The Isle of Wight Railway Severed by the Seaside - Disused Railway Walk

[@michaelpilling531]

Greetings from Poland You've just brought back some wonderful memories from 1958, 59 & 60. Holidays in Bembridge and numerous train journies during those times. Thanks so much

[@TheHoveHeretic]

Super vid .... thanks so much. Lovely to see long lost 02s (and W24, which is thankfully still with us on the IWSR Smallbrook to Wootton line) For once, Richard Beeching can't be blamed for the fall of the island's lines. After the first raft of closures, starting with the Ventnor West - Merstone branch in 1952, the whole network was at risk, with only a 10 year moratorium on closures agreed in 1956, due to the state of the roads. Come the end of 1966 and more of a surprise wasn't just Ryde Shanklin not getting the chop, but being electrified. Many would say the Island's roads being upgraded remains to be addressed!!

[@michaelhearn3052]

FYI the remaining Island lines were scheduled to close in March 1964 when the notice of closure was served. BR did nit expect the backlash against closure.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Wonderful. Well presented and thankyou to your supporters for their contributions.

[@mrsgenehunt48]

Yay! Ants back 🎉

[@TrekkingExploration]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@lindamccaughey6669]

What a lovely place that looks. Loved the steam trains. Fantastic as usual. Please take care

[@martinmarsola6477]

A great pleasure to see you and this video again. Always something I look forward to. Hope you are well, and again, good to see you again! Cheers Ant! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@TrekkingExploration]

I hope you are better too. I've got some brand new stuff lined up as well as catching up on places I did over the summer

[@KarenG.-qs7wc]

I did some geocaching on that old railway path a few years ago. Lovely walk.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Did you find much? I'll be back over there at some point

[@ianr]

Excellent video Ant! Nice to have you back, hope all is well with you.🙂👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Ian. It's nice to have had a break

[@Peter-MH]

Impressed with the totally graffiti-free bridge!!! Don’t see too many of those!

[@TrekkingExploration]

That's very true it was like that over much of the island come to think of it

[@johnspurgeon9083]

Well researched historic pics lovely. Yesterday I was playing a tape I recorded out of the train window in early '60s from Ryde to Ventnor. At Wroxall a lady said quietly to her friend walking along the platform "I think I've got something falling down..." I wonder how old she is now he kid is probably coming up to retirement age!

[@jefflaufer3205]

Nice walk. Brilliant video as always. Loved the outro bloopers.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Glad you enjoyed it Jeff thank you

[@fhwolthuis]

Lovely video, Ant

[@garrymartin6474]

The little concrete hut used to be a Fog Mans hut/shelter.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Ahhh thanks for that

[@buzzukfiftythree]

Very interesting video - thanks. It was a huge mistake to close the line from Shanklin to Ventnor. Unfortunately, it was just one of so many short-sighted decisions to close UK lines in the 1960s.

[@michaelhearn3052]

Not quite. BR knew that the bulk of passengers alighted at Shanklin as that was where the bulk of the Hotels, B&Bs, and Guest Houses were, from ticket receipts and purchases. Less than 20% went to Ventnor and even less in the winter months. Also to electrify down to Ventnor would cost £264k, as a 4th substation would be needed and its 33kV O/H line connection. The business case for its retention was a poor one.

[@simongleaden2864]

You've obviously researched this subject pretty thoroughly. Thanks for the detailed information.

[@Jimyjames73]

Very good Ant. - but with some Lovely by-gone photos 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@butchknapman3939]

Excellent photos from the past add to the video's of today

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks for watching ☺️

[@simongleaden2864]

A lovely video about a lovely place. You also have the happy knack of choosing appropriate music for your videos, something many KZbinrs don't get quite right.

[@robmatthews1857]

Another great & informative vid. Thanks for sharing. Love the T-shirt, made me laugh.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Rob. That t shirt sums my personality up 😂

[@mansdaz]

Nice to see you back and thanks for you're work ❤

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thank you for watching ☺️

[@eddo167]

A Nice vid Ant, thank you for the effort, living in Wroxall and Drinking in Shanklin I can assure you that that walk can take nearly an Hour, Question have you walked up Manor Road to view the tunnel portal. Southern water use it to pipe drinking water and sewage to Sandown in separate pipes I should add !.

[@carlbentley80]

Nice little explore, smashing bridges..

[@shavedphil]

Hi Ant. I was wondering the other day when we would see some more of the Isle of Wight vlogs. Great to see this one. Many thanks 👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Phil thank you. I've got all sorts lined up going forward 😉

[@shirleylynch7529]

Good to see you back. Great explore. Superb filming and drone footage. Lovely bridges. What a great island. Thank you Ant.

[@Marc_von_Hoffrichter]

Thanks Ant, cheers cobber.

[@Carolb66]

Hi Ant, lovely seeing you again fab interesting video, Never been to Isle of White so thanks for the tour, BTW love your t shirt my son would love that! his sense of humour.❤😂😊

[@TrekkingExploration]

No Carol thank you for watching 🙂 I'll be popping some new stuff on as well as catching up with ones from the summer. That t shirt sums me up 😂

[@Carolb66]

@@TrekkingExploration great! Can't wait take care.

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@Carolb66 sooner rather than later 😉

[@152clive]

LOVE IT

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks Clive

[@dilwyn1]

As always, interesting and informative. Love the way you find so many old artefacts, great job.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers my friend thanks very much for watching

[@bobingram6912]

Nice one Ant, been waiting for this series to continue👍👍👍👍 Liking the "It'll be alright on the night" clips😂😂😂

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Bob. I don't mind Seagulls but they got me at Shanklin Station 🤣

[@andrewmatley7688]

nice one Ant keep em coming

[@HaroldRoad]

We were on holiday last Year at Leigh on Solent and went over to the Isle of White, i made the Family walk to the first Red brick Brick bridge, saw the Telegraph post you filmed...thanks for filming the extension 😂

[@TrekkingExploration]

I made the family walk over 😂 We're they like it's just a bloody bridge dad 🤣

[@jetsons101]

Not to get off subject, I was halfway through the vid before I noticed your shirt. I thought at first it was a National Geographic Society shirt -- silly me...... What a great place for a walk, wish I was there to enjoy the journey.....

[@TrekkingExploration]

That t shirt is appropriate at times 😂

[@jetsons101]

My everyday T-Shirt is "biden sucks." Very appropriate over here right now. Have a great day, off to work for me...@@TrekkingExploration

[@g4wwk-k2f]

@@jetsons101 "is Biden incontinent? Depends"

[@g4wwk-k2f]

@@TrekkingExploration No it isnt!.. Sorry that's contradiction not Sarcasm

[@jetsons101]

LOL LOL LOL LOL @@g4wwk-k2f

[@angelajones2095]

Great to see you back, loved the video, you take such care and they are so atmospheric! Thanks Ant, you’re right I didn’t have long to wait! X

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Angela. I knew when I replied to you previously it was ready to go 😉

[@alexcharlesworth7580]

I'd love to be able to time travel back to when all these old lines were still working. The IOW railway lines have always fascinated me. Great video... but "Water pipe", really?🤔😂

[@michaelhearn3052]

That water pipe feeds the water supply to Ventnor.

[@johnhalley974]

Can’t wait for the next one to Ventnor….The station was unusual as it had a small turntable at the end of the platform instead of points for the loco to runaround

[@michaelhearn3052]

Think you will find it was a sector plate in later years, or a set of points.

[@john-pu5uy]

Great video... super as always... You should do a Video Railways wise with Wobbly Runner Paul from Sheffield... make a great pairing Ant you would-- your both the best on youtube in my eyes

[@colinday63]

Well done Ant. Nice to see another IOW video again after most of them being in the North. I think that each one that you do gets just a little bit better as you get more skilled at the editing snd the narrstion. Just very well done and a story well told.

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

Another fantastic video Ant. One question which may seem daft but here we go. Shanklin to Ventnor. What happens to the engine? Were there sidings to take it from the front to the back but in my mind it would be facing the other way. Was there a turntable? I honestly haven't a clue and hope you can clear it up for me or anyone in the comments. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed it.

[@jackmartinleith]

Locos changed ends at Ventnor where there was a run round loop that extended into the tunnel. If you find my other comment there's a link to a video made by Gareth Icke. He and his dad David walked the entire route from Shanklin to Ventnor. They didn''t go through St Boniface Down tunnel as it's now the property of Southern Water, but they visited the northern portal. Father and son both have good knowledge of the Ventnor station trackwork and associated infrastructure. See if you can find my other comment. The last part of the video will answer your question.

[@ste.h9825]

Chees,what a shame these lovely little lines where lost.What a great heritage railway they would have made.😕

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's odd that this one just wasn't left all the way to Ventnor 😦

[@ste.h9825]

They had no foresight that these lost railways could once again be useful & profitable.Whether tourist or at national level.

[@paulhitchcock9760]

@@ste.h9825 It was a 300ft.,climb from the sea front to the terminus. As soon as motor buses gained pneumatic tyres the railway was fated.

[@michaelhearn3052]

@@TrekkingExploration refer to my previous reply, the business case for its retention was poor. BR knew from ticket sales and receipts that the bulk of passengers alighted at Shanklin and caught a bus into Ventnor that took them directly into the town. Also BR only had enough money to electrify down to Shanklin, as was agreed with the government at the time. To electrify to Ventnor would need £274k spent on a 4th traction substation, conductor rail etc, money BR did not have sanctioned.

[@michaelhearn3052]

@@paulhitchcock9760 Correct, a nice view of the town and seashore, but a problem to walk down with two suitcases and kits in tow. Worse still on the return journey back up those hills.

[@simonballard6413]

Another great video, Ant. Can one walk through Alfreton old tunnel, I wonder?

[@mattisfaction811]

Hi I’m really enjoying the videos. I was looking through your videos to see if you have walked the west meon lines down near Southampton? It’s very interesting lots of ww2 history, Winston Churchill held secret meetings with allies at Droxford station.

[@Design2winLew]

Great to have vids back Ant , excellent as ever . It's amazing how much is still in place after all these years . Are you doing the final leg to Ventnor and the long tunnel ? Otherwise its a bit of a hike over the top . Done that a few times , amazing views from the top though .

[@johnward9421]

A great video would to have seen the end of the line even on a map how it ended that's all.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I've not finished around there 😉

[@johntyjp]

If it had t been for the unsafe tunnel at Ventnor needing restoration, the line might ve been kept open?!🧐

[@michaelhearn3052]

The issue of the tunnel being unsafe is a myth. Southern Water use it and have a water main down one side and the sewage pipe along the other side. There is a DVD purchasable from the dumpman website. that has a 30 min recording of a visit into the tunnel.

[@grahamwoodage9355]

Hi mate. Is it possible for you to walk what was the old meon valley railway. It has been done by others, but only from Fareham to west meon. Never the section of track from west meon to Alton. I would be most interested to see this. Thanks Graham.

[@jackmartinleith]

Thanks Ant. Lovely stuff. You may have seen it already, but for others reading this, I'm including a link to the final part of the video made by Gareth Icke. With his father David, he walked the entire route from Shanklin to Ventnor with the exception of St Boniface Down tunnel, although they visited the northern portal (Gareth accidentally called it the southern portal). This URL kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqbLd36XZt1nqbMsi=yG_sTD3uTmbl1Ycg&t=1788 starts the video at the site of Wroxall station, now covered by a Travis Perkins yard as you probably discovered. Thanks again, and best wishes from Bristol.

[@rossontinternet]

P-way shelter probably

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Richard's You Tube link is broken.

[@paulhitchcock9760]

Er, the line opened in 1864 not 1884.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Bloody Seagulls distracting me 😂