Dorset's Lost Railway to the Beach - The Bridport Branch
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- This week we tackle an #EveryDisusedStation and head to the gorgeous Jurassic coast that is Bridport. Along the way we visit a handful of long abandoned stations and also have a little go at a #post10. What became of West Bay, the seaside resort made up by GWR!?
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Another great history and lovely locations! Post 10 reference was unexpected haha I like his channel too!
Later in the film, the water in that river looked like some of the same muddy water from that flood.....hahaha😂
I too must be weird I also watch post10 lol 😆
@@thebigrighthand7728 post10 is a living legend ! :) Have you seen his other channel ? He opens and eats decades old food !!
@@mikotondria nah m8 but will look at it
It's a bit sad when a railroad right-of-way is handed over to a landowner and closed to foot traffic. But you still have so many great hiking trails in the UK!
I read somewhere that some railway companies offered a clause in their compulsory purchase orders that if ever the land was not needed as a railway it had to be transferred back to the decendants of the owners. I'm not sure if this is true but it might partly explain why so many old trackbeds are incomplete.
@@gaugeonesteam That could well be the case. Here in NH USA, many of the old public roads are actually just "rights-of-way", with the property owner still owning the land beneath them. That may be true of some of these railways.
You finished the video at the point where Reginald Perrin went into the sea :)
I was in West Bay and Weymouth yesterday (Sat 30th), 99% of the of the boat train track in Weymouth has been replaced with fresh tarmac :(
Totally possible to ride from powerstock common to west bay, just need a mtb or similar.
Some old rail huts still along that section still in ok condition too. Used to ride it from town to home when I lived just off the common.
Lovely ride in summer 😃
Paul making a Post 10 reference has absolutely made my day!
Hilarious that you saw a flooded roadway and “Post 10” came to mind!
PS1 - You should identify a protagonist for your video series. Dr. Who has the Daleks, Post 10 has beavers, perhaps you could adopt the bumblebee?
PS2- Thanks for showing us a little slice of England.
Post 10 not only has beavers, also has loads of regular vegetation. ;)
Took me a moment to recognise what Paul meant by post10 - then I remembered the US culvert king :)
@@bishwatntl I still don't understand?
@@Poultrymad There's an American CZcamsr who posts videos about his efforts to unblock drains and culverts to ease flooded roads. Post10 is his channel name
Anyone for "Idiot with an excavator"?
I said nothing about letsdig18 :)
When they close the line to west bay the tunnel was filled in and houses built so quick it was beyond belief 😮😢
There was, in steam days, an unusual method used for the loco to change ends.
At Maiden Newton, the branch had a bay platform on the upside; trains entered in a southerly direction. There was a siding alongside the branch on a rising gradient, and the engine propelled an arrived passenger train into the siding; the locomotive then moved to another siding, and the passenger coaches descended by gravity into the bay platform under the control of the guard. The loco would then reattach ready for the trip back to Bridport.
Very interesting! A similar procedure was used at Cowes, Isle of Wight. The engine would propel the coaches back up the hill out of the station and was then detached. The coaches rolled back into the station under gravity and the locomotive was reattached on the outer end.
Post10 or not, which little boy can't resist playing with a giant puddle, I know I couldn't.
When the Southampton and Dorchester Railway was built, the plan was to continue westward from Dorchester to Exeter. The GWR Bristol to Weymouth line, and the LSWR Salisbury to Exeter changed the plans.
This proposed route would have put Bridport on that main line going east to west, which would have connected Dorchester to Axminster.
Would have been a very good link, when you see how busy, and slow the A35 is today
I’d be 15 when the West Bay branch was closed. The level crossing gates were operated by the train crew.
Current EDS completion estimate: 14/02/2072. That's 3 months added to the estimate following EDS 45, the "Dr Beeching's Hometown Had FOUR Stations - The Three Bridges Line" video.
Toller Station building is on the Buckfastleigh railway
Yes, I was going to mention that too, it was dismantled and eventually re-erected at Totnes Riverside. Passengers on the GWR mainline can catch a glimpse of it just over the River Dart from Totnes station.
I worked at St Francis School in Hooke, (next village to Toller). In the early days of the school, right up to the line's closure, the boys were brought in and dispatched each term, from the station at Toller Porcorum. This may well have been the largest number of people on any train. A great pity the line was allowed to close, particularly in the winter when the roads were very often impassible.
Happy memories. Went on the line in July 1970 when staying with a school mate’s family who had one of the houses on West Bay harbour. Less happily four of us got rescued by the Lyme Bay lifeboat the same week, but that’s another story
BEECHING, along with his chopper, was a vanka.
My first leg to boarding school in Bristol was Bridport to Maiden Newton. Saved a lot of time
Very picturesque part of the Dorset coast and still largely untouched.
Swanage railway next?
Moved to Bridport as a kid in 1977 so i just missed the last train.
I was born and brought up at Toller Fratrum and the branch line was part of the scenery in my life until its closure. All our trips to the seaside were to West Bay. Could never understand why they stopped passenger traffic to West Bay. There were always loads of us walking back to Bridport Station in the evenings after our day out by the sea.
I also cannot resist the temptation to play with water 4:20 and can often be found scraping away at some puddle or other, simply to achieve a flow of water. Good that I'm not the only friendly nutter loose on our highways and byeways. Love your vids.
Happen if someone cleared the roadside drains.
S'why they were put there - > to drain away.
I can still remember to this day being with my dad I would of been about 4 years old in 1975 to see the last train leave Bridport it was a very sad..
Depends how you define a Beeching Cut. The Alston Branch closed in 1976. Originally in the Beeching report. Kept open due poor road in the area. You can walk or cycle the length of it. At the southern end there is a narrow gauge railway. The path goes along side it.
I'd say that definitely counts
@@pwhitewick it will make a great video!
I wondered whether anyone would beat me to mentioning the Alston-Haltwistle branch in Northumberland (closed May 1976) as probably the last Beeching-related line closure… interestingly, the trackbed is almost entirely clear (aside from a bit near Haltwistle - I think a road was built across it?), so the narrow-gauge South Tynedale Railway could conceivably reopen the line all the way one day.
it was early in the video, to be unexpectedly TRIGGERED, by the mentioning of the name of the Abominable Destroyer
What a shame there are no branch lines to the seashore from the cities anymore. Millions of people do not own vehicles in England and cannot get out to enjoy the great outdoors.
The station at Toller Porcorum is now at Totnes Riverside Powerstock was called Poorstock, but changed by the Railway because it sounded better.😊
Lovely West Bay! I think the Alston - Coanwood branch was closed 1976
Every year my wife and I walk from Bradpole level crossing to Powerstock Common and back on the old route with a stop at The Marquis Of Lorne for lunch.
Legend has it that Poorstock station became Powerstock because the Bridport Railway, the company which built the line, thought that Poorstock was a bit of a poor name. So they came up with a new name which sounded more impressive. Eventually the village took the name of the station, and it's Powerstock to this day. The old name survives here and there in the area - for example, the nearby Poorstock Hill.
One of the carriages at West Bay was previously used as the locomotive department's mess coach on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, parked at Toddington station. The reason one side of the carriage is painted a rather scruffy maroon, and the other side is shiny chocolate and cream, is that the maroon side was against the wall of the goods shed, and nobody could see it!
You aren't the first to mention this. What a great little story, wish I'd had known. Classic GWR of course
Great fun, although I was surprised to see so little of it cyclable; when Dumpman went through in 2014 you could cycle large sections around Powerstock and the lead in to Maiden Newton and you could amble along the platform at Toller. There are some beautiful stretches of embankment and bridges around Loders if you ever go back.
The westbay extension was still used for goods traffic after passenger services stopped. Shirley Williams gave Dorset council a large sum of money to close the branch line by subsidising bus services. The bus services were good for the early 80s but went down hill fairly fast in the late 80s, dire in the 90s and stopped before the century turned.
The figures for closing the line were a little cooked up!!! And it was still running 4 or 6 up trains a day only problem was the times had changed so you had to wait a good long while at maiden newton.
Also you can't see it too well but the Bridport terminus at maiden newton also had a gravity siding opposite the bay platform. Toller Station had a passing loop and sidings ( plans for a good few).
Those stone toppers are common all over the country. I've seen inset plate girder ends in Peterborough, Sherringham and on Teesside none of which were served by the GCR.
There is particular a bit of that track side furniture close to me and as far as I can work out someone nicked it from the line nearby to make an esthetically pleasing abutment beside a road. If a bridge was planned then it was never built.
If a line had been built then it would have involved a tight turn then a mile of elivated track across a swamp.
a :)
I think the buildings at Wilmcote are owned by the neighbouring householder, despite the station being very much still open (its the station nearest Mary Arden's Farm).
Wonderful Indeed
The Clayton West branch off the Huddersfield - Sheffield line closed in 1980, that must have been considered by Beeching.
A lady who used to work in the same office as me used to go to West Bay every year for holiday, bringing back Dorset Biscuits for us all.
The flooding under the bridge has been getting worse over the last 20 years. Due to collapsed pipes. You missed out the 3 bridges in loders and you can walk some of it. Westbay was bridport harbour until changed by the great Western
Yes Nettlecombe to Loders is a really nice stretch and there are two bridges really close to each other in Loders separated by a small meadow. Then it goes to Bradpole and the old crossing before going through Happy Island.
See, the basic essentials were installed and remain in place, if, if, if only they were upkept.
Excellent video 👍
Ha, I love Post 10! 😂👌🏼
Superb - looking at the roads, this should have remained open - it reminds me of the southern branch lines off the route to Exeter - Lyme Regis / sidmouth etc that probably should have stayed open.
I stayed at Powerstock Station when it was being run as a B & B, 1983/4 I think. Very enjoyable - the stay and your video!
Love West Bay, stayed there a few times, and walked up as far as just beyond the site of Bridport Stn.
Really enjoyed this Every Disused Station and shame you couldn't cycle it, makes me wonder if the Alston line from Haltwhistle to Alston could be a candidate as one of the finals Railways to be closed under Beeching report as it was planned to be closed in the 1960s but was kept opened due to roads around the area was kept opened until 1976.
It should never have been closed on amenity grounds alone. Criminal.
@@ColinH1973Agreed - thankfully, the 12-mile route from Alston is almost completely intact (I think a short section close to the Haltwistle end had a road built across it), so in theory the South Tynedale Railway could reopen the entire route one day. (Would be a major undertaking - 7 miles?)
I had an aunt who lived at Powerstock and used to go down the hill to the rail embankment on a milk trolley, easy down hard going up! This was in the 50s and the trains were still runnning!
Not a Brompton? Gosh, I thought you were a man of taste, Paul!
£50 from the next door neighbour!
As a child I lived in toller and used to play in and around the old station (about 1978)
Thanks Paul - good one! I would have tried to clear the flood too. See you next time!
3:56
I was just about to write a comment that you needed Post 10 but you gave the shout out already ! 😁
The West Bay Resort awesome , thank You for the Video . So many backtracks I am glad that You are young and fit . Post 10 Ha ha " The biggest unclog yet " . Amazing that you watch the same videos . They are Rewatering the Erie canal for the Season , it will reopen in a few weeks . Gaurd Gates east of the Genesee River was up less than a foot , Water is heading to Wayne County .
The Macclesfield, Bolllington & Marple branch line closed in 1970, might have been a proposed cut under Beaching
Thanks Paul, great watch.
Cheers
Fantastic video thanks Paul. Loving learning the history of the stations, it is totally fascinating. Lovely scenery too. Thanks for taking me along. Please stay safe and take care
Hi Paul great video. I think the Alston branch may have been last beeching closure
Ah yes...
I lived in Toller in the late 1960s - my father was the school headmaster. - and remember the line well. Before my time there had I believe been a siding at Toller used for traffic from the local saw mill.. As your video says despite the roads a bus service was suggested as an effective replacement. It was not and Toller is a useful example of what happened when stations were closed. The school closes, the pub closes, the sawmill closes and much of the life goes out of the community. I would recommend the book The Bridport line by Tattershall and Jackson which dates from around the time of the line closure. An excellent history of a branch line that was never really commercially successful at any point in its life. Copies of the book seem to be available used for arguably low prices.
Actually for most of its life it was a viable/ cost effective line. Especially with the mix of passenger and freight trains. At one point I think they were running between 6 and 10 trains a day. First one was the milk train. When the goods sidings started to be removed from maiden newton its didn't help the line. But it wasn't loosing as much as was said and had it made it to the 80s it would still be there today. But Shirley Williams wanted it gone. Several times she tried but failed but eventually the cash prize was enough and it went. Bus services replaced it. They lasted for 10 ish years before starting to decline, so more people in the villages were forced into buying a car or a second car. To allow them to get to work or to town for shopping etc.
@@lxtechmangood9503 As I said I was there in the years just prior to closure, you may have a longer knowledge, Ridership was poor back then and the service had been cut back significantly. Toller and Powerstock were both family farming communities and even then the one thing farming families were never short of were cars (often eclectic and in poor repair). Cars ruled even before closure. Tollers population today is around 300, Maiden Newton 1,100, Powerstock 300. Much as I loved the line that sounds an unlikely number to ensure survival.
Thanks Paul for another very interesting vlog were was the boss on this one
They’re not “ropey”, they’re called country lanes! 😀
Good Post 10 reference
Was A LOT of fun
It's only Post10 if it was caused by the Beavers blocking a culvert, and they certainly wouldn't be earning any badges for flooding roads :-)
Haha... well we have a few beavers now don't we?
History lesson good to know local stuff, thanks.
That's where I live lol. If you go into the powerstock nature reserve you can walk all along the old line and theres an old bridge you can walk under and there's part of an old platform that's been taken over by nature. Maiden newton also was called maiden newton tramway
Get yourselves up North & go to WITHERNSEA, the hint is in the name SEA lol. No station left but plenty of old pics to be seen of the turntable & station. It would have been Hull to Withernsea line
Caersws station in Mid Wales operates as a station platform but the station building itself has been sold.
Bridge abutment "toppers", as you called them Paul, are actually called capstones. I agree with you, they do have a somewhat GC style to them
Thank you Paul for making this wonderful trip and taking me along with you today !
Diverting the flooded section was a cracker!
They are looking to reopen the line to Bridport from Maiden Newton as a tram and cycle route. It will be interesting to see if it happens.
What about covering the short Abbotsbury to Weymouth line and also the line to Lyme Regis. You could definitely finish by the sea then.
You missed seeing the rails still set into the road at Bradpole crossing!
You can walk from powerstock common where you were at the flood, all the way along the old railway line to loders, the path is open I've rode it hundreds of times 👍 it's beautiful along there.
Cracking vid Paul, Love the Post 10 reference, big fan of his and watch his vids too, he does great work 'across the pond'!
Looks as though they've spruced up the Café in the old station, it was a little tired when I visited in 2013. Another very interesting video Paul.
Armathwaite, on the Settle Carlisle, is open but the station building is now a house. I think the station was closed for a few years and then re-opened.
Post10 has a great channel. Glad I'm not the only one who watches. :)
Post 10 🤣 all these CZcamsrs all know each other
Haha... I definitely don't know him
i love his videos!
Walked the line a few years back but seamed much easier then to get on the track bed hopefully they are reopening it back up again soon to enjoy the walk or cycle ride.
You can cycle from the nature reserve at Powerstock to Loders, there are a couple of missing bridges and roughish bits but no problem on an MTB have done it many times
Not sure if anyone has replied to this about the Poorstock/Powerstock debate but I had read it was something to do with the Great Western Railway think that people wouldn't want to go to a Station or Place with the Name "Poorstock" so both were renamed "Powerstock" to represent the coming of the Railway and the "Power" of the Great Western Railway! I've heard this a few times but whether it is written anywhere officially I'm not too sure
Love this part of the world. Had my summer holiday last year in Bridport, beautiful but the roads are a nightmare.
Who knew Post10 was so famous. Maybe he could do a UK/European tour.
Loved the post 10 shout out
Been to westbay many times and the station when it was a lovely cafe have always pondered the line and what it may have been very good video as usual question answered..
What a brilliant video. It’s great to see the disused railway in Bridport. Yes there is a old station up our way, which is on an abandoned railway turned into a cycle path at East Hyde between Harpenden Herts and Luton, Bedfordshire. It’s the former Luton Hoo station and now is a lovely house and the platform has been covered up by garden, and also has a high fence around it too, but you can see it’s still the former Luton Hoo station!
1 more line this end to trace , Upwey to Abbotsbury line , good hunting
Railway stations where the station buildings have been sold and now serve residential or commercial purposes are very common in Germany on more rural lines. One of the many cost-saving measures that ruined Germany's railway network over the last 60-70 years.
You two know how to spend a Sunday afternoon. I'm jealous!
Just imagine what a wonderful heritage railway that would be today.
This is a great film, thanks. not sure if anyone has said already in the comments, but I recently cycled from the bridge with the flood into Toller Porcorum. The track bed having now been restored as a foot / cycle path.
Saw you two outside my McDonald’s earlier today (Monday 16th May). I wanted to come up and say hi but was busy working.
Ah we met a chap with a great idea for a video today, no clue why we decided on Maccie D's!!
@@pwhitewick I look forward to seeing the video! Feel free to come back if you like. Hopefully next time I won’t be so busy working and can come and say hi.
As far as I know the line through Tunbridge Wells west to Eridge was closed under the beeching act in 1985
I used to live at Maiden Newton and I managed to cycle the railway from Powerstock Common (down the track next to the flooded bridge) to the village of Loders on the edge of Bridport as most of that section is open as it forms parts of various bridleways. Lovely ride though you need a mountain bike! Also Powerstock Common is worth a look for wildlife enthusiasts and industrial archaeologists alike as it has some impressive victorian brick kilns!!
More things to keep in your boot: Post 10's rake, Trigger's broom. . . . .
When I first heard of this umpteen resurrection of this toy train again, thought early April fools joke. Hear is going right through bus depot, tannery road, crossing west St (somehow’ then Prmore, tunnel under the Beaminster rd. Remember John McEnroe saying, “You cannot be serious” 🤬🤬🤬
un unexpected crossover lol #post10
Alston Station now a very successful Heritage Line.
Post 10 would be proud and would tell you to buy a rake.
Haha I bet he would
I lived in Loders and the disused line ran behind my house. The kids always had great adventures there and collecting wild flowers
Draining floods is one of the most entertaining past-times. Well done!
Always look forward to each and every video. Thank you Paul for all your efforts and quality information.
I really look forward to Sunday evening's and seeing what you two have for us! Always interesting and informative . Thank you.
Go to west Bay in the summer, its gorgeous!
Very interesting video. So many closed lines. Thanks for keeping them alive.
I’m old enough to remember a single car diesel unit sitting in the bay platform at Maiden Newton but I never actually rode the branch.
Had the line been built between Bridport and Weymouth directly then it might have survived, as that is where the main traffic flow is. Going via Maiden Newton was too much of an out-of-the-way detour and so everyone favourited the direct bus instead. I wonder what the landscape is like for a direct route (too difficult?). I may take a look when I get a chance.