Forest of Dean - Episode 7 - Severn and Wye Railway

[@silvioatutube]

Relationship goals: finding someone who looks at me the same way Rebecca looks at Paul.

[@pwhitewick]

You sir, have won the comment competition. I am a lucky man, that's for sure.

[@silvioatutube]

@@pwhitewick Yes, you are! Cherish her!

[@foresterjikes9054]

I used those tracks to get around the forest on a old Honda 250 dream before i was legal on the road lol , was born in the forest but moved to France 28 years ago , can't believe you didn't speak about Lydbrook viaduct , nice video all the same that brought me back home , thanks

[@rogerphelps9939]

I walked over Lydbrook Viaduct many times in my youth. Rumour has it that my grandmother walked the length of the viaduct along the planks laid along the bottom of the girders; rather her than me. I remember it being dismantled. A very big futuristic looking Sparrows crane was used to dismantle the metalwork. When they were dismantling tthe masonary arches there was a partial collapse on the eastern side. Nobody was hurt but it made the news. I was told that, because of the very tight curve on the eastern side the speed limit on the viaduct was only 5mph. There was an incline leading down from Forge Hill to a tinplate works in the valley, one of tthe very first in the world. There was a lemonade factory in Lydbrook called Lydbrook Valley Springs and the labels on he bottles prominently feaured the viaduct. The view from the bridge with the River Wye in the foreground and The Mill Hill Brothers "monastery" with a prominent grotto on Coppet Hill behind was iconic. An uncle who was a professional photographer took a photo with cows refreshing themselves in the river, which was widely published.

[@foresterjikes9054]

@@rogerphelps9939 I've only seen it on photo's , was born in 65 so too young to have seen it for real , it must have been an impressive site to see for real , what a shame that it was demolished , don't remember what i read about the year it was built and knocked down but remember thinking it wasn't so old to be unsafe , maybe it was but the forest lost a lot when the railways closed , would have been a real asset today

[@rogerphelps9939]

@@foresterjikes9054 It was demolished sometime around 1966. I believe I was 15 at tthe time but it may have been a year or ttwo earlier or later. I really was impressive.

[@westcountrywanderings]

The fifth video that I have watched of yours Paul & Rebecca! Like number eight hundered and forty four. Great stuff! I have just done a Lost Railway Walk following the Ross-on-Wye to Monmouth line (pt 2) from Welsh Bicknor to Symonds Yat. For a while I tended to avoid the Forest of Dean - I am not sure why, think I was just scared to tackle it. Oh boy, I am I so glad that I have done a deeper dive into it - it just as so much to see in the Forest! The more you look, the more there is. Since you filmed this over four years ago, the DFR have got serious plans to extend to Speech House and Cinderford. I do hope that it comes to fruition. Anyway, I will stop waffling - I truly thoroughly enjoyed this. Hope you are both keeping well. Take care, Paul

[@Leonard_Smith]

Rebecca seems to be growing into the role of the railway geek. Can't wait for future episodes towards her total transformation, and finally to be awarded a Golden Anorak when you complete the task! Keep 'em coming!

[@McMieke]

Amazing how fast nature takes back its land. Well done guys.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks John. My favourite embankment!

Video too me years back. I was an Army Apprentice at Chepstow Camp in 1954. But I escaped and now live in Australia...and am even too old for call-up. But I still love you two, Paul and Rebecca....

[@oddwad6290]

The scenery , lighting and weather all came together very well .

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

what a lovely couple you are. well done for sharing this presention. thank you

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. This was a really fun adventure, enjoyed our time exploring here.

[@stephenpalcso42]

I'm really enjoying these. I love exploring old railways and I think it's great you've decided to tackle all of them!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Stephen. Glad you are enjoying them. Spread the word... 😁👍

[@bohicajohnson7203]

You are certainly expanding my music appreciation.

[@stephendavies6949]

Epic stuff. Some of the best work of its kind on KZbin

[@awizardalso]

Looks like you and I got lucky and found a good woman. I found mine in 1976 and knew she was the one I was looking for. Unfortunately, she was 16 and I was 22. I had to wait 10 years to find her again and we've been married for almost 32 years.

[@pwhitewick]

Ah thanks for sharing and congratulations to you both.

[@michaelpilling9659]

Fantastic film! sorry it was raining - you both obviously got soaked. Brilliant history. Great railway artifacts. Wonderful journey

[@joannortham5517]

Oh the memories….I worked at the Lindors Guest House nr St Briavels for a couple of years in the mid-1960s, and so many of the names you mention are very familiar to me. Lindors was sold recently, I think to a hotelier. It was a beautiful house, so it's nice to think it will continue to provide hospitality. I'm 76 now - and how much I wish the Beeching cuts could be undone, and rail connections restored across the land. Your videos are great, and so are both of you. Thank you very much.

[@pwhitewick]

Wonderful Joan, thanks for sharing.

[@Roblilley999]

Just when you think things have peaked, you pull another rabbit out of the hat with this video.

[@pwhitewick]

awww, thanks Mr Lilley.

[@neilyoung3652]

Great video. Ive taken too watching disused lines and stations, and seeing what remains, both of you make good team exploring these lines

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Neil.

[@stephendavies6949]

I just love your early work.

[@TheSkiathosLover]

Another enjoyable video - thank you so much

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Carolyn... 😊

[@stevehallam0850]

Well explored! The Forest of Dean must have one of the most complex networks of railways and tramways in a small area anywhere in Britain.

[@pwhitewick]

Every time we looked at an old map of the area we found another area we wanted to explore.... As you say it's extremely complex.

[@andylawrence7955]

@@pwhitewick You should really come back and do some further exploration........in the spring, bluebells everywhere in the woods..............and less muddy puddles!

[@MartinZero]

Great stuff guys 👍

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Martin, pleasure to have you on-board!

[@Roblilley999]

Was just about to ask whether you had seen Martin's videos and vice versa but that's just answered my question

[@Mattube1964]

There was a three volume set of books published about the Severn and Wye back in the early 90s r there about. Very indepth history of the entire line and it’s branches. I’d look up the publisher but it’s 02:00 and the books are out in my train room.

[@pwhitewick]

haha, thanks matt.

[@Mattube1964]

@@pwhitewick Just grabbed volume one out to get the info on it. They were a collaboration by Ian Pope, Bob How an Paul Karau published by Wild swan in 1983 (so much for early 90s!). ISBN 0 906867 17 7. Could be very hard to come by but well worth the read if you are interested in railway histories.

[@johnsparkes8963]

Fantastic vlog very interesting, the forrest got so much to offer.

[@pwhitewick]

Most definitely has John.

[@leightonsquibbs970]

The best so far Peeps. I can relate to quite a bit of the vid as walked some of it 2 years ago and really enjoyed it then, and had the added bonus of sunshine then. Keep up the good work looking forward to the next one.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Leighton. It was a long edit so pleased it came out well. We would love to come here again and probably won't be far away for the Wye Valley Railway at some point.

[@andrewmarch7891]

Thanks for the entertaining and informative trips; marvellous! Wellies sounds a good idea.

[@saltleywsc]

Just found this superb video looking forward to more !!

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you!... Check out the rest of the channel, plenty to get your teeth into... 👍👍

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another brilliant video! I've passed the museum at Coleford many times but never seen it open! I know the have steamed a Peckett loco there on occasions which must make it the World's shortest standard gauge heritage line!

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Henry. This was an amazing weekend. We soon learnt to split the videos up after this but still a great adventure

[@timchalk6810]

That line when open over the old severn bridge was always immaculatly maintained even when goods only

[@thadelmore282]

Really enjoy your travels. Keep it up, we'll be watching.

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. 👍👍

[@alanwhite1458]

I've thought about it a bit since your original reply to my comment about duration of text over video, and you only need to leave text up a few seconds longer to make it readable! At present I'm lucky to read the first two lines of text! Don't worry about people not reading it - that's their loss, why should it be mine!

[@colinbarrett5120]

Great video! The music is really catchy.

[@bobly]

Serridge Platform sorry Paul, Rebecca I could not find when it opened and closed but here is Coleford to make up that opened in 1879 and closed in 1924

[@john3Lee]

Very interesting, and enjoyable.... Thanks :)

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks John 👍

[@mikebrown3772]

I think you may have been standing more or less at the location of Cindetford old passenger station when you first looked at your phone map and that to the brickwork found might be the old Cindetford goods station.

[@thomaswykes3647]

Shame you didn't get to see Lydney Harbour when you visited Lydney Junction. The line ran from there along the river Lyd to the harbour where the coal was loaded on to boats.

[@pwhitewick]

Ah we didn't know about that. A shame indeed.

[@Paleoman]

U.K. is looking a lot like USA. Ugly strip malls, huge gas stations with convienence stores attached. That is what you find at every freeway offramp in the US. Honestly you cant even tell what state you are in when you get off the freeway. Another great video. Youi guiys do an amazing job producin therse.

[@sr6424]

One of my earliest memories. Went on a family Saturday afternoon trip to Symonds Yet. My parents took me to watch the trains. They were ripping up the track.I was born in 1959 when the station closed so it would have been a few years later. I guess mid 1960s.

[@bobly]

Bixslade / Cannop Wharf opened in 1812 and closed in 1946

[@GhostTheory]

This is brilliant, that’s some wonderful countryside. It would be great to collaborate with you guys one day.

[@pwhitewick]

This was a real fun video to make (although soon after we learnt to split them up a bit as the edit nearly killed me). Can you drop us an email on [e-mail]. 👍👍

[@bobly]

Cinderford Old opened in 1900 and closed in 1958

[@DeeFPV]

DisusedRailway of pembrokeshire would be worth looking into

[@pwhitewick]

Definitely. We've seen a few on some old maps and are making plans for at least one trip in spring. 👍

[@DeeFPV]

ther ar some verry old Disused Railway in pembrokeshire what hed over and up into the preseli mountains and intresting to

[@IanandJo]

We enjoyed that. We spotted loads of places we had been and several that we had nipped behind a tree for a pee. We used to cycle through the forest on a regular basis so it was a trip down memory lane. There are also locations in Lydney that we have used for filming in the past so that was fun for us too. Really enjoyed this one. Huge steps forward in the editing department. Keep up the good work you two. 👍

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks both. Glad you enjoyed and it brought back some memories.... 😁😁

[@IanandJo]

@@pwhitewick Indeed it did. Slightly concerning how many of them are places that we stopped to pee. We were cycling though and you've gotta keep hydrated. Those are lovely spots when it's sunny and hot by the way. You could do a lot of these on bikes around the forest.

[@pwhitewick]

@@IanandJo yup, I think we need to invest in a bike rack!

[@IanandJo]

'Tis a good plan. Avoid Halfords. They lie.

[@bobly]

Cinderford New 2 July 1900 Station opened 3 November 1958 Station closed

[@StephenWilliams]

Another very enjoyable video. It really is easy to forget that there are only the two of you there and that you are just talking to a camera, as one feels very much part of the adventure. Enjoyed the incidental music too. One thought - how about adding the music used to the end credits?

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Stephen, we certainly aim to bring what we see to the viewer in the most compelling way so I'm glad this style seems to be working. I will probably add the music to the description, as we have been asked a few times now. 👍

[@paulwood7798]

I have worked extensivelu in the Forest Of Dean on Roman Sites and down the years I always thought there was Bilson Halt, Bilson Road and Bilson ( Green ) Station besides the two Cinderford Stations. Have I got that wrong. Are they known as something else.

[@pwhitewick]

Hi. Bilson Halt was on the Bullo Pill line to the South West of Cinderford. Bilson Road was on the Severn and Wye (This video) mainly as a short lived halt for troops. Not heard of Bilson Green I'm afraid.

[@mikebrown3772]

I thought the platform at Bilson Road was a temporary arrangement for the first two years as there was concern about the passenger line crossing an existing tramway on the level to get to Cindetford old station which replaced it.

[@bobly]

Whitecroft & Bream 23 September 1875 opened 8 July 1929 closed for passengers 25 May 2012 reopened

[@gregsabell]

Great video Paul & Rebecca. What would be really useful is a closure date on your text graphic. This would tie in nicely with the pre/post Beeching vid you did a few weeks back. Keep up the good work.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Greg. Not a bad idea at all.

[@bobly]

Lydbrook Junction 4 August 1873 Opened 5 January 1959 Closed

[@bobly]

Drybrook Road Station opened in 1875 and closed in 1929

[@LordGeorgeRodney]

amazing stuff! thanks!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks George. Lived making this one!

[@khadijagwen]

Mashallah, you two are a Biblical pair as in Genesis in the beginning. Never take each other for granted. :)

[@bobly]

Parkend station 1875 opened 1929 closed for passengers 19 May 2006 reopened

[@bobly]

Coleford Junction opened in 1899 closed ?

[@Sim0nTrains]

Great video, I did visited the Dean Forest Railway a few years back and was really great heritage line, plus it was an excuse to take a ride behind Metroplitan Railways E Class, Met 1 cheaply! (When it does it London Underground charters... it not cheap! lol) Those signs which you seen, were they made from wood and old rail lines just wondering because they did look amazing, It was a good lengthy video and really enjoyed it!

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Simon. I assumed old buffer stops?

[@andyjames2225]

Just realised after watching this great video that my girlfriend lives a stone throw away in Monmouth so this area for me is going to get covered

[@pwhitewick]

It is an utterly beautiful. Do it!

[@EdenValleyAdventuresUK]

very nice video

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. Plenty more to come.... 👍

[@bobly]

Lydney Junction opened in 1851 closed in 1964

[@bobly]

Severn Bridge 20 October 1879 Station opened 26 October 1960 services suspended November 1964 officially closed

[@thomasallan1923]

norchard is like st marys halt and was built by the dean forest railway so doesn't really count as a disused station.

[@pwhitewick]

Ahhhh. Didn't realise that. Cheers 👍

[@pugthesecond]

Really enjoyed this one. Whose music is it?

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. Probably our favourite so far too. We use a website called epidemicsound.com which we pay a monthly subscription to for licensed music. 👍

[@bobly]

Bilson Road opened in 1876 and closed in 1878

[@bobly]

Milkwall opened in 1875 and closed in 1920

[@bobly]

Norchard opened in 1991

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Why not save the google maps as an offline map. You can drop where you need to go as a pin, uses no data and doesn’t rely on signal.

[@pwhitewick]

Because that sounds very clever and I am most definitely not.

[@jazzguitarwithandy]

Whitewick's Abandoned Railways I do it for all holidays abroad. Would save you guys a lot of time and data!! Loving your channel, it’s very enjoyable. Have you found Port Isaac Road yet?

[@pwhitewick]

@@jazzguitarwithandy thanks. Not as yet.

[@minisareus]

Are you doing the wye valley railway

[@pwhitewick]

Most certainly..... Though you'd think with the amount of times I said "Severn and Wye Valley Railway" in this video, it was this one!....

[@neilmackin5723]

Great video - BTW, have you found www.old-maps.co.uk which can be very helpful for finding obscure long lost locations

[@pwhitewick]

Check out our latest video which looks at just that. (Resources that we use to travel old lines... 😁).

[@iainhunneybell]

Good wife 👍👍👍

[@iainhunneybell]

Hang on. BMW this time. Alfa and Peugeot van other times??

[@davidpoulton2860]

Dean Forest Railway to extend to Speech house

[@ValeriePallaoro]

I cannot stress this enough. It's important (extra important if this is your lifestyle regime) to marry a wife with the same stride length as your own.22:45 Written by 5ft2 wife married to 6ft4 husband (it prevents so much sarcasm and irony, not to mention fatgue generated fights, on the journey - I'm peddlin' as fast as ai can, babe!)

[@pwhitewick]

Valerie. Please don't stop commenting. We do read your comments, but don't always get a chance to reply. This (as with others) has provided much giggles.

[@bobly]

Lydney Town 23 September 1875 opened 26 October 1960 passenger service suspended November 1964 officially closed 22 April 2001 reopened

[@RichardWatt]

Cadbury's Dairy Milk? My wife and I went to Cadbury World (this is a good few years ago now), and in the gift shop, they were selling 5kg (about 11 pound) bars of Dairy Milk: I can't remember the exact price, but it was around £20 at least... I nearly bought one, but would have had to carry it around all day when we went back to Birmingham before heading home again...

[@alanwarren2861]

Another enjoyable video, thanks both of you. Were you aware of this guy by the way (might save you some time when it comes to exploring these lines) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWjXk6t7mrubZrc

[@bobly]

Lower Lydbrook 23 September 1875 Opened 1 April 1903 Closed

[@bobly]

Upper Lydbrook 23 September 1875 Opened 8 July 1929 Closed

[@bobly]

Speech House Road opened in 1875 and closed in 1929