Knighton to Church Stretton - Heart of Wales Line Day 4

We're onto Day 4 in Wales ... but mostly England now, on the line that has just five trains a day in each direction meaning you have to do a lot of back and forth bouncing to tick them all off .... and I start the day with a cancellation!
If you want to stay in the Station Cottage at Bucknell station, you can! That's here : stationcottage...
The official Heart of Wales website is here : www.heart-of-w...
Download the Heart of Wales Line map here : geofftech.co.u...
Stations Visited : Hopton Heath, Bucknall, Broome, Craven Arms, Church Stretton

[@Sunnyclimber]

Thanks for dropping in Geoff, it was a pleasure to meet you and share a few stories from life on the line.

[@tomw86]

I really want a follow up to see if your new found celebrity status has any effect on your life. Will any Geoff fans knock on your door?

[@Sunnyclimber]

@@tomw86 I'm not going to let it go to my head. Helped by my near-teenage daughter who is highly unimpressed by my brush with social media stardom. We do hope to see more Geoff fans on the line, it's a beautiful and relatively undiscovered part of the country with loads of great places to stay while you explore.

[@Gaspode_]

Thanks for being such a good sport and giving us some insight from the other side of the platform (and a natural in front of the camera).

[@stepheneyles2198]

@@Sunnyclimber If you've got the space, I'm sure a couple of rooms as an Air BnB would be super-popular; what with this free introduction we've just watched! :D

[@symy92]

Loved this series, so glad you are out and about again. I hope you do more of these in the near future, or continue with your other series. Great interview with Sam, and I had a laugh at the subtle/not so subtle placement of Ian's book. Well played.

[@geofftech2]

Ha ha! GOOD SPOT 😅

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Thanks to Geoff, I’m fascinated by repurposed Station Houses. They look rather cool.

[@JBFlytography]

I used to live in Springfield Station house in Fife. It’s pretty cool until someone chaps on the kitchen window asking for train times. 😂

[@esmeephillips5888]

Just do what Moore Marriott did- say 'Next train's gone.'

[@marvelfan3148]

Maybe time for an All the Station Houses series? 😍

[@richardstone3473]

Just a quietly delightful little presentation. Travelled the line just over a year ago to Knighton and back Llandovery where I stayed. It was February. Cold wet and fascinating.

[@ScenesThroughTravels]

This Series is doing wonders for my own Anxiety issues , It's so soothing and Joyful . All Thanks to Geoff ❤❤🙏🙏👍👍💯💯💕💕

[@stephensaines7100]

Absolutely! Every time Geoff expresses disinterest in time and tedium by being there, I do too. I only wish I were there too.

[@CherylSteele-rt8dj]

Lee Avison - I'm so glad for you, and totally agree. Bless you. X

[@geofftech2]

very kind Lee - thank you, kind comment!

[@robinjones6999]

The BEST mini series for years - WELL DONE GEOF MARSHALL -Thank you ,Tick

[@radders261]

Couldn't agree more.

[@Nooticus]

agreed!

[@Trainspotting_Mayhem]

In my eyes, a train platform is a perfect garden. Also congrats on completing the Heart of Wales Line. Your next challenge will have be to do the West Highland Line from Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig 👍

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“Tick off the goats.” I mean, it is a goated series. Also, so happy to see the Bingo Card.

[@iamjohnmc]

This was such a fun little series, mostly because we'd just taken a trip on the line (Shrewsbury to Knighton) in mid May. I knew absolutely nothing about the line before then, so it was great to see some of the scenery again.

[@t.vanoosterhout233]

The music instantly brings back the magic of the "all the stations" series. In that classic 2-presenters style. But I do applaud your choice of sidemen this time.

[@samjones927]

Bucknell massive 💪🔥🔥🔥🔥💪 great series 👌

[@HandymanRomileyIsBetterThanBnQ]

The freight train with lights he is on about is most likely the network rail test train

[@saintuk70]

Love how the stations remain living spaces too, truly the heart of the community. Fantastic. If only they'd rebuild the Aviemore to Elgin line - oh to have a heart of Speyside series.

[@CornishGardenTeam]

Another superb series from Geoff. Anyone with a week to spare in late spring or early summer should consider exploring the places along one of the following: Far north, Kyle, Heart of Wales, Cambrian, Cumbrian, and the Cornwall and Devon branch lines. It's not about the trains it's about the places and the people.

[@PoppinJay]

What a lovely series, thank you.

[@15boronia]

Im in Australia but hoping to be in Wales in 2024... the Heart of Wales Line is now on the List thanks to this series Geoff! Loved it!! Always love your videos but this series was Lush! So good.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Doing Craven Arms to Church Stretton on a single Class 153 still had to charm being honest as a single train powering between the two on the Welsh Marches line stretch, I did that from Church Stretton to Craven Arms on the Spring Bank Holiday but also surprised that you didn't check out the flow footbridge at Craven Arms which was north of the station and was only installed in January 2023 but as you mention has been a long four days BUT a great four part series! Thank Geoff.

[@johnmurray8428]

I have been sick all week with flu. Your great videos of this line have brightened my days. Thank you

[@ps.montreal5551]

Just out standing !!! So well executed. Thanks for sharing.

[@Telecaster4959]

I've been to Craven Arms to deliver Volvo xc90's to a local company near the station. At the bottom of the road that leads to the station, there is a cafe. It serves the most fantastic breakfast baguettes and boy do they taste good.

[@MinegateTransport]

Another fantastic episode Geoff! I love the historic branch line feel to this line

[@andrewholloway231]

Geoff, thank you for this Heart of Wales line mini series. The amount of planning into making this must have been immense. Great job.

[@PhilSnoad]

Thanks Geoff what a great series. Can't wait for the next one, hope we see you very soon

[@philipbrailey]

Fantastic video Geoff. I look forward to the next one. This one starts on a Saturday morning for me.

[@ruthorgan5902]

Really enjoyed this series and the lovely scenery. Great work Geoff.👍

[@mattsrailwayadventures]

Fantastic little series Geoff!

[@proberts8]

Good bit of placement: 'One Fine Day' in Steve's kitchen.

[@spookydirt]

I grew up in Stretton (now live in Shrewsbury) so it was interesting to see all of those stations south of knighton I'd only ever heard in platform announcements.

[@davidbassett4577]

Really enjoyed this mini series .. especially the goats 🐐🐐

[@PetertheRock.]

This is the place to be! Thanks Geoff! May you continue to think up such experiences!

[@ClydebridgeStation]

So, you brushed off Broome! If I didn't say it, someone else would! Also, I noticed Ian's book in the station house, next to the Sodastream!

[@MrsPetuniaC]

Oh Geoff, how I love your videos! Always great to watch. ❤

[@carolinegreenwell9086]

that was so interesting and such fun ... you look knackered now

[@tramcrazy]

Cool Easter egg in the video background at the station house! I’m sure Ian is pleased! 😂

[@Bartlebooth23]

He is!

[@BulletNoseBetty]

When I was a teenager, my dad's job transferred him to London for two years. During that time, we did a weekend tour of five narrow gauge railways in Wales--absolutely amazing trip. On the way back to London on Sunday, we even managed to stop at the Severn Valley Railway just for good measure.

[@james-5560]

I'd really love to see something along the lines of All the Stations again, but different somehow. All the trains? trying to ride on every model of train or something. I don't know what, but I loved the fun of seeing a series that runs for weeks.

[@peterfishley3951]

Wonderful and gorgeous railway stations - well done Geoff and the Welsh team who look after this line.

[@EngineerLewis]

long Mynd is somewhere around there I believe as Church Stretton is lodged in my childhood memory as a very pretty area. Thanks for the fun videos Geoff and glad the rain didn't show up! 😅

[@LisaMarli]

I have a friend who lives right off one of the main East - West train routes here in North America. Many freight trains and the California Zephyr go by his house. If we let him know, we can wave. He and his wife are big train buffs and they love the noise. The real estate agent was surprised when he found out the location was a feature for them. Yes, if they lived in England, they would love to live in an old station house, even if the line was still active.

[@macstyle2012]

3:35 good way to advertise Ian's book - secretly placed in the background.

[@poppysherlock3922]

Excellent and thoroughly enjoyable series. Do more of them, Geoff. I recommend the Penistone Line

[@stevieinselby]

This looked like a fantastic trip. I'm now feeling the need to walk the Heart of Wales Rail Trail! 🚶🏻‍♂

[@FouiAnimations]

It would be so nice if there were more countries like Wales.

[@JimWattsHereNow]

Loved this series, so great with your friends, popping in and out. Thanks so much.

[@elainemulberryrat5300]

Very enjoyable. Loved the scenery and the guests.🎉

[@SGMiner21]

With regards to the Welsh name for Sugar Loaf, Dinasybwlch directly translates to some like the gap city, which is odd considering the fact that Sugar Loaf is one of the quiestest stations in Wales! If you were to use the roughly direct translation, I'd say Mynydd-y-siwgar (sugar mountain)

[@YDysgwrAraf]

Dinas in modern Welsh means city, but originally it meant hillfort. Dinas y Bwlch is the hillfort of the mountain pass.

[@johnlladron735]

Thanks for another excellent video on a wonderful line. So many people really care about it and the stations are a credit to the legion of volunteers who look after them. Just wondering if there's an agenda somewhere in management about the line though as Hopton Heath station was closed for several months during 2020-21 because they claimed the platform was too short to allow social distancing from the guard when opening the doors! I think this video conclusively proves that to be a load of rubbish. This line also closes at the drop of a hat, and has racked up 42 days of replacement buses this year, due to the old favourite of 'essential' engineering works. Most of it would not require full occupancy but there we go. Great example of the "can't do" attitude in NR and TfW.

[@cloudojo6373]

Hi Geoff, hope your well. I’ve been watching your videos for years now and love your passion for trains. I always have a smile on my face when a new video up, as always awesome stuff :)

[@robertwiddasart6947]

A very enjoyable adventure, guess who has the map downloaded and is planning a trip now.

[@baseballfan99]

Fantastic advert for the route.

[@alanaldis3177]

Such a fascinating and interesting series of videos!

[@memofromessex]

I lived right next to minor line in London and it was fine. No problem.

[@Vocalzone_covers]

That's a great series. Loved watching them all. Great mix of info, history and the different characters of your friends. I'll be watching them over again.

[@marksaddler]

Thanks for sharing the journey with us, look forward to the next adventure.

[@JonysTravels]

Brilliant little series, loved it 👏🏼👏🏼

[@johnavery15]

Nice book placement! 😊

[@marthaanderson2656]

what a beautiful journey made better by the fabulous weather. Thank you , as always, for sharing your passion

[@ashleybentham9396]

Thanks for doing this, I've spent countless hours after Shrewsbury, listening to the announcer recite all these stations. At one point I could recite them all myself, so nice to put a picture, or in this case video to the stations

[@userdjcarl]

I've been watching your videos since, I've been new to this channel I love trains and travelling it is my passion, thank you for motivating my day Geoff. - Carl.

[@jgodfrey546]

Great series, Geoff!

[@ian.blackwoodgwent.walesgb5668]

This is a great mini series. It was very interesting. Thanks / Diolch for doing this. As someone from Wales, (near Cardiff) I am ashamed to say the only bit of this line I have travelled on is from Swansea to Llanelli, on the way to Pembrokeshire. Hopefully will correct this situation soon. 🚝🌄 Regards from Wales.

[@airfoxtrot2006]

This was a fun series to watch Geoff 😀

[@SteveInskip]

Great series Geoff. What a fantastic four days and in such a beautiful part of the UK. Thanks again bud! 👍

[@iansmithfootball]

Lovely series Geoff, really enjoyed it, thank you.

[@feedtheflameforfacts]

This was a delightful series, Geoff. I would love to see more of these!

[@send2gl]

Great interview with Sam, what a brilliant place to live.

[@topmark99]

Fantastic series. I miss Wales. Spent a lot of time there (north and south) as a child, plus holidays since. Beautiful country.

[@jamesgilbart2672]

Excellent series - do more of them!!

[@jamespir]

Loved the series Geoff always so interesting 👍

[@jonathanhibberd5746]

A quirk I quite like is that Knighton is in Wales but its station is actually in England

[@bobn19uk]

Wales is such a beautiful country thank you for such a great series

[@pedrapgwilym1341]

What a fantastic series, Geoff - and your Welsh pronunciation isnt bad either!!

[@evanslater4551]

I go on holiday to Church Stretton. Love going for walks up the Caradoc in summer

[@paultitterton3805]

Great series! Makes me want to visit Wales!

[@Dan_Gyros]

Fantastic little mini series Geoff!

[@michellebell5092]

Excellent series. Thanks one of my favourite ps. Look forward to the next one.

[@travelswithjess]

Great series Geoff, really enjoyed it 😀

[@MrGreatplum]

Such an enjoyable series with you, Geoff. Looks like you had a great time! Love to see more like this 👍🏻

[@jacobporrett]

Will have to try it sometime. Looks beautiful in places.

[@Jannesoppad]

Loved this series. Walked a section of the Heart of Wales line trail this spring. Nice scenery and not to hard.

[@Teesbrough]

Brilliant mini series, highly enjoyable. There was something a little John Betjeman about it. I’m sure if he was able to watch it he’d have a twinkle in his eye.

[@peterrussell830]

Great videos Geoff, such enthusiasm! I travelled this line several years ago on a 153 single unit, to Shrewsbury, reminded me what a great line it is.

[@paulwheeler4283]

Thank you for a wonderful relaxing and informative series it's definitely a line i should visit you've met so many wonderful people on the way

[@FannyLerouxTime]

I've really enjoyed this little special! Wales is such a beautiful country, I've only good memories of the times I have been. I wonder where is next? It's a shame that rail is so formal these days, very little chance to travel the rails and fall in love with trains again.

[@jeffreyhughesmbe]

Thank you so much for this enjoyable journey which I did many times by steam hauled trains.

[@craighatto]

Geoff this was a brilliant series thank you for doing this and all the superb work you do.

[@simonhorn1745]

Absolutely prize winning stuff Geoff...Great entertainment all week. Cheers pal

[@davidlewis8742]

Absolutely brilliant series Geoff. Thank you

[@alloallie]

What a splendid series ! Might I suggest adding Inhabited Station House in the HoWL bingo card ?

[@Nooticus]

The best series of yours in years, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

[@allanfoster6965]

Brilliant. So glad the weather held too!

[@NightLetterLondon]

sad to see it end. so enjoyable. there must be other rural sections of the railways you could choose to do..? we'd love to see it. it's like being on holiday.. thank you so much Geoff.

[@RichardWells1]

Superb mini-series, Geoff. Thank you!

[@jakemoxham7371]

Thank you Geoff really enjoyed the mini series you make the videos fun and eye catching

[@paulmark63]

Well done Geoff loved all the videos Paul in Kent

[@jennyhouse6748]

Excellent interview with Sam.

[@timclarke7468]

What a brilliant little series on a beautiful line - thank you so much. How about the Cambrian Coast line for your next one...

[@markstramtrainbuscapades1729]

Nice bit of product placement for Ian's new book, there!

[@LeornianCyng]

That house is absolutely beautiful.

[@JaneOO]

So pleased to see you having so much fun