How true of Betjeman to say that railways were not finished. I put my wife on a train to Birmingham from Plymouth last week and the train was absolutely packed as the return train was when I collected her. The same happened two years ago. The problem is of course that rail travel on some inter city services is not the pleasant experience that it used to be when trains were less crowded and when they had more carriages.
As a child, I was taken to a council children’s home, with my younger brother, whilst my mother was in hospital pregnant with our yet to be born youngest brother. I stayed at that home for five months; ‘Ashcott House’ overlooked the S&D branch line, the peat digging and the growing ‘withies’ on the edge of the levels, referred to by the lady on the soundtrack. I was taken to the local parish church, as the oldest child then at the home, to represent with the matron, the home in that community whilst the sole available television was installed on the altar to allow the people of Ashcott to watch the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II. But, the whole sojourn was a world away from my experience of then ‘normal life’. Later my parents moved to Bath, so I witnessed the last days of the S&D the sounds & sights of trains climbing the 1 in 50 gradient out of Bath junction to the Combe Down tunnel.
Wonderful ! I used the S&D as a kid and was about when the axe fell ! The first thing to be ripped out was the phone wires to cripple the signalling and communications. Just in case phoenix like it should try to rise !
Great video, i think Mike arlett was a signal man at Midford box on the S&D , and no mention of Don beale (Driver) and Peter Smith (Fireman) two of the finest railway men who worked the Pines express , and the equally revered Ivo Peters for his extraordinary talent and skill in filming and photography of the S&D line and others .
With the advantage of hindsight we now know that far too much was discarded. Of course we gained the preserved lines, and a few of these are still connected to the mainline. My memories as a small child travelling by rail are of excitement, and wonder, always something knew to see and learn, todays journies by rail, hold no excitement, or wonder, they are simple expedients of going from A to B.
As a child of I was taken to a council children’s home, with my younger brother, whilst my mother was in hospital pregnant with our yet to be born youngest brother. I stayed at that home for five months; ‘Ashcott House’ overlooked the S&D branch line, the peat digging and the growing ‘withies’ on the edge of the levels, referred to by a lady on the soundtrack to the video. I was taken to the local parish church, as the oldest child then at the home, to represent with the matron, the home in that community whilst the sole available television was installed on the altar to allow the people of Ashcott to watch the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II. But, the whole sojourn was a world away from my experience of then ‘normal life’. Later my parents moved to Bath, so I witnessed the last days of the S&D the sounds & sights of trains climbing the 1:50 from Bath junction to the Combe Down tunnel.
HUUUUNNG!!!
Betjeman had more foresight than we all gave him credit for. Nowadays we all curse the gridlock on our roads.
Such a wonderful film of times gone by.
How true of Betjeman to say that railways were not finished. I put my wife on a train to Birmingham from Plymouth last week and the train was absolutely packed as the return train was when I collected her. The same happened two years ago. The problem is of course that rail travel on some inter city services is not the pleasant experience that it used to be when trains were less crowded and when they had more carriages.
As a child, I was taken to a council children’s home, with my younger brother, whilst my mother was in hospital pregnant with our yet to be born youngest brother. I stayed at that home for five months; ‘Ashcott House’ overlooked the S&D branch line, the peat digging and the growing ‘withies’ on the edge of the levels, referred to by the lady on the soundtrack. I was taken to the local parish church, as the oldest child then at the home, to represent with the matron, the home in that community whilst the sole available television was installed on the altar to allow the people of Ashcott to watch the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
But, the whole sojourn was a world away from my experience of then ‘normal life’.
Later my parents moved to Bath, so I witnessed the last days of the S&D the sounds & sights of trains climbing the 1 in 50 gradient out of Bath junction to the Combe Down tunnel.
Thank you for a magnificent film of a part of the country we know well and love
Wonderful ! I used the S&D as a kid and was about when the axe fell ! The first thing to be ripped out was the phone wires to cripple the signalling and communications. Just in case phoenix like it should try to rise !
Looks like a nice place to visit. Shame I can't.
Great video, i think Mike arlett was a signal man at Midford box on the S&D , and no mention of Don beale (Driver) and Peter Smith (Fireman) two of the finest railway men who worked the Pines express , and the equally revered Ivo Peters for his extraordinary talent and skill in filming and photography of the S&D line and others .
With the advantage of hindsight we now know that far too much was discarded. Of course we gained the preserved lines, and a few of these are still connected to the mainline. My memories as a small child travelling by rail are of excitement, and wonder, always something knew to see and learn, todays journies by rail, hold no excitement, or wonder, they are simple expedients of going from A to B.
As a child of I was taken to a council children’s home, with my younger brother, whilst my mother was in hospital pregnant with our yet to be born youngest brother. I stayed at that home for five months; ‘Ashcott House’ overlooked the S&D branch line, the peat digging and the growing ‘withies’ on the edge of the levels, referred to by a lady on the soundtrack to the video. I was taken to the local parish church, as the oldest child then at the home, to represent with the matron, the home in that community whilst the sole available television was installed on the altar to allow the people of Ashcott to watch the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
But, the whole sojourn was a world away from my experience of then ‘normal life’.
Later my parents moved to Bath, so I witnessed the last days of the S&D the sounds & sights of trains climbing the 1:50 from Bath junction to the Combe Down tunnel.
27.50... how right they were
What speed is it when the transperth NIS trains pass through alkimos?
At 2.07, shouldn't "West Somerset Railway" be "East Somerset"?
Trains have wheels
I can tell that you’re very knowledgeable on this subject.