Smallbrook Junction - Least Used Station Isle of Wight

Previously part of Hampshire, the island was given its own county council on 1 April 1890, which means it has its own least used station - Smallbrook Junction, which cannot be access by road and is only served by the Island Line on days that the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is also running.
The ORR Estimates of Station Usage are here: dataportal.orr...
The lovely Isle of Wight Steam Railways is here: iwsteamrailway...

[@cerealport2726]

It's amazing to see someone make videos about somewhere they have repeatedly not visited. What a time to be alive.

[@Jothamvvw]

Strange that Geoff has such extensive knowledge about the railway lines on an island he's never been to.

[@MercenaryPen]

clearly a scripted video, with knowledge gleaned from other enthusiasts :P

[@ChapatiMan]

He has been here before

[@atmosfear667]

@@ChapatiMan No he hasn't.

[@LexiTheLazy]

@@ChapatiMan You Missed The Joke

[@asac159]

I don't think the Isle of Wight is real. It's just a green screen construct, so Geoff clearly can't have been there.

[@Pesmog]

As well as being no road access to Smallbrook Junction, there is no pedestrian access either, or wasn't last time I visited which probably accounts for the low passenger numbers. I and a few others got stranded at Smallbrook Jct. when the last steam train of the day dropped us there and then the island line train network broke down ten minutes later so there would be no further electric trains that day back to Ryde and the ferries. Because it was not possible to leave the station on foot, the steam railway had to bring a special train up to rescue us and then arrange Taxi's onwards from there back to Ryde. From a safety perspective I didn't think it was acceptable that there was no pedestrian access or egress at the station in such a situation, so I complained, but it went nowhere.

[@ClydebridgeStation]

Another station on a preserved railway where that could happen is Manuel Junction, on the Boness and Kinneil Railway. There is no pedestrian access there, but at least there, as it's the end of the line, and the train runs round, everyone HAS to get back on. If there was a failure of the preserved train, then that's where you could have a problem, but at least the crew would be on hand to help.

[@peeky44]

There is an emergency access path to the north so you would never get totally stuck - but it would always be safer for a train to pick you up if they were available

[@HuggyBob62]

I wonder why the Island Line couldn't have made the next train stop in that situation. There would have been more of them, just not timetabled to stop!

[@Madmark50484]

@@HuggyBob62 the previous trains on the Island were notorious for breaking down to the point there were no trains available.

[@DanielsPolitics1]

I wonder how that worked financially. I suppose the electric railway paid, as it was in effect a rail replacement train for their failed service?

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Geoff doing a parody of himself is the most Geoff thing ever. The Meta Quality is unreal.

[@ToilerOnTheSea]

Almost Beta?

[@NigelDraycott]

Wait what! are we all wearing meta visors?

[@Sophiebryson510]

Good green-screen Geoff! Your animation skills for the people and trains are also getting better too!

[@mikeroberts6799]

Some years ago (before mobile phones) we got off the train from Ryde to find we had missed the last train back to Haven Street, so we walked back along the track towards Haven Street as far as the first road bridge. We were the only ones who got off at Smallbrook Junction

[@20BumbleBee23]

went to IoW in April and loved the Steam rail - was the best part of my holiday! At Haven Street, went into the museum and saw the old Island Line train before the D stock arrived.

[@tonycook603]

As a resident of Ryde, welcome back to our Island Geoff. I wondered whether you would do a least used on the IOW. We love our new "only 40 year old" ex District Line trains as well.

[@DitzyNizzy2009]

I don't know which one I find more amazing - the green screen or the work made to build replica train carriages, platforms etc.

[@LWR1]

Went to Smallbrook Junction in May 2019, a tiny station, and spent the day on the IOW Steam Railway, which was a good day out. Nice video Geoff!

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

You’d assume they wait for each other, being as the “mainline” station has no other access

[@ChilledGamerUK]

Got stranded at Smallbrook Jnc back in June this year. Unit 002 emergency brakes applied and the train had to be rebooted, took close to 40 minutes to get it going again. It was heading north bound and I wanted to go south bound. So 90mins later, I made it to Shanklin.

[@gwyneddboom2579]

This is some really good green screen work!

[@darylcheshire1618]

When the Mornington line was open in the late ‘70 in Victoria, Australia, there was a group of about 30 that boarded the rail motor at Mornington and stopped at the conditional stop at Langwarrin which had a 3’ high platform and nothing else. So the Railways would have low passenger stats for Langwarrin and then suddenly 30 people on one day. The Mornington Line is now closed but the Stony Point train still runs past Langwarrin (not stopping) and with rising populations, there is a proposal to build a new station at Langwarrin.

[@AndrewJohnson-ur3lw]

No bin bags waving in the breeze as from your clips they still have proper bins!

[@Banglish123]

The underground train was a bit strange. It didn't really look like an underground train but as it pulled out the sound was unmistakeable. It reminded me of when you hear a plane and look up to see a bird.

[@bobbythomas200420032]

That was an excellent video and really enjoyable. Liked the steam train and the woden platform as well as the main island train platform and the island train.

[@bobsrailrelics]

Wonderful line. Great to see a Vivarail D train in successful operation.

[@thomashowe2340]

Thank you for this video, Geoff. You have inspired me to do travel vlogs, especially with trains included!

[@paulharvey9149]

So the question is, Geoff, is Smallbrook Junction the least used station on the whole island - or is it the least used station on Island Line - and is it also the least-used station on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway - or could that honour belong to Ashey? Series of least-used stations/halts on preserved lines in the offing, perchance?

[@oldlordys]

I was just going to say the very same thing Ashey deserves a mention!

[@davidhamm7909]

To be fair, all other least used stations only count National Rail stations.

[@thomasroff9084]

I was going to raise the same point I went last year spent 2 hours there on 3 occasions and no one else

[@tonycook603]

The steam trains don't actually stop at Ashey.

[@georgewall5572]

@@tonycook603 Ashey can sometimes be used as a request stop although not many people go there. Plus once a year there is the Ashey Scurry where the trains regularly stop at the station for the event.

[@ahscott2001]

Now THAT is some good CGI. Well done Geoff!

[@randregL]

Oh my gosh, Geoff! Thank you so much for doing this video! I'm in the US and log onto the Isle of Wight railway every morning to see what's going on. There are cameras at Havenstreet and Wooten, but I've never seen Smallbrook Junction before! Thank you, thank you!!! PS--wouldn't Ashey Station be someone on the list of least-used stations?

[@mdhazeldine]

Wow, a least used station that I've actually been too! Was there just a few months ago. Great day out and very nice staff on the steam railway. Smallbrook Junction also has a covered waiting room for the steam train, with a compostable toilet! Almost civilised. Haha

[@johnledingham852]

What a lovely little video, about what seems to be a lovely little place. I might suggest that my wife gives us a trip the Isle of Wight for our 56th anniversary. Hmmm, leave that with me for now!

[@sunjamm222]

I must the CGI of Isle of Wight is very good and the green screen work is ILM level.

[@OhioticketswithRobert]

Love it, very interesting seeing the old stream train and the carriages.

[@Desiro360]

Another great video. I visited the Isle of Wight steam railway during a family holiday way back in 2001. Was a great fun day. :)

[@harvisterc]

I have been waiting for you to do the least used station in Devon for like 4 years

[@alexthewoo]

You should visit the Wells & Walsingham, the worlds smallest public railway. its in North Norfolk and is only 10 1/4 inch gauge, but still has comply with the ORR

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Most enjoyable and glad you saw the D-stock EMU !

[@brianfretwell3886]

I remember one year when I was on a combined ticket from the Hovercraft for crossing, IOW Steam Railway and train transfer from Ryde I asked the quard if I was on the right train (I meant time) for Smallbrook and he said "Yes". It was too early and it went straight through when I got off at the next station I, Brading, was told it was the right train but only on the return journey!!!!! Oh, and I would have said that you used difference mattes, not green screen for this video! 😁

[@yelfsteam]

Brilliant Geoff. I would like to see you do more heritage lines. I'm sure you could do your own mini series. Last used heritage station.

[@XFXRyan99QPR]

Big up Geoff, I love your videos! Please do secrets and least used on NYC subway

[@TheDaf95xf]

Hi 👋🏻 Geoff. Great seeing the repurposed D stock train 😊Hopefully it’ll prove successful and they may open some more of the IOW railway 😆 Steam railway looks good 👍🏻

[@SouthLightFX]

Geoff Marshall and a cup of tea... no surprise there then 😆 - Milk and two for me too please. I must say; great to see the new stock on the Island Line, especially after all the hiccups they have had in the past... Hope you are keeping well Geoff?

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

The Island Line trains now look so “futuristic”. What a change. Thank you for bringing back happy memories of my own visit, even though you obviously have never been to the Isle of White. 😉 👏👏👍😀 Andrew

[@gothica64]

That's because the Isle of "White" doesn't exist. 🤣

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

@@gothica64 Opps! Bloody autocorrect 🤬

[@gbtrainspotting2084]

I was waiting for this video for so long now “Least used station on the Isle of Wight”

[@stephenharper9961]

Remember 33202 trying to run round during the islands diesel gala, great video, spent a fair bit of time on small brook Junction myself

[@openbabel]

There are plans to open the line to cowes.Cowes station was where the new Marks and Spencers building is. However the new station could be directly behind this building.

[@samsteven7261]

Funnily enough I was on the Steam railway this week and was talking with me friends about what would be the least used station of the island if all the former stations on the island were to still be open

[@peeky44]

I'd guess Whippingham given the only thing nearby is the crematorium. Then again, some of the rural stops on the FYN might be contenders. Oddly enough, the Ventnor West branch might be too well used - there's lots of housing near the sites of Whitwell and Godshill stations that simply didn't exist when the line was open... If course there's any housing on the site of Ventnor West Station itself so that would be a slight problem - not to mention the Newport issue :D

[@scullytawoody4852]

Love a steam train ride ,reminds me of the Sheringham and holt steam trains nice for the family, young or old .

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Lovely little leisure Treasure

[@patrickl2195]

Looks delightful. You really should visit some time, Geoff!

[@ReubenAshwell]

Nice to see a suprise video from you Geoff. I'd love to visit the isle of Wight sometime and ride the steam railway. Very interesting video BTW. :)

[@ianmacfarrlaine5617]

So would Geoff

[@gibbo9089]

Glad to see you haven't made it to the Isle of Wight again!

[@thetrainkid3177]

Was only there a couple of days ago! I probably just missed you! Well, there’s always another time.

[@jgodfrey546]

Clearly the cgi budget has blossomed. 1 would think you had actually been there! Love the 'live' bits of someone walking about in a Geoff costume... Well done!

[@michaelduffield9801]

Wait for this for ages we are going there today

[@IowaTrainGay]

Lol! The paredy/leasy used video we didn't know we needed! 😍 Nice!

[@moe_1886]

Very quaint Geoff. 😎

[@komischeskind]

Since you've never been to the Isle of Wight I recommend that you do at some point visit. I myself have totally been there at least five times.

[@michaelmiller641]

lovely, it's too long since I've visited the isle of white steam railway!

[@toranshaw4029]

Nice to see you're not there again. 🙂

[@SiVlog1989]

Smallbrook Junction and Dovey Junction are two stations I can think that exist solely for interchange purposes and have no road access to them. I wonder if there are other examples that exist on Network Rail

[@Sim0nTrains]

Dovey Junction has a path I think which is a 10 to 15 minute walk, I remember at the top of the path takes you to a road and a Disused Station when looking it up

[@paulharvey9149]

There are a few without any public road access, but I don't think any of them offer interchange facilities, except for long distance walkers or cross-country cyclists!

[@abrahamisthatyou6669]

Contrary to popular belief, Dovey Junction DOES actually have an entrance/exit! It’s only a footpath (so, still no road access) but it does exist. And regarding stations without public road access, there exist precisely 7 such stations on the National Rail network. Aside from Smallbrook Junction, these are: • Altnabreac (far north of Scotland); • Corrour (elsewhere in Scotland); • the aforementioned Dovey Junction; • Berney Arms (Norfolk); • Longcross (Surrey); • Middlewood (near Manchester). The first four are, not coincidentally, often listed as the four most isolated stations in the country. Middlewood is perhaps my favourite example! When it was built, it had four platforms on two levels (Tamworth-style) and, just like Smallbrook today, it was a purely interchange station with no entrance or exit. When the high-level line closed under Beeching, the old trackbed was converted into a footpath, which (somewhat ironically) gave direct public access to the low-level platforms! And then there’s Longcross, which is kinda boring.

[@joermnyc]

@Sleeper Train Fan you can hike between Corrour and the next station if you don’t mind walking the moor.

[@roadsignreporter]

Middlewood has no direct road access but can be reached after a 5 to 10min walk

[@AchyutChaudhary]

Geoff FINALLY made it to the Isle of Wight 🇬🇧 some 5 years later 😆

[@neilbain8736]

5:43 That brake pump really has a funky base line.

[@KempSimon]

The Isle of Wight was literally an island of air braking in a sea of vacuum. They didn't really need the stopping power of the Westinghouse Air Brake on the island but got it anyway because they tended to use second (or third) hand rolling stock from the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway!

[@Transportationspotting]

Ironically, I went to the Isle of Wight for the island line the day before you were there!

[@jia709]

FINALLY LEAST USED STATION ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Nice thing to use green screen.

[@antidisestablishmentariani569]

The ‘38 stock on the island line felt so astonishingly tube-like. I like the new D stock but they don’t feel like riding the tube in the same way - especially with the refurbishment.

[@henrybest4057]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the signal box at Smallbrook Junction was at one time, on summer Saturdays, busier than the signal box at Clapham Junction.

[@Veptis]

I wanted to make a fan video about the least used station in my city as well, surprisingly many stations on that island. What's the fewest stations on any island?

[@Gruntos]

And if I remember in its heyday Smallbrook Jn held the record for most busiest junction for manual pouch exchanges on a summer Saturday within British rail.

[@marktaylor865]

Least used because it links to the steam railway exhibit in the middle of nowhere.

[@shadylady4829]

Looks great - I must not visit the Isle of Wight one day. 🤣

[@lapiswake6583]

Very nice LSWR coaches. I'm off to the IoW on friday for a few days on a band tour, hopefully will have time to do at least a couple of stations on the island, ideally this one because of its limited service so I don't have to time a 2nd trip for when it's open.

[@mrorangeaventra4683]

Amazing video Geoff

[@Davehearne43]

Welldone guys keep up the good work stay safe

[@MahdiAmeri]

Love your Videos specially this unplanned one. Thanks

[@yeswap57]

Yeah done this last month we also went to Ryde to get the hover craft to Portsmouth…. Great day

[@oldgittarist]

Enjoy your stay down here, Geoff!!

[@ramdynebix]

The earworm, it is back 🥰

[@maecarpenter69]

Loving that this joke is still going 😂 If I ever go to the Isle of White to make a video, I'll make sure I put it in for you...

[@tornadofairy5376]

Just a thought, maybe Ashey would be the least used on the line, as it's a request stop... Back a couple of months ago we got off there and enjoyed a picnic. Check it out Geoff next time you don't come to the Island...lol

[@briancarson68]

I wasn't there in 2016, its a great place, apparently.

[@sideshowmatt7119]

It was 484004 again today (8th August) on a very busy day, lots of people on board the trains I was on as I was given a traction training course. 😀

[@superbazaar1932]

I have waited for this

[@azz710]

As I read the title of this video, my mind, all on its own, added, ‘… if it’s not too dear…’

[@CloudmasterGaming]

Geoff really loves the Isle of Wight. *Video suggestion:* the least used station in Scotland? Btw I love your videos!

[@paulharvey9149]

Scotland has 29 council areas that have stations in them. There is no reason why a series couldn't be made about these just as it has in England and Wales. There must be a least-used station in Northern Ireland too, not to mention the Isle of Man!

[@313rail]

And least used station on Alderney 🤣

[@philipbrailey]

Another great video, thanks Geoff 🇦🇺

[@thexalon]

I didn't even see a bin bag blowing in the breeze.

[@aeronautic2374]

Short as it may be - this was still a great video Geoff!

[@robertpassmore7231]

Geoff you are aware in 2021 the Island line was going no where from beginning of January to November. It would be interesting to find out where you obtained your stats for 2020/21 for the number of passengers at Smallbrooke Junction.

[@peeky44]

Office of Rail and Road statistics. And for all that time when Island Line was closed, anyone with a National Rail ticket to Smallbrook Junction got a bus/taxi ride to Havenstreet instead. Ironically that means Havenstreet has it's first regular bus service for more than a decade (albeit only on steam running days).

[@theweekthatis]

Absolutely the best AI video I've seen, I prefer avatar Geoff to real Geoff.

[@garrygreen3210]

Excellent 3rd party collaboration with your doppelgänger. I bet you would love to go there for real.

[@paulknight5018]

@Geoff Marshall you've been using that Uncanny Valley stuff again, this is a robot on a greenscreen, has anyone notice Geoff is getting more active, most of us get less active as we get older? Geoff you can't fool me....

[@chrisdeacon2000]

There's a nice pub in Wooton, about 10 minutes walk from the station

[@Andy-ju8bb]

I think we need to do a GoFundMe to finally send Geoff to the IOW.

[@danearl8607]

Request stop on the way back.

[@paulusthegrey]

If civilisation were to end tomorrow Geoff would still be holding a full cup of tea.

[@jamesrailwayvideos4365]

Also to note smallbrook junction station only opened in 1991 too.

[@SMlFFY85]

5:54 You're sat next to the Megabus mascot.

[@Ulsterbusman129]

You should do a least used station in northern Ireland that would be interesting and I would be interested in helping with it

[@morbital]

Vancouver Whitecaps kit and Canucks hat at 2:26!!!

[@387FanGatwick]

The class 484 sounds like a NYC train when arriving

[@robertcoleman4861]

Thanks geoff nice vid.🦘🐨🚂🚃🛤👍🤓🤠

[@garethsmith2250]

Only Geoff can go on holiday and slip in most used station special :)

[@andrewsmith2399]

Very good video can you do a video in Glasgow next

[@trevorpyle6613]

I think you'll find the reason for no passengers is that the Island line was out if action for over a year while track and train upgrades were undertaken.

[@DeeDoubleYous]

Can't wait for Geoff to finally go to the isle of wight