Thanks for posting. I remember the attempted closure but I never saw this documentary. Thank goodness people power means we have this fabulous line today. Ribblehead viaduct intact. Respect to all the navvies that gave so much to connect communities and deliver goods.
You're very welcome. The various documentaries played a significant role in informing people about BR's nefarious approach to creating evidence that the line should be closed for financial reasons.
I remember watching this in 1985, the programme received an airing right across the ITV network via their First Tuesday documentary strand. IIRC Jonathan Dimbleby ended the broadcast by highlighting that 'End of the Line' was still a question. I don't think that I've ever come across a better use of the magnificent Nimrod to accompany the footage of the line.
What about that Princess at the end??? Magnificent, well made documentary. The line’s purpose was to connect major cities and towns and largely to bypass the villages, what saved it was it’s beauty and historical significance, it would have been a kick in the face for those navvies and their families if it had closed…… Now for the Waverley route!
Most enjoyable documentary. Haven't seen it before. Glib Ron Cotton of BR personifies so much of what was wrong with the railways then, and to some extent now. I find it ironic that the railway route was saved, but Yorkshire Television, one of Britain's finest television companies has since lost its identity and been absorbed into the generic ITV brand. Progress?
Thank you for sharing this ! I have never seen it before and thoroughly enjoyed watching it ! Thank god the line was saved thanks mainly to people power - I first started visiting this line in the early 80's so seeing some of the stations as they were then in such a run down state brought back lots of memories for me ..... Excellent short documentary ....
instead of focusing on balance sheets, the main focus should be on whats good for the people who live and work in the area,by keeping the line open it brings others from outside the local area, to see the glorious sites of the beautiful landscape and spend their cash.which can be put back into the local community and go towards maintaining the line and the lovely structures that support the line. its seems like in those days BR was run by acountants and not railwaymen and women.
This has all the characteristics of being an episode [secondary title, mention of 'next week' at end titles, etc]. Does anyone know if this is part of a series, and where the rest might be hiding?
BR had a not dissimilar proposal, around the same time, to close the Hull to Doncaster direct route citing the Ouse Swing Bridge and shipping hitting it causing damage that was too expensive to repair. Closure was proposed between Staddlethorpe Jctn and Goole, with Goole station moved west of Boothferry Road and the line from Doncaster becoming a spur to Goole. Hull to Doncaster services were to be routed via Selby. Thankfully that didn't happen. I'm too young to know the reasons why but in their attempts at closure BR I recall listening to an idious BR placeman forwarding the ahem benefits of closure. Now London services run via Selby but there are 2tph, usually Sheffield to Scarborough semi fast and Doncaster to Hull stopper.
Michael Portillo had nothing to do with it. The Friends of the Settle-Carlisle demonstrated that BR had been neglecting maintenance and inflating the repair costs, the publicity increased passenger traffic and made the line profitable on passenger traffic alone, the Commons Transport Committee recommended that BR's request to close the line be rejected and Portillo's deputy signed that off.
Thank you for posting this. It just shows that you can beat the system!
Thanks for posting. I remember the attempted closure but I never saw this documentary. Thank goodness people power means we have this fabulous line today. Ribblehead viaduct intact. Respect to all the navvies that gave so much to connect communities and deliver goods.
You're very welcome. The various documentaries played a significant role in informing people about BR's nefarious approach to creating evidence that the line should be closed for financial reasons.
I remember watching this in 1985, the programme received an airing right across the ITV network via their First Tuesday documentary strand. IIRC Jonathan Dimbleby ended the broadcast by highlighting that 'End of the Line' was still a question. I don't think that I've ever come across a better use of the magnificent Nimrod to accompany the footage of the line.
What about that Princess at the end???
Magnificent, well made documentary.
The line’s purpose was to connect major cities and towns and largely to bypass the villages, what saved it was it’s beauty and historical significance, it would have been a kick in the face for those navvies and their families if it had closed……
Now for the Waverley route!
Most enjoyable documentary. Haven't seen it before. Glib Ron Cotton of BR personifies so much of what was wrong with the railways then, and to some extent now. I find it ironic that the railway route was saved, but Yorkshire Television, one of Britain's finest television companies has since lost its identity and been absorbed into the generic ITV brand. Progress?
Thank you for sharing this ! I have never seen it before and thoroughly enjoyed watching it ! Thank god the line was saved thanks mainly to people power - I first started visiting this line in the early 80's so seeing some of the stations as they were then in such a run down state brought back lots of memories for me ..... Excellent short documentary ....
David Joy, interviewed next to Ribblehead, came to our school to give a talk on the S&C. As a schoolboy I did my bit to fight closure.😊
Me and my dad and his work mate did work on Ribblehead viaduct in 1988.
8:25 I really wish that who sang that did the full song
instead of focusing on balance sheets, the main focus should be on whats good for the people who live and work in the area,by keeping the line open it brings others from outside the local area, to see the glorious sites of the beautiful landscape and spend their cash.which can be put back into the local community and go towards maintaining the line and the lovely structures that support the line. its seems like in those days BR was run by acountants and not railwaymen and women.
This has all the characteristics of being an episode [secondary title, mention of 'next week' at end titles, etc]. Does anyone know if this is part of a series, and where the rest might be hiding?
BR had a not dissimilar proposal, around the same time, to close the Hull to Doncaster direct route citing the Ouse Swing Bridge and shipping hitting it causing damage that was too expensive to repair. Closure was proposed between Staddlethorpe Jctn and Goole, with Goole station moved west of Boothferry Road and the line from Doncaster becoming a spur to Goole. Hull to Doncaster services were to be routed via Selby.
Thankfully that didn't happen. I'm too young to know the reasons why but in their attempts at closure BR I recall listening to an idious BR placeman forwarding the ahem benefits of closure.
Now London services run via Selby but there are 2tph, usually Sheffield to Scarborough semi fast and Doncaster to Hull stopper.
The Railway That Refused To Die'
I second that. A very beautiful line.
Michael Portillo had nothing to do with it. The Friends of the Settle-Carlisle demonstrated that BR had been neglecting maintenance and inflating the repair costs, the publicity increased passenger traffic and made the line profitable on passenger traffic alone, the Commons Transport Committee recommended that BR's request to close the line be rejected and Portillo's deputy signed that off.
Captain!...What Exactly the p People finally got the point!.