Exploring the Abandoned Fleetwood Railway Branch Line

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  • čas přidán 14. 03. 2020
  • With the prospects of a new rail system being introduced for the people of Fleetwood and Thornton I thought it would be a great idea to catch up with the Poulton and Wyre Railway Society especially with an invite to test out the first train on the line since the 70's!
    PWRS: www.pwrs.org - Drone footage: CDWILLS86 - Archive footage: Keith Stringer
    Nodrog ©️

Komentáře • 177

  • @Dave1976.
    @Dave1976. Před 4 lety +32

    We have all worked hard over the last 11 years at pwrs. Still looking for volunteers. This is the Very first vehicle/geismar trolley since closure. Looking for volunteers at Poulton end. One day in the near future this will be real.

    • @jonlatham5301
      @jonlatham5301 Před 4 lety +2

      Tell me more and I'll think about it

    • @bodhiderrick3515
      @bodhiderrick3515 Před 3 lety

      I guess it's kind of randomly asking but do anybody know a good site to stream newly released series online ?

    • @noecaden5307
      @noecaden5307 Před 3 lety

      @Bodhi Derrick i would suggest FlixZone. You can find it on google =)

    • @maysonnehemiah8397
      @maysonnehemiah8397 Před 3 lety

      @Bodhi Derrick Try FlixZone. You can find it by googling =)

  • @timothyparsons8327
    @timothyparsons8327 Před 4 lety +17

    I for one would really love to see trains back in Fleetwood. HAIL THE RAIL!

  • @TheFlyingBusman
    @TheFlyingBusman Před 4 lety +9

    It’s got an engine, it’s running on rails, it’s pulling something. I’ll roll with train 👍

  • @inquisitor229
    @inquisitor229 Před 4 lety +20

    Good luck with this project. The move to ever more environmentally friendly transport should work in your favour. It's fortunate that a decent section of the trackbed and rails are still in place, hopefully with continued right of way.

  • @SiloNova25
    @SiloNova25 Před 4 lety +2

    I got excited hearing the *click click - click click* sound of a train coming down that line. Hoping we will see this revived soon! I cross the little Thornton crossing every week to go to my Dad's. I can't wait for the day I stop to see a train pass by.

  • @blackpoolram
    @blackpoolram Před 4 lety +11

    I really hope this line will re-open. The idea was talked about so much during the 20 years or so I lived in Blackpool. I've now moved to Ross on Wye, a town whose transport links have suffered greatly since the closure (pre beeching) of their railway line. And this the town which boasts the birth of tourism!

  • @awizardalso
    @awizardalso Před 4 lety +19

    I'm glad to see not only steam engines being restored and brought back to life, I'm also happy to see abandoned rail lines being put back into service. Not just here in the United States but in the UK as well. I've loved trains and railroads since I was a young kid back around 1960.

    • @jeremypreece870
      @jeremypreece870 Před 4 lety +1

      Yes. We rail fans love to see railways come back to life throughout the world. Steam engines coming back to life are also great. As a Brit, I have watched a lot of US videos too, particularly an American who calls himself Jaw Tooth. The differences between the railway systems of different countries is also fascinating.

  • @10wanderer
    @10wanderer Před 4 lety +7

    When I was a kid in the 50s you could smell the fish train from Fleetwood as it went through Preston Station

  • @tracya4087
    @tracya4087 Před 4 lety +9

    it is nt how long it takes its about never ever giving up to get there . bless you always lads . from wigan

  • @leslierhodes5467
    @leslierhodes5467 Před 4 lety +5

    Terrific work my friend and the same goes for the work that’s being done for the canals across the country

  • @grantallen1196
    @grantallen1196 Před 4 lety +8

    Fantastic video nodrog wish the guys every success in making the beeching reversal happen they are a credit to our world leading forgotten industry.

    • @chrisevans73
      @chrisevans73 Před 2 lety

      Network rail will never run any trains on it if PWRS every re do the track, who's gunna relay the new track and missing parts won't be network rail for sure

  • @jon99t
    @jon99t Před 4 lety +7

    well done to the ones and i hope it will come together well-done nodrog

  • @alycidon12
    @alycidon12 Před 4 lety +1

    Nodrog......AWESOME mate ...YOUR little face on that self propelled mobile was an absolute sight to behold.You looked like Nodrog on Christmas Day decades ago with a lounge full of new presents, or better still being told this morning YOU are the 90% shareholder in Scotsman... WONDERFUL stuff.
    Great credit to the guys that are progressing this, lets get more people involved with our Railways,Just shows what the general public will do to get a link to their Town back on the map.
    Well done...Regards IAN

  • @brianwalmsley447
    @brianwalmsley447 Před 4 lety +4

    Good to watch bring back more trains id love to have a ride up and down the track 👍

  • @8manxman
    @8manxman Před 4 lety +2

    Great video... I hope your succesful. There are many disused railways, begging to be brought back to life. Good luck.

  • @davidbutterworth5258
    @davidbutterworth5258 Před 4 lety +1

    Went on this line in August 1959 with my parents; part of a tour Blackpool and Fleetwood-two resorts in a day from Oldham, Lancashire. The train was a twelve car diesel unit- Cravens , I think.

  • @christopherbraiden6713

    Well done all your doing a great job!!😎🚃🚃🚃🚃🇬🇧

  • @festivalimage
    @festivalimage Před 4 lety +3

    Brilliant video Gordon. You are right these guys are heroes and we owe tthem a huge debt.

  • @brianthetrain9283
    @brianthetrain9283 Před 4 lety +3

    Great stuff chaps, keep the good work up.

  • @dickmartino9933
    @dickmartino9933 Před 4 lety +4

    I was here just the other day at Cala Gran/the sharp road bend. I cycled to Poulton-le-Fylde station to get home. Let's hope there's some "levelling up" money to do this.

  • @roberttaylor465
    @roberttaylor465 Před 4 lety +4

    Oh I remember this as a youngster, stayed at caravan site many times.

  • @deanedwards5851
    @deanedwards5851 Před 4 lety

    Thank you for sharing your adventure with the world, because like you I understand what it feels to want and those abandoned lines to be brought back into service.
    Good luck

  • @timofeegraaay8165
    @timofeegraaay8165 Před 4 lety +4

    In the United States there have been some abandoned ( disused) lines that have been reopened because some customers have been encouraged to open up along the line. These are in areas like Ohio, Michigan and even Illinois where the once industrial powers went belly up as manufacturers moved to China, Mexico and Japan and towns and cities just basically died. It is good to see some old lines have a new chance at life again. Most were what was called “rail banked”, not used but not having the rails actually torn out.

    • @gymnasiast90
      @gymnasiast90 Před 4 lety

      In the UK, in many cases the track was lifted and the land was sold. Which later came back to bite them in the arse heavily as it made reopening those lines prohibitively expensive. This line appears to be an exception.

  • @andyrichardsvideovlogs8835

    Great archive footage of a Super D on the fish vans. What a perfect place to park a Pacer 🤔

  • @patstrainsuk1
    @patstrainsuk1 Před 4 lety +2

    Very interesting and a lot of very hard work put in in by one and all in order to clear the line to run there “train” 😊
    Keep up all the good work you do love your videos and all you put in to them thanks Pat

  • @thoughtsonfitness3249
    @thoughtsonfitness3249 Před 4 lety +4

    Lots of old track bed out there ..... so exciting. I was confused as a kid when I watched the wrecking balls take out the old Victoria station in Nottingham. It ran underground for Pete sake.

  • @thebrummierailenthusiasts5329

    Excellent commentary from you Gordon

  • @lynnthrop7544
    @lynnthrop7544 Před 2 lety

    This is showing progress 👏excellent so far.☆

  • @stevebarlow8693
    @stevebarlow8693 Před 4 lety +1

    Brilliant video, thank you.

  • @waynepaxford7263
    @waynepaxford7263 Před 4 lety

    Great video Gordon can't wait for next video

  • @markwilson8002
    @markwilson8002 Před 4 lety +1

    Brilliant Vlog

  • @richardhancock2771
    @richardhancock2771 Před 4 lety

    It's a good thing there are not any train times for this it would be late well done keep going

  • @vivekraychowdhury4348
    @vivekraychowdhury4348 Před 4 lety +6

    If a buscar can be a train, why not this one?! Hope it grows bigger in the future.

  • @transportationuk7656
    @transportationuk7656 Před 4 lety +3

    Can not wait to ride on a train to Fleetwood in the Future. Can have a day in Blackpool at the same time.

  • @Tom-gr6nx
    @Tom-gr6nx Před 4 lety +2

    great video gordon well done looks like you had fun lol.

  • @petemarr824
    @petemarr824 Před 4 lety +1

    This is one of Lancashires finest fleet of trains currently. ;)

  • @UKTransportVideos82
    @UKTransportVideos82 Před 4 lety +4

    Nice one Gordon i was down your way filming on the class 331 other weekend

  • @DanielPRails
    @DanielPRails Před 4 lety +1

    This is very interesting. If only the us would do more things like this more often. Thanks for sharing

  • @chrisa7320
    @chrisa7320 Před 3 lety +1

    Superb!

  • @stephenlittle7534
    @stephenlittle7534 Před 4 lety +1

    That's going to be brilliant when it happens. I only got there as you know by tram. Which was really great anyway. It's so great to see the line hopefully back to Fleetwood.

  • @user-qw5ed9pe5n
    @user-qw5ed9pe5n Před 3 lety

    Going to Thornton for years nice to see it especially the bridge we kept going over leads to the estuary. Nearly found the line by walking down there once by ici

  • @kkrispy2009P
    @kkrispy2009P Před 4 lety

    Great train research and line repairs

  • @williethomson8353
    @williethomson8353 Před 3 lety

    What an interesting start

  • @syncrosimon
    @syncrosimon Před 4 lety

    Great useful work, thank you 😎😎🇬🇧🇬🇧

  • @m0jfe
    @m0jfe Před 4 lety

    Well done guys remember playing on the back of the copse and razzing it up and down the line from burglars alley entrance dodging the ici conveyer happy times .Good luck guys keep up the good work it is appreciated.

  • @wilburstravels1638
    @wilburstravels1638 Před 4 lety +1

    Line quality looks way better than most US rails

  • @stephencrossley5417
    @stephencrossley5417 Před 4 lety +1

    Great video

  • @Thursdaym2
    @Thursdaym2 Před 4 lety

    Boys with toys..lovely. Back in the seventies, I ( my company ) supplied steel to Exors of James Mills in Bredbury, Stockport for the manufacture of rail keys. Happy mr

  • @frankfitzgerald5832
    @frankfitzgerald5832 Před 4 lety +1

    Brilliant were gonna do a walk round here soon highlight the line too...Frank & Lee...

  • @Isochest
    @Isochest Před 4 lety +1

    A good start. NR take notice. We need Passenger and Freight service to Fleetwood!

  • @barryprice9962
    @barryprice9962 Před 4 lety +5

    Looks good i hope you get your wish mate. Down here in Bristol we have been waiting years for are Portishead line to re open and after 20 years still waiting so let's hope you get yours.

    • @chrisevans73
      @chrisevans73 Před měsícem

      It’ll be same here 4 years on from this video and still no progress

  • @jackharrison6771
    @jackharrison6771 Před 4 lety +3

    Please note- Rail Link-84 had that the planned route for that extension moved 8 metres to the West, to "Protect the Rail Corridor".

    • @jackharrison6771
      @jackharrison6771 Před 4 lety +2

      For all the times I walked it, rode locos on it, and sent trains along it - it seems longer than I remember it. I think it would be churlish NOT to let you call that a train (of sorts haha). But videos like this do what Rail Link-84 were [partly], originally formed to do - To keep the idea and potential alive in the minds of Public, Local Authorities, and Business/Industries.

  • @TheDaf95xf
    @TheDaf95xf Před 4 lety

    Hi Gordon. Hope you and all of your family are well due to the Coronavirus outbreak 😷 It’ll be absolutely brilliant if heavy rail would come back to the Fleetwood line 👍🏻 The black and white signal post would probably indicate a distance signal 🙂 Great at always cheers Stevie 😎

  • @petersingleton5545
    @petersingleton5545 Před 4 lety

    Your lad would have loved that ride, Gordon.

  • @PhilPage227
    @PhilPage227 Před 4 lety +2

    Exciting times there.

  • @1701_FyldeFlyer
    @1701_FyldeFlyer Před 4 lety +3

    Ive ridden that line when it was twin track fare paying passenger trains running on it.

  • @FPs_transport_vids
    @FPs_transport_vids Před 4 lety +4

    Cool

  • @denelson83
    @denelson83 Před 4 lety

    You look like you're channeling Buster Keaton on that little crew car.

  • @romeo9017
    @romeo9017 Před 4 lety

    Excellent...

  • @spex357
    @spex357 Před 4 lety

    Good to see the caravans have been updated.
    The fish train I suppose will stay a piece of the past. Fresh Fish in the mornings from Fleetwood to Oswaldtwistle/ Church. A quick bit of filleting and portioning and the local mill workers would be tucking in to fresh Cod and Chips for lunch.

  • @Lulu-jl5zd
    @Lulu-jl5zd Před 4 lety +2

    Wonderful vlog... get it joined up at Poulton again it would be brilliant for Fleetwood but they need that station at Affinity IMHO.

    • @None-zc5vg
      @None-zc5vg Před 4 lety

      They've canted the track for high-speed running on the curve near the vanished signal-box at Poulton so it would be difficult to reinstate the connection 'as it was" to what remains of the Fleetwood line.

    • @chrisevans73
      @chrisevans73 Před 2 lety

      @@None-zc5vg Exactly sadly the reopening will never happen network rail will not approve it and there are 3 crossings with high speed traffic to think off also

  • @mickd6942
    @mickd6942 Před 4 lety +3

    Seen that video with the van on rails

  • @PNEKarl
    @PNEKarl Před 4 lety +3

    @ 2:51 "It rivals a mark IV, I think!" :-)

  • @MalcolmCrabbe
    @MalcolmCrabbe Před 4 lety +18

    I'd pay just to have a ride on that thing, let alone a real train... looks like fun :-)

    • @TalkeTalker
      @TalkeTalker Před 4 lety +2

      So would I! Looks like a real laugh. Hope the ride fare would include use of a high viz vest.

  • @Thomas1980
    @Thomas1980 Před 4 lety

    nice video 👍👍👍

  • @MrBook123456
    @MrBook123456 Před 4 lety

    good video

  • @thomasholland1750
    @thomasholland1750 Před 4 lety +17

    In the 1960s when I growing up in Fleetwood ,my dad used work on the railway at Fleetwood
    Original railway station when that got closed, he moved to Wyre Dock, it’s closed in May 1970,
    Then to Blackpool North,until his retirement in 1973 ,then he,s died in 1976 ,even though I
    Now lived in Edgware ,I am Fstill very interested in the Train Scene in Blackpool area , I saw
    The first pacers in Blackpool they were better than . Than the old 1st generation DMU which
    They replaced people knocked the pacers unit but they were step up .On the Fleetwood
    Branch why don’t they borrow a pacer to see the track can take it .Fleetwood motto is
    Onward if the branch gets reopened yes I will be happy From Tom

    • @jackharrison6771
      @jackharrison6771 Před 4 lety +2

      Very interesting about your Dad. But I have to differ on the issue of Pacers. There is no comparison between those and the old DMUs I think; nor can I see any Pacer lasting as long or being as robust in structure, or ride. Most of them were as old as me and older during my time on BR. But of course, the case for returning our Rail Link has been proven many times since at least the closure of Dock St Stn. It's a good job ICI required the line as long (and as much) as it did, or the work of the PWR would be even worse than it is.

    • @craftythio
      @craftythio Před 4 lety

      Grammar lol

    • @jackharrison6771
      @jackharrison6771 Před 4 lety

      @@craftythio Oh picky picky! But what contribution do you have to the actual Subject? If any?

    • @craftythio
      @craftythio Před 4 lety

      @@jackharrison6771 I'm so sorry I didn't mean to harm u it was a joke

    • @UnbelievableEricthegiraffe
      @UnbelievableEricthegiraffe Před 4 lety

      @@craftythio Tell your Girlfriend I'll meet her in the usual place at the Weekend.

  • @johnclarke2997
    @johnclarke2997 Před 4 lety +1

    British Rail had a truck which would run down the line. There is a video on CZcams of the truck leaving the road and running down the line.

  • @norherman
    @norherman Před 4 lety

    Cleaning up the trash and the weeds and over grown plants would go a long way making it outstanding route. Good luck

  • @rjtravels68
    @rjtravels68 Před 2 lety

    I saw that. That's the disused rail way behind Cala Gran Haven park. I know because I have seen it from my caravan.

  • @allanm6246
    @allanm6246 Před 4 lety +2

    The Railroaders!

  • @marianshattock2732
    @marianshattock2732 Před 4 lety

    When that line opens I want to be there, please.

  • @SamsVlogstrainsmore
    @SamsVlogstrainsmore Před 4 lety +6

    Was there an onboard shop or trolley service available? Can I have the realtime trains link for the service? 😂

  • @mickd6942
    @mickd6942 Před 4 lety +2

    I want one

  • @tonyp011
    @tonyp011 Před 4 lety +1

    wow Gordon that contraption you were on was doing some serious speed there especially on rusty old rails, how was it able to move relatively easy on rusty rails?

  • @richardjellis9186
    @richardjellis9186 Před 4 lety +3

    That'll do.! Just keep the trolly. Better than Blackpool pleasure beach.

  • @mikenkatechandler5243
    @mikenkatechandler5243 Před 4 lety +3

    HAHAHA Love it Ya know i built one of those track riders over here in Western Australia Made my own wheels because i cant find any old track wheels here , Maybe when we are over there once this covid 19 is over as well don't want to pass it on to Kate's Parent's in Lytham as they are in there 80s , Someone might have a set of wheels like on your track unit
    I love the Preston,Lytham,Blackpool area , i'm Guessing nodrog u live around there ? I should send u some pics and vids of our adventures as we have many closed lines with over many miles to explore

  • @dimebarcocker
    @dimebarcocker Před rokem

    Have you ever covered the route of the old kirkham to Blackpool Central train route? On Church Road near Weeton there used to be a bridge where the road went over the old railway cutting. The cutting must have been filled in but it's hard to tell exactly where it was - maybe within 100 yards of the current bridge over the track that goes to Poulton.

  • @thetribe29
    @thetribe29 Před 4 lety +2

    Freight trains ran on this branch into the 1990s

    • @nodrog
      @nodrog  Před 4 lety

      Cheers Peter, the section we were on was beyond that so in theory it might be later than believed - great fun regardless :)

  • @matthewalbery8827
    @matthewalbery8827 Před 4 lety

    'mazin footage. In safety boots. More than one bogie must be a train!

  • @nigelkthomas9501
    @nigelkthomas9501 Před 4 lety +3

    I did this line on a tour in 1999.

  • @jackharrison6771
    @jackharrison6771 Před 2 měsíci

    Heck, is it really four yrs since I Posted here? To answer a couple of 'points' [pun intended], I had a dvd showing a special loco run down towards the Fleetwood end; but the only regular traffic that I sent to/from the Wyre Branch, were the various traffic to 'Burn Naze Sth' Signal box, for the ICI works. It was still going strong when I had to retire ill health in Dec-1988.
    This involved up to 10 movements per day, including the return run. It was all freight traffic, IE: Oil trains [11 100t tankers hauled by a class 40 or 47 loco.
    The daily Target 25 provided an interesting shunt at Poulton No 3 Box. Arriving with coal wagons for Blackpool Nth, Caustic Soda for 'Burn Naze', and any traffic from Salwick BNFL..
    We shunted the whole train into the old Carriage siding, then the coal was taken to Blackpool. Then light engine back to re-join it's train, to wait until there was a space in main line traffic, to cross the junction and on to the ICI.
    Other Wyre Branch traffic included Parafine Wax,10 or 20 tankers and Chlorine, which had to be held outside the station, before given a clean run over the junction, and down the branch.
    The object in your hand at the old signal, would be the counter weight, connected to the signal arm and whichever signal box it applied to. There were several signa BOXES ORIGINALLY, between Poulton-le-Fylde and Fleetwood station. There were originally five boxes at Pouton,; being a Railway triangle. I worked the only remaining No 3 Box..

    • @nodrog
      @nodrog  Před 2 měsíci

      Excellent! Thank you 🙏 for sharing this 🥳

  • @DavidShepheard
    @DavidShepheard Před 4 lety

    Nice video! Very funny.
    I had a look at the route on the PWRS website, but couldn't really tell what bit you had ridden along.
    What percentage of the route was this?
    Are PWRS pushing to get National Rail to run trains again, or is this going to be a heritage railway?
    Please would you do another video (at some point) where you show us the condition of the full route and what PWRS need to do, before you can ride the entire route?

  • @theelliottline3637
    @theelliottline3637 Před 4 lety

    I used to live in Anchorsholme (1984) and would often walk to Thornton. The railway crossing intrigued me, the station was still there. Where were the trains? Soon I learned about the closure of the Fleetwood branch, I hope it re-opens.Anyway I live in regional Australia now and the government here is thinking of turning OUR disused railway line into a 'rail-trail'. All 100 km's of it. Check out my CZcams channel if you want to see it in its current state.

  • @Paulwherrell
    @Paulwherrell Před 4 lety +2

    Could possibly be part of the National Rail network again...?

  • @jamesrobinson9194
    @jamesrobinson9194 Před 4 lety +1

    Were First Class upgrades available?!

  • @dragogos
    @dragogos Před 3 lety

    we need someone that can connect the ici part with the other part. i love this railway.

  • @jamesbraithwaite478
    @jamesbraithwaite478 Před 4 lety

    There is the possibility of buying some ex-Northern Rail stock (I'd advise against Class 142's) but a Class 150 DMU would work perfectly on there by my reckoning.

  • @mickd6942
    @mickd6942 Před 4 lety +3

    Wasn't nothern rail going to replace pacers with those lol

  • @jackhstproductions649
    @jackhstproductions649 Před 4 lety +3

    Its a train!!

  • @franktuckwell196
    @franktuckwell196 Před 4 lety +1

    At least you didn't have to hand crank it with the old up and down handle.

  • @seany84uk
    @seany84uk Před 3 lety

    Lets hope this line gets reopened. For it to work i think it needs to make it to the freeport shopping park i think. They could have a flyde circular train running the route from blackpool south - preston - fleetwood

  • @LeeAshleysChannel
    @LeeAshleysChannel Před 4 lety +1

    Fantastic video Nodrog keep it up please give a big shout out to Lee&Ashleys CZcams channel in your Wednesday weekly vlog cheers mate

  • @alisongottfreund9656
    @alisongottfreund9656 Před 3 lety

    Hi just a quick question could u find out if any trains run on the underground tracks at crew station as my grandad use to use then when he was on the steam locomotives

    • @nodrog
      @nodrog  Před 3 lety

      I think these were abandoned in the 80's. The independent lines? This area is to be redeveloped into the Western Leg Terminus for HS2.

  • @rutheliz75
    @rutheliz75 Před 3 lety

    It's a train !

  • @nealadsett8484
    @nealadsett8484 Před 4 lety +2

    I think the Transit Van Train that you remember being turned on a jack is the Mocanita Forest Railway in Viseu De Sus Romania.

  • @p.istaker8862
    @p.istaker8862 Před 4 lety

    Someone needs to put down some double track in an old marshalling yard and drag racing those trolleys.

  • @phildeffley6380
    @phildeffley6380 Před 3 lety

    Did you no back of cala gran holiday park they is train line where you film this video is it back of cala gran

  • @69waveydavey
    @69waveydavey Před 4 lety +5

    Before the election boris promised it would reopen, when he got in, he asked for a feasability study? Surely they should be just re-laying the track as we speak after all he did promise. Or do sometimes politicians not mean what they say just before an election.

    • @24B10F
      @24B10F Před 4 lety +2

      What else would you expect from the Fatberg Of Deceit?

  • @Jimyjames73
    @Jimyjames73 Před 4 lety +1

    Good on them - pity it got closed in the 1st place