations in the Borders - not to mention the Waverly line which is slowly reopening.
Fantastic video. I grew up around Winchester and the walk from Shawford into Winchester along the Itchen Navigation is one of my favourite walks. I don't know if it is relevant but Eastleigh was a major railway works and is on the mainline between Southampton and Winchester.
Just another brilliant video and explanation - the maps really helped, especially your location!
Thanks Robin. The maps are here to stay!
Another fascinating video.Really enjoyed it.Somehow it is the history of lines or stations that don't exist today are probably more interesting than those that do.Many thanks once again.
nice one Paul (and Rebecca of course) I live very close to the Didcot and Newbury line
Loved that video, did you plan the train? It was just beaut to see it whilst you talk about it. Would love more of these style videos it was fabulous. Thanks for taking me along. Please stay safe and stay safe
Very high quality video - edits + music. And most informative. The straight line concept is interesting and probably used today for the high speed lines. (But let's avoid that controversy!)
Paul and the AMAZING Rebecca! Very entertaining.
wow, what a fantastic video, thanks Paul. Shame this level of history is covered in mainstream. You two do a great job.
Just subbed,chandlers ford has good railway links,station, land being bought and sold by railway owners from eastleigh,small river leading to the Itchen, Kings route to Winchester,, thanks a lot
Another great video … for me Winchester is remembered for the King Alfred Bus Company … I only got to see their buses down there once Hants & Dorset had taken over the company & routes … actually rode in one of the three single deck Metro Scanias still in full King Alfred livery prior to them being swapped with 3 Leyland Nationals with London Country. Of course the wonderful King Alfred Running Days keep the company’s buses and memory alive
When I was a boy in Winchester 70+ years ago, the only bus services were Hants and Dorset (which ran to Southampton), Wilts and Dorset (which ran to Romsey and Salisbury), and Chisnels , which ran via Bar End to Owlsbury. There was also a Coach Station up Andover Road for the Blue Coaches to London and Bournemouth.
Good Video,
Interesting fact about the navies having to dig a 440 yard tunnel to get their bonus...🙂👍
A furlong, of course.
It has a slight curve to it, which means if you measure the outside of the bend, you get the 441 yards, the inside 339. The council us the station end for storage - you can walk the majority of the way through until you hit a wall which has a gun club not he other side.
Great video as ever. I don't know how you do your subtitles but there are some interesting interpretations of what is actually said!
Thank you for bringing this amazing history to us. Brilliant video as usual but for some reason even better than usual (if that is possible!!). Travel safe.
YES, anything to do with the DNSJR is a winner in my book. Great video, fantastic the see the stuff on the DNSJR I have not yet visited.
Another great video keep them coming 👍
Excellent vid guys! My hometown!
Brilliant Thank You
I really like this video
It just shows how much history on top of history there is in railways and canals
You mentioned you might be coming to an area near me at the end
I’ve lived in South London all my life and yes there’s always been railways around me
But I remember when lines were shut down and I’m still astonished when I find out even more history I didn’t know
I realise it’s not the countryside that you usually visit but it might be interesting to look into
Awesome, love it. Sunderland has so many disused railways, with the north dock and several collieries plus the old route over the top of queen alexandra bridge, plus the shipyards and the coal drops on the river, and how the south dock branch used to be so much larger than it was.
Loved it !
Another very interesting video! If Didcot to Winchester was still open it would be a useful route today!
It certainly would.
In a different world, and with proper investment, I imagine it would have possibly been extended beyond Didcot.....right up to Oxford (via Abingdon).
Then, with some of the smaller stations in the middle of nowhere closed (such as Highclere, Burghclere, Sutton Scotney, and Worthy Down Halt) you would have a very useful and quick cross country line running all the way from Oxford to Southampton.
You wouldn't need to go into London from Oxford, and then back out again!
Really useful cross country lines, which are still plentiful in countries such as Germany, and France - but few and far between, here in the UK.
Great video guys. I live only a few hundred yards from Hamworthy Station near Poole. There is a disused bridge just to the east of the station. Be great if you could explore it for a video!!
I'm from Andover, live about 1/2 a mile away from you... 🤣. Love your videos BTW!
Another very interesting video. Packed with the high quality content Paul and Rebecca are known for 😃
Enjoyed this, love it when there are things to see. The goods shed is a great relic.
Amazing!
Great series of videos . Check out the great western line out of Paddington . Exit the M4 at Jn 7 ( West of Slough ) and take the A4 towards Maidenhead. Eventually the main line passes over the A4 with a wide tunnel , to the left flank by the road is a boarded up section? It used to have a set of steps that ran up to the line . It I believe was the entrance to a station which formed the terminus of the line out of London .
This predated the 1835 masterpiece created by Brunel to span the Thames at Maidenhead. Further on past the A4 tunnel is a mini main dealerships, it stands on the site of an old pub - The Old Station Inn .
Much later the station was abandoned and the current Maidenhead station was built .
One other point , on the western side of the Sounding Arch used to be a big Edwardian Hotel at Maidenhead, it fractured in the Classic Ealing comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets with Alec Guinness. In the film the Hotel is featured ( next to the railway line ) with the old eel traps clearly visible up river . If you walk over Maidenhead river road bridge and look down river at the sounding arch ( railway bridge ) the eel trap little bridge can still be seen today .
Great video. Fully expected you to wander along on top of the Hockney Viaduct rather than fighting through undergrowth! 👍
Excellent stuff - I’m sure there are many places that you could do the same sort of video - Plymouth will probably be an excellent example!
Great video thank you! Did you know about the railway that used to run down the middle of a residential road in Elm Grove Road, Farnborough, Hampshire. There is some evidence of the tracks on the corner with Union Street and apparently the rails still glisten on the road surface in the sunshine. The line connected the main line to the RAE railway. I cant find much more evidence than possible crossing gate now used as a barrier in asda car park, but maybe you could? There is also a display on thr RAE railway in the FAST museum at the airport.
Surely Winchester Chesil counts as a disused station? How many have you got to now? Great video. Good luck from Spain
Good point, but sadly already covered when we did the DNSR. Back next week with an Every Disused Station, from 379!
Cool video more like this please 👍
After watching this video I dug out some papers and maps of what might have been.
I then fantasise of it beings completed; of the “GWR” station where the shopping centre is now; Southampton Central is closed and a junction in its place (heading east through the tunnel, west and north). If the LSWR and GWR weren’t enemies the docks could still be built and 21st century containers travelling the country.
Yup, I often wonder how the landscape would have changed had the companies worked a better solution.
As the DNSR was originally meant to go separately to Southampton, some preparatory work was carried out. A small section of embankment still survives in Southampton.
When I first moved to Winchester I am sure you could see the relics of the junction of the other lines disappearing across the country from the main line but not now
There used to be (among other things) a small-bore rife shooting range in Chesil tunnel. I used to practice there in the late 90's. It was a fantastic place for a range as the air was completely still. The shots echoed from the tunnel roof some distance above us, however.
Great video once again
Extraordinary. I know the area to the east of Winchester like the back of my hand but have never heard of the Avington branch line. Thanks. I’m off to Google to see what I can find out.🙂
That was a very interesting one
First! Amazing she certainly is . . . 😉
Fully concur
great vid both of you
Not to visit the Cathedral? You're making me cry-ey...
Very interesting….how could someone give this a thumbs down?
Thanks both of you for another great film.
yes, and please do Hartlepool and the north east! loads of former lines!
Interesting. I was at school in Winchester from 1963-1970; I think the Chesil station had only just been closed when I first went; it was still very obviously a railway, although the site was used for (I think) a laundry service.