The Hamworthy Branch Line! How's it progressing.

It's been a while since I last visited Hamworthy Branch line in Dorset, and I must say it was pleasing to see that some progress has been made! Network Rail has confirmed that if the funding is sourced that the Port of Poole will be back on the National Network with possible aggregate workings. For more railway content, please like and subscribe to my channel @DarrenJohnsonRail #railway #train #trainfans #britishrailways #southwesternrailway #fypシ

[@ThirdEyePix]

Very comprehensive and informative - Thanks for sharing.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Appreciated thank you 😊

[@nigelfarley814]

I often travel from Poole to France and have wondered what those track were that I cross on my way into the ferry terminal. I hope it gets fully reopened as it would be handy for ferry passengers. There are so many lines that need to be reopened. Made rail travel simple and cheap then a lot more people would the train.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Agree there are plenty of old lines out there that need to open again, let the train take the strain!

[@neilbolger2679]

@@DarrenJohnsonRail I heard there are plans to reopen some old lines. True or not I don't know but I'm hoping these old lines do get opened again

[@RUOKH]

There's nothing so forlorn as seeing abandoned railway tracks, that have ceased having trains passing over them. 😥

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Yes, I agree with you. Let's hope that in the near future, this old line comes back to life!

[@malcolmpym507]

The last train to traverse the line was a special passenger train which visited Eastern Docks/ Western Docks /Fawley and Hamworthy> Top and Tailed by Clsss 66

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

That's good to know. Thanks for this information its appreciated. Hopefully, one day, this could be recreated.

[@andrewhotston983]

I was on that train. An excellent day out.

[@phillwainewright4221]

Years ago, a bunch of us used to walk along that line as a short-cut from Turlin Moor to Poole Quay.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Oh yes, I can see how that would work.

[@user-zr5yj1od5q]

I hope all that ivory fetched a good price 😂

[@SirReginaldBlomfield1234]

@user-zr.. How many elephants were killed in order to embellish that bridge 😣🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Haha, yeah, I just noticed my error that will teach me! The joys of predictive text 😂😂

[@adrianbew9641]

Might even be green with envy.😂

[@neilbolger2679]

@@DarrenJohnsonRail I guess you knew what you said , all done but the ivory horn will tone it well . Nice vid no matter the error lol

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

​@neilbolger2679 Thanks. I'm glad you like the video, and yes, I should have spotted my error, but too late! If nothing else, it gave us all a chuckle 😃

[@paulweaver4297]

@DarrenJohnsonRail in the early 1980s I worked for a company called Solent Carter one of the shipping and customs clearance agents in Poole based on the Poole Ferry Port, this was before the offices moved outside the fenced area. We handled amongst other things some of the bulk ships that came into Poole and the steel that was imported and transported by rail to various parts of the UK by train. The steel came into Poole on ships in both coils and in billet form and was unloaded directly onto the freight trains once we had done all the customs work and the cargo could be released. I worked in the quayside office directly alongside the trains being loaded, in those days safety wasn't what it is these days. OK, we did wear hard hats, hi-vis and steel toe-capped shoes but they would have done little to save us if the train hit us or if the crane operator lost the load and it crashed to the ground, something I actually never saw and I can't recall it ever happening. I remember the 08 shunter that moved the BAA Steel Wagons around on the quayside and often wondered how it managed to move the wagons when formed into what would have been a heavy train in those days. I look forward to hearing of the return of trains on to the Hamworthy freight line.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Hi Paul many thanks for sharing your memories of the line really like reading these. That sounds like an interesting job and in a good location! Like you I am still amazed how much grunt the 08's have such a underrated workhorse! All the best Darren

[@and7barton]

Damn. I had intended to use this with my rail buggy. On the UP side, it's good to see this line being re-used for proper traffic.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Fantastic, you own a rail buggy! Yes, it's good to see that this line could be getting used once more.

[@and7barton]

@@DarrenJohnsonRail No, I don't own a buggy .... yet. I was planning such a project as my next little venture the latest in a series of interesting earlier projects. This ambition will probably be scrapped. Another buggy line I'd had in mind was the Weymouth docks line, but this was recently ripped up, so it was another opportunity lost. I'm not willing to travel too far afield to find an abandoned length of track. Hamworthy would have been a nice length to run a buggy.

[@mikeuk4130]

Not sure UP would be able to fit one of their huge trains on such a small branch.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

I did that line on a railtour many years ago.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

That's great. Where was that from?

Thank you for your interesting video. Surely Network Rail wouldn't got to all that trouble and leave the port terminus untouched? Watch this space!

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have been told that NWR is trying to source funding from the Port to progress further. I will keep monitoring the status of the line and keep you updated.

[@sarahwinfield3989]

I hope so. I worked on the Nuffield industrial estate so it would be interesting to see trains so close.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

I will be monitoring the area fingers crossed, we will see traction back on the line again....

[@leeroberts1192]

Nuffield is too far from the railway to see any trains, sure you don't mean Sterte? Willis Way off of Willis Road would be close enough to see the railway line as well.

[@pbwake65]

Darren love to know when we can see first trains on this branch.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Many thanks. I am not sure, but I am monitoring the area. 😀

[@pacerchaser9434]

Great video! Hope to see trains back on here soon 🤞

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Thank you appreciated. Yes, fingers crossed 🤞

[@jimihendrix991]

...so that's where 'ivory' comes from......................................................... Good to know..................... 😉

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Haha, every day is a learning day! A good tradesman never blames his tools, but I am putting it down to predictive text!

[@NorthumberlandSnapper]

It looks in pretty good nick that branch. I've certainly seen a lot worse. Would be nice to see a bit of traffic returning.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Yes, to be honest, it doesn't look in bad shape! Fingers crossed, we will see traction back on this line soon.

[@kristinajendesen7111]

I used to drive for Wilts & Dorset back in 86 to 87. Driving buses to Rockley Park Ashmore Crossing was never had any of that fuss despite the steel trains running. Joining BR in December 87, Hamworthy Quay was still a destination station available on our Sportis ticket machines, station long closed of course. Never worked the branch myself but some of our drivers at Bournemouth did and took an 08 down for shunting. Odd for me not seeing the signalbox now at Hamworthy & the semaphore signals for the branch. Worked as a guard and later driven through as a driver with 33s+TCs, slammers and Pigs many times but that's the first time I've seen the entrance to Pramworthy Station. Did you know (if you didn't check it out), the opening scenes of The Heroes of Telemark are filmed on Poole Quay with the trains shunting. Masquerading as a Norwegian port.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Hi, thanks for sharing this appreciated. It's a small world. I currently own two Wilts & Dorset buses that I have preserved. Looking at the dates you have mentioned, one of them you could have driven! It's a Bristol VR fleet number 3451. The second one I own is a newer vehicle after you left W&D an Optare Spectra 3127. Thanks for sharing your memories 😊

[@kristinajendesen7111]

@@DarrenJohnsonRailThat's good to hear. Quite nice to drive, much better than the Nationals and the Crossville VRs (rubbish). The advertising ones were the fastest, the black Goadsby & Harding & the blue one (not the centenary). Loved driving the REs, they reminded me of the old Royal Blue coaches with their sound. LHs were fun but manual with no P.A.S. Never drove an Optare, they introduced another link and lower wages for them. I'm also ex LT before W&D, drove the best buses ever made - Routemasters. Auto with manual override, P.A.S., dual hydraulic brakes. They'd still run rings around a modern bus if well maintained especially the injectors and gearbox bands. I bought an RML back in 2004 with the idea of making a business out of it offering people the chance to drive an RM. It was difficult finding somewhere to keep it though as you will be aware. I used to keep it in the Shamrock & Rambler yard in Poole before they went bust but I could only get it out when all the other buses had gone on the school runs. If I win the lottery though a good original RM is top of my list along with a Vauxhall Cresta PA 3 window (I'm ancient and so are my memories, lucky enough to have travelled on the trolleybuses too).

[@DEREKH-zi6pm]

They could have a new feature called a 'Boat Train' 🛳🛤🚝🦉😉

[@mikeuk4130]

There is hope! It looks like NR are being proactive and trying to encourage the Port of Poole to get modern and do the right thing.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Agree NR have shown their commitments over to the Port now!

[@JamesT85Gaming]

I've always known there used to be a line there. Never thought they'd bother bringing it back. I hope in a few years we can see freight running down there 🤞

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Yes, I have always been interested in finding out more about this line and was surprised when I saw the progress! NWR has made a comment that 2025 is the goal...

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

maybe because the lifting bridge has become too problematic with the road freight?

[@Paddington.]

Spent many an hour on the 08 shunter at Hamworthy Goods. Two shifts. One early morning signing on to catch the 06.16 train from Bomo Central then the other signing on at 11.00 am and pass to Poole on the 11.17 am then walk down Poole high street and somehow having a couple of pints on the way (Wouldn't happen today) On Fridays the 08 would return light engine to Bomo depot. Then there was the Hamworthy goods with either a class 33 or 47 as the traction. For a short time there was a 5 carriage freightliner from Hamworthy Goods but that did not last long. Hamworthy signal box sadly gone like the rest of them but there was some great characters that manned that box and also at other locations.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Fantastic, thanks for sharing your memories, it's wonderful to hear! Those were the days a couple of swift ones in between duties!! Haha perfect. All the best Darren

[@kristinajendesen7111]

Who can you remember going down with, Pete Trim, Brian Heckford, Stumpy, Fucknose (good old Tom Upshall) etc. Never went down myself but trainman D friends did with the drivers.

[@Paddington.]

@@kristinajendesen7111 Remember them all. Add these Mick Gubbings , Barry Sullivan (RIP) Clive Brooker (RIP) Pete Guy, Eric Croucher, Sid Fagg, Cliff Bailey Knowledgebox Langridge and Aubrey Punter and Ken 'Halfday' Hordle and Fred Norman. The RIP alongside two names is that they were taken away from us too soon. Clive was the driver in the Wareham crash and Barry died in a car accident. Both true gentlemen like all the other names listed.

[@kristinajendesen7111]

@@Paddington. Smashing bloke Clive, never swore and never a bad word for anyone. My last memory of him was buzzing him up to ask if he wanted a tea on a Pig. He actually walked back down the platform at Parkway with one of those green BR cups. Last memory of Johnny Rolls was round the depot on the Wednesday before cooking fish in the microwave.

[@Paddington.]

@@kristinajendesen7111 Totally agree about the late Clive Brooker always smiling and a pleasure to work with. He was a relief driver when I knew him and half way up the list to become driver. I think the senior passman was Derek ' The Whispering Baratone' Harris or ' whisper willie another pleasant man. Then there was Chalkie White who used to wind up the drivers especially Ted Hill when Chalkie was on a ghoster.

[@Trek001]

The reason they removed the ivory is because its illegal to have it

[@boblovell5789]

Looks as if the station friends could well be looking for some extra help if that additional platform needs some TLC

[@johnjephcote7636]

I must check this because all I remember is seeing locos being turned on the Hamworthy Triangle in steam days.

[@kristinajendesen7111]

Mike Webb, who was later a guard and wrote a book, used to be a signalman there. He said that he would sometimes jump on the engine and do a little shunting whilst the traincrew went to the nearest pub for a pint. Anything went on BR and it was great fun. There was a trainspotter in the London area, might have been on the SE, who was going around in uniform and offering to take drivers off early. They assumed he was qualified driver and jumped at the chance. Apparently he drove perfectly. Must have had some lessons from a train driver mate.

[@robertclare6137]

Try and think outside the box 🤔 New Ferry service and Station, when they start laying the third rail then start jumping up and down...........oooooops I shouldn't have said that😆

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Ohhh, now that sounds interesting, I wonder? Watch this space!

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

4:18, was there a 2nd track/bridge at Lake Rd?

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

No, just the one, but it looks like it could have been a double track bridge at some point?

[@robd2184]

How it’s progressing assumes some new traffic , I’m not aware of any ?

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Not seen nothing at the moment but as soon as I do I will upload a video.

[@thomascame3582]

2025 lets hope. And unlike this time trains will go right up to the port!!!!!

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Yes, let's hope so, time will tell....

[@ZackMurray12]

Will this be a Frieght line or passenger line, if it does come back?

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Looking at a letter that was from Network Rail, it all points towards freight, but I suppose never say never!

[@Sam_Green____4114]

The Signal Box has gone ? When ?

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Have the boxes at Wareham , Wool and Dorchester South gone as well ?

[@davegardner2258]

@@Sam_Green____4114 Poole ,Hamworthy, Wareham and Wool went some years ago. The area is controlled from Basingstoke. Shame as it was a good day out doing the locking services on that route.

[@GenX-Gamore]

I do appreciate the time and effort you put into making this video, and liked seeing other areas around the world when it comes to trains and the area they are in. But I could not finish watching the video, the Bright white transition was more of a flash of white light. Please keep in mind when transitioning scenes bright lights like "White" that even appear to flash can cause issues with people who have eyesight problems and or those who can have seizures from flashing lights or what can appear to flash. Not to mention, white is not the best to use when transitioning scenes, black is best or do a fade from scene to scene.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Hi many thanks for your feedback it's appreciated. KZbin is still all new to me, I will take your comments onboard. Cheers

[@GenX-Gamore]

​@@DarrenJohnsonRail I do appreciate you getting back to me, I to am learning new things still, my daughter has learned to work with Devinci, while she is no expert, she has learned to do some cool things and some I never thought of. Not knowing what you use to edit your videos, there are plenty of tutorials on YT that has helped my daughter to do better in Davinci resolve and it's the free version. Your channel is doing good, Barvo, never give up, never give in, never say I can't, well til ya try that is. Happy Railroading ,Cheers.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Hi, thanks for this information, a great help. It's all a big learning curve, but like you say, the tools are out there its just finding the right ones. I will check out the one you have mentioned. All the best Darren

[@GenX-Gamore]

@@DarrenJohnsonRail Your welcome, wish all the best "Oh it sure is a big learning curve" now I feel like I'm craming for a big test, so much to understand and that is just YT :) All the Best to you that you are able to to make better and more train videos.

[@veronikakerman6536]

Why are the rails so heavily fenced?

[@roderickjoyce6716]

Fencing is standard practice (with a very few exceptions like the Snowdon Mountain Railway which has a top speed not much faster than walking pace) in the UK and Ireland. Even light railways, usually limited to a top speed of 25mph, have to have continuous fencing. It goes back to Victorian lawmakers worried about mass slaughter of livestock and trespassers as the new steam-driven monsters bore down upon them. In other European countries it's up to the farmers to protect their livestock, a simple electric fence is usually all that it takes, and parents to teach their kids not to play on the tracks. However, high speed lines have continuous fencing (to protect trains from wildlife), and some of the very few third rail lines do as well.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Thanks for the detailed answer appreciated.

[@andrewcowling5804]

I didn’t know Network rail employed elephants?

[@thejfg7741]

Only on trunk lines

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Haha yes Nellie's the name 😂

[@tealownersclubsoutheast17]

There are many white elephants employed by Network Rail.

[@ianbird9143]

Think of all the improvements that could have been made to network rail infrastructure all over Britain with the money wasted on HS2…

[@geoff1201]

My view exactly, all that money frittered away for nothing.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Could not agree more!

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

some of that cash could have got the Swanage branch line completed for mainline services. (imagine how many vehicles that could take off the local roads)

[@MarcoPolo31West]

HS2 was costed to pay for itself (and much more) over its lifetime. The only waste was in cutting it back so much that the remainder is next to useless. There is no 'pot of cash' resulting from the HS2 cutback "savings" - that's just a Sunak lie. The HS2 money was to be an investment for future returns. Any rail scheme improvements will be similarly costed, and will stand or fall on their own merits.

[@Sam_Green____4114]

Why is it coming back ?

[@Sam_Green____4114]

My guess it's not for traffic from the port ! It's for the Stone traffic !! Which gets unloaded near Hamworthy station . They only go down to Hamworthy to allow the Loco to run round ,after the stone has been unloaded ! They do not enter the Port area !! This was all as the case about ten or 15 years ago when stone was delivered to the Hamworthy Branch previously !! They are lucky they kept the Branch intact !! There's a big demand for land for new housing in that area !

[@chrisbuxton1958]

@@Sam_Green____4114 Thank you!!!

[@keithhitchings8911]

It's a case of not checking the spelling before posting on youtube. Ivy not ivory. 😊

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Yes, hands up to that!

[@jeffreyedwards9363]

So, according to this ;" The Ivory has been stripped" at the bridge . Elephant poachers active locally we must presume? Someone needs to tell Dorset police.

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

It's rife in Dorset this 'Ivory' theft! 😀

[@fenderac3049]

Ivy not ivory.

[@SirReginaldBlomfield1234]

Poor sod is probably using a dodgy spell checker 🙈😣

[@DarrenJohnsonRail]

Haha a good tradesmen never blames his tools 🔧 but I do use blooming predictive text and that's backfired! 😂

[@jonathansmythe6273]

fade to white . not nice.

[@MichaelBeeny]

I was tempted to comment, but you got in first. It's not eye friendly. Just kind of looks wrong.