Abandoned Railways - Stewartby Brickworks (Marston Vale Line)

[@cyberleaderandy1]

The phorpress ( Four press) relates to the fact the bricks were pressed four times. Twice more than most of their contemporaries and its used as an indication of quality, in the same way the Accrington Nori (Iron) bricks are.

[@Downthelinerail]

Thank you for this information Andy!

[@barneyleadhead2596]

Interesting site and I'm sure you would have liked it back in the day; I only worked there for a few months before starting my apprenticeship elsewhere but my Dad worked there for almost 30 years. The remains of the Forders Sidings you saw are not original but rather date from a time when there was a Railtrack/Network Rail virtual quarry at Stewartby. From memory there were some sidings there with loading platforms but they were cleared along with a kiln or two to lay the extra track. The gantry crane originally used for loading bricks on the Fletliner then later for unloading the rubbish train was over that way too. When I was there in the late 1980's you could still follow a lot of the inset narrow gauge track dating from a time when they used rail haulage for bringing clay from what is now Stewartby lake, into the works then after processing the clay and pressing, transporting the unfired green bricks to the kilns. I used to see a Peak or Duff exchange the Easidispose rubbish train and it was always a joy to hear a big Sulzer idling awaiting the next turn. As a young child I remember the Fletliner brick trains coming out of the yard hauled by a pair of Rats or, a Peak or a Duff. Re-signalling in the early noughties swept away a lot of the older interesting infrastructure including Forders box and all the beautiful semaphore signals. Enjoyable film Guys and great that a younger generation are interested in our industrial heritage.

[@Downthelinerail]

An incredible insight thank you for this! I am glad you enjoyed our video. Stewartby’s history is too important to forget

[@michaelrose1839]

Thanks Steven and Purple - really interesting video.

[@Downthelinerail]

Thank you Michael!

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

I enjoyed that Steven, thanks. Your enthusiasm really shines through.

[@Downthelinerail]

Thank you Clive! I’m glad you enjoy my videos

[@DavidLancstrainspotting]

Amazing Video Steven nice feature of you and Purple as always what an amazing video

[@Downthelinerail]

Always a pleasure buddy!

[@PurpleVision23]

Yh I loved this video. Bang on with explaining everything and you captured it perfectly. Thank you brother

[@Downthelinerail]

Buzzing you loved it bro!

[@lygetun1]

Plenty of asbestos knocking about on that site.