'How do you reopen a lost railway?' | The Lost Branch Lines to Wisbech
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- Опубликовано: 5 июн 2024
- Please SUBSCRIBE SHARE and FOLLOW on Instagram @rediscoveringlostrailways. Exploring the rise, fall and what remains of the lost branch lines to Wisbech and examining what it takes to reopen a lost railway. Might you consider supporting my channel even more? www.buymeacoffee.com/rediscov...
Email: rediscoveringlostrailways@protonmail.com
00:00 Introduction
02:05 March Railway Station
02:50 Whitemoor Marshalling Yards
03:15 Abandoned crossings, track and bridges
04:47 Drone Footage
05:19 Coldham
06:28 Lost Rails across The Fens
07:04 Drone Footage
07:28 Waldersea Depot & Rolling Stock
08:29 Drone Footage
09:01 Into Wisbech
09:42 Wisbech Goods Yard
10:14 Wisbech East Railway Station
11:23 Departing Wisbech
11:44 Walsoken Railway Station
12:06 Emneth Railway Station
12:36 Smeeth Road Railway Station
13:42 Middle Drove Railway Station
14:23 Magdalen Gate Railway Station
14:42 Crossing the River Great Ouse (Drone Footage)
16:02 Watlington Railway Station
16:52 How do you reopen a lost railway? 
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The country is now beginning to regret the wholesale closure of so many railways in the 60s. Dr Beeching is the most notorious but there were others who encouraged the closures as motor transport became more efficient. Now with the climate crisis there are lines all over the country that need re-opening but persuading the powers that be is like pushing back the tide!
You'll find many on here who will agree with your remarks!
I dont blame Beeching so much. He actually stated in his report that the track beds were a national asset, and should be retained so that the lines could be reinstated in the future. Unfortunately, in the 80s and 90s, many became easy pickings for councils to re-purpose for road improvements or to sell off for development.
Stop blaming Beeching. The problems were well known in the 1909 when the President of the Board of Trade, a certain Winston Churchill (whatever happened to him?) Stated that the railways did not have a future without rationalisation and amalgamation. God knows how the railways managed in WW1 with so many different standards in rolling stock. In 1933 the Salter report came out. Amongst many things that many small lines could never compete with road transport, especially in freight handling. Even back then the railway companies accuse the government of favouring roads over rail by the construction roads through taxation whilst restricting the railways ability to use flexible pricing as the railways had to stick to the nationally agreed rates. Salter also recommended that road transport should be taxed directly to fund roads, which lead to an increase in the Vehicle Excise Duty (erroneously called Road Tax, but that was abolished by Winston Churchill a few years earlier) and the introduction of fuel duty. But even with these taxes taken into account it did nothing to stop the slow decline of branch lines in the UK. As the pictures in this video show each station was fully manned and kept in perfect condition at considerable expense.
In the run up to Beeching taking over, the government stopped BR increasing its prices as the costs of running the railways increased (including wage rises) and passenger numbers and freight tonnage continued their pre-war declines. In 1954 BR's deficit was £23 million which grew to £62 million in 1956 (the same year BR's net revenue also fell to a deficit of £16.5 million). BR's finances continued to worse. The deficit in 1960 was £68 million, in 1961 it was £87 million and in 1962, the year Beeching was appointed, it had grown to £104 million. And why was the deficit rising part of it was the loss of traffic to the roads, part was the rising costs of running services and part was government interference in repeatedly stopping BR from raising prices as a failed attempt to control inflation
To put it into perspective since the abolish of fuel rationing road vehicle mileages had increase by 10% year on year between 1948 and 1964 whilst during the 1950s rail traffic remained more or less constant, but the overall share of the transport market had dropped to 5% by 1955 from around 16% at the start of the 1950s. Staff numbers on the railways had also fallen by 1961 by around a quarter since nationalisation to about 475,000.
Now Beeching wasn't the only person in BR cutting track mileage and services, before he took hold if the pruning knife the Unremunitive Services Committee and the Branch Lines Committee had been cutting lines and had lopped 3,318 miles of passenger services or lines from the network between 1948 and 1962 to add to the 1,300 miles that the Big 4 had cut between 1923 and 1939.
Yes, some of the lines closed would now be beneficial, but how would you be able to identify them 60 years ago? After all no one predicted the financial crises that struck the UK in late 1964 which was triggered by a balance of trade deficit that was £800 million (but that was double what had been expected). The country's economic woes lasted until November 1967 when the government was forced to devalue the Pound by 14% after spending all the foreign currency reserves and most of the bullion reserves trying to support the Pound. These efforts were as futile as those our last PM made to save his premiership.
@@dominicbuckley8309 they were doing that in the 1960s as well. The former Whitby to Loftus line was partially swallowed up at Sandsend to straighten out the road near Raithwaite Lodge. They also removed the embankment on Mill Bank, Carlin How when the line to Loftus closed to get rid of a notorious sharp bend where the road when under the railway line. This meant when the line to Boulby Potash mine was reinstated they had to build a bridge to replace the embankment. The new road is virtually straight, but the old road including the sharp bend remains as a layby.
I’m actually very pleased to see these comments here about Dr Beeching.
For many years he has been demonised as the scapegoat for the wholesale closure of so many lines and stations.
It is true to say that many stations and lines weren’t making any profit, and in fact probably never did in the whole of their existence, and would have closed anyway over time.
The real villain was Ernest Marples with his fingers in so many road building pies.
Beeching was set up good and proper by this loathsome individual.
I was talking to the director of the Wensleydale Railway. He said, that if the track is still down, it is still legally a railway. Even if the track is rusted up and unusable, the legal steps necessary to reopen it are less challenging. Once the track is gone, then it is legally farmland again and then reinstatement is more difficult. So if your aim Is to reopen it, then you need to take steps to prevent what track is in situ from being removed! Thanks for uploading.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing
Dont think thats correct. The tracked is the responsibility of (as of today) highways England. Until agreement is reached with them on sales of tracts of land to private individuals they hold title.
@@alantraish3368 I am sure that you are not correct with that you commented. The ground of the railway companies was purchased and still legally theirs as long as the track is still there.
@@alantraish3368 It's still a railway not a highway (road)!
@@Isochest If its still the responsibility of Network Rail then yes. Depends who the track & trackbed derestriction is under.
the lack of a rail connection at wisbech was one of the (many) reasons why i left the town. a rail connection is essential for economic growth and the prosperity of the town (and surrounding villages).
From what I have seen the town and area are in want of substantial investment. Thanks for your comment.
I’m Swedish from the very south and my country also suffered similar branch line closures as your Beeching and subsequent closures between the 1960s and 80s. After that the number of closed and dismantled lines slowed down significantly.
From 2000 onwards, we have actually seen the opposite happening at a fairly rapid pace and in Skåne, our southernmost province, over the last 20 or so we now have passenger services on practically every extant piece of railway save one short unelectrified branch, and on a portion where there is a parallel line within a few miles with a slightly different route through sparsely populated farmland. That bit is nevertheless still in active use as a relief route on occasion when track maintenance is needed on the main route.
On top of this, two major entirely new lines have been laid and incorporated to immensely improve the rail system here.
It does take a while also here to get these things going here as well, but in the end it mostly comes down to convince the capital to realise that the universe doesn’t revolve around them, that other parts of our vast country also need to get from A to B, and to make sure that the projects get funded.
In the end we made it :)
Thank you for your thoughts and comment. It seems the problems faced here are similar internationally. And you're absolutely right when it comes to under-investment in anywhere outside of the capital!
beeching closed nothing. do not fall for the socialists false claims
@@RediscoveringLostRailways I just want to add to the previous by mentioning that I have lived in both Oxford and York previously and I must admit that the rail services (and bus/coach services for that matter) outside London in the UK is quite a sad affair compared to the mentioned Swedish region (chosen as an example because I’m from there originally and it is not the capital).
Also, most other places in continental Europe I have either lived in or at least spent some time in has had far better public transport offerings than two fairly major university and tourist cities in the UK.
It feels a bit sad to see what has become of the rail system in the country that pioneered the modern railway concept.
@@DrBovdin Yes, public transport is not taken too seriously by governments in this country, unless its London. If you can't make lots of money out of them they are not worth bothering about. Would be so useful to reduce car use in this country, even though they're going electric you'd think public transport would be more efficient
Lovely film, thank you. As a Cambridgeshire local I have watched the decay of this line worsen over the past 25 years. The prospect of it ever re-opening remains vanishingly small. The Government has indicated that the long planned Ely North re-development is being kicked into the long grass, a project of national importance for freight and better local services; against that backdrop, plus (currently) lower rail usage and a difficult public sector financial situation, I do not expect to live long enough to see this line re-open, nor the re-building of the railway around Ely, nor the completion of East - West rail. All of them have a part to play in de-carbonising transport but I just don't see any of them happening any time soon. Hope I'm wrong.
I fear that you are spot on in your assessment!
Money has been set aside for East - West rail - yes I know it's been talked about for years I do think it'll happen. There's good reason to reopen the line to Wisbech and that's for more capacity for Cambridge. Sounds weird? Basically you can't keep long trains at Cambridge station they get in the way (this is why for example that Stevenage now has a dedicated platform for the Hertford Loop - trains used to stop the slow line for 20 minutes of the hour). Ely is currently used but again, they are in the way there too! So not only do I think it'll happen, but that it'll be electrified. In a similar vein I think the line between Peterborough and Ely will be electrified. Not for speed (still limited to 75mph) but as a diversionary route. Also some Azumas are diesel and electric. The South East needs rail capacity desperately, and that includes the Eastern leg of HS2 to Leeds.
We have a railway in Edinburgh that is still technically open but only by a bit of freight and an occasional nuclear transport - it always seems mad to me not to reopen it to passengers. It provides a link around the southern and western areas of the city and links up with the mainline. It is in the council’s long term plan but never seems to get closer to being done, unlike expensive tram schemes!
It is a shame when there's a useful railway in plain sight like that!
Same situation on the western side of Southampton Water . There’s a goods line which serves Fawley oil refinery which passes through towns & villages which have only one road route to the city. After 25 years at least the studies are becoming serious . 👍
Is that the Edinburgh Suburban line?
Many years ago I travelled the Bathgate line, which was freight only, on a freight train as part of a group tour . The good old days
What about lines on which Parliamentary trains run? There's one that connects Ellesmere Port to the line to Manchester via Warrington, via a massive oil refinery, but trains barely run! There is massive systemic failure in the way Britain's railways are run.
Fifty-five years ago I rode the line, March to Wisbech, daily for College. Much has changed as I now live in Sheffield, but I applaud the enthusiastic volunteer groups who work to reopen lines.
Many thanks for your memories 🙏
One of the biggest difficulties with re-opening this route would be the level crossing over the A47 Wisbech bypass. For many years after the closure of the line the crossing remained in place, lights, rails and all, but IIRC about 10 years ago the rails were ripped up and the lights and signs removed, meaning the crossing no longer exists. This means that if the railway was to re-open it would either require an application for a new level crossing (which given how busy the road is would be unlikely) or would require a bridge to be built which would add considerably to costs. Sadly this seems to be a late extension of the old policy of developing on just enough bits of old railway lines to make their opening unviable even if there would otherwise be a strong case in the future.
Thanks for your assessment, which seems entirely fair 👍
Although I live nowhere near Wisbech, I can see parallels with local rail campaigns that have been active for years but never come to anything. I wish the Wisbech line all the best.
The one thing I'm surprised about in this video is that so many of the actual rails have been left intact. When a railway is decommissioned, every piece of metal is normally lifted to deter looters.
I fear you may be right about the campaign. It seems local government provides a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
My grandfather was John Brammer who was a guard/ticket officer on the March to Wisbech line in the 50s, then going on to work at the metal box factory on Weasenham Lane
What a fabulous connection to have with this fascinating line!
Great video. True, Beeching wrecked our railways and as I read in an old newpaper, somebody quoted "Future generations will curse us". How true them words are today.
Most of the old lines had their land and buildings sold off so no hope of revival. Having said all that, if we had all the old Victorian rail system still intact today, who the hell can afford to use the train any more.
Many thanks for your thoughts and comment 👍
Ernest Marples, Transport Minister at that time, was actually the real villain. Richard Beechiing 'merely' did his bidding.
Excellent video yet again. This is very close to commercial quality production. It would only need little bit of polishing and be broadcast by the BBC.
@Mawerick77 thank you, though as @JackWarner has suggested, I'd probably be obliged to insert a 'trying my hand at a local craft or sampling their food or drink' segment! 😆
No don’t let the bbc get hold of it :(
@@leer798 You'll be happy to know they've not been in contact...
Great film as always. Your films never fail to disappoint. A few railways seem to be planning on reopening.
The case for this one seems especially strong. Really glad you enjoyed the film!
I used to live in one of the houses that would have been served by Middle Drove station. As a child in the 70’s it seemed amazing there was a station there. One night there was a commotion and one of the railway buildings burned down. From the video I guess it was the goods shed, or perhaps the signal box but I don’t really remember a signal box being there, but there was a large brick shed.
Many thanks for your memories 🙏
Thank you for your video about lost rail lines. If I ever can come to Great Britain I would love to do what you are doing: exploring lost rail lines! I can think of nothing finer to do. I hope your Wisbech line can come back to life. It's good for the citizens, the economy, and the environment.
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed the film. Do subscribe if you've not already done so and enjoy my other films in the series 😀
Thank you for this wonderfully produced historical documentary.
I traveled to Wisbeach at about 1964 to spend a week picking strawberry's at a ww2 pow camp called Friday Bridge
Thank you indeed for your kind words about my film and for sharing your memories 😊
This video, the production values and drone usage is absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much and keep up the beautiful work. Please, more videos like this. I find the old photos top stuff too!
Many thanks indeed. Presently at work on my film concerning East West Rail!
Lovely video and very informative. I was born in 1943 when Railways were King and the Country was a maze of beautiful Branch line journeys. How shorted sited of Dr Beeching and the Labour gov.In the early sixties,stationed at Bickliegh on the edge of Dartmoor, the Train journeys across the Moors were wonderful. Thank you once again for your vids, they make my heart ache at what is gone and good fortune in all you do.
I'm so glad you enjoy my efforts!
I've lived in Wisbech my entire life and was always fascinated by the reopening of the line. But I was never aware of the Wisbech- Watlington line.
Glad to be of service! There's so much to explore, as can be seen!
Re-opening the line makes sense on many levels, both commercial and environmental. What's more, it will never be cheaper than now.
Fingers crossed it works out on this occasion!
Fascinating to see the history of this line, used to drive past A47 level crossing before it was removed in mid 2000s and wondered why they had got rid of it in the first place. Thanks for the great work piecing it all together.
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed the film!
MARCH was the biggest Marshalling yard during the war and i also remember the fright trains coming down from METALBOX(as it use to be called) plus the trains coming down the JOINT line from SPALDING(fright and passenger) as the hump yard was use to sort out the wagon loads for the eastern counties
it looks so strange from he last time i went home to MARCH with all the Marshalling gone
Thanks for your thoughts and memories
I remember looking after a survey team many year ago when we walked all the way through that line to Wisbech. And it’s reopening is still in talks.
Oh dear, it doesn't bode well, does it!
I remember once as a small child in the mid 80's 1984 traveling that way once on a train, departed from the middle platform in March.
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Curious, I lived in Wisbech from 1972 to 1979 and there was certainly no passenger train service from March towards Wisbech by 1972, though freight trains did run sporadically to an industrial area in the west side of Wisbech. Unless somehow you had a ride on that?
@@VickersDoorter My memory is a little hazy as was only 4 years old back then, my dad was a trackman so could've been a singel unit passenger train for the workers doing repairs along that track,
Finally I learn from you how to pronounce Wisbech. I was there visiting the great house of the Quaker, Lord Peckover, and I always pronounced it like it was a small village in the Black Forest! It would've been great had there been a train from Kings Lynn to Wisbech!
I think that many people in Wisbech would prefer a rail connection to King's Lynn rather than Cambridge, but that's not on the table. Yes - some pronounce it 'Wisbeck' and I can see how.
I agree! I've never been, so I would have pronounced it Wisbeck. Now I know.
Back in 1989, I worked for BT and the yard in Wisbech backed onto the Spillers yard. Class 47s were a daily visitor and on one occasion a class 56 turned up with a train of Redland hoppers (in pale green) for a photo-call. Interesting little corner.
Yes and some fine traction by the sound of it!
The imagination sparks into life with these films!
That's very kind of you to say so - thank you!
Walked from March station up to Wisbech last autumn past the old marshalling yard site (lot of interpretation boards) and got the bus back - there were great views of the old line from the top deck. It's a melancholy sight and I wondered then if it could be viable again.
I can remember a childhood holiday largely spent riding trains across the Fens. Most of the lines are now gone but there are ghostly remains everywhere.
Thank you for your comment - yes, 'ghostly' is the word - let's hope that it can be brought back to life altogether!
Living close to the currently being reinstated varsity line section between Bicester and Bedford. I can see the reinstatement being a long process. I suspect even if the go ahead was given tomorrow, it would be the end of the decade before trains were running. However the fact a significant portion of EWR is already in process of recommissioning there is always hope 🙏 👍
Thanks again for another fantastic video 🙂
I your analysis is spot on. And I'll be coming your way in the weeks ahead as I make my film concerning East West Rail!
I was not disappointed, always fascinating, nostalgic and meaningful.For someone who went to school by steam train daily and preceded Beeching's cuts, thank you . Mike
I'm so pleased you enjoyed this episode, many thanks for your ongoing support 😀
As always a fabulous film with probably the best narration on YT. I can only imagine the enormous amount of work you put into this. I am going to binge tonight.
Wow, thank you! It is a huge amount of work, but I really enjoy it. Glad you enjoyed it! Do share far and wide if you can!
hiya dear friend ,a great film for the weekend , in wigan we had a jumble of railways which are now sadly very overgrown or scooped away , but my buddy won t be put off by bushes and weeds , he has made some great finds for me , from ridge tiles to point rods and a lnwr track chair stamped 1915 , as ever your films prove that the best things in life are free , you are a railwayman of the highest order , all the best always from nick in wigan still ancashire
Many thanks!
I worked for a number of years in the US for a Railroad over there and during that time I operationally managed a railway as we reintroduced passenger operations on one of our lines for the first time in 50 years the whole process was fascinating and often frustrating in equal measure 18hr bridge outages on a operational railway when you are trusting the track department will be giving you the track back before your first train arrives is a simply horrid experience!
It's always fascinating to hear about this sort of thing from an insider. Thanks for sharing 👍
@@RediscoveringLostRailways Our biggest concern was the welds within the long welded rail and before opening the line back up to passenger service whenever we had a mainline derailment, and we had a number! that was the first question(the track was mostly 25 or 10mph and wasn't in great condition)
I have often thought that a few people willing to take the time to spray short sections of overgrowth might clear the vegetation from parts of a line that was unused. This would make the reopening of the line a little easier.
There have been efforts in this regard, but this tends to be volunteers rather than Network Rail, so regrettably it is often a piecemeal effort.
Reopening of sections of the old Varsity line might be worth a video? I think I remember you covered it several years ago, but now work is underway might be interesting for you to see how the reopening is proceeding?
It’s just a thought 💭
My friend, I'm in the middle of making that very film!
@@RediscoveringLostRailways We'll all be looking forward to seeing it.
@@RediscoveringLostRailways excellent!!! A timelapse over the last 100 years would be brilliant if possible!
@@garyparker2541 alas that may be beyond my skill, but I'll see what I can do!
Another Brilliant film as usual! I honestly think the line should re-open. As a trainspotter, it saddens me to see any old line fall abandoned, and indeed it should be brought back. Look foward to your next video!
Many thanks indeed 🙏
A very well researched, equally well laid out and paced, and professionally produced as always. I learned a few things, and as usual, I look forward to seeing the next video when it comes.
Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for your very kind remarks!
fascinating stuff. I grew up in Wisbech and recall the remains of a line that once continued from Wisbech to Sutton Bridge along the riverbank. The end of Nene Parade is known as the crossing, which of course it once was. In the late 60's we played on the old crossing gate that still stood there, as well as the ruins of the old gate keepers house. This area has long since been redeveloped with "new" houses. For many years we collected rail bolts found half buried in the track bed along the riverbank. There's probably still a few left in there somewhere ...
Many thanks for your wonderful memories!
During the 60s a local branch that served a colliery nearby was closed for 2 years. On the tracks was left during this time a rail workers hand operated cart, we kids rode that wagon up and down about a mile , absolutely brilliant and were disappointed when the rail reopened.
Sounds like great fun!
Fascinating documentary on this - hopefully temporarily - lost line to Wisbech and beyond, Together with some historic images and superb aerial shots, you make a compelling case for reopening and provide a succinct summary of some of the obstacles to be overcome. We must hope that the means are quickly found to overcome them.
Glad you enjoyed it - thank you for your kind remarks and thoughts!
Fantastic video once again the drone coverage mate is amazing
It survived this trip, fingers crossed it will the next!
I travelled on the March to Wisbech line each Summer for four successive years when I was a student to work in the Smedley canning factory (now Princes). On Google Earth you can follow the line as it enters Wisbech - one branch continues north but the one that led to the Wisbech East station braches off to the right ending up in the area of Station Drive, Railway Road and Victoria Road. A small triangular green space still exists that may have been associated with the station. Local inhabitants no doubt could point out exactly where the station was located.
Many thanks for your thoughts and memories!
Great film again. Good to see this line, which was inevitably constructed in part by my Gt Gt Grandfather. He’d have definitely appreciated that hut fireplace!
Thank you, what was your family connection?
I remember seeing the forlorn disused platforms at March about 25 years ago, on fairly frequent travels between Hertfordshire and Merseyside. It’s good to know that they (& much else) are still there and may return to active use in future.
Fingers crossed 🤞
That's quite a meandering route from Herts to Merseyside! Probably a much nicer journey than M1 / M6 though!
I used to get on a train at Bishop’s Stortford, get off at Audley End, wait a few minutes on the same platform then take the Central Trains service arriving from Stansted Airport all the way to Liverpool Lime Street. It was always possible to find a table seat and get plenty of work done. The (albeit quicker) alternative was to go via Liverpool Street and Euston, but this route provided significantly less desk time, and the pre-Pendolino swaying of the train around the curves made it difficult to read without feeling motion sickness. I was also recovering from abdominal surgery when I started using the Central Trains service - it was a much more tranquil way to travel, with less walking required.
The route via Cambridge, Ely, Peterborough, Stamford, Leicester and Birmingham was reasonably direct and probably not much different in mileage from the alternative. It was also much less expensive and went through some interesting places along the way. On a few occasions, I forgot to check the route when booking and ended up on the other Stansted - Lime Street service via Chesterfield and Manchester, which was a bit round-about, but I never regretted the journey through the beautiful Peak District.
I love to see these railway returns even if the trains these days are electric, as we know redevelopment in places have hampered some old tracks but one's which can be repaired would be great.
Yes, it would be great to see!
Great to see the march wisbech line which as a march works dept worker I spent a lot of time working on the crossings and infrastructure.
If you have any stories or anecdotes, do share!
Thank you for producing such cool videos, they really could be shown on national TV.
Glad you like them! Thank you indeed!
Fascinating as usual. I can only join you in wishing the groups campaigning for the re-opening the very best. Keep up your excellent work and superbly produced videos
Thank you - my next film concerning East West Rail is underway!
A lovely, clear, well researched video as always. So much seems to remain, so it will be interesting to see if the funding can be found to actually do the work to reopen at least part of the line. Really enjoy seeing the old pictures, and the aerial images really give the scale of the line in the wider landscape. More of these branch lines appear to be being revived, and not just as heritage lines, which is a very good thing...of course if it hadn't been for the dreadful Beeching...!
So glad you enjoyed this episode!
Not dead, just sleeping. Many thanks for another great video
My pleasure!
Fascinating presentation and content .I well remember one Friday evening in late 1957 with my older brother after we left school on our own , taking The Fenman service from Cambridge to Wisbech, to visit friends in Victoria Road, a few hundred yards walk from Wisbech station .We returned the following Monday morning before the start of school ! .
Great memories!
Good luck and I wish you the best in reopening your lost line ..in the North we have been trying to reopen the Colne to Skipton line and the Penrith to Keswick line ...both we have been pushing with the benefits to business and with the Keswick line the gridlock on most days with car traffic the needs are obvious....anyway if your line opens I will be on the first train..
Fingers crossed for similar reopening across the land!
Excellent I really really hope it gets reopened
It would be the right decision I feel!
lovely bit of drone footage at about 15mins in of the bridge and glinting sunlight on the water.
I must confess to being quite proud of that shot!
Fascinating! What a good idea in principle to reopen the line to March. It looks like this would be a "relatively" easy project compared to many, as so much infrastructure remains. We have lost so much over the years, such a pity so many branch lines are no more. Great video, very informative!
Thanks for your comment and kind words about my film 😀
Another informative documentary with superb filming, editing and narration. The glacial progress made reopening 'no-brainer' rail services is frustrating to say the least. Here's hoping for a more expeditious solution to unstick the March-Wisbech reopening!
Many thanks for taking the time to say so - it really is appreciated!
I love the drone shots. They really add a lot. Your flying skills are much better than mine!
Very kind. For every one minute I fly I swear I only capture 20 seconds of usable footage!
Hello from Eastern NC in the US. This was both beautiful and sad. I really hope you guys set this up and running soon.
Always pleased to hear from an American cousin, many thanks for your good wishes!
What about the Wisbech & Upwell Tramway who's line crossed the old road from Sandy to Whittlesea time and time again as I remember as a child? I was fortunate enough to have a very young recognition of a tram loco with a few odd trucks pushing it's way along a line of grass lined tree backed tracks but I only ever saw it once and I can't remember where. I still remember Whittlesea station as a 2 road platform with magnificent crossing and signal box. A shadow of what it is now!
Thanks for your memories. The Wisbech and Upwell tramway features in my film The Lost Industrial Railways of Cambridgeshire.
Another top-notch production - well done ! 👍👍
Very kind of you to say so thank you!
Fantastic video as always! Thank you for putting so much time and effort in to these videos!
My pleasure!
I’d love to see the old lines open again.
Yes, agreed 👍
Excellent video , I spent three years as traincrew at March depot and had plenty of time over the Wisbech branch to Pedigree and the metal box next door.
Good memories with pairs of Class 37s and single 47s and all the trains had brake vans fitted so that the guard could close the three sets of manual gates on the branch after the loco crew had opened them and driven through.
Sad to see what's become of it but brought back some great memories
Thanks for sharing your memories!
Another outstanding and informative video I really enjoyed watching this. As in all your videos, your passion for our railway history is evident. Long may you continue to produce these, thank you.
Thank you very much! I'm already working on my next major project, so stay tuned!
Amazing video. I'd love to see more like this on railways that are planned to be reopened sometime in the next few years!
Stick around for me film concerning East West Rail coming later this summer...
I’ve been waiting for your next video. This is such a treat for the weekend.
I hope it doesn't disappoint!
I love all these old rail videos. Quite sad to see locations where no trace or just a few bits are still there. Amazing to think how just a few decades can change a location. Its a shame we dont have a time lapse of some of it, to see lines being removed, goods sheds being demolished, houses and trees taking over. If only eh.
It never ceases to amaze how quickly nature reclaims railway land and property!
A superb film! Excellent narration and photography.
Very kind of you, thank you 😊
VERY NICE!! I was just in the UK and loved seeing these places! Such history and well done!
Glad you enjoyed i - tell me more about your time over here - which railways did you manage to see?
Another great video, thanks again. Lets hope this line gets reopened it certainly looks achievable.
My pleasure - and agreed - fingers crossed it works out!
Very informative and beautifully shot documentary. As an employee of this country’s railway infrastructure company, working on a team whom are responsible for renewals of the railway (old) and new, you have done a great job at simplifying what is a very complex red-taped issue for all rail projects. Unfortunately I can tell you with certainty at this time, there are no concrete plans to reopen this line within the foreseeable future (6years plus) although I can personally see the benefits of doing so. Happy to help with any queries you may have!
Keep creating!
Thank you indeed. It is especially rewarding to hear this from an insider. Alas, I figured its chances were slim! Could you tell me about the chances of East West Rail making it from Bedford to Cambridge as this is my next project...Best wishes!
Railroad lines should be restored so that people have more options for mass transit. towns need to be reconnected with other towns as well. I would hope this track would be restored. It'll take a lot of work but if people do get together to do it, it'll work!
Wouldn't that be great!
Great film, as always.
I suspect that what will kill the proposed scheme, is the number of level crossings, both road and private, along the route. Official policy when I worked in the rail industry was that as many level crossings as possible must be eliminated. However, diverting or extinguishing rights of way is a very expensive and protracted process.
The A47 crossing seems like it could scupper the prospect of the railway's return, alas. Thanks for your comment - as an amateur, I'm really glad to hear from those on the inside track, so to speak.
Yes. I think that is what did it for my local branch where I grew up: Little Eaton to Denby branch. Last freight working 1999, lifted 2010 I think.
I can only count three crossings to Kilburn, but there you are...
Wow definitely a long time in the making. Back when the Up sidings were still closed and the dot matrix passenger information screens were still in use. Good job!
I confess I used some footage from 2017 here, but I gather things have changed! Glad you liked the film 🎥
What a great little video, well researched, well spoken, great shots by drone. You sir have earned a sub!
That's really very kind of you, thank you 😊
Another wondrful video. Very well made and very interesting, so well done!
Very kind of you to say so, thank you
This channel is fantastic, the videos are so informative and well produced.
Thank you for saying so, it is greatly appreciated 😊 🙏
Very well made. I could see this line being just about viable for a VLR shuttle, but capacity restrictions nearby at Ely would be a problem for anything more.
VLR would only be a stop gap, too, necessitating changing at March rather than having through trains to Cambridge/Peterborough, which seems fairly essential if this is going to work.
to be fair, capacity restrictions at Ely may need addressing anyway- considering the possibility of running additional trains through the area with the reinstatement of the Oxford-Bletchley-Bedford-Cambridge route (which could potentially see trains run beyond Cambridge)
@@MercenaryPen Sometimes I wonder whether the Bedford-Cambridge section will be cancelled eventually as well. Politics look particularly volatile right now and a lot of the locals apparently don't like the plan.
@@andrewreynolds4949 I bet these not in my yard locals would use it once it’s built..
@@johnchurch4705 Maybe, maybe not. Some people genuinely have no need to use public transportation, or would find the overall effects of a railway nearby to be greatly more negative.
Great film as always. Superbly narrated. I hope that it gets reopened, especially as the line is, more or less, still there.
Thanks Andrew - fingers crossed 🤞
A fabulolus video as aways. I thouroughly enjoyed our journey. What a great opportunity to reopen an old line, much of which still exists. As long as it is economically viable, like the line at Oakhamton to Exeter, Why not? I guess red tape is the problem. Remove the red tape and low and behold, progress.
Thanks ever so much!
Well, I hope the local people are successful with the reinstatement. What pleases me most is the clear "mothballing" of the line rather than its abandonment, as with the line's sister branch to Spalding (covered by this channel in a previous video), which has suffered the indignity of having had a prison built on its trackbed, making any reinstatement doubly difficult.
Agreed. At least this line has a chance!
Outstanding. The explanation of the old and newer processes are especially welcome.
Thank you, glad it was helpful!
Beautifully narrated and edited, a professional piece of work.
Thank you kindly!
I do enjoy your films very much and appreciate all the hard work that goes into them.
many thanks for sharing.
All the best.
😊🍻👍
Many thanks!
When I see this channel .....I really get involved little emotionally also ....what our last two generations did for mankind is just excellent 👌......the people who are between age 35-45 should think and act very seriously to preserve all these monument(s) world wide ...lets breat all barriors of countries, languages, religion, casts , educational status .....and lets preserve it worldwide 😃😃😃😃 .....may god bless all ....
Many thanks for your thoughts!
I don't blame you for avoiding the A47, that road is lethal. As a former paramedic in the area, weekly we had fatalities. I moved after one of them was my girlfriend.
I would love to see this railway reopened.
I'm sorry to hear that. It is a treacherous road indeed. Thanks for your thoughts and comment 👍
Apart from excellent description of the line from inception to decay ,the reasons for delay are explained in a crystal clear manner befitting your presentation. Best of luck 👍
Very kind of you to say so - thank you indeed!
Fascinating that the track is still existing. Could this be taken over by a heritage railway? Great video!
Yes, the video details this proposal. This is what the Bramley Line Heritage Trust aims to do.
We face similar difficulties in Germany, with many rail lines being converted to walking paths outside of build-up areas but sadly often overbuilt with supermarkets and single family homes. Rules are that a rail line needs to be dedicated to be in service so as long as the track bed is still registered as rail line it counts, even if no service runs on it. We are still shrinking our network from 44.600km in 1994 to 38.400km today. Very few lines get reactivated sadly, the most that ever happens is additional stops and even that is far and few in-between. We also sadly lack the culture of heritage railways preserving lines, with only little trackage owned by heritage clubs. Thanks for showing these lines in the UK, they always seem so picturesque, I imagine men in suits and hats getting off at a small stop in 1960, being sent from far-away London to investigate the murder at a mansion hahaha. Have a great new year!
Many thanks for your thoughts - it seems that railway closures (and the chances of their reopening) seem affected by similar circumstances internationally!
This is very clear and as someone who doesn't know the area very well I found it really easy to understand the geography and the issues. Excellent use of maps and graphics as well as historical images and your own video. A new subscriber gained.
Thank your for your subscription and your kind words about my film. You've paid my work a very great compliment and I hope you enjoy the other films on my channel 😊
Good morning. What a fantastic journey looking at what was a great railway 👍🏻 It’s a no brainier reopening old railway lines especially at £9 a gallon for fuel lol 😆 Back in the 70s when the car was king and fuel was very cheap 50p a gallon 🙄 Look at any new line that’s reopened recently as it always exceeds parsonage 🤩
It would be great if this worked out! But the way things are going, rail travel like road travel is becoming a rich person's form or transport!
there are a lot more people here today .......500 a day coming in illegally in dover ( no passprot needed by the way hence illegal) of course we need more of everything . also the idea of travelling further to work on good roads helped
There has been talk of Dualling the A47 as the section from Guyhirn to Wisbech is awful along with the single road section around the town that the crossing used to go over. If they ever got this improvement then a bridge over the railway could be looked at as part of the build. Currently Wisbech is being strangled by the poor road system and the closure of the Railway 50+ years ago started a major decline in the town.
Thanks for your comment. There's no doubt it would benefit from improved transport links!
Good point. The section of A47 that is single road is very slow and there are little alternatives if there is an incident. there would definitely need to be a new bridge over the railway. The new motorway on the A14 around Huntingdon shows new build roads can be built
I don't believe that they will ever be able to dual the a47 between wisbech and guyhirn. Its a raised roadway and without compulsory purchasing the land to one side and banking it up, its a non starter. The other side acts as a flood plain and clearly its out the question to extend the road into that area. The road is terrible and most the time you are stuck behind slow moving lorries and there is nowhere to overtake. That said, its just as bad all the way to peterborough apart from one small section of dual carriageway. I would love to see this railway reopened but i just don't think that there are sufficient arguments to justify the immense cost of doing so. Maybe, as someone pointed out, a heritage railway option would be the answer because currently, local people won't ditch their cars to take a train to march given that its not that far away.
Toby from Thomas and friends was based off a Wisbech and Upwell tram.
Yes, just so
I was honestly waiting for a BBC ad break it was that professionally done. Great work! I'd fully recommend pursuing a TV career 👍
Thanks fornthat very kind compliment, much appreciated!
Very interesting, thank you. Always interesting to look at 'then and now' maps of railways in East Anglia.
It seems to me that a reopened March to Wisbech line would be a perfect candidate for the Class 230 as used on the Marston Vale Line.
Yes, that would be a good call!
Certainly worth waiting for, thoroughly enjoyed the video. I welcome the prospect of the line reopening to Wisbech and see the logic of a town centre station. Although diverting the line around the town, following the curve of the A47 and rejoining the former route to Watlington with park and ride station off the A47 would provide a useful King's Lynn to Peterborough route. A tunnel under Elm Road, would be way to expensive though.
Fingers crossed it works out for Wisbech!
On the already reinstated/upgraded section of EWR/Varsity line (Oxford to Bicester), all level crossing's have been replaced by bridges, I believe the only remaining one on the next phase will be immediately adjacent to Bicester Village (Bicester Town) as I don't believe there is a viable alternative. Would a bridge not be an option for the A47??
An excellent production, beautifully made and illustrated. Looking at all the re-opened lines and stations since about 1980, not one (as far as I know) has ever closed again. In fact, I believe every one has exceeded expectations. Paper-shufflers, eh? Don't you just love 'em? Why not just say 'get on with it' - we know it will be a success.
Many thanks for your thoughts and kind words about my film!
We have similar in Staffordshire with the Stoke to Leek line looking to reopen and then move onto Alton Towers (or as close to as possible.) Part of that line is owned by a heritage railway line and they have cleared a good amount of the line.
Fingers crossed they manage to extend their line further still!
I am afraid the reopening of this line may take years, I live near the Portishead to Bristol line witch is still in use for fright on a daily basis even with a new sight for a new station in Portishead so far over TEN years and counting, so I wish you all the best of luck in the world with this venture. (time frame for this venture 20 to 25 years I think).
I think you're right to suggest that no one should hold their breath...
Similarly on the other side of the river, the project to add a halt alongside the Portway Park-&-Ride car park on the running Severn Beach line. Trains run through there into Clifton and Central Bristol. All that is needed is a pre-fab platform with a bus shelter on it. Single track so no footbridge needed, the land is there - you couldn't find a simpler project. The delay in doing these things is disgraceful.
Interesting video, with some beautiful footage. There was a similar project in my area to reopen the branch line from Newton Abbot to Heathfield (Devon), but after a small flurry of activity a few years ago, I don't think much progress has been made. They did run a DMU set down it so I guess it's in some sort of working order.
However, as mentioned in the video, the Exeter to Okehampton line was reopened recently. It could be part of a larger project to offer an alternative route from Exeter to Plymouth, after part of the track by Dawlish got washed away.
The trouble with projects like this is it's a huge capital investment for a very slow payback (especially if you only consider ticket sales).
Thank you for your kind words about my film. Your analysis of the slow pace of reinstatement seems spot on to me. A route avoiding Dawlish seems vital.
@@RediscoveringLostRailways Thank you for entertaining and educating me for almost 20 minutes ;). Regarding the glacial progress of these things; As far as I can tell, there are a lot of enthusiastic volunteers willing to help out, but ultimately Network Rail has to be on board (no pun intended) and they have other other priorities. You can't rely on volunteers to maintain a mainline track.