Drivers eye view of the Looe Valley Line

A driver's eye view of the Looe Valley branch railway line from Liskeard to Looe and back.
Copyright GWR. With details of the history of the line narrated by Rod Sheaff.

[@iman2341]

Love the history of the line on the way down. Well produced and detailed! Thankyou!

[@BlaiddLlwyd]

A very enjoyable video with interesting commentary. I travelled on that branch quite a few times back when I lived in the UK. At least once on a holiday in Polperro it was just to ride the train. I do remember an autumn trip in the early 90s on a somewhat damp day. Getting to Looe was fine but several hours later there was no train as a goods train had stalled on the gradient to Liskeard thanks to slippery rails. BR had to hire a couple of taxis to get us all back to Liskeard station. Way less fun than going by rail.

[@HarrisonAJ1944]

under Beaching, this branch line was to be closed. Thankfully Barbara Castle ( transport minister) of the Labour Party would not sign it off for closure. She said it was a pretty route and said it would stay open. So pleased this branch line was saved. Excellent video and really informative narration about the history if this line. Many thanks.

[@ematuskey]

I took this train in the fall of 2018 for a few nights in Looe--I was always curious about the tiny stations that seemed to be in the middle of nothing that we passed along the way! Great history lesson and video.

[@leplessis8179]

You may recall that for much of its length the railway line runs parallel to an old, now long disused, canal; and that back in the day the stations were placed roughly at crossing points over the canal. All good fun, though, and I see the railway line every day on my way to work.

[@meruliouslacrimens5154]

We travelled by train and went to Looe where we had an amazing fortnight during 2012. We also got off at several of the request stops and walked back down the valley into the town, very pretty and lots of wildlife and birds including little egret.

[@michaelgamble296]

Thank you for your detailed and interesting comments about this Railway. The anecdotes on the various mishaps was very interesting and would not have been known otherwise. That you told of them shewing the part of the line where it took place added greatly to its impact! I'll drink to that - in Cider, of course.

[@RichardWells1]

Interesting and well-researched commentary in the first half. Sounds like a must-ride line!

[@neilhipkiss5800]

Fantastic video. Thank you for the history lesson.

[@tango6nf477]

Thank you very informative and its such a lovely little line its a real pleasure to do the journey. Looe is the scene of a memorable robbery I witnessed, I had just bought a pasty and was looking for a bench to sit on while I ate it. Another chap had the same idea and was just about to tuck in when a gull swooped down and swiped it from him. Initially it seemed amusing but of course it wasn't really, and I found somewhere safe to eat mine!.

[@bruceraggett4506]

Ice creams also are a target of these thieves, they attack from behind and at speed. my Mum was a victim to one such Gull. They share the knowledge of their trade.

[@closuz1]

Thank you for sharing :-) The surroundings are beautiful, very satisfying to watch.

[@mikevale3620]

As an Australian tourist and a fan of all things Cornwall, I can honestly say on my three visits to Looe over the years I've only ever travelled there by train.

[@ChangesOneTim]

An important function added at LK Branch and Coombe twenty years ago is Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS), which protects trains from passing (in the case of this line) 'Stop' boards without the token/ train staff plus authority to proceed. After the guard requests the LK signaller's authority, putting the token or train staff through a release instrument also switches off the normally-energised TPWS track equipment for a set time. If that isn't done, TPWS does as designed anywhere else - initiate a brake demand on 'passing the red' and stopping the train short of any potential collision. Gunnislake trains also reverse en route at Bere Alston, but TPWS is not required there because the One Train Staff section consists of the whole branch. TPWS is provided at St Budeaux platform, however, where again a train staff release instrument switches it off and back on.

[@paulparry1197]

Very interesting piece of railway history. I will certainly be visiting this branch line soon.

[@michaelgamble296]

I would like to see another shewing of this Railway taken in the Summer when the leaves are out - and particularly if the sun is shining - please!

[@Tuppoo94]

14:01 Pheasant running onto the track!

[@johnspencer5895]

Really informative commentary, excellent.

[@JohnPW22]

I made a OO model of this line and it features in a few of my early videos on my channel. Very interesting to see this now.

[@timosha21]

I'm a train and I approve this video! :D Choo choo!!!

[@jasongoulden2938]

Surprised you changed the points back for another train to come down the hill as thought your train would be the only service on the route

[@Vinyl_Dave]

Excellent! 🙂

[@keithtonks1224]

Great commentary more please

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Apart from all the "Um"s, "Ah"s and "Ur"s.

[@TheMateriaalkunde]

It is tempting to imagine this line electrified with the 3-phase AC system. The absence of many level crossings and the almost constant 25 mph points to that. The Swiss and notably the Italians have researched much on this, so it should be easily realized. Those countries operated the running rails and two parallel overhead wires to provide current. Since English practice includes feeding rails, it could be running rails, side rails and center rails, so no overhead at all. With thanks to the London tube system that holds the 3 rail formation in experience. Why here? It was noted that tourism is booming out here. And there should be more space for housing near the underway stations. Fotr this area is a paradice to live in. And a special rail power construction will attract interest. Did you know that a downhill train automatically starts reversing it's power to the power network if the speed begins to exceed the desired value?

[@tomd5678]

Great

[@jonwhite4250]

Would you know why class 153/155 are prohibited from working in multiple?

[@malcolmelliott1876]

156 pair and a 153 operated on many lines in Cornwall and still in do so in Lincolnshire area. The 153s didn't meet disabled access rules so got moved away from Cornwall. The Looe line platyforms would not accomodate a 2+1.

[@carnivorousvegan69]

Thumbnail is beautiful

[@MrPixntex]

i all so loved the commentary it made the video far more interesting. thank you very much. However i would like to know where the station is in liskeard please

[@liskeardtouristinformation6124]

Hi Nigel, the station is to the south of the town, just past the bridge over the A38. The line to Looe is a branch line at right angles to the main line and has a separate platform at the bottom of the hill opposite Cornwall Farmers

[@alwayslight2658]

Nice. But I think that you should consider to go 4k - just due a quality of the video.

[@chrsrwlns]

Nice video and a lovely ride, but there are some things I don't understand. 1:At Coombe junction, once the points are changed for the journey to Looe, why don't they just leave them for the return journey if that train is the only one on the track? 2: there were two level crossings, one where the train had to slow to 10mph, but at the other they had to stop, despite the fact that the driver could easily see that the crossing was clear and that there was no traffic or people anywhere near the crossing. Why?. 3: what does the white cross on a blue background mean? 4: At one point there was a speed limit sign of 25mph, but underneath there was another limit showing 40mph with the letters "SP" above. What does "SP" stand for?

[@gs425]

I can answer the last....SP gives a different speed limit for Sprinter trains.

[@ChangesOneTim]

1. LK-Coombe and Coombe-Looe are two separate single line sections for signalling purposes. Moorswater and LK yard sidings are still open to traffic, so the LK-Coombe token must be returned to the release instrument and re-obtained. If the guard doesn't change the Coombe points back, the token is locked in the ground frame thereby preventing any other moves taking place. 2. Lodge Farm meets the government's sighting criteria for a 10 mph approach. Sighting at Terras is marginally so, but 'Stop' is imposed because of the misuse history there. [I understand that, assuming the government authorises the funds, both crossings will be upgraded to barriers within the next year or two]. 3. 'AWS Cancel' signs, informing drivers that the warning in the cab just received doesn't apply in this direction. 4. 'SP' is a differential speed limit, allowing (in this case) anything in the 'Sprinter' lightest-axleweight category of trains to do 40mph instead of the general 25mph for everything else.

[@chrsrwlns]

@@ChangesOneTim Thank you for the information.

[@hamshackleton]

Interesting - but please try to stop umming and erring with almost every breath!

[@xr6lad]

Great video. Must admit Railtrack keep the line in pretty disgusting condition - there should be no overgrowth anywhere on the track and I noted several places grass and weeds are embedded or even taking over. That just shouldn’t be happening. I mean look at the bit around Causeland.

[@sharris9267]

It's a branch line !! They have a hard time keeping mainlines free of budldleia etc so there's little chance of keeping a branch line clear of a few weeds! When you get trees growing in the 4 foot is when you need to start worrying, lol

[@unconventionalideas5683]

Network Rail has enough difficulty maintaining all the really old main lines in Britain.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

You've never owned a garden, have you? Weeds can come up overnight!

[@peningtondg]

Loved the history, didn't like all the errs and the sound dropped slightly at about 14 mins

[@trainrover]

sod critters, huh? seeing so many fences ALL at once, it's high time I rewatch a good doc recalling subsequent turmoil from that their friggin crown's _Enclosures Act_ :pfft:

[@trainrover]

mere royalty's just for hussying places & their namesakes, i.e., few places as regal as Montreal, fact

[@stephenkettle7733]

Do you happen to know the radius of the curve on the 1 in 40 section?

[@ChangesOneTim]

A very tight eight chains, that's 176 yards. The constant squealing from those blasted class 142s (Skippers/ Pacers/ whatever) had to be heard to be believed. Residents, passengers - and probably grazing farm animals - were all glad when they went!

[@deanscarth8825]

Err Err Err Err. This Err and indeed Err. Completely spoils the video.

[@guysmith3146]

If traveling on the day,take change. The wife and I rode this line in 2019, the guard who takes the fare did not have much change.

[@robertjones-eb4xo]

Thought my job was boring, but think this driver job is far woss !

[@inubbidiente]

Hydrogen machine?

[@spc0553]

Jabber jabber ever jabber um ahh ahh yak yak yak. Lovely video but that voice droning on and on with never a break plus the constant err umm etc drove me crazy. I just wanted a breather from the voice

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Great video but the narrator needs to learn to eliminate the "uh" or "er" from his speech. One now and again is forgivable, but between almost every word!

[@mikebutler3263]

Spoilt by all the er, errs.

[@sharris9267]

Totally agree.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Painful to listen to!

[@StrayCatBlues1953]

No prime mover sounds !!!!

[@sharris9267]

A lovely video spoilt by constant waffle. So much so I actually tuned out !! Although the history was interesting in parts it would of been far far better to break it up with pauses and divide the narration into equal amounts for the out and return journeys !! By doing that you would greatly improve this video, as currently I would give it a score of 3 out of 10.

[@garygarman8269]

Sorry but would of watched it all with sound but the commentary got on my nerves with the narrator keep saying ( Err) shame really .

[@tango6nf477]

Give the guy a break, he's obviously not a professional but doing his best, he's done this for free and you have a mute option.

[@xr6lad]

I thought he was informative. Far too many videos like this just don’t tell you anything and are utterly boring including some of the more famous ‘drivers views’ that leave you wondering ‘what did I just seeI’

[@xr6lad]

@@tango6nf477 totally agree. More informative that many other more popular/famous drivers views that are utterly boring with no information.

[@sharris9267]

If you was a train driver you wouldn't be giving a running commentary. You would be far busier concentrating on driving the train!

[@sharris9267]

@Tango6nf Dont you mean he narrated it for free ? As the video was shot by Great Western Railway ! My comments up thread would of been a lot less harsh if the guy had shot the video aswell as narrated it, but he didn't.