Lost Railway Walks: 2 - The Calne Branch

[@dianarolph1770]

Congratulations on your 300th! I have a lot of catching up to do. I did start with No1 but didn’t quite finish it so have got to go back🙂 I did so enjoy this walk and all the information it contained. I am glad they have preserved the line more or less as a very scenic walk. Calne was on my ‘pretty’ route to Lyme Regis!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Diana! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I did visit the town of Calne in a previous video (one of my monthly vlogs) - it was my first visit then, and I was most impressed with the town. So good that although the railway has closed, there is now a brilliant green route linking these two Wiltshire towns. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Take care, Paul 👍

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Hello Paul. I knew of the branch line to Calne, although of course, I'd never travelled it. Looks as if Sustrans have done a very nice job too. I do like their unique and elaborate decorative way marker signs. I seem to remember coming across some of those just outside Marlborough on the old MJ & S Junction railway. It was great to leave that halt almost intact with the station sign as well

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank yo Lionel and Mary. Yes, I love those marker signs, particuarly with the green and gold paint. Yes, I am not sure if that was the original sign, or not. Either way, it was lovely to see. Take care, Paul.

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello Paul - greetings from Poland. Congratulations on reaching the milestone of video number 300. It's certainly a long way from video number one in Dartmouth! A fantastic video. Full of so much historical information about the line. The insertion of all the old photographs helped to build a picture of what things were like when the line was in full operation. I loved your camera work, still photographs and commentary. Sustrans have done a great job in keeping the trackbed alive for cyclists and walkers. See you again very soon. Stay safe please

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, it is good to see that the trackbed has been put to good use for both cyclists and walkers - Sustrans have indeed done a great job here. Thank you for supporting me on my journey to video 300! It is very much appreciated. Thank you for your kind words, take care, Paul.

[@abandonedrailwaya2470]

Brilliant Railway adventure, Paul. Very enjoyable explore. Thanks for sharing. Ron🙂

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Ron! Glad you enjoyed the walk and the history along the way. I really enjoyed it too. Take care, Paul.

[@openmindedwonderer]

Beautiful walk, and very interesting history to the area 😊

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Cara - glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I enjoyed the walk here and exploring the area. Take care, Paul.

[@royedwards8713]

Hi Paul nice video ,im in Spain at the moment its nice and sunny 👌👌👌👌

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hi Roy - thanks for watching and commenting. Hope you have a lovely time in Spain. I look forward to your videos from there soon. Take care, Paul.

[@geoffreystevens663]

Lots of walking and talking and a lot more editing! Hard work, thank you. Love your outings

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Geoffrey! Yes, a fair bit of editing on this one, particularly with the maps and captions. Glad you enjoyed it. Take care, Paul.

[@stephenchappell7512]

Sustrans (based in Bristol) is responsible for the National Cycle Network and has enabled the reopening of many previously underused abandoned rights of way however they have not been without controversy such as blocking the northward expansion of the Bodmin line to Wenford over the Camel Trail

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, I know Stephen - although they are great for the environment, and getting people out walking and cycling, they have blocked both expansion of heritage lines, and reinstatement of light railway projects as well. Personally, I think that they need to take a more balanced viewpoint. Thanks for the comment. Paul.

[@littleBIGGRiggs]

Another wonderful adventure. Lovely narration & history. Spectacular tour. Thanks for taking us along & have an amazing day.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this little walk and explore. Cheers, Paul.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

A delightful lost railway walk, with signs of Spring all around. I like your use of OS map and old photographs to provide locational and historical context. I would imagine the walk is very popular, being reasonably short and, by the sound of it, well served by public transport. Looking forward to your next walk in the series. Congratulations on your 300th video!. Thank you!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Malcolm! Glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, although it does take a little longer to edit using maps and old photos, I do think, like you do, that it adds context and flavour. Thanks again, take care, Paul.

[@grumpyoleman2152]

Delightful Countryside views, Interesting Local History, Well Done and Thanks!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you liked it. Cheers, Paul.

[@SouthWestSundays]

That looks like my kind of walk - a nice simple path with no turns! Lovely video and full of lots of interesting information. You had a lovely day for it! Congratulations on your 300th video 🎉🎉

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Louise! I can't get my head around that I have made 300 videos! We had two dry days over the weekend - lucky! Yes, this walk is flat and straightforward, but it did have some lovely scenery (and some nice birdsong too!). Thanks for watching and commenting 🙂 Paul

[@faithg9766]

Great job on your 300th video. It was a good walk with lots of information & history. Thank you.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Faith! Glad you enjoyed my walk in Wiltshire. Take care, Paul

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Paul, Enhorabuena (congratulations) on your 300th video, well done!! Glad to see you got some dry weather for it!! That sustrans bridge over the river was clearly built for Michael Pilling to do some fishing safely😆😆. Lots of nice details on the way like those coping stones from 1920 You captured some great birdsong, whilst the crows were loud, at least it's a natural sound, far far worse was the A4!! Always like to see those blue plaques, next time I'm back in the UK I'll see if I can capture some, especially IKBs birthplace, and the Conan Doyle one. Have a great week, all the best and good luck from Spain!!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you David! Thanks for your congratulations message. Yes, finally a bit of dry weather. Yes, it is an odd one why they went to the expensive of that "lookout turret" on the bridge. Oh yes, Black Dog Halt was great, if it wasn't for the infernal noise of the A4, which is very close by (but not visible - it is just underneath that 2nd bridge that I walked over). Unfortunately, the halt is sited in a dip, so there are hills both sides of it for the traffic to climb up, hence the rather loud volume of the traffic, amplified by the contours of the ground too. I did try and tweak the sound as best as I could to make my voice heard, but there is only so much you can do in such a noisy location. Perhaps I shoud have mimed it, and done it as a voiceover! Yes, I try and include blue plaques as much as I can - that IKB shed he used as a planning office next to Chippenham Station was fabulous and in great condition too. Thanks again, take care, Paul.