There is something uniquely fascinating about a place with faded grandeur. Harwich used to the station that linked London with Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Berlin, Warsaw, even Moscow, with proper IC trains. It is also one of only two (maybe 3) stations in the UK to have had a EuroCity service - the international services that replaced the Trans-Europe-Express. EC trains are reduced in Western Europe now, largely replaced by high speed, but for me they are the most romantic type of train, in their heyday they linked different European countries with varying locos and rolling stock. They were introduced in 1987, and for the first year of their existence, 1 London-Harwich--Hoek-Amsterdam connection and 1 vice-versa had this classification, with the services named Admiraal de Ruijter and Bemjamin Britten. It's not quite the same as back then but it's still a fun way to travel, beats flying any day.
Used to travel to and from Parkeston Quay / Harwich International quite often back in the day when the DFDS still ran their ferries to Esbjerg in Denmark. An excellent service for those of us who didn't want to fly, it was a convenient, albeit slow method of travelling to Denmark and on to Sweden by boat overnight..
Thank you for visiting our little town. Nice video but you did miss out a lot of the more interesting Rail related history, like the route of the old original rail line, The roll on roll off train terminal that took the whole train over to Holland, and the still standing original goods shed. Going back to Wrabness there is also the huge War Department rail depot, the buildings are still there. Keep up the good work
In the mid 80s I was working in Holland (near the Hague). Harwich - Hoek Van Holland was an obvious choice. Grab the boat train from Liverpools street and Bob is my uncle. Been through there so many times ...as Harwich Parkestone Quay.
Hi Sarah, I used to use that station a lot up to 5 years ago and I have overnighted at both Harwich Int' and Dovercourt. There is more to both those areas than you had time to explore. It would have been a different film if I had been there...lol'...You were correct about the sea-mine and the fountain. There were moves/efforts to re-open the old Eastern Counties Bus Depot, which seem to have come to nought. Good video overall, well done. Take care, Jon B.
It was an Eastern National garage. We had to cross the river to encounter Eastern Counties buses or travel to Manningtree which was on the route for Ipswich / Clacton and Ipswich / Colchester services.
Great video Sarah. Seems you were struggling with wind and rain. Shame those lovely old station buildings haven't been repurposed. There was a definite air of atrophy in some of the places you visited. Also, I don't know why but I seem to find port towns feel a bit seedy.
Brilliant video Sarah, there are some nice stations on this route which I ought to do someday. I wouldn't call that Bus station at Harwich a bus station, just a bus stop judging by it's standards lol.
I use the station with the bus stop in front use to be a bus station with a shed for buses I think, not been to that other Harwich only the single platform one
The up line between Parkeston and Harwich Town became bi-directional when the overhead wires went up. The old down line was left in-situ, but without wires and gradually fell into disuse.
@@martyn6792 the need for the second line had basically disappeared with the closure of the train ferry service from Harwich and also other freight movements [ trade car deliveries ] had also gone. The hourly branch service from Manningtree doesn't need more than a single line, and the ferry related direct services to L.Street and the extended Ipswich / Cambridge and Lowestoft services terminate / start from Parkeston.
The station buildings at Dovercourt and Harwich arent capable of beneficial economic use and should be dropped and replaced with affordable housing for the local community
There is something uniquely fascinating about a place with faded grandeur. Harwich used to the station that linked London with Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Berlin, Warsaw, even Moscow, with proper IC trains. It is also one of only two (maybe 3) stations in the UK to have had a EuroCity service - the international services that replaced the Trans-Europe-Express. EC trains are reduced in Western Europe now, largely replaced by high speed, but for me they are the most romantic type of train, in their heyday they linked different European countries with varying locos and rolling stock. They were introduced in 1987, and for the first year of their existence, 1 London-Harwich--Hoek-Amsterdam connection and 1 vice-versa had this classification, with the services named Admiraal de Ruijter and Bemjamin Britten. It's not quite the same as back then but it's still a fun way to travel, beats flying any day.
Used to travel to and from Parkeston Quay / Harwich International quite often back in the day when the DFDS still ran their ferries to Esbjerg in Denmark. An excellent service for those of us who didn't want to fly, it was a convenient, albeit slow method of travelling to Denmark and on to Sweden by boat overnight..
Thank you for visiting our little town. Nice video but you did miss out a lot of the more interesting Rail related history, like the route of the old original rail line, The roll on roll off train terminal that took the whole train over to Holland, and the still standing original goods shed. Going back to Wrabness there is also the huge War Department rail depot, the buildings are still there. Keep up the good work
Excellent video Sarah, very informative
I totally agree with Brian about the 720s
Brilliant video again! 👍🙂
im liking all the stations & Harwich looks amazing & looks like a nice town to visit brilliant vlog
I don't understand how I was not subscribed already! Happy to see you! Nice video 😁
Great video Sarah, though you seem a bit unlucky with the weather. 😊
Great video, Sarah!
Like with the first video of this line, I enjoyed it!
Very interesting as usual, Sarah. Thank you.
In the mid 80s I was working in Holland (near the Hague). Harwich - Hoek Van Holland was an obvious choice. Grab the boat train from Liverpools street and Bob is my uncle. Been through there so many times ...as Harwich Parkestone Quay.
Great video Sarah, there some nice station buildings on this route as well
Excellent video as always 👍
Great video Sarah. Hi Brian...See you on a train one day.
Hi Sarah, I used to use that station a lot up to 5 years ago and I have overnighted at both Harwich Int' and Dovercourt. There is more to both those areas than you had time to explore. It would have been a different film if I had been there...lol'...You were correct about the sea-mine and the fountain. There were moves/efforts to re-open the old Eastern Counties Bus Depot, which seem to have come to nought.
Good video overall, well done.
Take care,
Jon B.
It was an Eastern National garage. We had to cross the river to encounter Eastern Counties buses or travel to Manningtree which was on the route for Ipswich / Clacton and Ipswich / Colchester services.
Awesome, might have to look into these stations when I come up the GEML later this year..........
I said nothing, you heard nothing
Great video Sarah. Seems you were struggling with wind and rain. Shame those lovely old station buildings haven't been repurposed. There was a definite air of atrophy in some of the places you visited. Also, I don't know why but I seem to find port towns feel a bit seedy.
Years ago I had a job interview at the school in Dovercourt. It was quite run down… I withdrew from the process quite quickly…
Brilliant video Sarah, there are some nice stations on this route which I ought to do someday. I wouldn't call that Bus station at Harwich a bus station, just a bus stop judging by it's standards lol.
I use it every year for my Clacton holiday I get bus to and from there, eat and drink on Harwich pier watching the boats
I use the station with the bus stop in front use to be a bus station with a shed for buses I think, not been to that other Harwich only the single platform one
I forgot the last time I was at Manningtree station it been that long ago
No mention of the LNER train ferry dock at Harwich.
Hi Sarah
What an awful day for making a video! There used to be an excellent chippie at Dovercourt.
When and from where did they single the line ? Interesting video as have no knowledge of that line
The up line between Parkeston and Harwich Town became bi-directional when the overhead wires went up. The old down line was left in-situ, but without wires and gradually fell into disuse.
@@PeterSmith-j5p why no wires on both lines or was there a plan to single anyway, I'm near Ipswich lowestoft line and that was singled on alot of it
@@martyn6792 the need for the second line had basically disappeared with the closure of the train ferry service from Harwich and also other freight movements [ trade car deliveries ] had also gone. The hourly branch service from Manningtree doesn't need more than a single line, and the ferry related direct services to L.Street and the extended Ipswich / Cambridge and Lowestoft services terminate / start from Parkeston.
@@PeterSmith-j5p Thanks for the explanation
Disappointed you did not not mention the listed train ferry terminal
The station buildings at Dovercourt and Harwich arent capable of beneficial economic use and should be dropped and replaced with affordable housing for the local community