Super Video Bob. I was in hospital at Treloars hospital in the early 1980s for a few weeks with a bone condition. So I recognised that name straight away ❤
Finally discovered this! We moved to Alton in 1969 just off Whitedown Lane. We used to explore the old station at Alton Park. At that time the track was still in place, and the bridge over Chawton Park Road was still there, as were the bridges carrying the Meon Valley railway. While were there the Alton to Winchester line was closed, and those bridges were all demolished. This video was a real nostalgia trip for me!
How grateful I am that I found your channel. Born in Chester, raised just over the border in NE Wales and now having lived in Basingstoke for 10 years I have enjoyed every single video.
Hi there, Great stuff. I've lived in Basingstoke most of my life but now in Chester, although, as you've probably worked out I spend a lot of time in each town.
What a wonderful conclusion to an enthralling expedition. It is errie seeing ruins of things that only decades ago were still in use but now are nearly lost and forgotten.
Thanks Benjamin, so glad you enjoyed it. You're right, our landscape is littered with things which were once so useful but now lie rusting and rotting, waiting to be rediscovered.
A truly wonderful series of films, with so much detail discovered. Thank goodness for the few pictures taken at the time. Obviously, I'm not old enough to remember this line, although I was very aware of its existence. I do however recall the Meon Valley line, having travelled its length several times as a child with my grandmother. Happy memories.
Hi Bob, Very much enjoyed this video, I shall have to start at the beginning now!! I'm glad you were able to get some video from Will Stratton he does some excellent videos on the watercress line. As a very young boy my Dad took me to the inaugural meeting of the Mid Hants railway, in Alresford I think. Good luck from Spain!!
Thanks for a great video - but you make me feel old !!! I remember walking under the Chalton Park Road bridge ( 8:34 ) every morning on the way to the Trelaws Hospital Nursery which (unbeknownst to me) must have been right next to those sidings.
All parts of the series are fascinating. A great effort appreciated by this railway nut. If only they could run a special down the remains of the branch at Basingstoke! Even such a short trip, it would be sold out I am sure. So many of our railways have been largely eradicated: we have a colliery line nearby I've made a few films on, to keep it alive albeit only temporarily (When Blurton Had A Railway parts 1-3). Thanks for taking the time to make this and others in the series.
Thank you for your comments, very much appreciated. As a railway employee I did manage to walk all the way to the blocks on that short branch at Basingstoke. That alas was before I was making these films. It's largely unreachable now due to a jungle in the way. The track work is very deteriorated so unlikely to support weight of train, but nice idea though.
amazing. i lived in Alton and remember the line shame it closed . not a lot of it left now. i remember the bridge across Chawton pk road . i have a book on the old railway as well. now to sit back and watch the rest your vids
Finally got around to seeing this! It's amazing how a line can just be eradicated with no thoughts of possible reinstalling it. It was great to see cab views and footage of the Mid Grants. I first visited there in 1979 when it only went to Ropley. Thanks for the memories as they say
Thanks Bob, been a lot of work gone on since then. There is often a call to reopen any closed line but in this case, it was doomed to failure before it even opened and should probably never have been built. The fact that it was, however provides a fascinating explore.
Wonderful series. Just a quickie, how do you get access too the old map’s online? If I recall Butts Jcn had the base of the old Signal box for Basing line , Winchester Jcn and the Meon Valley.
With more investment by the LSWR & SR, Alton could have been an important junction serving the vast area of Hampshire,,,,There was no need to build, , at a considerable cost the Portsmouth direct line from Guilford to Portsmouth as the LBSC ran a direct line from London Victoria to Portsmouth at that time with many links to other towns in Sussex and Kent.
@@john_atco Hi John, thanks for watching. Alton was an important junction. Problem is many lines were built to block other companies routes. Lines which even when new were poorly served.
Super Video Bob. I was in hospital at Treloars hospital in the early 1980s for a few weeks with a bone condition. So I recognised that name straight away ❤
Well done Bob. Thoroughly enjoyed watching the series 👍🏻
Cheers Steve, thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Absolutely enchanting series. What a fabulous journey. I have enjoyed immensely every minute. Good job Bob.
Thanks, Glad you were able to come along for the experience. Onwards to adventures new.
fantastic thank you bob for making such an interesting and in depth history of are local lost railway it really has been great to watch well done.
Thank you Joe. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it and I'm quite sad it's over.
I'd never heard of this line but I know about it, now. Lovely video, thanks for taking the time and trouble to make it.
Thank you so much for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it
Finally discovered this! We moved to Alton in 1969 just off Whitedown Lane. We used to explore the old station at Alton Park. At that time the track was still in place, and the bridge over Chawton Park Road was still there, as were the bridges carrying the Meon Valley railway. While were there the Alton to Winchester line was closed, and those bridges were all demolished. This video was a real nostalgia trip for me!
Thank you David. Lots of memories for you. Alas as time goes by more and more of the old line is lost.
How grateful I am that I found your channel. Born in Chester, raised just over the border in NE Wales and now having lived in Basingstoke for 10 years I have enjoyed every single video.
Hi there, Great stuff. I've lived in Basingstoke most of my life but now in Chester, although, as you've probably worked out I spend a lot of time in each town.
What a wonderful conclusion to an enthralling expedition. It is errie seeing ruins of things that only decades ago were still in use but now are nearly lost and forgotten.
Thanks Benjamin, so glad you enjoyed it. You're right, our landscape is littered with things which were once so useful but now lie rusting and rotting, waiting to be rediscovered.
A truly wonderful series of films, with so much detail discovered. Thank goodness for the few pictures taken at the time. Obviously, I'm not old enough to remember this line, although I was very aware of its existence. I do however recall the Meon Valley line, having travelled its length several times as a child with my grandmother. Happy memories.
Thank you, I think the two movies made on the line very much captured so much as well. Particularly 'Oh Mister Porter' lots of traceable relics.
Thoroughly enjoyable series, thank you.
Thanks Peter.
What a fantastic series in 5 parts. I enjoyed every minute
Very informative throughout. Thank you
Thank you Michael, Very kind of you to say so.
Hi Bob, Very much enjoyed this video, I shall have to start at the beginning now!!
I'm glad you were able to get some video from Will Stratton he does some excellent videos on the watercress line.
As a very young boy my Dad took me to the inaugural meeting of the Mid Hants railway, in Alresford I think.
Good luck from Spain!!
Thanks David. Appreciate your comments.
Thanks for a great video - but you make me feel old !!! I remember walking under the Chalton Park Road bridge ( 8:34 ) every morning on the way to the Trelaws Hospital Nursery which (unbeknownst to me) must have been right next to those sidings.
Thank you Stuart. So much changes doesn't it. Sometimes for the better, others not.
A great series - Thanks
Thank you
Great film, thanks. Now just need to find Parts 1-4!
Hi there, thanks for watching. Parts 1-4 are on the channel. You can find them on the link below.
ua-cam.com/video/Gq71i-5MOTQ/v-deo.html
All parts of the series are fascinating. A great effort appreciated by this railway nut.
If only they could run a special down the remains of the branch at Basingstoke! Even such a short trip, it would be sold out I am sure.
So many of our railways have been largely eradicated: we have a colliery line nearby I've made a few films on, to keep it alive albeit only temporarily (When Blurton Had A Railway parts 1-3).
Thanks for taking the time to make this and others in the series.
Thank you for your comments, very much appreciated. As a railway employee I did manage to walk all the way to the blocks on that short branch at Basingstoke. That alas was before I was making these films. It's largely unreachable now due to a jungle in the way. The track work is very deteriorated so unlikely to support weight of train, but nice idea though.
amazing. i lived in Alton and remember the line shame it closed . not a lot of it left now. i remember the bridge across Chawton pk road . i have a book on the old railway as well. now to sit back and watch the rest your vids
Thank you, hope you enjoy the rest of my vids. Your interest is very much appreciated.
Finally got around to seeing this! It's amazing how a line can just be eradicated with no thoughts of possible reinstalling it. It was great to see cab views and footage of the Mid Grants. I first visited there in 1979 when it only went to Ropley. Thanks for the memories as they say
Thanks Bob, been a lot of work gone on since then. There is often a call to reopen any closed line but in this case, it was doomed to failure before it even opened and should probably never have been built. The fact that it was, however provides a fascinating explore.
Great video, Bob. Thank you 👍🏻😃
Thank you Frank.
Brilliant, I've loved all of these.
Great stuff, thank you.
Wonderful, I've enjoyed this series very much!
Thank you so much, appreciate your comments.
Wonderful series. Just a quickie, how do you get access too the old map’s online? If I recall Butts Jcn had the base of the old Signal box for Basing line , Winchester Jcn and the Meon Valley.
Thank you. Yes the box base used to be there until the Butts Bridge rebuild. It's included in the film.
With more investment by the LSWR & SR, Alton could have been an important junction serving the vast area of Hampshire,,,,There was no need to build, , at a considerable cost the Portsmouth direct line from Guilford to Portsmouth as the LBSC ran a direct line from London Victoria to Portsmouth at that time with many links to other towns in Sussex and Kent.
@@john_atco Hi John, thanks for watching. Alton was an important junction. Problem is many lines were built to block other companies routes. Lines which even when new were poorly served.