Such a great walk along the old line. It's always a shame they lost the old line under the lake. But even if the railway was able to keep the old line the Tunnel at Moelwyn would have needed to been made bigger. Locomotives were so tight in the old tunnel you couldn't walk alongside the Loco and the ventilation was terrible.

Springfield Lane, down to Springfield Halt, is now Public Footpath No.1

Thanks to your videos here I called in at Clowne to have a look at this excellent heritage project on a trip from my Merseyside home down to Notts last week.

This video was brilliant Paul, your description of the railway was spot on, yes world famous narrow gauge railway! Beautiful filming of the train going over the bridge. Amazing walk through the old original railway with sleepers still in situ & old boundry posts & cuttings & random pieces of old rail! Just fab. Awesome scenery Paul, very fortunate having gorgeous weather too! Thanks Paul really enjoyed this video. ❤😊👍

Lovely and really grabbed my interest.thnkyou for posting😊

Absolutely brilliant video. The effort you put in for us to watch is outstanding. I can't believe the amount of work done by the volunteers for everyone's benefit. Love your videos, nice to see some lovely weather for a change. We went on June 1st for a weekend for a trip on each route,absolutely brilliant in every way, staff scenery all outstanding. Look forward to your next video.

Thanks for this! My first encounter with any narrow gauge railway was that very embankment south of the old Moelwyn Tunnel, in the summer of 1963. The boys' group I was with had hiked from somewhere in the Blaenau area and had already had to make a diversion because the adult in charge was using an old map and hadn't known about the reservoir! We came over the hill and suddenly there were these rusty rails and rotting sleepers winding their way through the grass up there in the lonely hills. I remember the sight having quite an emotional effect on me. 🙂 We walked down the still closed line to Tan-y-Bwlch and caught a train from there to Portmadoc (as it was then) hauled by the _old_ "Earl of Merioneth" (now in the National Railway Museum with its original name "Livingston Thompson"). It's amazing to think that some of the old track's still there!

I'm from Louth. It's crazy that the station was converted into flats and the track blocked by buildings. The people who closed it in the 60's were so short sited. There are still tracks in the direction of Bardney > Lincoln

I never get tired of seeing the FR and WHR. Thank you.

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Did you have swim? 🏊‍♂️ Like you say; it’s very inviting! I would’ve done for sure. Enjoy the video. I didn’t even realise you could see the north end of the old Moelwyn tunnel until I checked it out. When I saw it I was very surprised it wasn’t totally covered with water! In your video the water is deeper than when saw it.

The railway still going as a really good tourist attraction?

one big thank you for showing me where l walk once

Another cracking video Paul ,I actually travelled on the new alignment just after the opening as a 10 year old and the old realignment was very apparent then , well done for actually documenting it on what's left, 👏 👍 😀

Another delightful explore in gorgeous scenery and weather. Those old embankments looked solid even after all that time. Very impressive, and equally impressive from the volunteers building the new alignment, infact I remember seeing a programme on BBC4 about them a long time ago. Very cool finding rails and sleepers still in situ!

Very good vids. You need to walk it to see the details but the drones give a great overview.

Another great video Paul, whats happened at Ddaultt last time i was there which scarily was 40 years ago the station was thriving and fully signalled . Looks closed now

When the reservoir water level is low, you can walk all the way to the blocked off tunnel a little bit we wet right next to it The track you found was the incline up to the Wrysgan quarry, its the steep one you can see climbing up the mountain. That quarry is where the really good mine remains, recommended to go the long way up the mountain than climb up that nasty steep incline. Oh and you need to take the gravity train on the occasions they still run it from Dduallt.

Hi paul just been watching your Stavely to Arkwright town brings back memories when my daughter and grandchildren lived in Bolsover 5 years ago and l saw most of the landmarks shown in your video what a shame it all had to go just like where l live in Beighton a few hundred yards from the east midland line have you finnished all your filming in Beighton Anyway take care Kev Beighton Parkway Sheffield oo guage layout name

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Brilliant mate, very interesting.

Thanks for these Paul. My late dad (from Sheffield) was an FR enthusiast and worked on the deviation and various other working parties. I distinctly remember walking the old track bed, probably 40-50 years ago! We also explored the old quarries as in your earlier video but my main memory of it is lashing rain.

I can recommend a film called The Navigators. In one scene, the hotel is seen from what looks like the olde Smithfield Market, river to the left with Blonk Street behind the cameraman. In another scene is a view from one of the flats ( Park Street I think..... ) looking over the Midland station. The film itself is about railways and privatisation.

I was there just yesterday

Brilliant Paul.

Fab filming Paul! 😊👍

It’s pronounced Bee Chief.

Those who don't know the truth may believe the line was closed because of the loss of coal traffic. However, it was the mainline between Sheffield and Manchester, and electrified The maStandedge route between Leeds and Manchester and be still open. A huge amount is being soen😢t on the Transpennine Route The Hope Valley Line is a pleaant scenic route, equivalent to the Calder Valley Line, but

Used to walk that old track bed to watch the dons on a Sunday afternoon

There is a cool little tunnel around there also.

We did Zipwire at zipworld, in the same valley a few years ago 🥰 loved it that much we did it year after. Take you to top of quarry in an old army truck fantastic 😊 Still had a working quarry next to it.

I wonder if the Eden railway could run train back over that viaduct would it still take a train or would it need massive sums of money and tim 🤔 I would definitely be a beautiful branch line

Cheers fella I know it was there but never been to look thats awesome thanks again

So interesting to see the industrial heritage left for generations to explore . You manage to get to many of the places we would all like to visit but for whatever reason are unable to do so . Keep exploring , you and your content are always so watchable !

13:32 to 13:40 It is amazing to see that most of the roof is still there. This building must've been used until quite recently (within the last 10 years). Even the slates are still on the roof.

Its overwhelming seeing the literal 1000s of tonnes of slate just lieing around everywhere you turn. Piles and piles of it everywhere you look. So much waste. Think of all the roofs it could cover. I can't describe the feeling. Its so desolate and eery. Everyone just left and never came back. You can tell that no one hardly ever comes up here anymore.

Excellent video Paul. Hard to believe that places so remote were once hives of industry. Rosedale was similar

When you went into where the mill used to be, it was converted piece by price into a modern little garden. Unfortunately he died about 15 or so years ago and it has just fallen into disrepair since. It was all fenced off as the area was collapsing as you could see. The cottages were used by the managers as you said, while the others were used for multiple occupants during the week and only went home to family on the weekend. There are tons more remains the further you go up the mountains and tons of inclines you can see. Some are far too steep to climb though.

For anyone keen to know how these abandoned railway routes look in the twenty first century, these videos show them off for what they are, ... very little if any remanents remain amongst all of natures reclaimed foliage. A bygone era, swept away and largely forgotten, with just photographic memories left to indicate what was once thriving on a weekly basis. Good while it lasted, simply history now.

Terrific video, there is so much to see and explore up there. Have been returning to this wonderful area for over 50 years, utterly fascinating. It's worth seeking out the Rhiwbach Tramway and the exit tramway of the Rhosydd Quarry just up the cwm from Conclog Quarry, there you will find the steepest of the inclines in North Wales, plus more spectacular views. Looking forward to the next video, many thanks for sharing.

Fantastic stuff, thank you! If this were Switzerland, this incline would be opened as a tourist line, with a restaurant at the top!

Cheers Paul. Been up there many times - but NOT via your route. I drive up to the small carpark above the village - next to the waterfall. A superb area for some photography. Best wishes from The Rhondda. PS - you still need some Welsh lessons. Ha!

Thanks!

Great video Paul lovely scenery been there many yrs ago. Looking forward to the next part.

Stunning drone footage Paul. 😊

I’m surprised those steel ropes haven’t been removed and recycled.

Absolutely fascinating Paul, any ideas when it was removed. I suppose if it closed before the was I would have thought they'd have wanted the steel for scrap

Brilliant video Paul, I love tramways and inclines. I’ll be looking forward to part 2 of this, I gotta feeling it’s gonna be a good un! I’ll explore this area myself one day for sure. Love it!