Visiting every station on the Windermere Branch
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- čas přidán 12. 10. 2023
- Join me as I struggle through Storm Agnes to visit every station on the branch line from Oxenholme to Windermere. There will be a Class 195, views of the fells, pretty villages, a selection of beers to try and rain. Lots of rain...
Departure: Oxenholme Lake District, England, UK
Destination: Windermere, England, UK
Date of Travel: September 2023
Operator: Northern
Motive power: Class 195/1 3-car diesel multiple unit. Built: CAF (2017-2020)
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This one is a huge nostalgia-fest for me. I first travelled this line around 1983 on a D of E trip, and then many times between 1991 and 1994 when I worked in Ambleside. I'd get the West Coast Mainline from Coventry to Oxenholme and usually the connecting train would be waiting on platform 3. Then it was a case of finding someone else going on to Ambleside to share a taxi. Hawkshead Brewery wasn't in Staveley back then, so I'm feeling the need for a return trip in the near future ;-)
Yes, you really must go back. That brewery needs your custom 😃
A good way of getting into the Lake District.
The problem with the Lakes is that they are so spread out they need to be accessed from other stations as well - Penrith (on the main line), and Ullapool and Workington (on the Cumbia Coast line).
The stations and the connecting bus routes are well illustrated on the Cumbria bus map.
Anyone wishing to see all the Lakes - you're talking about nearly one week.
Yes indeed. There's so much to see. But as you say, with a bit of planning you can get about on the local buses aswell as these trains.
Thanks for watching 👍
There’s nothing quite like a branch line. I enjoyed your exploration of the line and the brewery. Excellent.
Thanks Tim and thanks for watching. Looking forward to viewing more of your travels too 👍
Ooh, very atmospheric. Lovely! You did marvellously in capturing those great views through very rain droppy windows. Thanks for a damply delightful vid :)
Thank you. I think there could have been a bit less atmosphere for me, as by the end "the atmosphere" had soaked right through my jacket! But at least the video came out alright 😁
The Windermere Line is amazing and Windermere itself is also a lovely place to visit. Also Northern should order more of the Class 195 Civity DMU and Class 331 Civity EMU that both were built by CAF and to replace the existing diesel and electric trains across whole of the North of England.
Well the 195 was doing a good job in the rain, so I appreciate you liking of them. However I think they should have two toilets per set
Totally agree
Oh no the 195s and 331s are some of the most uncomfortable trains on the network
A very brave video, but worth it!
Thanks. I got very very wet indeed. But adversity does make good telly I suppose 😉
Lovely line.....into the early 1960s Windermere still boasted an original LNWR down inner home signal.
Excellent- that is the kind of useless information that this channel and its comments section was made for ❤️ 😃
Thanks for watching 👍
Exactly the trip I'd like to do, although not necessarily in the rain. I used to enjoy walking in the rain - until I had to wear glasses. Still, a perfect-ish day out, and thank you. I do enjoy your presentation, your easy-going and natural style.
Haha I know what you mean about rain and glasses. Hence why I wear the baseball cap to keep it off the glasses!
Thanks for the kind comment. It is much appreciated 👍
A good video as always, I had a pint of Hawkshead Red in Newcastle at the weekend when travelling on the Bishop Auckland, Saltburn and Whitby branch lines.
I hope the beer was as nice as the two I tried!
Thanks for watching 👍
I hope your beer was as good as the ones I tried.
Thanks for watching 👍
A very good video 👍. Let's hope the impatient pig who boarded the last train gets his comeuppance
Thanks, much appreciated 👍
...and I doubt there was any karmic payback for bargyman...
I've been up and down this line a few times, and it's lovely in the (all too rare) sunshine!
Thanks for another great video!
Yes. I've heard whispered rumours that it can be sunny in the Lake District !
Thanks for watching another 👍
Very enjoyable video. Excellent. Thank you 👍
You are very welcome. And thank you for watching 👍
You should have jumped on the 555 bus from either Staveley or Windermere to Ins, halfway between the two and sampled the delights of the Watermill Inn ith its own micro brewery, definitely worth a visit. They also have accomodation and the place is especially dog freindly.
That's a very good idea for the next time I'm there. Thanks for that. And thanks also for watching. It is much appreciated 👍
Lovely video and I like the cafe and pub reviews alongside the trains
Then I shall keep doing it! 😃
Thanks for watching 👍
Burneside looks worth exploring. What wet weather that was. We got a good soaking in Ireland from that same storm front. Liked the quotes about the Lake District weather. Lol.
I've rarely been so wet. But it was still a lovely day on the line.
Thanks for watching another. There's a big one out next week which tells the story of how I got to the North the day before.
Great idea, I live on the Cumbrian coast at Whitehaven and have never done this by rail but it is on my list now. Hawkshead Red is a class pint too.
I still have yet to travel your line, but it is on my list. And thanks for the tip on the Red 🍺
Great that you watched one of my videos. It is much appreciated 👍
Hey Johnny, I know you love your beer, so I highly reccomend the heritage line at Oswestry in Shropshire, as they recently extended to Weston Wharf, which has a micro brewery and pub! It's not the easiest to get to, but if you got a train to Gobowen, I'm sure there's a bus from there to Oswestry.
Excellent tip - thanks! I'm sure there'll be buses too, so I shall add that to my ever-increasing list of things to do/see.
Thanks, as ever, for watching my videos 👍
Stayed in Hawkshead near Ambleside several times and enjoyed the beers but never found the brewery. Now I know why, it is nowhere near Hawkshead!
Haha yes! I'm guessing "Hawkshead" is much better branding than "Staveley" 😃
Thanks for watching 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravelsit was founded in Hawkshead but moved to Staveley
@@katashworth41 ah. Then I shall no longer diss them for their name choice 🤦♂️
Excellent video, I had seen pictures from Lake District this year with more wetty rain
Sad that the railway does not continue longer into Lake District, but nice to see so many people using this branch line. There is one branch line that I am surprissed it is stil running - the one to Barton on Humber, suspect most people want to go to Hull and a direct bus must be much better to use
Thanks!
wrt Barton on Humber, it is a fairly decent sized town so I suppose it is just local people using the train to commute into Grimsby and Cleethorpes. as you say, people travelling to/from Hull and Grimsby are surely going to take a direct bus over the Humber Bridge.
It actually sounds like a quirky branch line that could make a good video 😉
Sometimes can’t you understand how some branch lines survived while other closed
But it was interesting to see how many people used the branch line into Lake District
@@Kulla1berg yes. It doesn't come over well in the video, but there were lots of people using the line to get to Windermere. Most of them seemed to be foreigners. North America and Far East judging by the accents/languages I heard. I suspect that a lot of the oriental people may have been there due to the author Beatrix Potter. Her old house/museum is nearby and I'm aware that her books, especially Peter Rabbit, were/are huge in Japan.
Ha, small world! I was on Penny the Pendolino this last weekend up and down on the WCML. Great video, thank you for sharing.
Haha - I guessed it got the name through some kind of public vote like Boaty McBoatface, but I don't know. nice that Avanti have a sense of humour anyway.
Thanks for watching another! 👍
@@JohnnyHooverTravelsI think that was virgin that did that
Next time, if you can find a dry day, extend the journey at Windermere by taking the 599 open top bus to Grasmere and back. Spectactular views.
Great idea. I will do just that!
Thanks for watching 👍
Another fine video Johnny, you managed to capture the Lake District in all its wet glory! The Hawkshead Brewery must’ve been a welcome relief from Storm Agnes…will definitely have to make a visit! Were you you using a ranger ticket for this journey? Couldn’t see any castings in the description
Yes - I had a 4 in 8 NW Ranger ticket - with my Railcard it cost about £60.
Thanks for the watch! 👍
Another great video. Hope all is well, take care.
Can I ask have you visited every station in the UK and what do you use for filming and editing your videos please.
haha! No. There's no chance of me getting anywhere close to visiting every station. I don't think I have the staying power for what is quite a lengthy (and expensive) enterprise. That said, I love to visit new stations on my travels, from large to small they all have their own charming features.
wrt gear... I shoot with two GoPros (for this vid it was an 8 and a 9). One with a media mod to improve the sound, especially when speaking into the camera. You def need two in case one decides to stop working during the trip!
Back home I edit on a Macbook with the iMovie software that comes with it.
Thanks so much for watching and for the kind comment. If there's anything else you need to know, just ask. I don't really ever intend to do one of those Q&A videos...
All very nice stations in the country side it’s a very nice line the Windermere brach but WICH line do u like the best? I like the Leeds to Manchester Vic just very nice scenery
Probably the Scottish lines hold a special place. But Wales also has some great ones.
But for me, some trips in the Czech Republic and Slovakia have been the best, mostly I suppose, because they are so different to the UK. Have a look at my Czech playlist.
Czech Republic
czcams.com/play/PLXk1cIVnitGbT_lyV5FRJsH0LLawupdaD.html
Hmm I wonder who broke the gate at Burneside..... couldn't be me...
Oo. That sounds like a guilty denial...
... thanks for watching me get rained on 👍
I go thru that gate every day and my patience sometimes is quite bad
@@jake_the_train_guy 😂
A line I know very well.
Thanks! I'm sure it isn't always this wet! I must return in the sunshine ☀️
@@JohnnyHooverTravels I can recommend plenty of pubs in the area to visit. There would be no lakes if it never rained.
Storm Agnes. You should see what her sister Babett had to offer !!!
Haha. I did! I was in Scotland for the last 5 days! Videos to come...
Thanks for watching 👍
It's always a shame to see (or rather, not see) the Lake District in the rain but, as I once pointed out to a disgruntled American tourist: "Where do you think the lakes come from?"
Haha good point!
Thanks for watching 👍
Do have to wonder how there are more buses at Staveley than trains? Especially as that bus runs all the way (3 hours) from Lancaster to Keswick while the train is a short shuttle from Kendal to Windermere.
The 555 Lancaster - Keswick bus runs every 30 mins in the summer season and then there are additional buses such as the 505 to Coniston which start from Kendal bus garage and run in service via Windermere ditto the 599 open top service to Grasmere. (The former Ambleside Bus Garage is now a shopping centre!) So lots of buses. At the moment with the £2.00 singles in England, the 555 is an amazing £2.00 ride.
@ADAMEDWARDS17 the 505 and 599 run all the way to Kendal now? That's quite an extension!
Why did they close Ambleside?
Amd yeah, hadn't thought about that, the 555 must be quite an amazing value fir money ride at the moment.
@@quintuscrinis8032 505 and 599 run in from Kendal in the morning and back in the evening, not all the day. (Apologies for not being clear) but what that does is it adds to the buses through Staveley.) Ambleside bus grarage was a post privatisation sell off to make money like so many such deals. My local bus garage went for housing. Land in the Lakes is very expensive and I suspect for Stagecoach it was a very lucrative deal.
Vertiginous ... suits you sir.
I am guessing that nobody wants to carry their bicycle up those vertigious steps to Burneside Stations, so a bicycle rack is unnecessary.
Yep, that was my guess too.
I like to slip in the odd big word so you know I went to a propa skool like 😂
Thanks for watching another 👍