Collecting the Milk Part 1 The Hemyock Branch

[@michaelward2082]

This is the first time I have seen a Class 22 move, great video

[@johncherrington6080]

One of my most favourite loco classes and certainly my favourite branch line so this is doubly delightful for me. Thanks for sharing.

[@NatWhilc1963]

What a wonderful little film. So good to see a class 22 head the cast - so little footage of them seems to exist.

[@wisewords3629]

This Man John Simmons had the foresight to give us those watching in 2022 the history of BR and the changing times of not just the railways but life in general...Thank you Mr John Simmons and Bob Bishop for these Magical times.

[@nickwalden8462]

In 1971 or 72 (ish) the Blundells School Railway Society (of which I was a member) organised a trip (how I cannot remember) on the Milk Train from Tivvi Junction to Hemyock (most likely we were picked up at Hemyock). About 6 of us rode in a Guard's Van attached to about six tankers and a locomotive. Great little trip which I had almost forgotten. Those were the days!

[@chrisshields1775]

I was also on that train

[@nigelbevan8449]

This........ Is BRILLIANT!!!!!! Absolutely bloomin brilliant... Even the music....

[@ancientmusketeer6564]

Apart from the marvelous film I love the choice of music and the little view of the cows appearing above loco.

[@kenhelix4494]

Also, looking at the video I now remember the 6-wheel milk vans, unique!

[@donniblanco5239]

The Logistics of Milk Transport, from the Low Siphon Era Thru to its Demise during the emerging diesel period Fascinates me! 👍🏻

[@TIMMEH19991]

Fabulous bit of film! D6333 was the only class 22 I ever cabbed. I was only 18 months old but still!

[@richardbrooks50]

What a superb film,I walked most of this line in 2020 and it’s great to see it in its finery

[@richbaldwin-lee4910]

Great clip. And for those who didn't like the music - I've just reposted it to a Fb group and had rave reviews to the music. If you don't like it, then you don't like English music.

[@davidwilloughby6810]

Exactly

[@bigdmac33]

[ 1:41 ] And there's NB Type 2, head code 1066, 'hasting' along the branch line!

[@matthew-gn4qd]

tremendous old stuff love it! the country was a very different place back then. I like the wooden gates. many houses and country residences had those sort of gates and you rarely see them now. was part of the fabric of the land.

[@kenhelix4494]

I travelled in the cab on a cold winter's day, about 1972, with my uncle who was officially allowed to take lineside photos in the area. Very soon afterwards the line was closed because the heavy earth moving equipment building the M5 motorway past Tiverton Junction had 'spread the track' damaging it beyond repair. This happened as planning officials were deciding whether to route the M5 over or under - the locals thought the action was deliberate sabotage.

[@robertbriggs4202]

Great........ better days👍

[@antonysmith9173]

What a lovely look back at what seemed an idilic scene,what has happened to the country today.

[@andrewlong6438]

I am sure it wasn’t all that idyllic. Thing with nostalgia is that you make it better than it really was!

[@JoshAllen93]

Less humans seems more idyllic to me.@@andrewlong6438

[@spock31132]

Superb film. A glimpse back to better times.

[@philquine]

Wonderful. Love it. ❤

[@oldgoat5589]

Lovely. Went to school at Uffculme, so know the area well. I noticed one of Hobbs' old Bedford Duple coaches parked up opposite the grain silo, near the scout hut where I was a scout, before joining the local Army Cadets... ...in my day, the Hemyock service usually consisted of a 14xx tank, plus a single coach, and whatever milk tanks were attached.

[@fredphipps4663]

Great footage; much appreciated

[@andrewoverton5170]

Fantastic film. Personally I could have done without the music, I muted it. Loving the footage you're uploading, thank you.

[@BobBishopDiagonal]

I tend to agree with you when music or narration gets in the way of authentic sound, hence my video era footage comes with neither (other than opening and closing sequences). I have used this particular piece of music more than once on a number of cine sourced videos, as it seems to evoke an earlier time and has been well received. You have done what I would do in the circumstances! I am glad you still enjoyed it.

[@nigelbevan8449]

@@BobBishopDiagonal Actually, I think the music adds to the nostalgic piece of film.... It just reminds me of an idealic English country scene from a bygone era.... I was half expecting Sir John Betjeman to do a narration.

[@daveabbott]

I have a picture of 6333 in immaculate, ex-works condition, shunting the yard at Liskeard from 1970, heady days!

[@patchmeadow2]

What a lovely bit of history. My first visit to Hemyock Creamery was in 1969 when the railway was still in use and i used to load ice cream powder. In later years the factory was enlarged and produced St Ival Gold spread, i spent many happy nights there and used the Cathrine Wheel pub. Very happy memories of some great villagers. Think it was flattened and is all houses now?

[@robertpearce2244]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing 🤩

[@colfuller3625]

Excellent film

[@fredphipps9452]

Great footage, thanks for posting

[@Gregg-eo2le]

Great old footage

[@paulwinterbourne1865]

I didn't know that Uffculme was on the Hemyock branch. My late Uncle Graham lived there. He was a regular rail user. Though he may have been living in Berkhampstead when this was filmed

[@zebop917]

A wonderful little film, but it seems like a lot of effort for one tanker of milk.

[@boblovell5789]

Took some film of a 14xx on the branch milk when with my train mad father.Sadly no longer available. Treasure lost! Still a vivid memory though.

[@davidroberts5464]

It’s a lot better when you turn the sound off!

[@marklobbett455]

Yes i'd love to know the year? Someone mentioned 70/71?- I dont remember the class 22,?- but have good memories of the Westerns as a child! Although sadly just abit too young to remember the last of western region steam!- Nice clips - many thanks!

[@oldgoat5589]

Probably mid to late sixties.

[@jimthorne304]

Just the one tank? That doesn't seem a very large load!

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

That was the problem with many branch line freight services by the 1960s and not just with milk trains.

[@jimthorne304]

@@neiloflongbeck5705 Yes, probably a lot of them were down to just occasional coal wagons.

[@Karhedronuk]

Hemyock usually dispatched 5-6 tanks at a time. I wonder why it was just one in this clip.

[@daveabbott]

@@Karhedronuk The cows were on strike

[@andrewlong6438]

It was a Victorian solution to a 20th century problem. Most of the freight traffic had rightly or wrongly gone over to the lorry. Why deliver milk to the station when you could get a tanker to collect from the farm.

[@peterstudley1804]

Pre tops I'd say 1970 or 71 .

[@gainsbourg66]

Great footage but sorry to say was spoilt by the music

[@JohnSharp-d2j]

Couldn't agree more

[@flyingcod14]

what year is this from?

[@BobBishopDiagonal]

I do not know. I guess the late sixties. Maybe other viewers can help.

[@JulianLane-l8v]

After looking on the internet, class 22’s first received blue livery from 1967. The first ones to do so had small yellow warning panels, I would date this at 1968/9 due to the full yellow front. Unless someone knows differently.

[@replay6896]

Bang bang chitty chitty bang bang

[@christopherpearson4489]

from a time when goods went by rail. now sadly everything goes by road carried on lorries that tear up the roads and block the lanes that were never meant for large vehicles. although the railway still carries a large amount of freight they are not used to full effect. everyday you will see hundreds of milk tankers and royal mail lorries running up and down the motorways all this traffic was taken away from the railways. all these lorries create at least 100x more pollution than a train whould.

[@Goodtimes99-r2t]

No milk for you

[@philipwheeler8173]

Good film But remove the music

[@BobBishopDiagonal]

May I invite you to supply some audio of a NB Type 2 and I will happily dub it. In the meantime, I recommend the mute button.

[@johnross9074]

Terrible music made this film unwatchable, shame.

[@BobBishopDiagonal]

May I recommend the mute button?

[@oldgoat5589]

@@BobBishopDiagonal That would require the facility of thought...