The Unique Halesworth Moving Platforms
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- Опубліковано 14 лип 2024
- In a quiet town in Suffolk you can still find a 'one of a kind' piece of Victorian Engineering that solved a difficult problem for the community.
Thank you to the Halesworth and District Museum for their help in the research of this video.
Halesworth Museum: halesworthmuseum.org.uk/wpress/
/ stuartmatthews
Hello Stuart. I was aware of this feature. My name is Mark Holland and my Grandfather was stationmaster at Halesworth and was killed when a bomb was dropped on the station during the second world war. The Holland Clarke room in the museum is named in honour of him and their house help Ms Clarke who also died. My father worked for BR when I was young and I remember visiting Halesworth when he did wage runs. I also worked for Boulton & Paul in the 90's (though not the engineering division) who made the swinging platforms. Thought you might be interested. MH
May God rest your grandfather’s soul Mr. Holland.
Very interesting
Great bit of history well explained, love this new channel. 👍😃
Fascinating bit of history. Thank you.
Just proves my theory that everyone has a life story! What’s your life story? 😉
Hello Stuart. It was actually me who made the model of the moving platforms for The Halesworth & Disrict Museum back in 2004. it was a joy to make & a real "head scratcher" to sort the order of opening. Loved your video and your channel👍
Great model and I can’t believe it’s 20 years old - still in good condition which cannot be said for many of that age. It really shows the public how the platforms worked. I’m glad you like the channel.
The Victorians sure did find the easiest and amazing solutions to their problems. It's a shame really that they aren't used anymore, but thanks to that museum (and Stuart) we are reminded of them. I'm sure lots of ppl use that platform daily and never knew about it. Thanks Stuart
Exactly - thanks
The easiest solution would have been to plan ahead when building the station
Geoff Marshall and Jago Hazard eat your heart out.😂 Great video, most interesting. Subscribed today.
Restored in 1998 (or thereabouts) with a grant, (by Waveney District Council conservation team and partners such as English Heritage) not to operate but to retain the feature, which was decaying. (The bearing photo was taken at that time)
Interesting! My parents moved us to Halesworth in 1951. Father worked at United Dairies, just the other side of the crossing, and I later went by train to Lowestoft Art School, so one way or another I saw the crossing platform being hauled about for several years. What I wonder now is why they didn't employ the much simpler solution, as they did at Market Rasen where I lived when it started the London service with longer trains, of informing passengers that due to the short platform please move forward to the front two carriages to get off!
Hi Stuart, Halesworth is a few miles away from where we live, and whilst I was aware of the crossing, I've never actually seen it, despite visiting the town on many occasions.
Halesworth station was also the transfer point for fish etc being transported on the narrow gauge railway that served Southwold, which closed in the 1920s. History under our noses!
Yes erxactly!
They used a similar solution on the London Underground. The old Wood Lane station that was on the Central Line had a swinging platform to ensure that a train turning off to got to the depot didn't hit the platform.
Cheers. I'd seen this too and was about to search it out as I'd forgotten the location. 👍🏻
There was at least one platform on the Chicago Elevated set up this way as well, to allow a platform extension on the North Side Main Line over the junction to an overflow terminal for rush-hour traffic and specials.
Well done, Stuart; that was informative! I’d no idea such a thing existed. Our country is riddled with such innovative solutions to strange problems. I hope you can find more!
Now that’s what u call proper engineering! Looking forward to more stories like this 👍
Thanks
Born and raised in this area with a love of engineering I didn't understand why I never heard of these platforms. Turns out I'm late to the party as usual, born 3 years after they became redundant. Love the vid, glad to find this channel. Thanks.
Something so evocative about a country train station. Reminds me of being a kid and going on adventures, getting lost on purpose. Great video and nice to see some blue sky too.
Excellent. You do have "a way" of explaining things that we can all understand, just as you do in your other channel.
This is an underrated channel. I would have assumed you have at least 200k subscribers.
The video quality is really good and it was easy to understand as well
Wow, thank you!
Look forward to seeing more content. I'm a Chartered Civil Engineer, and it's good to see awareness being raised.
My great grandmother lived in the road leading up to that moving platform. I remember as a child watching the trains from her house.
Really glad to see this channel, I really enjoyed when you're proper DIY channel started and you explained more engineering so it's great to see this channel spin off and looking forward to the content
Thank you very much!
Thats a absolutly astonishing piece of trailway history. Very interesting to see and sadly to know that the original not beeing preserved in a museum where it belongs.
Amazing. I was born and brought in nearby Beccles. Often passed through on the train (younger brother was a trainspotter). Never knew that this was there.
The swinging platform reminds me of the timber swing gates that were used at level crossing.
Unfortunately most have been replaced now by the more modern boom gates.
I always have a smile on my face when ever I can still have a chance to see the occasional timber swinging gates still being used .
Thanks so much for bringing us along to show us this now forgotten piece of Engineering 🙂👍
What an absolutely facinating thing! Smart fellows, them victorians!
6:28 I love the historical paradox of him leaning over looking at the Victorian engineering, and praising it, with a modern LED single-aperture multi-aspect signal in shot...
This station is definitely now on my "must visit" list. Sadly I'm rarely in Norfolk and never in Suffolk, so it means a special trip, but I must see it...
What a brilliant video. As a rail buff I have never heard of that type of crossing. It is so simple but works like most of the old engineering.
Just subscribed, and look forward to your other videos
Long time Proper DIY subscriber Stuart. Very happy to see this new channel exploring engineering. These moving platforms are incredible, and shows how skilled and creative they were back in the day. Look forward to seeing more uploads!
Thank you so much
It was interesting to see the name of Bolton and Paul a very important manufacturer in East Anglia back in the day.
Noticed that too! Bolton & Paul had a big business making pre-fabricated small buildings in the later part of the 19th century. The business took many twisting turns before making the (ill-starred) Defiant turret fighter. During WWI they actually built the most Sopwith Camels of any firm.
Hi Stuart
What an excellent presentation of a unique bit of Victorian thinking and engineering.
I have been lucky enough to have lived (retired) in Halesworth for about 6 years now. So I know about this old level crossing cum platform creation. My family was old GWR and I did part of my engineering apprenticeship at Swindon works so all this was of great interest when I first used the station and since.
What is interesting is that in Halesworth itself there is the canal (The Blyth Navigation) which replaced the horse and cart operators and was cut through in 1761 to Southwold to enable larger Wherry boats to move the malting and agricultural goods for export at Southwold and bring coal and other products in but it closed in 1884.
The canal's end was brought about by the Southwold narrow gauge railway which opened in 1879 and had its depot adjacent to the up platform at Halesworth. That railway was effectively replaced by road services for passengers and freight and closed in 1929. Parts of it are being restored by volunteers.
By WWI the bigger main line railway had the massive malting warehouses you showed built complete with an extensive set of sidings and a workshop and served the rest of the nation and larger ports.
So you can see the historical stages of development of transport from horse and cart via canal and small railway to large railway and road transport as each new invention replaced the previous one.
Right up my street this. Thank you for going to all the effort of making this video. I am looking forward to this channel growing and its inevitable success.
There was a moving section of platform at the old wood Lane station on the Central Line of the London Underground which was closed when replaced by the new White City station when the line was extended. It only moved back a short distance from the tracks to enable a train to enter the depot.
Great to see you and your engaging, accomplished presentation skills branching out Stuart. Especially with your professional background. I'm looking forward to what you have in store for us.
There's always room for more high quality engineering/transport content on YT.
Thank You
Thank you for your time and Posting 🙏
Fascinating! Boulton & Paul - a great British engineering company 😊
If I ever find myself down Halesworth way I'll give it a look!
Love this sort of video. I watched your first video on this channel back when it first appeared and I'm so pleased to see more. Two great channels Stuart. Keep up the great work.👍
Thanks Stuart for bringing us your new channel. Enjoyed the first video and have subscribed so I don't miss future videos. Really looking forward to what's to come.
Congratulations on the new channel! I've always enjoyed your explanations (and humour) on Proper DIY, so I'm looking forward to more of the same here. Cheers!
Superb.... a real gem of heritage and a man after my own heart :-)
Best ideas are often the simplest 🙂Thanks for showing us this, which I had never heard of before.
Always look up &
Seek and ye shall find!
Happy New Year and Thank you.
Great channel Stuart. Thank you
Love this new channel already. Nicely done Stuart.
Much appreciated
Thank you Stuart. Absolutely fascinating.
Thanks
Absolutely fascinating. I am not into trains, but I really do appreciate anybody who also appreciates engineering solutions that most people take for granted.
Great video and content, loving the new channel
It was said that the smallest member of the station staff would be the one rostered to crawl into the platform sections to lubricate the bearings.
How interesting was that? Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year.
What a fascinating idea for a platform extension! Just found this channel from your other one, hope to see many more interesting videos like this!
Welcome aboard!
A most entertaining look at a very unusual level crossing. Thanks Stuart for your usual very erudite presentation.
Tom Scott, You have a challenger approaching...
Great video, Stuart. Thank you. I'm fascinated by our engineering heritage. Looking forward to more videos like this!
Glad you enjoyed it
Hi Stuart, been following Proper DIY since you began and have successfully completed some of your projects. Having an engineering background myself I have always found your guidance accurate and straightforward. Looking forward to Proper Engineering. Good luck and Best Wishes in the New Year. Fred
Thanks Stuart, I look forward to more videos!
As a Chartered Building Surveyor, I'm really excited about your new channel, having been enjoying your excellent DIY related explanations.
All great ideas, truly innovative designs that are simple and long lasting, all will meet the same fate.
I was born in Beccles and grew up in Lowestoft and Oulton Broad. I was a rail fan from an early age. The line (from London Liverpool Street and Ipswich) through Halesworth went north to Beccles, here it split - one line continued north to Haddiscoe, St Olave''s and Yarmouth Southtown, another line went east to Oulton Broad South and Lowestoft Central, and a branch went westward to Bungay, Harleston and Diss (joining the Norwich-Ipswich main line). All except the Diss branch was double track - the Diss branch closed first, then the Yarmouth line closed and only the Lowestoft line remains. Even that line is mostly single-line now! Halesworth was also the terminus of the narrow-gauge line to Southwold - the line terminated next to the (up) platform for Ipswich and London.
Your films and models are fantastic.
Wonderful video.
This is fascinating!
Brilliant! Thank you for this creating video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very interesting indeed, will head over for a look this summer. Please keep bringing us these engineering secrets
2:09 that curved brickwork around the pivot is lovely, we should bring that sort of thing back - nowadays it would be a piece of prefab concrete, how boring.
Thanks Stuart, I've visited Halesworth a number of times over the years , but never been to the station and never knew of this, so will definitely check this out on my next visit, thanks for taking the time to share this story ! There's so much civil engineering that most people just take for granted but really makes people's lives easier and better day in day out - a great thing to celebrate !
Glad you enjoyed it
Brilliant piece of engineering and problem solving 👏👏👏
Nice one keep these unique interesting videos coming pal
Brilliant thank you Stuart
As an American who has visited England I found this video an interesting bit of history. Thanks for your research to uncover this past history.
Great video Stuart, it's nice to see how things were done and most of the time we walk straight passed them without noticing or knowing about them.
I look forward to being enlightend on other interesting marvels in the future.
Thanks
I find information like this so fascinating... and I thank you for showing me this and the building in the other video. Amazing engineering feats, both of them.
Standard solution now is walk-thru trains with selective door opening. Great to see this alternative!
This is great! As soon as I saw your video on Proper DIY this morning, I was straight over here to watch and of course..... subscribe. Happy New Year everyone!
Thanks!
Fascinating story and a great explanation, Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Just watched your 2 interesting and excellent engineering videos. Good luck with the new venture. Nice way to start the new year. Good luck 🤞 😁 🍀
Brilliant video
Very good ,. really enjoyed .. and well put across,. thanks.
Didn't even know this channel existed so subbed right away, great work Stuart 👍
Welcome aboard!
Fascinating; informative, gratefully watched. A wonderful piece of quirky British Railway history. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Great idea for a channel , a whole mountain of interesting engineering in the UK , liked and subbed , just work your way up and down the country .your stuff to camera is believable , relatable , honest , not awkward or weird , great style , more please .
Thank you very much!
Excellent video. Looking forward to more on the Engineering channel. As a retired engineer myself, I love this sort of content. Thanks Stuart.
Welcome aboard!
Thanks Stuart! Take care & stay safe.
HNY
Great video. Looking forward to future videos of engineering goodness.
Coming soon!
Great video Stuart.👍👍
Thanks for this, I find it amazing, very interesting. I’m grateful to the Halesworth, etc, Museum too. Just subscribed and looking forward to more videos.
Awesome! Thank you!
Thanks for this interesting and informative video.
I'm glad this channel popped up as a recommendation and with this great video. Very informative and on something I had never heard of, nor would've even thought to have existed anywhere.
Awesome, thank you!
Thanks for the research into this engineering marvel. This is an ideal model railway project to add a great novelty to a layout! I hadn't heard of this level crossing platform before!
Fascinating explanation of a very clever solution, made by Boulton Paul as well 👍
Really interesting Stuart, looking forward to more in the future. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
Wow that's amazing mate, thanks for the share. 👍
wow, fascinating.
I am impressed about this elegant solution that did not cross my mind but makes a lot of sense.
thank you for that video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Incredible! Great video!👏👏
this is absolutely ingenious..how to solve a difficult problem with ease👍
Great videos, can't wait to see more.
Working on it!
Fascinating video Stuart. I’ve come over from the DIY channel and am delighted you’ve started this new one. I’m a Chartered Surveyor and have a real interest in these often overlooked features of our towns and cities and really think you’ve hit on a great idea for a channel here. Keep them coming. All the best for a successful New Year.
Thanks
Fascinating video Stuart. There’s probably lots of similar things hidden in plain sight all over the world. Great insight to a forgotten piece of history. Cant wait to see the next episode of Proper Engineering
Glad you enjoyed it
Absolutely fascinating! This must have popped up because I watch a lot of transport related videos, and now I can see the connection between how engineering solves problems and in doing so affects everyday life. Looking forward to some new journeys in this area! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
looking forward to the new channel ..Boulton & Paul. now that is a blast from the passed
I grew up in Halesworth and used to walk on those platforms and even take the longer london train from them in the 80s (I think there were signs saying not to back then, but I was a kid). Haven't been in years, but it's still so, so, familiar. I knew about the platforms' history as my Dad used to be into local history and told me. What I just spotted though, is that they were made by "Boulton and Paul, Norwich". Who if I'm not wrong, later became an aircraft manufacturer and produced a rather unsuccesful fighter plane from WW2.
Brilliant - thanks for making this very interesting vid.
Thanks, what an interesting idea, solving a problem with an idea out of the box
Fantastic video of an ingenious solution to a problem. Clever them Victorians...
Thank you for sharing.