Slow Train to Riccarton 1986

[@jeffsparey9585]

When I watch something like this my first thoughts are how soft we have become, Britain has changed so much since those days and certainly not for the better,a lovely reminder of how we used to be,thankyou for that lovely look back in time

[@sophieewohaa]

The real crime wasn't the closure of lines and stations, but the building over the track beds that followed.

[@Opel314]

Back in the day when the BBC made programmes of interest...

[@rhtythmregurgitator]

Excellent. Nice to hear ‘railway stations’ referred to rather than the modern US influenced ‘train stations’

[@crazyherisson6500]

How charming, genteel and well spoken are all these people. Takes me back to my youth and my own parents, honest good working class people. Where has the world gone ? So sad.

[@chrisbradley1192]

This film beautifully represents what railways meant to Britain in the first half of the 20th century. A poignant reminder of a time now lost.

[@stephenphillip5656]

The loss of a railway

[@simonjacobs7521]

Remarkable film, some interesting characters and a timeless window into life in the 50's. Why did we fail to preserve this community?

[@petermartin3069]

Once the Waverley line is restored throughout maybe the Border Counties should be next. The roads in the area are totally unsuitable for the increasing number of heavy logging lorries.

[@iankemp1131]

Great to see this film preserved, from a time when people could still remember the old line first-hand and how the community functioned.

[@ericrobson110]

Great memories, my parents and I travelled this line after the war. I was10 when the war ended, we went from Newcastle to Tarset from there it was about a mile walk to our destination Greenhalgh where we would have a week long holiday staying with our neighbours parents. Sometimes we would go to Bellingham instead of Tarset as a bus went near the village once a week on a Thursday. It only went to the lane end as it was called as it was a steep hill from there to the village less than quarter of a mile but in those days it probably would struggle to get back up the hill. Once we took the bus from Newcastle it was full and there was a steep hill which the bus could not climb so the men had to get out and walk up the hill, I can still hear the bus labouring up the hill in crawler

[@BegudMaximan-zp2tc]

Train line, life line, time line, end of line.

[@melanierhianna]

Its frightening to thing that this program is closer to the line closure than we are to it here in 2021.

[@tominnis8353]

An absolutely fascinating piece of history. Thank you.

[@andrewtingate6658]

My granddad's favourite line as a driver.

[@paullandry5594]

Lovely Northumbrian accent spoken with the uvular R, in other words, the Northumbrian Burr. Please do not let is die out.

[@alistairshaw3206]

Brilliant video, I love to see the old railways and mourn their passing.

[@martinpiggins5772]

These films are such gems they really are thank you👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Shuttlefield]

This was a great insight into the line and an invaluable piece of history. The station at Saughtree features a great deal and I have just been to stay there as the station has been preserved and offers superb B & B accommodation. The pine trees you see in the pictures of Saughtree were planted in 1951 according to records. The current owner has re-instated part of the track and a working diesel shunts wagons and a Brake van on a short length of track - well worth a visit. Strangely, on the way back from Keilder to Saughtree by road, I spied a bridge and climbed up to photograph a tree through the arch - only to find this is the same picture on the closing credits, the bridge is crumbling a little now but the tree is still the same shape, just a lot bigger! It's a wild and beautiful place.

[@timsully8958]

Wonderful programme that provides a great reference point to the people that kept those trains running and provided a service that communities relied on ❤️