Thank you so much for posting this up. My mother was born in 120 New Street in Brightlingsea. Some of my earliest childhood memories was of my summer holiday and the platform call, "Wivenhoe, change for Brightlingsea". My grandfather Harold Stanley White, on his marriage papers is shown as a railway fireman, two years later on my mother's birth certificate, he is an engine driver. As a child, I was given two huge bunches of keys, all shapes and sizes, these were (I was told) the keys to the station. (Possibly the one burnt down? as the station was still open at that time) On our staircase, usually, (currently off for decoration) we have two photographs hanging of my grandmother and grandfather, sitting on a flatbed on the track just outside of Brightlingsea station, more or less where the caravan park is now, my grandmother holding her hand out on her knee to show off the engagement ring. My youngest daughter now wears it as her engagement ring) Around that point on the track, wild horseradish grew and my grandfather would pick it for my grandmother to pound into a paste to go with the beef. My grandfather was a solid Union man and we have all of the medals which he wore on his silver watch chain, although, on the end of the chain, was not a watch but a silver vesta to hold his matches. My grandfather died quite young, in 1958, pretty much as a result of the coal dust he had breathed into his lungs all his working life. Brightlingsea, had two or three boat builders, and my father from 39 to 46, was in the RAF on air sea rescue launches. It was on a visit to Brightlingsea to take over a new built launch that my father and mother met and, my history began. You have really taken me back with this, thank you.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Michael, we really enjoyed hearing about the memories you and your family had of the old line and stations as its almost hard to imagine there was ever a railway there now.. Thanks for watching our video, we're glad you enjoyed it 😊
I have found the photos. Still in the original mount, a photographer "Southgate Studio, Short Wyre Street Colchester. Footplatemen were of course, even on a branch line, the highest paid of 'manual' workers, so they'd have afforded a pro photographer, and buying their own home at 120. I can't upload the photos.
With so many travelling to Colchester for work & just the one road in & out, Brightlingsea could do with this railway now! Interesting little feature, great work.
Thanks Luke, yes u are absolutely right, Brightlingsea is much larger now and could really do with better infrastructure like this.. Thanks for watching 😊
Walking along the English countryside on a beautiful summer day, listening to Em and Stu chat, makes me feel I'm there and part of the adventure. Just wonderful.....
When you live in the area and suddenly realise how much is out there to explore. Maldon has some great railway history and disused lines, the trestle bridge at wickham bishops is the last surviving one apparently, worth a look. Love watching you videos thank you.🙂
Walked this route in 1996. Then flew this route and the disused Kelvedon to Tollesbury route in a historic light aircraft this April. Been exploring disused railways all over the UK since 1962..
@@JohnBath-f8p Would like to explore some of the old Kelvedon to Tollesbury Pier line one day ourselves, so many disused railways around that way and still a fair bit you can still walk along.. must be quite an experience seeing it from the sky.. Thanks for watching and commenting 😊👍
Walked the Corringham Light Railway in 1983 after flying it in 1980. It closed in the early 1950's and was a real challenge, even with all the landowners permissions. All gone now, totally! Spent the last ten years exploring 200 disused airfields on foot and by light aircraft and gliders from Sussex all the way to North Norfolk and across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.
Nice find! The old station house at Felsted, Great Dunmow is accessible and abandoned at the moment. It was only renovated 4 years ago and now its been striped bare. The platform is still visible though..
oh really we didn't know that.. We have the Flitch Way on our to-do list so will hopefully come across it in the near future. Thanks for the info and for watching and commenting 😊
Thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed the video. I definitely agree, and other than the bridge over the river the trackbed is pretty much still intact, so maybe one day if finances allow, it could be reopened 👍😊
Thank you so much for posting this up. My mother was born in 120 New Street in Brightlingsea. Some of my earliest childhood memories was of my summer holiday and the platform call, "Wivenhoe, change for Brightlingsea". My grandfather Harold Stanley White, on his marriage papers is shown as a railway fireman, two years later on my mother's birth certificate, he is an engine driver. As a child, I was given two huge bunches of keys, all shapes and sizes, these were (I was told) the keys to the station. (Possibly the one burnt down? as the station was still open at that time) On our staircase, usually, (currently off for decoration) we have two photographs hanging of my grandmother and grandfather, sitting on a flatbed on the track just outside of Brightlingsea station, more or less where the caravan park is now, my grandmother holding her hand out on her knee to show off the engagement ring. My youngest daughter now wears it as her engagement ring) Around that point on the track, wild horseradish grew and my grandfather would pick it for my grandmother to pound into a paste to go with the beef. My grandfather was a solid Union man and we have all of the medals which he wore on his silver watch chain, although, on the end of the chain, was not a watch but a silver vesta to hold his matches. My grandfather died quite young, in 1958, pretty much as a result of the coal dust he had breathed into his lungs all his working life. Brightlingsea, had two or three boat builders, and my father from 39 to 46, was in the RAF on air sea rescue launches. It was on a visit to Brightlingsea to take over a new built launch that my father and mother met and, my history began. You have really taken me back with this, thank you.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Michael, we really enjoyed hearing about the memories you and your family had of the old line and stations as its almost hard to imagine there was ever a railway there now.. Thanks for watching our video, we're glad you enjoyed it 😊
I have found the photos. Still in the original mount, a photographer "Southgate Studio, Short Wyre Street Colchester. Footplatemen were of course, even on a branch line, the highest paid of 'manual' workers, so they'd have afforded a pro photographer, and buying their own home at 120. I can't upload the photos.
With so many travelling to Colchester for work & just the one road in & out, Brightlingsea could do with this railway now! Interesting little feature, great work.
Thanks Luke, yes u are absolutely right, Brightlingsea is much larger now and could really do with better infrastructure like this.. Thanks for watching 😊
Nice little video Team.
Thank you, we really appreciate you taking the time to watch 😊
Walking along the English countryside on a beautiful summer day, listening to Em and Stu chat, makes me feel I'm there and part of the adventure. Just wonderful.....
Really glad you are enjoying our videos, thanks for your lovely message.. 😊
When you live in the area and suddenly realise how much is out there to explore. Maldon has some great railway history and disused lines, the trestle bridge at wickham bishops is the last surviving one apparently, worth a look. Love watching you videos thank you.🙂
Thanks Charlotte, yes the Maldon line is definitely on our list to do very soon! Thanks for watching, really glad you like the videos 😊
Very interesting, and informative video, enjoyed that 👍!
Thank you very much 😊
Walked this route in 1996. Then flew this route and the disused Kelvedon to Tollesbury route in a historic light aircraft this April.
Been exploring disused railways all over the UK since 1962..
@@JohnBath-f8p Would like to explore some of the old Kelvedon to Tollesbury Pier line one day ourselves, so many disused railways around that way and still a fair bit you can still walk along.. must be quite an experience seeing it from the sky.. Thanks for watching and commenting 😊👍
Walked the Corringham Light Railway in 1983 after flying it in 1980.
It closed in the early 1950's and was a real challenge, even with all the landowners permissions. All gone now, totally!
Spent the last ten years exploring 200 disused airfields on foot and by light aircraft and gliders from Sussex all the way to North Norfolk and across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.
You two are awesome! Great video.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Glad you liked the video 😊👍
Nice find! The old station house at Felsted, Great Dunmow is accessible and abandoned at the moment. It was only renovated 4 years ago and now its been striped bare. The platform is still visible though..
oh really we didn't know that.. We have the Flitch Way on our to-do list so will hopefully come across it in the near future. Thanks for the info and for watching and commenting 😊
Great little video, this is where I live 😌
We love walking around Essex, so many hidden little gems to find.. 😊
excellent video thank you
Thank you so much Robin, hopefully we'll get some more local lost railways walks done in the near future 😊👍
Good Sunday morning to you!
Hello Don, hope you are well 😊
My grandad used to drive the trains on that line and my family still live in brightlingsea,
It's always interesting when we speak to people with experience of pur places we visit 😊
😻😻 A really lovely video 😻😻
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 😊 👍
Interesting as always.
Thanks for watching Raymond, glad you enjoyed it 😊
Nice vid guys always wondered if there was anything left of this
Not many people do the history on this but it's quite famous branch line 🙂
Ikeep expecting stu to look over his shoulder and say, "THANKS PAM" lmao
You never know, Pam might just make another appearance again in the future 😄
This railway was not, in my opinion a good idea to shut down given that there is only one road into Brightlingsea. Great video.
Thanks Steve, glad you enjoyed the video. I definitely agree, and other than the bridge over the river the trackbed is pretty much still intact, so maybe one day if finances allow, it could be reopened 👍😊
Its strange how ancient history is easier to find than recent which seems to have completely vanished,
yes you are very right.. it can be easier to find an 800 year old castle than a railway that closed down only 50 years ago sometimes..