The reason why White Notley has so long platforms is because Greater Anglia run 12-car services between Liverpool Street and Braintree in the peak and they call at all stations along the line.
The same is the case for the Uckfield branch line - trains there are up to 10 cars long, and most of them call all stations along the line, hence the unusually long platforms. This is despite the fact that the trains are only busy on the section between London Bridge and Oxted; on the branch line itself, 4-car trains would suffice. In fact if it weren't for Uckfield and Crowborough, the entire line would have been closed long ago!
Geoff and Vicky, you are absolute legends. I can't help but chuckle when i think of how you have managed to get loads of strangers to pay for your railway holiday. Genius. Another great vid, keep up the good work!
Catching up on all of these! As a proud Colcestrian, I cannot recommend spending the day in Colchester highly enough. Oh Vicki, St Botolphs priory is pronounced Bott-Offs - best said with an Essex accent :D
I approve of the 'not wanting to be rude about Clacton'... I live there, it's not the best, although doubling the hourly service during off peak would be nice to see
Tina Onions yes there was, sadly since 2003 (when I moved there, I was only 8 then) things have gotten s lot worse. Sadly the documentaries are surprisingly close to the truth, things aren't much better than they are portrayed on TV
Your quick signoff in Felixstowe was done literally 100 yards from where I live! Wonderful video, and yes Great Eastern Square used to me an old victorian station, its now small shops and a pub. Felixstowe beach used to be a station but is now closed (you can see it as you cross the dockspur railway driving down towards/back from dock gate 1 roundabout)
Regarding East Anglia having more railways, pre-1959, when the M&GN Joint closed, and certainly pre-1965, this region had a huge number of lines, many of which were essential for taking agricultural products out, and brining coal in.
Looking forward to this, commuted SW London to Ipswich for two years back in the First Great Eastern days where you still had slam-door Class 312 services from Colchester and Manningtree.
Chappel is as in chapel, it has an amazing viaduct, worth a look do that on line unless you're going the railway museum. There was a line from Witham that went to Maldon, which back in the day had two stations, east and west. Kelvedon had a branch line to Tollesbury, which was known as "The Crab & Winkle" as it picked up seafood and milk. Mr Beeching was a ruthless bastard.
The Braintree branch gets 12-car trains from Liverpool Street in the peaks hence the long platforms at White Notley. Also Colchester Town used to be named Colchester St Botolphs :-)
Worth a visit to the old suffolk lines to Melton Constable etc as glorious Sufflk landscape also an old list Railway to Southwold and lost port of Blyth... suggest summer visit as marshes in winter with NE wind are grim..
White Notley has a 12 car platform because of the level crossing at the London end, and has to host a couple of 12 car trains in the morning and evening peaks. Under the romans Colchester was called Camulodunum! And Colchester town used to be called St. Botolph's because of the Priory :)
There are a few lost railways around Essex, including the Witham to Maldon branch, the Kelvedon and Tollesbury light railway and the Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea branch. Also, the Marks Tey to Sudbury line once had branches to Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge.
Liverpool street (Or LLS) is my second favourite station, after Brentwood (of course 😊), and Clacton is my second favourite beach, after Southend on Sea (of course, but I do love Canvey's seafront as well). Great upload again (of course, nuff said 😉).
That disused platform at Felixstowe where the Goods Doors are (same sort of Goods doors as at Bognor Regis Platform 3) - used to be one very long platform with the remaining bit in use. White Notley does get 12 car trains, but on the branch line, 4 of the carriages are locked out of use.
I used to use Felixstowe station a lot in the early 1980's, to go to discos at the long demolished Pier Pavilion. The trains used to stop at the buffers at the station proper, and one set of the goods doors were left open for people catching the last train. I'd get off at Westerfield, and cycle home from there.
Enjoying your tour. Just little bit of info for you after the the discussion about St Botolphs Priory. Colchester Town station was previously known as St Botolphs - certainly as late as the 1980s.
Chelmsford, Braintree, Witham! My area! Some fun facts. Those trains you were riding from Braintree were the first sliding door trains in Essex, in fact they were the "bulk purchase" of new trains the government made to replace slam doors right before it was privatised, if those had been rolled out sooner perhaps it would have never been privatised. More fun facts, the reason White Notley platform is so long is because the really long slam door trains from Liverpool Street that stopped at every station used to turn off and go down there to Braintree, then when it went sliding they started splitting the trains in half at Witham, sending half back to London. This has since changed I think it was after Railtrack collapsed and now mostly uses shorter trains. Just down the road from Witham station are two level crossings, one on the mainline which has always been manual until recently, and one down the side line to Braintree which is still manual. And finally, you can go from some of the stations in Essex to anywhere in central London and back for just the price of a zone 1&2 ticket.......... Provided that there are no ticket inspectors that day. :)
Hey, resident of Colchester here! The priory, just for future use if you were interested or coming back one day, is called Saint Botolphs pronounced Bot-aulfs :)
It's weird to look back on this. When you filmed this I worked on the pier and had never left clacton now I have been all over the place on the railway. The railway is great!
But what happened to Frinton-on-Sea? We used to go there on holiday when I was a child (and walked along the beach to Walton to go on the pier, and then either walked back or got the bus or the train). I wish you had shown its station and the infamous level crossing!
It's lovely. My ex- and I used to go to Frinton (just down the coast), and cycle to Walton. The Naze itself is wonderful, particularly for kids. There's a tower with a café and art gallery in it.
Hi Matt/ Vickey your right Colchester is the oldest recorded town but Chelmsford and Winchester were capitols before London really enjoy your videos, didn't know Walton on Naze had second longest pier, good info, you must look at Frinton some time as has some quirky facts about the residents, just ask when there,
All the stations **Seaside Special** You could visit a non ever used station at Mangapps Railway Museum which has trains and tracks run by a guy who starting collecting trains stuff and grew and grew it seems you can get by train on the Southminster line and walk or cab..
I have used White Notley once as it is on the Essex Way. Also remember Felixstowe Station when it was a cavernous shadow of its former self in the 80s, very quiet and spooky, before turned into a shopping centre and the track cut back.
I have a house in White Notley. Also you should take some time to go down the Flitch way in Braintree if you said that you are going back near that area because that used to be where the train ran to Rane station etc. (I would recommend the café at the old Rane station).
East Anglian Railway Museum is well worth a visit as is the viaduct, it's a beautiful little village with very proud residents who maintain immaculate gardens, but! G & V you need to visit E.A.R.M
Been following their progress on Facebook, Cambridgeshire is next (with a special day out at Shippea Hill, the least used station of them all) and it looks like they've started Norfolk yesterday but haven't finished yet.
The map is updated at 1000 each day with the stations visited the previous day. They are taking today (Monday 5th) off so the next update will be at 1000 on Wednesday 7th June.
I was working on Clacton pier when you came to visit. Chances are on the twister or waltzer. Maybe the mouse coaster. But it was great to see you got an ice cream. Essex is really easy to travel around by train and i love my weekly trips to Colchester town. St Botolphs is really pronounced like boltoffs but it took me a while to learn too.
I live in Witham and I was hoping you'd show it, but oh well. I used to live in Hatfield Peverel and don't worry Vicki, there is nothing to see there, just a small rural village that does nothing.
I think the platform between Manchester Victoria and Manchester Exchange (now demolished) used to hold the record as the longest platform, but that was cheating since it was shared between two stations.
@@Mortimer50145 The long platford at Colchester North was designed for military use (there used to be a major barracks in the town). The idea was that in the event of mobilisation an entire battalion could be entrained there
Is Harwich International in this video? The station for Holland used to be called Harwich Parkeston Quay. I don't know whether it's just a rename or a relocation. I've been to HPQ but not to HI. I used to travel to Holland as a young man some 20+ years ago, but was driving a van when I revisited this year so missed the station. My only visits to western Europe in between merely involved Schiphol and on one occasion Charles De Gaulle airports!
Interesting Event that happened at Walton on Naze station in 1987. A train failed to stop and slammed through the buffers and ended up buried inside the station building.
You want a station on the beach? You should visit Chalkwell, Southend on Sea. I'm surprised that Vicky didn't mention where the longest pier actually is, 'cos that is Southend (again), but not only the largest in length but sadly the unluckiest pier ever (check it's history), and I can tell you it's a extremely enjoyable but very long walk from end to end, or you can get the train (not scoot in a mobility scooter, like I have 😉).
Colchester was the first capital of roman england, the england we would recognise today has been London since the capital moved. also Colchester used to be the station that was furthest away from its (top 4 divisions only) football ground. the football ground has now moved.
Braintree branch aka the Flitch Line. I manage the Flitch Way, the former Braintree to Bishops Stortford line. Look it up for the least used on the branch perhaps!?
Can I ask in what capacity you manage Flitch Way? It's a real asset to the area and I only wish more people were aware of it or had cause to use it: though if I'm feeling selfish it's quite nice to have the path all to myself when I'm cycling along it on a weekday. I have just finished reading 'LOST AND FOUND' BY DAVID GRIDLEY which was fascinating. I decided to search for either Braintree or Bishop's Stortford on 'All the Stations'. Thought there might be some mention that the line had once carried on to B\S but not to be. I think it's a brilliant route and only wish I'd found it earlier. I usually start at the M11 end with the obligatory stop at Rayne station for cake and coffee; up to Braintree and then back to B/S. On one occasion I came across a music festival at Rayne station which was completely unexpected and brilliant. I have lived locally since the late 80's and was totally unaware of 'Flitch Way'. 10 years ago I bought a bike and started to cycle around the Herts/Essex countryside. My father (a fan of the train world, though not a train spotter) had mentioned an old train route but I had no idea where it was. One day I came across a small bridge and out of curiosity went down to explore; I had finally found the old track bed my father had talked of. Such a shame he was no longer alive as I know he would have got a kick out of the fact that I managed to follow the route all the way to Braintree and back. When I was younger I couldn't understand my father's fascination for old stations or disused train routes, but recently I seem to have picked up his interest: maybe it's nostalgia for a different time!? Perhaps the next series for Geoff could be all the abandoned lines and stations of the railways? I'd watch it.
Rob N I have worked for the council for 13 years now and started with my office where the Rayne cafe kitchen is now. The last 10 years I have pretty much decided what is done and where on the old line and know it better than most. It is an amazing route and would be great for Geoff to explore along with the other bits I look after, namely the Blackwater Rail Trail (former Witham to Maldon branch) and 1.5 miles up in the Earls/White Colne.
The older I get, the more I become fascinated with local history. I wonder if we could email Geoff and get him to cover the Flitch Way and generate some interest in it. I know he said in the video that he wanted to come back to White Notley for a 'least used station' video sometime in the future, so the Flitch is only round the corner.
Believe me Geoff.. there ain't much in Hatfield Peverel. I used to live there. White Notley (and the rest) are long because they run 12 car trains to and from London at Peak times.. They should have extended the Braintree line out to Stansted Airport using the old route and then alongside the A120 to reduce costs and the need for CPO's. In fact, it would have been a good contender for an EU development grant.
RoulinBrooks Maybe they've left their main luggage at a hotel? Whilst they've been in London/Surrey/Kent they've been going home each evening so they haven't had to take large backpacks every day. They were still staying in London last week until they ventured into Suffolk/Norfolk.
The name comes from 'Naze Point', a promontory that is topped by the Naze Tower, a 'Daymark' navigation aid for sailors. Naze means Nose, and Naze Point does look like a nose pointing into the sea, in a similar manner to the French Cap Gris Nez (Cape Grey Nose).
I'm a little sad you didn't have time to film the NSE era relics at Harwich Internarional. Having spent over an hour there while on a Railtour they are pretty much the only things of interest. :-)
Still is, but it's tiny, and doesn't end up anywhere near the railway in Felixstowe. There used to be Beach Station, but that was closed to passengers many, many years ago, and until recently, had it's charming pre-war wooden station building. This, however, 'accidentally' burned down a few years ago.
one line that was removed was bishops Stortford via Great Dunmow to Braintree then on to Witham. also sure there was another part on the sudbury line if anyone can confirm where it went
Felixstowe train is always that busy, I live there and it's always busy and half the time you struggle to get a seat, which sucks. They've tried shutting the passenger line down a couple of times in the last few years, which I think is just stupid.
Felixstowe's economy is driven by the port. Freight takes priority over passenger services. They'll never close the line because of the port so it's safe to assume passenger service will remain in one form or another. Ipswich has a far better service and it's not that far by car to Felixstowe.
OfficialB etc. In fact Felixstowe is v. high on the list for electrification (to Nuneaton). The line will always be there, the service is in part just a matter for the local council.
cowscrazy Shippea Hill will probably feature in an official video but I expect Geoff is also doing a bonus video just for that station. Bear in mind the videos are 4/5 days behind as they have to post the footage and it has to be edited.
The reason why White Notley has so long platforms is because Greater Anglia run 12-car services between Liverpool Street and Braintree in the peak and they call at all stations along the line.
The same is the case for the Uckfield branch line - trains there are up to 10 cars long, and most of them call all stations along the line, hence the unusually long platforms.
This is despite the fact that the trains are only busy on the section between London Bridge and Oxted; on the branch line itself, 4-car trains would suffice. In fact if it weren't for Uckfield and Crowborough, the entire line would have been closed long ago!
Vicki, you missed a great castle (well, Norman keep) in Colchester! You'll have to return for all the castles :D
When you guys were in walton, i was right next to you but i didnt want to annoy you guys because i thought you were busy
Q. Where is Felixstowe?
A. At the end of Felix foot.
Boom! Boom!
Dark.
Anyone found making that joke gets hung from Mannings Tree
Totally Legend...
absolutely leg end.
Boom! Boom!
Geoff and Vicky, you are absolute legends. I can't help but chuckle when i think of how you have managed to get loads of strangers to pay for your railway holiday. Genius. Another great vid, keep up the good work!
So not a holiday. So stressful sometimes. But doesn't mean they aren't enjoying loads of it 😎
Yes I would love to go do that instead of them!
11:39 Vicky has got the "James May hello" down. :D
Catching up on all of these! As a proud Colcestrian, I cannot recommend spending the day in Colchester highly enough. Oh Vicki, St Botolphs priory is pronounced Bott-Offs - best said with an Essex accent :D
I approve of the 'not wanting to be rude about Clacton'... I live there, it's not the best, although doubling the hourly service during off peak would be nice to see
Tina Onions yes there was, sadly since 2003 (when I moved there, I was only 8 then) things have gotten s lot worse. Sadly the documentaries are surprisingly close to the truth, things aren't much better than they are portrayed on TV
"I Shoulda gotten off at Clacton."
These short connections make me nervous, but the host's demeanour makes it all a charming adventure. This series is a delight.
Mr Marshall sometimes gives off a bit of a Partridgesque in his talks to camera. Bless him :)
Good to see Walton on the Naze, i used to go there every summer as a kid.
lucky you got to go to the beaches of Essex on such a lovely day.
ClassicGamerX11 I did too, Walton- on-the-naze Great memories
People from Clacton go to Walton for a day out.
@@RichardBrown7k or Frinton. I recommend Frinton!
@@sirprintalot Frinton is great, too. But The Naze is fab for kids to run wild.
Your quick signoff in Felixstowe was done literally 100 yards from where I live! Wonderful video, and yes Great Eastern Square used to me an old victorian station, its now small shops and a pub. Felixstowe beach used to be a station but is now closed (you can see it as you cross the dockspur railway driving down towards/back from dock gate 1 roundabout)
Girl dabbing at 10:51 dates this to 2017 hard. :-D
Regarding East Anglia having more railways, pre-1959, when the M&GN Joint closed, and certainly pre-1965, this region had a huge number of lines, many of which were essential for taking agricultural products out, and brining coal in.
Looking forward to this, commuted SW London to Ipswich for two years back in the First Great Eastern days where you still had slam-door Class 312 services from Colchester and Manningtree.
Chappel is as in chapel, it has an amazing viaduct, worth a look do that on line unless you're going the railway museum. There was a line from Witham that went to Maldon, which back in the day had two stations, east and west. Kelvedon had a branch line to Tollesbury, which was known as "The Crab & Winkle" as it picked up seafood and milk. Mr Beeching was a ruthless bastard.
The Braintree branch gets 12-car trains from Liverpool Street in the peaks hence the long platforms at White Notley. Also Colchester Town used to be named Colchester St Botolphs :-)
Yes I like the old name cos people think that Colchester Town is the main station which it isn't - it's tiny
4:31 Andy is in a fiesta, and when he pulls out he is in a Seat.
Worth a visit to the old suffolk lines to Melton Constable etc as glorious Sufflk landscape also an old list Railway to Southwold and lost port of Blyth... suggest summer visit as marshes in winter with NE wind are grim..
White Notley has a 12 car platform because of the level crossing at the London end, and has to host a couple of 12 car trains in the morning and evening peaks. Under the romans Colchester was called Camulodunum! And Colchester town used to be called St. Botolph's because of the Priory :)
There are a few lost railways around Essex, including the Witham to Maldon branch, the Kelvedon and Tollesbury light railway and the Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea branch. Also, the Marks Tey to Sudbury line once had branches to Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge.
Well you miss a real gem at Ingatestone ! very historic station like the stile and banter
The Sunshine Coast the sunniest part of UK and Elmsteaad Market is driest place in Britain.
Liverpool street (Or LLS) is my second favourite station, after Brentwood (of course 😊), and Clacton is my second favourite beach, after Southend on Sea (of course, but I do love Canvey's seafront as well). Great upload again (of course, nuff said 😉).
I live in Felixstowe and we have asked for two carriage trains to go to Felixstowe for a while now, without success, 9 / 10 times the train is busy.
All your trains will be three carriages from 2020 when the new ones are introduced.... or so GA say.
@@gaz198210 And here in 2021, do we know if this came to pass?
That disused platform at Felixstowe where the Goods Doors are (same sort of Goods doors as at Bognor Regis Platform 3) - used to be one very long platform with the remaining bit in use. White Notley does get 12 car trains, but on the branch line, 4 of the carriages are locked out of use.
I used to use Felixstowe station a lot in the early 1980's, to go to discos at the long demolished Pier Pavilion. The trains used to stop at the buffers at the station proper, and one set of the goods doors were left open for people catching the last train. I'd get off at Westerfield, and cycle home from there.
Enjoying your tour. Just little bit of info for you after the the discussion about St Botolphs Priory. Colchester Town station was previously known as St Botolphs - certainly as late as the 1980s.
Chelmsford, Braintree, Witham! My area! Some fun facts. Those trains you were riding from Braintree were the first sliding door trains in Essex, in fact they were the "bulk purchase" of new trains the government made to replace slam doors right before it was privatised, if those had been rolled out sooner perhaps it would have never been privatised.
More fun facts, the reason White Notley platform is so long is because the really long slam door trains from Liverpool Street that stopped at every station used to turn off and go down there to Braintree, then when it went sliding they started splitting the trains in half at Witham, sending half back to London. This has since changed I think it was after Railtrack collapsed and now mostly uses shorter trains.
Just down the road from Witham station are two level crossings, one on the mainline which has always been manual until recently, and one down the side line to Braintree which is still manual.
And finally, you can go from some of the stations in Essex to anywhere in central London and back for just the price of a zone 1&2 ticket.......... Provided that there are no ticket inspectors that day. :)
Hey, resident of Colchester here!
The priory, just for future use if you were interested or coming back one day, is called Saint Botolphs pronounced Bot-aulfs :)
It's weird to look back on this. When you filmed this I worked on the pier and had never left clacton now I have been all over the place on the railway. The railway is great!
Hello There, great video very scenic and picturesque, such beautiful and sunny destinations throughout. Keep up the good work! Cheers Peter :)
But what happened to Frinton-on-Sea? We used to go there on holiday when I was a child (and walked along the beach to Walton to go on the pier, and then either walked back or got the bus or the train). I wish you had shown its station and the infamous level crossing!
ONE TRAIN AN HOUR IS AWKWARD? You know how frequent that is!!!
I like how Vicki is using a telescope at Clacton when they have a camera with a zoom lens with them! :D
You should drive around the old Stour Valley Railway line that used to run from Sudbury. Some the old stations are really interesting.
Busy now planning a summer day out to Walton on the Naize. What have you started!
It's lovely. My ex- and I used to go to Frinton (just down the coast), and cycle to Walton. The Naze itself is wonderful, particularly for kids. There's a tower with a café and art gallery in it.
That train they were on a white Notley was making some really interesting noises!!
a lot of railway looking buildings are sometimes water board premises or other utility company property
Hi Matt/ Vickey your right Colchester is the oldest recorded town but Chelmsford and Winchester were capitols before London really enjoy your videos, didn't know Walton on Naze had second longest pier, good info, you must look at Frinton some time as has some quirky facts about the residents, just ask when there,
Loving the series. As a Colchester boy, some of your struggles with how to pronounce Essex place names cracked me up!
Russell sawyer Wait until they reach Wales and Scotland... They'll have lots of Ll and Ff and random vowels in Wales.
... considering the fact that "Botolph" really isn't that difficult ...
Marcomanseckisax but it was so cute the way she pronounced it... bottle off 😀👍
I was waiting for them to attempt Thorpe-le-Soken, but they missed it out completely. This series should be called Some Of The Stations...
Russell sawyer Yes and they missed Colchester stations like Wivenhoe and the Hythe
Well, that one to felixstowe always seems quite busy, Last summer it actually driven with 2 car trains because it couldn't handle the passangers.
All the stations **Seaside Special**
You could visit a non ever used station at Mangapps Railway Museum which has trains and tracks run by a guy who starting collecting trains stuff and grew and grew it seems you can get by train on the Southminster line and walk or cab..
I have used White Notley once as it is on the Essex Way. Also remember Felixstowe Station when it was a cavernous shadow of its former self in the 80s, very quiet and spooky, before turned into a shopping centre and the track cut back.
I have a house in White Notley. Also you should take some time to go down the Flitch way in Braintree if you said that you are going back near that area because that used to be where the train ran to Rane station etc. (I would recommend the café at the old Rane station).
East Anglian Railway Museum is well worth a visit as is the viaduct, it's a beautiful little village with very proud residents who maintain immaculate gardens, but! G & V you need to visit E.A.R.M
Norwich and Norfolk branches next ? We will just have to see.
I've just realised the vocoder on the theme tune says "All The Stations, all of them".
Thanks, I've been wondering the whole time what the last three syllables said; I couldn't make it out!
Been following their progress on Facebook, Cambridgeshire is next (with a special day out at Shippea Hill, the least used station of them all) and it looks like they've started Norfolk yesterday but haven't finished yet.
The map is updated at 1000 each day with the stations visited the previous day. They are taking today (Monday 5th) off so the next update will be at 1000 on Wednesday 7th June.
Magnificent journey continues.
I was working on Clacton pier when you came to visit. Chances are on the twister or waltzer. Maybe the mouse coaster. But it was great to see you got an ice cream. Essex is really easy to travel around by train and i love my weekly trips to Colchester town. St Botolphs is really pronounced like boltoffs but it took me a while to learn too.
Nah its Bot-olfs
Have u been to the main Colchester station?
Have u been to the main Colchester station?
I live in Witham and I was hoping you'd show it, but oh well. I used to live in Hatfield Peverel and don't worry Vicki, there is nothing to see there, just a small rural village that does nothing.
The longest platform was 3 in Chester! It's used to have an award for it!
I think the platform between Manchester Victoria and Manchester Exchange (now demolished) used to hold the record as the longest platform, but that was cheating since it was shared between two stations.
Its Gloucester :)
@@Mortimer50145 The long platford at Colchester North was designed for military use (there used to be a major barracks in the town). The idea was that in the event of mobilisation an entire battalion could be entrained there
Platform at Cambridge prob isn't the absolute longest, but it's loooooooooong.
Is there a particular station that you're saving til last? :)
Is Harwich International in this video? The station for Holland used to be called Harwich Parkeston Quay. I don't know whether it's just a rename or a relocation. I've been to HPQ but not to HI. I used to travel to Holland as a young man some 20+ years ago, but was driving a van when I revisited this year so missed the station. My only visits to western Europe in between merely involved Schiphol and on one occasion Charles De Gaulle airports!
I was on a single car 153 Lancaster to Carnforth once and although it was packed, I still found a seat!
Interesting Event that happened at Walton on Naze station in 1987. A train failed to stop and slammed through the buffers and ended up buried inside the station building.
can't wait to see you in southport!
I imagine it will be a while until you'll be up North. I'm hoping I can find you when you two eventually get up here. :)
Excellent video, also saw you both in the paper!
You want a station on the beach? You should visit Chalkwell, Southend on Sea. I'm surprised that Vicky didn't mention where the longest pier actually is, 'cos that is Southend (again), but not only the largest in length but sadly the unluckiest pier ever (check it's history), and I can tell you it's a extremely enjoyable but very long walk from end to end, or you can get the train (not scoot in a mobility scooter, like I have 😉).
from my experience, Ipswich has the best railway station that I've been into.
Alderaan Nowicki Colchester is better
Well there is 5 railway stations in Colchester - It's massive
Nathan Scofield only 3 (if counting Hythe)???
Bristol Temple Meads
St Pancras
Edinburgh
That's just the UK
@@matthewlewis2072 You forgot Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly
Colchester was the first capital of roman england, the england we would recognise today has been London since the capital moved.
also Colchester used to be the station that was furthest away from its (top 4 divisions only) football ground. the football ground has now moved.
Here are so many Hatfields around Hertfordshire and Essex! Well at least 3. Hatfield Broad-oak, Hatfield Heath, Hatfield whatever it was you went to
benivanphillips Yes, and there's a "Hatfield & Stainforth" on the Doncaster to Goole line as well !!
Braintree branch aka the Flitch Line. I manage the Flitch Way, the former Braintree to Bishops Stortford line. Look it up for the least used on the branch perhaps!?
Can I ask in what capacity you manage Flitch Way? It's a real asset to the area and I only wish more people were aware of it or had cause to use it: though if I'm feeling selfish it's quite nice to have the path all to myself when I'm cycling along it on a weekday.
I have just finished reading 'LOST AND FOUND' BY DAVID GRIDLEY which was fascinating. I decided to search for either Braintree or Bishop's Stortford on 'All the Stations'. Thought there might be some mention that the line had once carried on to B\S but not to be.
I think it's a brilliant route and only wish I'd found it earlier. I usually start at the M11 end with the obligatory stop at Rayne station for cake and coffee; up to Braintree and then back to B/S. On one occasion I came across a music festival at Rayne station which was completely unexpected and brilliant.
I have lived locally since the late 80's and was totally unaware of 'Flitch Way'. 10 years ago I bought a bike and started to cycle around the Herts/Essex countryside. My father (a fan of the train world, though not a train spotter) had mentioned an old train route but I had no idea where it was. One day I came across a small bridge and out of curiosity went down to explore; I had finally found the old track bed my father had talked of. Such a shame he was no longer alive as I know he would have got a kick out of the fact that I managed to follow the route all the way to Braintree and back.
When I was younger I couldn't understand my father's fascination for old stations or disused train routes, but recently I seem to have picked up his interest: maybe it's nostalgia for a different time!?
Perhaps the next series for Geoff could be all the abandoned lines and stations of the railways? I'd watch it.
Rob N I have worked for the council for 13 years now and started with my office where the Rayne cafe kitchen is now. The last 10 years I have pretty much decided what is done and where on the old line and know it better than most. It is an amazing route and would be great for Geoff to explore along with the other bits I look after, namely the Blackwater Rail Trail (former Witham to Maldon branch) and 1.5 miles up in the Earls/White Colne.
The older I get, the more I become fascinated with local history. I wonder if we could email Geoff and get him to cover the Flitch Way and generate some interest in it. I know he said in the video that he wanted to come back to White Notley for a 'least used station' video sometime in the future, so the Flitch is only round the corner.
Looking forward to more sights of my home county of Suffolk!
Melanie Tuffen Blink and you'll miss it. They should complete Suffolk in the next couple of days and will be heading to the midlands.
Believe me Geoff.. there ain't much in Hatfield Peverel. I used to live there.
White Notley (and the rest) are long because they run 12 car trains to and from London at Peak times..
They should have extended the Braintree line out to Stansted Airport using the old route and then alongside the A120 to reduce costs and the need for CPO's. In fact, it would have been a good contender for an EU development grant.
White Notley must have one of the most frequent train services for a "least used station" as every Braintree service stops there.
The Dotto train at 8:28 is the original one from Ryde, Isle of Wight!
Felixstowe is also the place where Michael Palin arrived back in England on his Around The World in 80 Days.
Quite right it is a Sprinter! Those are my favourite trains!
Vicki.... you know there's a castle in Colchester right? How d'you fancy teaming up to do an 'All the Castles'?
Gutted no shot of Derby Road station... I'll be living there in a few weeks.
How are you finding it now?
Where's their luggage? They can't be traveling with just those small bags. In some videos you see giant backpacks, but not in others.
RoulinBrooks Maybe they've left their main luggage at a hotel? Whilst they've been in London/Surrey/Kent they've been going home each evening so they haven't had to take large backpacks every day. They were still staying in London last week until they ventured into Suffolk/Norfolk.
Why didn't you get off at Harwich and take the Harwich harbour ferry to Felixstowe?
Any thought of doing a special episode highlighting the strangest named stations? Walton on the Naize should be a shoe-in.
Hall I'th' Wood
The name comes from 'Naze Point', a promontory that is topped by the Naze Tower, a 'Daymark' navigation aid for sailors. Naze means Nose, and Naze Point does look like a nose pointing into the sea, in a similar manner to the French Cap Gris Nez (Cape Grey Nose).
My local station at Chelmsford 😊😊
Trains in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia that are five minutes late are considered to be still on time.
Walton-on-the-Naze. Seaside holidays in the 1950s - including having a beach hut for the week!
I'm a little sad you didn't have time to film the NSE era relics at Harwich Internarional. Having spent over an hour there while on a Railtour they are pretty much the only things of interest. :-)
Colchester Town station used to be called St Botolph's (after the priory), only changing in 1991.
St Botolph is the English patron saint of travelling and his feast day is 17 June.
Si Hollett Ooooh good one. Hopefully +allthestations caught that !!!
Hi Geoff. Love your videos. Any chance you could do a video on the Manchester metro link?
As someone said on social media: 3:01 the moquette looks like it's all hedgehogs! 😃
Mr. Praline: This is Bolton, is it?
Owner: No, it's Ipswitch.
Mr. Praline: That's inter-city rail for you......
It's Ipswich
And it's a small town not a city
The only large places there was Chelmsford and Colchester
I think that the longest platforms are either Edingburgh Waverly or Gloucester
don't know if it still exists but there used to be a ferry between Harwich and Felixstowe, that would have saved lots of time.
Still is, but it's tiny, and doesn't end up anywhere near the railway in Felixstowe. There used to be Beach Station, but that was closed to passengers many, many years ago, and until recently, had it's charming pre-war wooden station building. This, however, 'accidentally' burned down a few years ago.
5:51 you can literally see the windows to my flat!
yeah . Thank you for coming past Chelmsford not a bad station but what did you think ?
great video guys
great keep them coming
My family have been to Walton on the naze
Shout out to White Notley! Hoping to make it there one day :)
one line that was removed was bishops Stortford via Great Dunmow to Braintree then on to Witham. also sure there was another part on the sudbury line if anyone can confirm where it went
Austin Powers Yes it used to run to Shelford (on the Liverpool Street to Cambridge line) via Long Melford and Haverhill. It closed in 1967.
Yay! Old memories, like Chelmsford, hehe :-D
Felixstowe train is always that busy, I live there and it's always busy and half the time you struggle to get a seat, which sucks. They've tried shutting the passenger line down a couple of times in the last few years, which I think is just stupid.
Felixstowe's economy is driven by the port. Freight takes priority over passenger services. They'll never close the line because of the port so it's safe to assume passenger service will remain in one form or another. Ipswich has a far better service and it's not that far by car to Felixstowe.
OfficialB etc. In fact Felixstowe is v. high on the list for electrification (to Nuneaton). The line will always be there, the service is in part just a matter for the local council.
I think you missed the point, they may never shut the line, but they constantly attempt to shut the passenger service, despite large numbers.
Felixstowe is driven by freight into the port. Freight wins.
What about platform 1 + 15 at Euston they have to accommodate 16 coaches and 2 power cars..... 😎
Are we going to miss out on Shippea Hill just like they never went to Isle of Wight ?
cowscrazy Shippea Hill will probably feature in an official video but I expect Geoff is also doing a bonus video just for that station. Bear in mind the videos are 4/5 days behind as they have to post the footage and it has to be edited.
I se from the map you've already been to Norwich - my home area. What did you think of it? Oh, and BTW, it's Sheringham, not Sherringham!
Chris Bell YUS Sheringham I might be moving there in 3 months. Lovely place and a lovely station.
It is nice, isn't it?
your train stations look great.
Gloucester's platform is even longer than Colchester's two platforms! You can measure it on Google Maps.
Great video, from Kevin 😊
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