The southernmost 3 miles of the Seaton Branch, from Colyton to Seaton (with a new spur to the town centre) was repurposed for use after1970 by the 2'9" gauge Seaton Tramway, and has become a very popular tourist attraction.
I have some sympathy with its retention. In the holiday season Lyme Regis is full of cars and parking is really difficult. Trouble is station was on a hill some distance from the coast and getting motorists to take car would be a challenge unless there was a park and ride near Axminster.
Wow nice to see some film of the branch I'm now coming up to 77 years young. My mum bless her took me there on the train. I must have been about 10 so a long time.
Enjoyable to watch. Interesting to see that much of it was evidently shot on colour film - although presumably it would have been ‘telecined’ for broadcast in black & white at one time. Always nice to come across old films with proper sound tracks on the film as well.
The branch lines may have long gone but Axminster now has two platforms again, the "up" one having been closed for many years as part of the "rationalisation."
Wonderful bit of film. As usual lots of comments re the Beeching 'cuts' but, this was 60 or so years ago and hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it...🤔🤔
It wasn't hindsight though, there were many people around at the time who warned of the long term damage that the man was inflicting. The Looe and St Ives branches which Beeching wanted to close are doing very well and there is no reason why the Lyme Regis, Seaton and Sidmouth branches shouldn't have been the same.
The Beeching cuts were of that time, and have been widely discussed. What is seldom if ever mentioned, however, is the far greater crime of the Thatcher years, where the land was sold off. Had this not been done throughout the UK then many lines would be able to be reformed both today and over the coming years.
I was once told a story, whilst at work on the railway, it went....... Axminster, over the bridge for Lyme. But porter, I have a tin trunk. My Dear, I dont care if you've got a tin arse-hole, over the bridge for Lyme.
Take the kids for a ride on the footplate, those were the days and if you were lucky and I was, you got taught how to stoke the firebox. What happened to such joy and kingness?
I agree Leroy. When I was a volunteer fireman there were so many kids that wanted to "come up". I fear a casualty of the Elf & Safety people. Anyway what lovely engines these Radials were - they had style !
lovely nostalgic look-back at saner days!
The closure of the Sidmouth, Seaton and Lyme Regis branches were one of the great tragedies of Tourist line preservation.
They couldn't save every line.
Definitely
Beeching wanted to close the Exmouth branch as well, which pre covid was carrying over 700000 passengers per annum. Says it all really.
The southernmost 3 miles of the Seaton Branch, from Colyton to Seaton (with a new spur to the town centre) was repurposed for use after1970 by the 2'9" gauge Seaton Tramway, and has become a very popular tourist attraction.
I have some sympathy with its retention. In the holiday season Lyme Regis is full of cars and parking is really difficult. Trouble is station was on a hill some distance from the coast and getting motorists to take car would be a challenge unless there was a park and ride near Axminster.
A lovely film, from better days! Thank for posting 👍🏻🚂😊
love the kids getting a run round foot plate ride!
Wow nice to see some film of the branch I'm now coming up to 77 years young. My mum bless her took me there on the train. I must have been about 10 so a long time.
Would have been busy now, very useful and taken traffic off the road.
Superb film from the BR days. The Adams Tank Radial looked impressive in lined out BR livery.
Enjoyable to watch. Interesting to see that much of it was evidently shot on colour film - although presumably it would have been ‘telecined’ for broadcast in black & white at one time. Always nice to come across old films with proper sound tracks on the film as well.
The branch lines may have long gone but Axminster now has two platforms again, the "up" one having been closed for many years as part of the "rationalisation."
I travelled behind one of the radial tanks on a holiday to Seaton in the 1950s
Wonderful bit of film. As usual lots of comments re the Beeching 'cuts' but, this was 60 or so years ago and hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it...🤔🤔
It wasn't hindsight though, there were many people around at the time who warned of the long term damage that the man was inflicting. The Looe and St Ives branches which Beeching wanted to close are doing very well and there is no reason why the Lyme Regis, Seaton and Sidmouth branches shouldn't have been the same.
The Beeching cuts were of that time, and have been widely discussed. What is seldom if ever mentioned, however, is the far greater crime of the Thatcher years, where the land was sold off. Had this not been done throughout the UK then many lines would be able to be reformed both today and over the coming years.
The Southern had a concrete works at Exmouth Junction Shed where a lot of the concrete ancillary parts were cast.
That line took me to and from Combpyne for school at Rousdon every term.
Axminster and Combpyne are in Devon, Lyme Regis is in Dorset. So a bit of both, really.
Splendid stuff!! 👌👍😊
Beautiful scenes wonderful 😊
This is great🎉 Regards ElizabethI have one on my layout❤
Amazing❤
nice video, that man closed down to many lines. they could have money nower days.
Interesting film; it's a shame that the sound effects are louder than the commentary at times. Does it really need them?
I watched with the sound off...
I was once told a story, whilst at work on the railway, it went....... Axminster, over the bridge for Lyme. But porter, I have a tin trunk.
My Dear, I dont care if you've got a tin arse-hole, over the bridge for Lyme.
"Axminster Change for Lyme Regis" - so do Lyme Regis make better carpets?
5m30 when England still used common sense, beautiful days 👍
Take the kids for a ride on the footplate, those were the days and if you were lucky and I was, you got taught how to stoke the firebox. What happened to such joy and kingness?
Health & Safety, risk assessments, insurance cover, fear of litigation etc etc.
Sp*Kingliness.
I agree Leroy. When I was a volunteer fireman there were so many kids that wanted to "come up". I fear a casualty of the Elf & Safety people. Anyway what lovely engines these Radials were - they had style !
Not sure about joy but kingness is back.
Image the howls from the "elf n safety" mob if children were allowed to ride on the footplate like that today!