I walk the greenway all the time. Its glorious during the spring/summer months. There was talk of re-opening it and linking it with the Honeybourne loop again, but its not feasible. They could build a new parkway station in the old Army camp, as alot of the old track is still there. If you would have followed the entire route to Stratford, you would’ve passed by the little café at Millcote (which is an old railway carriage) and both of the Halt platforms, then gone on past Stratford race course, before it terminates at Seven meadows road.
Hi Ron. My post seems not to have appeared again so reproduced below. Second time lucky!! regards Trev Hi Ron and thank you for posting today's adventure. Some interesting comments from the contributors on various aspects of the line and depot and I hope I can complement them with a few of my own. The rail route to Stratford left the Oxford to Worcester line at Honeybourne. Interestingly Broadway is only a few km to the south where the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, which you have featured several times, now terminates: it originally continued through to Honeybourne. Anyway back to the route. The line from Honeybourne to Stratford via Long Marston was known as the Hatton & Honeybourne Branch, as it joined Honeybourne to Hatton via Long Marston and Stratford with some intermediate stations serving rural areas in between; such as Milcote (just north of Long Marston). At Hatton the branch joined the Oxford & Birmingham Railway at a triangular junction just west of the village of Hatton. When originally opened by the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway in July 1859 the branch was single track. Latterly the GWR upgraded the route to main line status and, in 1907, converted the line to double track in two stages. The route closed to passengers on 3rd January 1966, whilst the goods yard had closed nearly two years previously on 7th September 1964. Freight continued to the depot until 1976 when the track from Long Marston northwards was lifted. Plenty of comment has already been made on the Rail Innovation Centre on the site of the former army base which I remember well from my career with the MoD! All I would say is that it was great to see some Class 43 HST’s at the site - these must have been one of British Rail’s most reliable and popular passenger diesel classes in recent years. I travelled on them many times, including the second day they entered service on the South Wales route and was blown away, even if the brakes did have an awful smell (rectified in later years though with the introduction of new linings). Sorry, I digress again - back to the video! Prior to the doubling of the track, Long Marston had a single platform. In 1872 a second platform was added when a passing loop was installed, but this platform was south of the original one. Then, a new “up” platform was built in 1892 when the loop was lengthened. Therefore, as there was a level crossing at the station the original platform north of the level crossing became the “up” line, with the 1872 platform south of the crossing becoming the “down” line. Therefore, for a period of 20 years until 1892 the station had a staggered platform configuration with a level crossing in the middle. The station had a standard GWR Type 5 signal box with 25 levers (includes 6 spare) which was sandwiched between the station building and the level crossing, and was erected in 1892. There was also a 5 lever ground frame in the south yard which was electrically interlocked with the signal box. At the same time as the signal box was installed, a new 405 foot long “up” platform was constructed directly opposite the existing 402 foot long “down” platform and the staggering arrangement removed to make space for a refuge siding. The signal box was in operation to control the level crossing (still in use for the depot) until 16th November 1981 when it was closed. It was demolished in November 1989. Long Marston had extensive goods facilities which, in addition to goods, catered for livestock, horse boxes and cattle vans. The yard crane had a operating radius of 12’ 6” and a 1.5 Ton capacity. In 1926 the original 10 ton weighbridge in the yard was replaced with one of the same capacity. However, in 1936 it was replaced again with one of 20 Ton capacity. I could drone on for ages more about passenger numbers, station architecture, passenger facilities etc, but you’ve probably had enough by now! Just to say, finally, that the cottage at Wyre lane Crossing was originally a crossing keeper’s cottage but didn’t exist until well after the line was opened - probably early 1900’s. It would also have ben a smaller building and has obviously been extended following it’s new use as a private dwelling. Thanks again Ron for this week’s excellent offering (the church was lovely too!), and I look forward to your next adventure. Best wishes and stay safe, Trev.
Hi Trev, thanks for all that research and fascinating detail, If people watch the film and are thinking of visiting, they read your post and then they are definitely going to visit to see what they can find. Thanks again. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Seriously, my hat is off to you for keeping up the walks. My wife's brother-in-law has parkinsons and it seems to be advancing very rapidly. You underscore what my Mother said at 90 and that is to keep on keeping on! Keep up the good work and as always THANK YOU for letting us tag along.
@@grumpyoleman2152 Hi Jim, thanks for the post, I couldn't do it without the support from you guys. Sounds like mum was a wise old lady. Please tell the brother in law I said hello. Ron
Interesting to see that some of the lines at Long Marston Depot are now Overhead Line Electrified - I don't recall seeing that when I made my video there about 18 months ago. Great that you saw some rail action there Ron. Like others have said, it would be good if this line reopened to Stratford again. Rather annoying having to go all the way up to Birmingham (I despise New Street Station!!) and back down again to get to Stratford-upon-Avon from our part of the world. It is a useful asset however to get in and out of Stratford by bike for all the new residents of the new (and rather large!) Meon Hill development, which is near Long Marston. Cracking video Ron! Take care, Paul.
Hi Paul I guess we have to be grateful that some enlightened councils had turned some of the routes into cycle/footpaths. Have you ever been tempted to get a foldup bike for these trails? Ron
They used to have open days where you could walk around at one time. Dont know if they still do. Most of the carriages and power units arrive they as scrap already. Along the track you walked along, there used to be a carriage cafe. A little bit of useless information if you also like old buses. Birds scrapyard was in Stratford, where a great deal of London buses and trolley buses came to end there lives.
Mornin' Ron, An enjoyable walk. Very interesting to see Long Marston, it pops up quite frequently in The Railway magazine, I seem to recall they were developing fuel cell technology for rail transport amongst other things. You got some good clips of the site together with some shunters. I wonder what Shelock Holmes would make of those missing fence posts and mysterious holes. ........... Recent enquiries about the presence of concrete on the end of fenceposts?..... somebody not replacing divots? ...... I saw that the path was sponsored by TNT so maybe they were just blown away. The church at Long Marston, St James, had a very unusual steeple. According to the internet it dates back to the 14th century. Good to see the graveyard well attended. The Lychgate had me confused for a moment, I missheard Lynchgate so the carving about honouring the dead seemed strange. But after investigating a bit the "lych" bit is old english for a corpse with similar words in other germanic languages. This weeks weather report: Yesterday we had some rain for most of the evening and this morning good cap of snow can be seen on the mountains. More is forecast for the next few days and its cooled off. Its great news!! Have a great week end
Hi David, great news about the weather in your part of the world. I'm surprised they haven't shielded the Long Marston site, you could see all you needed with a tripod and long lens, perhaps it's not secret. Nice to see you have Simon squirming! Have a great week in the cool. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Yes it does seem strange for it to be so open, but the reality these days is that you cant hide anything obviously the key knowledge is in the details of the drawings and the test results. That said when we wheel out submarines they put a shroud over the propellor I guess to make the design less obvious. Just reread what I wrote and when I said "Good to see the graveyard well attended" perhaps I should have written "well tended" mind you there wasnt much space left for new arrivals!!
@@davidberlanny3308 Hi David, in F1 they used to cover up a random part of the car to draw attention away from the part that was special. I don't think the people in the graveyard were too concerned about your description. Sounds like you have some nasty wildfires in your part of the world again. Take care. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron, just watching it on the news right now. Apparently started deliberately but is now under control (600 firefighters at work) and hopefully they will get some rain. I really hate to see the forests burn it takes so long for them to recover. We visited this region "Los Hurdes" a few years ago it's really out of the way, dense forests as well. The news has now moved on to the hailstorms which have damaged a lot of crops in the Seville region. Others have had flash floods. And further north this weather system has frozen and withered the grape vines which were already struggling with the drought. We have been lucky just some constant rain and snow higher up. The forecast is for more rain which hopefully will be in general good news. Today I ventured into town to take my wife to the hairdressers and did a bit of exploring whilst she was there. Most bits I had driven by or walked by without noticing what was there. The best one was holding onto a post to get a closer look at a pumphouse and I thought, well what is this post. Well it turns out it was for the tramway catenary! I think the tramway system as was, was dismantled in the early 1970s. It was very extensive and reached out to surrounding towns and villages and even out the mountains. Today there is a modern one just one line though but it connects a lot of key points. All the best!! PS: looks like they've had it worse in Italy, it's all part of the same weather system
@@davidberlanny3308Hi David good to hear about the rain (never thought I would be saying that). Sounds like you are suffering from 'Parkinson's groveling' routing about in the undergrowth, be careful it's hard on your straw hats. Ron
That was lovely walk Ron. Lying here in my hospital bed, you've cheered me up no end. What a shame there were fence posts to see. At least the track bed still exists for us to use.
Michael, how wonderful to hear from you. If you managed to follow the channel you will have seen quite a number of people have been worried about you. I hope you weren't injured dancing I would feel quite guilty if you were. We all hope you will get well soon. Keep in touch when you can. Relieved Ron & Pauline
Hi.thank you for todays video. We were lucky enough to go on a rail tour into the depot probably 15 years ago. We had a short trip round the site on a DMU. Unfortunately I can’t remember where we went from or who it was with. Pathfinders maybe. Someone else might know? Very interesting anyway. When travelling to Banbury there is a siding going off from the main line north of Banbury. Did they connect up with Long Marston at one time? Kind regards Marilyn
Well Ron, I certainly know more about fencing posts than when I started. I almost felt as though I was there keeping you company. I visit my cousin in Stratford often and I have never seen the Long Marston signage so next time a detour is called for I think. One thing puzzles me; why does the Research depot need to much rolling stock of so many ages and varieties? And couldn't they clean it occasionally ? Thanks for the walk Ron and don't overdo it.
Lovely video along what is now a delightful track for walkers and cyclists. Not much innovation appears to be taking place at the Long Marston site, unless those were decoys in the sidings. Possibly a great site for a railway centre though, with trips over the rails from Honeybourne, maybe? Do they have open days, I wonder? At present it does not appear that a rail connection to Stratford, will happen any time soon. Some years ago, I walked the very pleasant section from Stratford to the bridge over the Avon and a bit beyond. Although the route remains sparsely populated, you do wonder, with the Honeybourne to Cheltenham route more or less complete, whether this would greatly strengthen the case for a Stratford to Cheltenham reopening at some future date.
That was what I call a wonderful film, full of interest. I agree with you, it must be a lovely place to live. All those walks. You had some good weather also. It's a pleasure to be out in days like these. That railway testing facility looked very interesting. I wonder what thsy actually do there? That yellow piece of train looked like both power cars of a track maintenance train. Apparently, they travel all around the network checking the state of the track in minute detail, at 70mph, with the aid of on board computers. Sometimes referred to as the 'Yellow Banana'. Magnificent church. I could have spent a lot of time around there. Thanks for another great discovery video Ron.
Hi Lionel, some great filming weather at the moment, make the most of it. I wonder if the track testing machine was developed here. Possible I guess, though it is probably foreign manufacture. Hope you and Mary are enjoying the sunshine, this could be our summer. Take care. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron, yet another brilliant video. The 'Yellow Banana' referred to by Lionel I believe are ex HST's modified at the Derby Works, completely stripped out and jammed packed with track monitoring equipment along with Overhead equipment for the electrified lines. I believe that the depot at Long Marston at one time was also a storage site for serviceable rolling stock in case it was ever needed again and occasionally used for spare parts to keep other rolling stock. I'm not too sure but the experimental site there is to do with one of the Midland universities, but I cannot remember which one. Hopefully to will manage to be able to get out and about a little more as the weather seems to be improving, take care and stay safe.
A very enjoyable adventure, Ron. You had the same fencing issues that I had on the converted tramway! All I can say, from personal experience, is that a post and plain wire fence isn’t a very stock proof option. Plain wire stretches, ( hence the adjustable eyebolts), and the wires will sag if leant on by sheep or cattle. Once sagged it then allows sheep to get their heads between the wires, which gives rise to the old Cotswold saying, “where a sheep’s head goes, it’s a*se soon follows!”. Maybe the landowner planted a hedge, then removed the fence when the hedge was grown enough to be stock proof. On the tramway I noted that in some cases there was a ditch, with a hedge behind. Someone will have an answer I expect. I think that Stratford Greenway Project is the group wanting to reopen the tramway from Stratford to Shipston on Stour. Stay safe. Ron
Hi Ron, beautiful morning here at the moment, hope it is the same with you. I knew a farmer who wouldn't have sheep as it cost too much to stop them escaping through his tatty fences. A fold-up bike would have been ideal on this walk. Are you filming your next project yet? Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Lovely morning here too, except that chilly breeze is blowing again. Next project is the Brymbo Ironstone Company at Hook Norton. I completed filming yesterday, so it’s on the computer ready to edit. I’ll upload that when the Shipston series is finished. Looks like a warm, dry week next week, but I’m installing water butts at the wife’s office on Tuesday, so that’s a days filming lost. Never mind! Ron
That church was the highlight today, Ron, and it would be interesting to know a bit more about it. The bell tower looked very ancient and unusual, as did the porch. There's obviously a lot of history in that area, and I guess Shakespeare may well have been acquainted with the village - I doubt if he ever rode the railway, though!
Hi Jim, when you walk into a church on a week day, it is usually very quiet and ideal for sitting and contemplating. Our Will may have visited the church even if he had to come by horse. Keep flying. Ron
During the early 2000's I worked for MoD Rail at another one of the sites scattered around the UK., Although I can't tell you about the MoD work carried out there I can tell you that Rail Operating Companies and Railway Leasing Companies rented rail space in these depots for new trains awaiting release onto the network along with old locomotives and rolling stock awaiting requirement back onto the network or scrapping.... It was always nice to go and sit in an old railway coach with a mug of MoD tea and some biscuits !!!
Good morning Ron. Hope you are well. I enjoyed that. That army facility looked interesting. . Like you i love rummaging around in the undergrowth in the hope of finding something interesting. At my old area i found a very sturdy Metropolitan Railway kissing gate complete with it's oak gate hidden in the bushes. Walked past it for over 50 years without noticing it. (I have a picture somewhere) Today you have a new viewer ! Nine week old Syd Barrat , a Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. my new best friend. .He was very interested in the chuffing at the start of your film.
Hi Pete, I'm well thank you. Great news about Syd, I know you were very upset when you lost your last hound. You must be looking forward to some wonderful adventures. Enjoy. Ron
Yes Ron, I certainly got my money's worth there! Thankyou for that video of a lovely village,;interesting depot too. I wonder what they are planning on doing with all those units there? Scrapping? Or doing a vivarail style refurb?
Long Marston station was an original OW&W structure which remained after the GWR rebuilt the branch as part of its Birmingham to Bristol mainline It's a pity it was removed as it would have made a fine handsome private dwelling although I suspect it was demolished while the line was still in operation in order to facilitate clearance Thanks for an informative walk Ron Let's hope one day the Stratford link is reinstated
I d like to have a short piece of Broad gauge rail, how they ever bent it round curves is amazing, bull head rail will bend laterally. They must've heated it up and then bent it to the curve?!! 🤔🧐
I walk the greenway all the time. Its glorious during the spring/summer months. There was talk of re-opening it and linking it with the Honeybourne loop again, but its not feasible. They could build a new parkway station in the old Army camp, as alot of the old track is still there.
If you would have followed the entire route to Stratford, you would’ve passed by the little café at Millcote (which is an old railway carriage) and both of the Halt platforms, then gone on past Stratford race course, before it terminates at Seven meadows road.
Hi Mark, I may still walk another section of the line north. Problem is my Parkinson's is reducing my mileage these days. Take care. Ron
Hi Ron. My post seems not to have appeared again so reproduced below. Second time lucky!! regards Trev
Hi Ron and thank you for posting today's adventure. Some interesting comments from the contributors on various aspects of the line and depot and I hope I can complement them with a few of my own.
The rail route to Stratford left the Oxford to Worcester line at Honeybourne. Interestingly Broadway is only a few km to the south where the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, which you have featured several times, now terminates: it originally continued through to Honeybourne. Anyway back to the route. The line from Honeybourne to Stratford via Long Marston was known as the Hatton & Honeybourne Branch, as it joined Honeybourne to Hatton via Long Marston and Stratford with some intermediate stations serving rural areas in between; such as Milcote (just north of Long Marston). At Hatton the branch joined the Oxford & Birmingham Railway at a triangular junction just west of the village of Hatton. When originally opened by the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway in July 1859 the branch was single track. Latterly the GWR upgraded the route to main line status and, in 1907, converted the line to double track in two stages. The route closed to passengers on 3rd January 1966, whilst the goods yard had closed nearly two years previously on 7th September 1964. Freight continued to the depot until 1976 when the track from Long Marston northwards was lifted.
Plenty of comment has already been made on the Rail Innovation Centre on the site of the former army base which I remember well from my career with the MoD! All I would say is that it was great to see some Class 43 HST’s at the site - these must have been one of British Rail’s most reliable and popular passenger diesel classes in recent years. I travelled on them many times, including the second day they entered service on the South Wales route and was blown away, even if the brakes did have an awful smell (rectified in later years though with the introduction of new linings). Sorry, I digress again - back to the video!
Prior to the doubling of the track, Long Marston had a single platform. In 1872 a second platform was added when a passing loop was installed, but this platform was south of the original one. Then, a new “up” platform was built in 1892 when the loop was lengthened. Therefore, as there was a level crossing at the station the original platform north of the level crossing became the “up” line, with the 1872 platform south of the crossing becoming the “down” line. Therefore, for a period of 20 years until 1892 the station had a staggered platform configuration with a level crossing in the middle.
The station had a standard GWR Type 5 signal box with 25 levers (includes 6 spare) which was sandwiched between the station building and the level crossing, and was erected in 1892. There was also a 5 lever ground frame in the south yard which was electrically interlocked with the signal box. At the same time as the signal box was installed, a new 405 foot long “up” platform was constructed directly opposite the existing 402 foot long “down” platform and the staggering arrangement removed to make space for a refuge siding. The signal box was in operation to control the level crossing (still in use for the depot) until 16th November 1981 when it was closed. It was demolished in November 1989. Long Marston had extensive goods facilities which, in addition to goods, catered for livestock, horse boxes and cattle vans. The yard crane had a operating radius of 12’ 6” and a 1.5 Ton capacity. In 1926 the original 10 ton weighbridge in the yard was replaced with one of the same capacity. However, in 1936 it was replaced again with one of 20 Ton capacity.
I could drone on for ages more about passenger numbers, station architecture, passenger facilities etc, but you’ve probably had enough by now! Just to say, finally, that the cottage at Wyre lane Crossing was originally a crossing keeper’s cottage but didn’t exist until well after the line was opened - probably early 1900’s. It would also have ben a smaller building and has obviously been extended following it’s new use as a private dwelling.
Thanks again Ron for this week’s excellent offering (the church was lovely too!), and I look forward to your next adventure. Best wishes and stay safe, Trev.
Hi Trev, thanks for all that research and fascinating detail, If people watch the film and are thinking of visiting, they read your post and then they are definitely going to visit to see what they can find. Thanks again. Ron
Enjoyed the walk and the interesting old Church features…totally missed the pub sign…possibly napped briefly..
Morning Jim, have trouble staying awake myself these days. Take care. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Seriously, my hat is off to you for keeping up the walks. My wife's brother-in-law has parkinsons and it seems to be advancing very rapidly. You underscore what my Mother said at 90 and that is to keep on keeping on! Keep up the good work and as always THANK YOU for letting us tag along.
@@grumpyoleman2152 Hi Jim, thanks for the post, I couldn't do it without the support from you guys. Sounds like mum was a wise old lady. Please tell the brother in law I said hello. Ron
Interesting to see that some of the lines at Long Marston Depot are now Overhead Line Electrified - I don't recall seeing that when I made my video there about 18 months ago. Great that you saw some rail action there Ron. Like others have said, it would be good if this line reopened to Stratford again. Rather annoying having to go all the way up to Birmingham (I despise New Street Station!!) and back down again to get to Stratford-upon-Avon from our part of the world. It is a useful asset however to get in and out of Stratford by bike for all the new residents of the new (and rather large!) Meon Hill development, which is near Long Marston. Cracking video Ron! Take care, Paul.
Hi Paul I guess we have to be grateful that some enlightened councils had turned some of the routes into cycle/footpaths. Have you ever been tempted to get a foldup bike for these trails? Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Oh, no - definitely not! I much prefer the slower pace of walking. I don't like wobbly GoPro bike footage! Cheers, Paul.
They used to have open days where you could walk around at one time. Dont know if they still do. Most of the carriages and power units arrive they as scrap already. Along the track you walked along, there used to be a carriage cafe. A little bit of useless information if you also like old buses. Birds scrapyard was in Stratford, where a great deal of London buses and trolley buses came to end there lives.
Hi Baz, thanks for the info, I did a film of the Oxford Bus museum back a while, that's a good day out. Ron
Mornin' Ron, An enjoyable walk. Very interesting to see Long Marston, it pops up quite frequently in The Railway magazine, I seem to recall they were developing fuel cell technology for rail transport amongst other things. You got some good clips of the site together with some shunters.
I wonder what Shelock Holmes would make of those missing fence posts and mysterious holes. ........... Recent enquiries about the presence of concrete on the end of fenceposts?..... somebody not replacing divots? ...... I saw that the path was sponsored by TNT so maybe they were just blown away.
The church at Long Marston, St James, had a very unusual steeple. According to the internet it dates back to the 14th century. Good to see the graveyard well attended. The Lychgate had me confused for a moment, I missheard Lynchgate so the carving about honouring the dead seemed strange. But after investigating a bit the "lych" bit is old english for a corpse with similar words in other germanic languages.
This weeks weather report: Yesterday we had some rain for most of the evening and this morning good cap of snow can be seen on the mountains. More is forecast for the next few days and its cooled off. Its great news!!
Have a great week end
Hi David, great news about the weather in your part of the world. I'm surprised they haven't shielded the Long Marston site, you could see all you needed with a tripod and long lens, perhaps it's not secret.
Nice to see you have Simon squirming!
Have a great week in the cool. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Yes it does seem strange for it to be so open, but the reality these days is that you cant hide anything obviously the key knowledge is in the details of the drawings and the test results. That said when we wheel out submarines they put a shroud over the propellor I guess to make the design less obvious.
Just reread what I wrote and when I said "Good to see the graveyard well attended" perhaps I should have written "well tended" mind you there wasnt much space left for new arrivals!!
@@davidberlanny3308 Hi David, in F1 they used to cover up a random part of the car to draw attention away from the part that was special.
I don't think the people in the graveyard were too concerned about your description.
Sounds like you have some nasty wildfires in your part of the world again. Take care. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron, just watching it on the news right now. Apparently started deliberately but is now under control (600 firefighters at work) and hopefully they will get some rain.
I really hate to see the forests burn it takes so long for them to recover.
We visited this region "Los Hurdes" a few years ago it's really out of the way, dense forests as well.
The news has now moved on to the hailstorms which have damaged a lot of crops in the Seville region. Others have had flash floods. And further north this weather system has frozen and withered the grape vines which were already struggling with the drought.
We have been lucky just some constant rain and snow higher up. The forecast is for more rain which hopefully will be in general good news.
Today I ventured into town to take my wife to the hairdressers and did a bit of exploring whilst she was there. Most bits I had driven by or walked by without noticing what was there. The best one was holding onto a post to get a closer look at a pumphouse and I thought, well what is this post. Well it turns out it was for the tramway catenary! I think the tramway system as was, was dismantled in the early 1970s. It was very extensive and reached out to surrounding towns and villages and even out the mountains. Today there is a modern one just one line though but it connects a lot of key points.
All the best!!
PS: looks like they've had it worse in Italy, it's all part of the same weather system
@@davidberlanny3308Hi David good to hear about the rain (never thought I would be saying that). Sounds like you are suffering from 'Parkinson's groveling' routing about in the undergrowth, be careful it's hard on your straw hats. Ron
That was lovely walk Ron. Lying here in my hospital bed, you've cheered me up no end.
What a shame there were fence posts to see. At least the track bed still exists for us to use.
Best wishes Michael, hope you get well soon!!
Michael, how wonderful to hear from you. If you managed to follow the channel you will have seen quite a number of people have been worried about you. I hope you weren't injured dancing I would feel quite guilty if you were. We all hope you will get well soon. Keep in touch when you can. Relieved Ron & Pauline
Great to hear from you again Michael - I, too, was so relieved to have heard from you a couple of days ago. Hope you have a speedy recovery. Paul.
I could spend hours at that depot just looking at all that stock! Oh that Church!
Hi Christina I'm not sure how active it is as a research center, it would be nice it they had open days. Take care. Ron
@Parkinsons Walks ..
Have just looked up Rail Live and the Innovation Centre is open for a exhibition 21 and 22 June..
@@railwaychristina3192 Fantastic Christina, thanks for doing that. Ron
Hi.thank you for todays video. We were lucky enough to go on a rail tour into the depot probably 15 years ago. We had a short trip round the site on a DMU. Unfortunately I can’t remember where we went from or who it was with. Pathfinders maybe. Someone else might know? Very interesting anyway. When travelling to Banbury there is a siding going off from the main line north of Banbury. Did they connect up with Long Marston at one time? Kind regards Marilyn
Hi Marilyn, sounds like a great day out, you will be the envy of many on here. Hopefully someone will answer the Banbury question. Ron
Well Ron, I certainly know more about fencing posts than when I started. I almost felt as though I was there keeping you company. I visit my cousin in Stratford often and I have never seen the Long Marston signage so next time a detour is called for I think. One thing puzzles me; why does the Research depot need to much rolling stock of so many ages and varieties? And couldn't they clean it occasionally ? Thanks for the walk Ron and don't overdo it.
Hi Peter, the center has an open day in June, you could go along and ask the questions. Keep your head down! Rin
Lovely video along what is now a delightful track for walkers and cyclists. Not much innovation appears to be taking place at the Long Marston site, unless those were decoys in the sidings. Possibly a great site for a railway centre though, with trips over the rails from Honeybourne, maybe? Do they have open days, I wonder? At present it does not appear that a rail connection to Stratford, will happen any time soon. Some years ago, I walked the very pleasant section from Stratford to the bridge over the Avon and a bit beyond. Although the route remains sparsely populated, you do wonder, with the Honeybourne to Cheltenham route more or less complete, whether this would greatly strengthen the case for a Stratford to Cheltenham reopening at some future date.
You make some interesting points Malcolm, food for thought. I guess everything comes down to money in the end. Take care. Ron
Bravo, Ron. Another fine expedition.
Thanks Charles, it was a nice day out. Ron
That was what I call a wonderful film, full of interest. I agree with you, it must be a lovely place to live. All those walks. You had some good weather also. It's a pleasure to be out in days like these. That railway testing facility looked very interesting. I wonder what thsy actually do there? That yellow piece of train looked like both power cars of a track maintenance train. Apparently, they travel all around the network checking the state of the track in minute detail, at 70mph, with the aid of on board computers. Sometimes referred to as the 'Yellow Banana'. Magnificent church. I could have spent a lot of time around there. Thanks for another great discovery video Ron.
Hi Lionel, some great filming weather at the moment, make the most of it. I wonder if the track testing machine was developed here. Possible I guess, though it is probably foreign manufacture. Hope you and Mary are enjoying the sunshine, this could be our summer. Take care. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron, yet another brilliant video. The 'Yellow Banana' referred to by Lionel I believe are ex HST's modified at the Derby Works, completely stripped out and jammed packed with track monitoring equipment along with Overhead equipment for the electrified lines.
I believe that the depot at Long Marston at one time was also a storage site for serviceable rolling stock in case it was ever needed again and occasionally used for spare parts to keep other rolling stock.
I'm not too sure but the experimental site there is to do with one of the Midland universities, but I cannot remember which one.
Hopefully to will manage to be able to get out and about a little more as the weather seems to be improving, take care and stay safe.
What a fantastic old church..! Nice to see a little slice of "OLD" England. Well done Ron...
Hi Maurice, there is quite a bit of old England left at the moment, but the rate at which they are building new houses makes you wonder. Ron
A very enjoyable adventure, Ron. You had the same fencing issues that I had on the converted tramway! All I can say, from personal experience, is that a post and plain wire fence isn’t a very stock proof option. Plain wire stretches, ( hence the adjustable eyebolts), and the wires will sag if leant on by sheep or cattle. Once sagged it then allows sheep to get their heads between the wires, which gives rise to the old Cotswold saying, “where a sheep’s head goes, it’s a*se soon follows!”. Maybe the landowner planted a hedge, then removed the fence when the hedge was grown enough to be stock proof. On the tramway I noted that in some cases there was a ditch, with a hedge behind. Someone will have an answer I expect.
I think that Stratford Greenway Project is the group wanting to reopen the tramway from Stratford to Shipston on Stour. Stay safe. Ron
Hi Ron, beautiful morning here at the moment, hope it is the same with you. I knew a farmer who wouldn't have sheep as it cost too much to stop them escaping through his tatty fences. A fold-up bike would have been ideal on this walk. Are you filming your next project yet? Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Lovely morning here too, except that chilly breeze is blowing again. Next project is the Brymbo Ironstone Company at Hook Norton. I completed filming yesterday, so it’s on the computer ready to edit. I’ll upload that when the Shipston series is finished. Looks like a warm, dry week next week, but I’m installing water butts at the wife’s office on Tuesday, so that’s a days filming lost. Never mind! Ron
That church was the highlight today, Ron, and it would be interesting to know a bit more about it. The bell tower looked very ancient and unusual, as did the porch. There's obviously a lot of history in that area, and I guess Shakespeare may well have been acquainted with the village - I doubt if he ever rode the railway, though!
Hi Jim, when you walk into a church on a week day, it is usually very quiet and ideal for sitting and contemplating. Our Will may have visited the church even if he had to come by horse. Keep flying. Ron
During the early 2000's I worked for MoD Rail at another one of the sites scattered around the UK., Although I can't tell you about the MoD work carried out there I can tell you that Rail Operating Companies and Railway Leasing Companies rented rail space in these depots for new trains awaiting release onto the network along with old locomotives and rolling stock awaiting requirement back onto the network or scrapping.... It was always nice to go and sit in an old railway coach with a mug of MoD tea and some biscuits !!!
Super memories Roger, thanks for sharing. Ron
Good morning Ron. Hope you are well. I enjoyed that. That army facility looked interesting. . Like you i love rummaging around in the undergrowth in the hope of finding something interesting. At my old area i found a very sturdy Metropolitan Railway kissing gate complete with it's oak gate hidden in the bushes. Walked past it for over 50 years without noticing it. (I have a picture somewhere) Today you have a new viewer ! Nine week old Syd Barrat , a Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. my new best friend. .He was very interested in the chuffing at the start of your film.
Hi Pete, I'm well thank you. Great news about Syd, I know you were very upset when you lost your last hound. You must be looking forward to some wonderful adventures. Enjoy. Ron
Yes Ron, I certainly got my money's worth there! Thankyou for that video of a lovely village,;interesting depot too. I wonder what they are planning on doing with all those units there? Scrapping? Or doing a vivarail style refurb?
I wondered about all those units parked up there Michael, work in progress perhaps. Ron
Long Marston station was an original OW&W structure which remained after the GWR rebuilt the branch as part of its Birmingham to Bristol mainline
It's a pity it was removed as it would have made
a fine handsome private dwelling although I suspect it was demolished while the line was
still in operation in order to facilitate clearance
Thanks for an informative walk Ron
Let's hope one day the Stratford link is reinstated
Hi Stephen, I think we are all with you on reopening the line, but at least for now we have the greenway. Take care, thanks for posting. Ron
I d like to have a short piece of Broad gauge rail, how they ever bent it round curves is amazing, bull head rail will bend laterally. They must've heated it up and then bent it to the curve?!! 🤔🧐
Perhaps they had to resort to eating their shredded wheat Johnty, it works on telly. Ron
Not a lot left. When I saw the sign for the pub I thought you would be off for a quiet sit down there rather than the church.
I was worried in case Pauline saw the film Simon. This way I get brownie points. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks You can always switch the camera off and go for a swift half. Hope this helps. Simon
@@ngaugeonashelf4417 Why didn't I think of that Simon! Enjoy your weekend. Ron
Secret **Old** Rolling Stock ! It is really a Secret Full Suze Trainset for RailBuffs..
You could well be right Chris.
A few seats would be useful for those not fully mobile...
I fully agree with that Chris, I could have done with a break. Ron
Wooden tower at end of video is unusual ?
It is certainly the first of it's type I have seen Chris. Ron