London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor St on Chiltern Railways. One journey, two interesting stations!

[@LostsTVandRadio]

I always treat myself to a little extra time to take in Marylebone and Moor Street. Such lovely stations that could so easily have been lost.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Absolutely! Time spent at both stations is never wasted. The coffee at Moor St was excellent! Thanks for watching 👍

[@stevemee6640]

Cracking vid Johnny. Two beautiful - and often overlooked - stations. Certainly the most civilised way to travel from the capital to our second city. Maybe not the quickest, but a bargain given the gems along the way.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@stevemee6640 Yes. I always check that route for bargains when i need to make that journey. And the stations at each end help to make it special too. Thanks for watching 👍

[@colinriley123]

A route I know well, and beautifully shown. I think what makes your videos so good is that the viewer feels your love of what you are doing. Chiltern are dear to my heart . I will never forget a huge poster close to Moor St quoting the the price of the then operator for a single to Euston, with the added caption "Virgin on the Ridiculous" !

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. Chiltern have done a great job breathing new life into the stations and the route. Nothing fancy with the DMUs they use, but still a really useful service. I'll def be stopping again for a quiet beer the next time I'm passing.

[@colinriley123]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels A really useful Engine!

[@BrianField-p5d]

nice video Johnny, I’ve been to Marylebone and Birmingham moors street stations quite a few times this year. I just go out for an afternoon ride . My leaving station is wendover or stoke mandeville. not done one to the other. little gems both of them. Chiltern railways are so nice to travel on. always have helpful staff around.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@BrianField-p5d well I suppose places where you are it is not ideal to do the whole trip as i did. But, as you say, even one of them for an afternoon out is a pleasure. Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@martinbradshaw7877]

Great video, as always, Johnny. Moor Street station is an absolute treat and as you rightly say, it is remarkable that it has remained in GWR condition and livery. Marylebone station looks equally delightful. Chiltern Railways appear to have a very fine reputation with very competitive prices. It is such a pity that other railways do not follow their example. I much enjoy all of your videos and look forward to seeing the next one.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you much for that avalanche of kind words! Put a real smile on my face. Thank you 👍

[@SirKenchalot]

Birmingham Moor street is my favorite railway station in the UK. There is a sign as you exit the Gentlemans lavatories in the waiting room between platforms 2 and 3 that advises you to adjust your address on leaving. Presumably the old and broader meaning of the word dress. The whole place is like a walk-in-museum.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

It is wonderful isn't it. That journey really is a tale of two stations. Both lovely in their own ways. I really enjoyed my coffee at the end of the ride, just standing there, drinking in both the coffee and the station. Thanks for watching 👍

[@EdgyNumber1]

​@@JohnnyHooverTravelsThey also have an expansion plan to add local routes from the Camp Hill line once the Camp Hill chords _eventually_ get built.

[@johncrwarner]

This was my line when I lived in Bicester I regularly travelled from Bicester North to Marylebone and had the roues using the Bakerloo Line in my head. I always stopped for a quadruple espresso at Marylebone which until I moved to Bicester only knew from Monopoly boards. I seem to remember that Chiltern Railways used to be very good and were quite innovative: They introduced standard+ seating throughout their fleet removing first class but giving more leg room to everyone. They redoubled the line between Bicester North and Princes Risborough meaning they had to rebuild Thame and Haddenham Parkway which had originally been built around the single track. They also had to contend with The Tesco supermarket collapsing onto the line at Gerrards Cross and the resultant rerouting.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. Chiltern seem to have historically got a good name. You know, I really must try out the loco hauled service before it goes. Quadruple espresso. My wife would approve!

[@johncrwarner]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Quadruple espresso before a day record shopping in Camden LOL (That seems a long time ago now!)

[@quintuscrinis]

Chiltern was taken over by the BR management originally so people who really cared about the line. They also got a very long franchise, which allowed them to make serious investments without worrying about having time to recoup the costs.

[@johnbristow8099]

Lots of nostalgia for me as I commuted between High Wycombe and Marylebone in the 1960s.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@johnbristow8099 you are very welcome. Thanks for watching 👍

[@colinriley123]

Just re-watched this. This is loitering with purpose. The pace of the video, and the balance between stations and journey, is perfect for my taste.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you Colin. "Pace" is a very important word when editing for sure. I'm pleased you are still watching them. Best wishes 👍

[@lovefive5733]

A great video. Thank you for uploading this video.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

And thank you so much for watching and commenting 👍

[@lovefive5733]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels your welcome. Have a good 2023

[@cryzcryz2345]

London Marylebone station is beautiful! Thank you for this video 🤗

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. It is a little hidden gem of London 👍

[@nuinmarnuinmar5321]

Great fun, thanks for sharing.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you for watching!

[@VVellieMan]

Enjoyable video as always, Johnny. As you say very reasonable price from London to B'ham, imagine its loads cheaper than Avanti West Coast! Always assumed Marylebone would be one of the big London stations as its on the Monopoly board! Oh and FYI, think locals pronounce it Bekkonsfield (sorry to be pedantic).

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, i think it is generally cheaper than Avanti although there's probably some bargains to be had out of Euston on London Northwestern that could come close. I think the reason Marylebone is on Monopoly is because (at the time) the LNER owned Kings Cross, Marylebone, Liverpool St and Fenchurch St, so the game makers only had to deal with one railway company. And I've no problem with pedantry at all. 👍

[@priscillariches3761]

That was great fun watching the video and most informative thank you

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You are welcome! Thank you so much for watching and commenting 👍

[@Danny-mv9qj]

Just bingewatched most if not all of your videos! Absolute love your stuff! Great video too, love Marylebone. I live in Warwick and do like Chiltern Railways. You should definitely check out the class 68sband Mark 3 carriages whilst you can before they're removed nost likely in May 2024! Thanks for entertaining me though! Also you suggested the class 168s could do with a refurbishment - almost like you predicted it! The first class 168 went to Crewe for refurbishment in late September and will be back in service for next year before the rest follow!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

what a star! Thanks for cracking through the back catalogue! you are right about the 68 service, I do need to tick that one off before it disappears. and I'm pleased to hear the 168s are now going through refurbishment. I'd happily repeat the video once there's refurbished stock on the service. Comments like this really cheer me up, so thanks again for watching everything! 👍

[@Danny-mv9qj]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Thanks for you're reply, I'm glad comments like this cheer you up! my only criticism of your videos is that there aren't any more of them! I'm looking forward to tomorrow's upload definitely 😀

[@christinehodge3608]

Yes, good video, very interesting, thank you for sharing 😊

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

And thank you for watching it 👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

I do like Chiltern Railways because not only they got the best diesel only rolling stocks. But how they provide such good services and reliability is very good. And London Marylebone is such a fantastic station.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

yes indeed. I've been wanting to feature Chiltern and Marylebone for some time.

[@Andrewjg_89]

😊

[@nickbeer2658]

Thanks for pointing out some things for me to look at - despite using Marylebone frequently I hadn't appreciated all of this.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You're welcome. Thank you very much for watching and subscribing. I do like Marylebone. I bit of a hidden gem!

[@EdgyNumber1]

Chiltern is my favourite train operating company. The trains are usually always on time, the stations are nice and the trains are quite comfortable for travel between the three cities. I always prefer it to the WCML services.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, I'd agree with that. I suppose the decision may also come down to where your onward travel inside London needs to go. But either arrive or depart, Marylebone and Moor St are lovely places to start or end a journey Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@SeanMidlandstransporthub]

Great video! I live in Leamington Spa so use these trains frequently. Shame you didn't get a loco hauled 68 set. Much better in my opinion. The 68s go to Moor Street frequently as well as Kidderminster

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for the kind comment. And yes, I do fancy a 68 all the way to or from Kidderminster. It is on a pretty long list of things!

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Excellent!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks! And thank you for watching too 👍

[@fmcb269]

It's probably ten years since I was in Marylebone, but I think there was a side lobby with some historical information. Don't quote me on this, but I think that rather than dig a tunnel under Lords cricket ground they excavated a deep trench, built the brick tunnel structure, then backfilled the earth on top. A HUGE undertaking in those days when it was all hand work!! Not being certain is going to niggle at me now, so I'm going to have to go back there and check. - Any excuse for an outing!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah, there is the side entrance with a number of historical pictures. I went through there in the video. I did stop to look at the pictures but I'm not sure they feature in the video. I think you may well be right about the Lords thing. I recall I read somewhere they had to fit the construction around the cricket season. Tunnelling under would not have meant that restriction would it? Thanks for watching and for the interesting comments 👍

[@thisisbob1001]

Great video

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks very much for saying so! 👍

[@srfurley]

The line into New Street from the East actually asses under Moor Street station. The angled footbridge actually follows the line of the tracks below, but just to one side of them. Manchester Mayfield was built at about the same time as Birmingham MoorStreet, and for rather similar reasons. It’s a pity that it wasn’t restored and reopened in the same way.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for that! I just went down a 30min rabbit hole looking at old pics of Mayfield and reading about its history 👍

[@glorygamingpro6136]

Can you do a Dublin to Waterford on Thursday and then send the video on Friday?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

No, not really. I don't live in Ireland. Sorry.

[@mrbojangles8133]

that civil engineer knew what he was doing though

[@Jonoschannel]

Beaconsfield is pronounced beck uns field

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@Jonoschannel thanks for that. Always happy to be corrected, although this does appear to be the "Johnny Hoover Travels and gets the name wrong" channel, given the number of mistakes I make! 🤷‍♂️ Thanks so much for watching too 👍

[@quintuscrinis]

What about Beaconscot?

[@robhines4537]

Great video, but don't understand how you got a cheap ticket, it's £36 return in advance (no discount), I usually travel from Euston at 0850 Monday to Friday for £23 return to New Street.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I booked in advance and picked a day/time with a cheap ticket available. For example, as I type, Trainline is showing that the 13:36 from Marylebone on Fri 30 Jun has adv singles for £6.40 (no discount). Mind you, on the same day, it is also showing West Mids trains Euston-New St singles starting at £8 at 0956 and 1023. So I'd agree there's bargains to be had on both lines! Thanks for watching and commenting. youTube is a busy place, and the fact you chose to watch my video is much appreciated 👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Btw that Euston-NewSt return at £23 with an 0850 departure also sounds a great deal 👍

[@sudeshna4678]

Where do u store the luggage

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Above the seats there are luggage racks. There didn't seem to be many luggage stacks, so if i had large cases, then I would board the train near the cycle signs and use some of the cycle space for the excess luggage. Not ideal i know. Thanks for watching 👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Above the seats there are luggage racks. There didn't seem to be many luggage stacks, so if i had large cases, then I would board the train near the cycle signs and use some of the cycle space for the excess luggage. Not ideal i know. Thanks for watching 👍

[@stephengarratt5076]

Britain’s lost main line..formerly to Sheffield and on to Manchester.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Indeed. Though I think, pedantically, i was mostly on the old Great Western as the GC main line goes up to Aylesbury. Although... maybe I should do that run! Thank you for watching 👍

[@grahamwalls9379]

Blues Blues Blues . K R O . S o t v .

[@BRI535D]

Sadly no Business Zone any more and Stourbridge becomes the furthest destination served.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Oh yes. I just had a look and, as you say, eg. the 1707 from Marylebone with loco and coaches is std throughout and terminates at Stourbridge Jct... ...still I really should take a ride some day soon! Thanks for watching 👍

[@erik_griswold]

Solihull station fans are disliking this video.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Should I be visiting Solihull to confer upon it the love to which it is richly deserving? If you say so, I'll certainly add it to my list! Although I do now worry that the Solihull Station Mafia may come knocking on my door one dark night. But... thank you for watching 😃

[@erik_griswold]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels I was of course joking but noticed it’s absence from your station reviews. Great video and I appreciate the focus on the London and Birmingham ones.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@erik_griswold No worries- i took it the spirit that was intended! Maybe I missed Solihull whilst doing the loo review... which is, of course, another vociferous viewing sub-community that requires placating 🤣 Best wishes from Exeter 👍

[@nickgower8681]

Miles, not kilometers

[@glorygamingpro6136]

Ok

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Although I will be returning to Ireland at some time and I'll happily add that to my list of journeys.

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Excellent!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks!