Cab Ride - Ashford to Hastings (Marshlink line)

A cab ride aboard a tamper, travelling from Ashford to Hastings across the affectionately known Marshlink line, through Rye. The line was singled in 1979.

[@mikepeirson1150]

I always watch these videos and really appreciate them, always been train mad from when I was a kid living in Brighton and going up to London on the train with my mum, sometimes on a steam train. I have lived on the Marsh for over 25 years and it is a beautiful part of England. Thanks for video, always my early morning piece of peace and quiet.

[@flapland1]

Travelling this line today. Looks lovely and looking forward to seeing the semaphores at Hastings.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Another fantastic video to view. Always love seeing these. Thank you. Cheers mates! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@pitchykoo_botsalot_yt]

It's an amazing line

[@MarioDSLife]

Play it at 2x speed and it feels like I’m on a high speed train! Thank you for the video. I’ve always wanted to see that line in person but getting to Ashford International itself is expensive and time consuming.

[@RichardWells1]

A very pleasant ride with some of Kent's beautiful scenery. Thank you!

[@emmo999]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the kind comments

[@DavidCollison]

Thank you for a great cab-ride video on one of my favourite routes

[@tonyday7233]

Lovely line, lovely video, thanks from Australia.

[@emmo999]

Thanks Tony. Glad you enjoyed the journey

[@kipsome45]

Travelled on this route from Winchelsea to Hastings and back in summer ‘76. Great to revisit!

[@emmo999]

The rolling stock is now less interesting, but the scenery is just as stunning!

[@naturerelax7892]

Lived in Rye for 2 years thanks for the video and good memories.

[@emmo999]

Rye is a pretty town, I love looking at the windmill whenever I pass

[@quintoflyer]

great video

[@trjgiggs5489]

THANKS, I ENJOYED THAT!!!

[@southern.spotter]

This is my favourite video on KZbin.

[@emmo999]

Glad you enjoyed the ride, and thanks for the kind comment. It’s appreciated.

[@shaunwest3612]

Great video emmo, lovely journey, Dymchurch, rye, Winchelsea such a beautiful part of Kent, been to Hastings many times, looking forward to seeing your next video, thanks 👍😀👌

[@emmo999]

Glad you enjoyed the journey!

[@jessicamorgan3073]

Thank you, such a picturesque route, esp. in summer

[@emmo999]

Across the marshes is very green, a lovely route

[@Quebecoisegal]

I agree, a very pleasant part of England.

[@johnclifford9695]

I drove and worked that machine when it was in Carillion colours. Excellent route footage.

[@emmo999]

It’s a good old machine

[@johnclifford9695]

@@emmo999 what camera do you use. Is it a go pro ?

[@emmo999]

Yes, GoPro 7 or 8 - I can’t remember which 😂

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

I'm sure Hastings Diesels did this journey on their channel, but the other way round, however it was quite a miserable day, so it was a real pleasure to see the countryside in all its glory on your video. Thanks for sharing.

[@emmo999]

That’s the only thing with sporadic journeys - you’re at the mercy of the weather. I have to admit I have been very lucky with my filming!

[@seamusmcevoy2011]

@@emmo999 Your films are excellent, I really enjoy them.

[@SimonSouthEastRailEnthusiast]

Fantastic video, great to see the journey from a driver's view on a route I regularly travel- thanks for posting! I must have missed this passing as I presume it was the last moment VST schedule & I didn't check Real Time Trains! Simon (Hastings)

[@emmo999]

Very, very last minute. I had a phone call saying the machine was at Ashford facing the wrong direction for the next day. So I had to run it out of Ashford, round via Hastings to Tonbridge, then direct back to Ashford, which had the effect of turning the machine

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Great video. Thanks for the ride and sharing.

[@emmo999]

Glad you enjoyed the journey. The next video will continue on from Hastings

[@johntyjp]

The slam door Thumpers were fun back in the day, you really felt you were on a Country branch line!!😄

[@emmo999]

Oh god yes. They are very much missed!

[@luckykazivlog8782]

Wow beautiful! 😍❤👌

[@alanwrigley3154]

More wonderful childhood memories! We holidayed several times in Winchelsea and Camber and would change at Hastings or Ore onto the steam train for Rye. After the Dorking line trip, all I need now to complete the set is a fine-weather journey from Coulsdon to Chichester via Horsham. (Yes I know you did it in the gloom...)

[@emmo999]

I’ll get down there again, definitely. Can’t always predict when, that’s the problem

[@kentthrashlover6756]

Now this is a route I’ve been looking forward to seeing on your channel

[@emmo999]

Hope it didn’t disappoint! 😃

[@AshBehindtheCamera]

Amazing video I really enjoyed it especially a different view of ashford international instead of the platform view everyone gets 🙂👍

[@emmo999]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@KempSimon]

@@emmo999 - The "Marshlink Line" looked to be well-engineered, with very few sharp curves, so that if it was upgraded and electrocuted it could form part of a genuine high-speed route from Ashford all the way along the south coast of England to Brighton .... and even beyond!

[@jonathanparry9505]

Great video thank you

[@emmo999]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@joethetrainphotographerink7018]

Nice one. me and my friend on platform 1 at Ashford again.

[@mathewrufrano7833]

Next time include the shunting it’s always nice to see where the trains come from and the process they go thru to get to the starting point.

[@emmo999]

I’ve already recorded and uploaded the exit from the tamper sidings. Setting up the camera takes time, so for the sake of a 5 minute shunt, I didn’t feel it necessary. If I hadn’t already shown the exit to the sidings, I would have done

[@mathewrufrano7833]

@@emmo999 thanks for the reply, I understand completely. Enjoy your videos very much. Mat Long Island New York.

[@aquissuk]

Love the train spotters at Ashford International

[@emmo999]

Always plenty there!

[@jamiemason9548]

A good video thank you

[@emmo999]

Thank you

[@KempSimon]

It's about time that the Marshlink Line between Ashford and Ore was electrocuted!

[@JezzTransport]

Could I use your videos of Marshlink for a video I am making? If you have any more questions please reply?

[@emeraldzebra9360]

Wow Tampers sound Weird! But awesome!

[@emmo999]

I know, right? It's a nice sound though - Deutz engine coupled to a 3 speed ZF gearbox

[@FunnySurpriseToys]

Hi Friend! I wish you a happy and wonderful day!😊👍112 and sub.

[@librarian16]

These captioons are very much better and don't get lost in the foliage.

[@neelumehta3749]

Very nice. Keep em going. What about a video of longer duration, say about approximately three to three and a half hours video ?

[@emmo999]

People would switch off, I think. My average view time statistic is around 15 minutes. So people aren’t watching it all, as it is

[@valfaulkner648]

Thank you as usual! As always lovely and calming to watch before getting dinner! Can I ask you probably been asked before but do you have suspension in the cab or do you have the bumps as bad as they sound?

[@emmo999]

The suspensions is fairly hard, a necessity of the way a tamper works when it’s actually working. This unfortunately leads to rattles around the machine

[@valfaulkner648]

@@emmo999 You must be very strong with good backs.

[@emmo999]

It’s not so bad. The seats are sprung too, so the back and bum get a softer ride

[@aquissuk]

How come they decided to go to a single track after Appledore? There appears to be plenty of room for a double.

[@aquissuk]

Lol. You just answered my question 😂

[@emmo999]

I was going to say, I’m sure I captioned that 😂

[@aquissuk]

@@emmo999 I was typing away and then it came up on screen. I had to laugh 😂

[@emmo999]

Like I’m reading your mind 🤯😂

[@aquissuk]

@@emmo999 Nah you don't want to do that...will get you into all sorts of trouble 🤣🤣

[@jamesjas3150]

Hi. Do you ever get down Eastbourne way?

[@emmo999]

Sometimes, yes, but in daylight is rare. Will add it to my list of films to take

[@jamesjas3150]

@@emmo999 Yeah I dont see tampers down here much in the day. There was one down here a few months ago though. Cheers. Hope you manage to get down soon.

[@emmo999]

We have done a fair few jobs around Hampden, or Pevensey. But generally it’s overnight

[@ciaranbird3373]

Which tamper were you in?

[@emmo999]

DR73925

[@sylviaelse5086]

17:36 I thought there'd be catch points here, but I couldn't see any.

[@emmo999]

In hindsight, I’m kind of surprised myself! I guess TPWS now stops a train passing a signal at danger, and signallers have better communication than ever before with drivers so could contact the driver of a train going the other way

[@sylviaelse5086]

@@emmo999 I looked at the other end to see whether there was a catch point there, but it looks as if the points into the truncated up-line are effectively performing that function. Best I could see, the points were indeed switched to the siding as you go past. While there are other protections, I think catch points should still be there as the last resort. I've sent a query to Network Rail.

[@emmo999]

Do let me know if you get a response, I’d be interested to know what they say

[@sylviaelse5086]

@@emmo999 Wilco.

[@sylviaelse5086]

I got a response about this from Network Rail. "Thank you for contacting us about a possible missing catch point at Appledore station. I have spoken to the the local operations manager who looks after the signalling in this area and he has informed me that the way the signalling works here does not need catch points. If a train coming from Ashford to Appledore needs be signalled into the platform then there would be a section kept cleared pass the station signal at Appledore. This section of track is considered the safety section which is over a half a mile of clear track. If a train is travelling from Rye to Appledore is being signalled into the up platform at Appledore the signalling system will prevent the signaller from setting the signal until the train arrives in the station. Therefore, there is no longer any need for catch points as the signalling interlocking system prevents the possibility of a collision." I find this explanation less than compelling, since catch points are there to deal with situations where trains go past signals at danger, for whatever reason. Still, that's what they said. I doubt I'd achieve anything by trying to argue with them.

[@GuitarMan471]

Ah don't fancy the farmer or livestocks chances on those cattle crossings .......is their no system in place for them ? ......is it just a game of Russian Roulette. If you have 3 or 4 cows or a dozen sheep in the middle of the crossing.....no hooter is going to do any good

[@emmo999]

All crossings are gated. The farmer must speak to the signaller for permission to cross, to ensure the safety of everybody