The Shortest Train (Part 1)

After riding the Longest Train on the longest day of the year back in June, people joked that we should ride the Shortest Train on the shortest day of the year ... okay, Tick! We can do that!
The shortest End-To-End journey in Britain right now is the 07:10 Wrexham General to Wrexham Central, so we popped up to Wales the night before, ready for an early start on Friday December 21st 2018 - the shortest day of the year.
ROUTE: Wrexham General - Wrexham Central
The train involved starts as the 06:10 from Shewsbury and arrives at Wrexham General on platform 3. It then performs an ECS (Empty Coaching Stock) move out of the station, and back into Platform 4, where it does the 1 stop, end-to-end shortest trip. It then spends the rest of the day going between Bidston and Wrexham.
This Service on Real Time Trains: www.realtimetra...

[@AllTheStations]

To make it clear! Chris (the other passenger) had come up from Chirk, and was travelling on to Hawarden, but he's learned that instead of waiting for the train in the dark/rain/cold at Wrexham General, he can get on it and travel down to Wrexham Central, and just sit on it until it goes back through General and onto Hawarden!

[@Ulleskelf]

Shame he has to get off it when it does its ECS run (5J00) to get from platform 3 to platform 4

[@yoshthen00b]

Cheeky!

[@aDifferentJT]

Ulleskelf what is an ECS run?

[@K-o-R]

@@aDifferentJT Empty Coaching Stock.

[@garethhughes6739]

@@Ulleskelf He'd have a job! No-one can get on or off until the unit reaches platform 4. It comes from Chester on the Shrewsbury line passing south through plat.2 at Wxm, passes back northwards through plat.3, then onto the Borderlands line and back down into plat.4 where it starts passenger service. A bit convoluted, but the only way that stock coming from Chester can get onto the Wxm-Bidston line!

[@emmawieldloch1431]

Can’t wait for the middlest train

[@Edsbar]

Now that could be difficult to find.

[@fetchstixRHD]

You’ll have to wait until March/September for those...

[@meekerjs]

I don't think I could have handled that journey without being in First Class.

[@lachlansrailwayproductions]

Jeff Meeker very very true 😂

[@northerndodo]

Everybody looked so tired in the video. I think we need a campaign to add a sleeper service.

[@HarrysTrainsRBX]

Yeah, it’s too long.

[@RWblox]

@@HarrysTrainsRBX I See You Like SCR. So Do I.

[@HarrysTrainsRBX]

@@RWblox Nice

[@SlowedDownSongs1]

Same ​@@HarrysTrainsRBX

[@neilsanghrajka27]

😂 😂 The most procrastination I've ever seen in video - 12 mins 1s for a 2 min 1 s journey! Brilliant!

[@fetchstixRHD]

And there -is- could be a part 2 at that 🤔

[@DitzyNizzy2009]

fetchstix™ - I think they were being facetious.

[@WhatALoadOfTosca]

I used to love these videos, but sadly they have gone off track, pardon the pun.

[@fetchstixRHD]

Catherine Bradbury: You might be right on that! Of course “part 1” doesn’t automatically imply there are more parts, although if there was another part I would wonder what it would contain...?

[@steampunklemur]

@@fetchstixRHD It would contain the return journey

[@trueriver1950]

I thought you took a risk not booking seat reservations

[@karrelaw]

So glad Vicki explored and found there is a loo! So no-one's unlucky enough to get caught short on the shortest train on the shortest day!

[@SimonS44]

Where's part 2?!

[@RWL2012]

what will even be in part 2?!

[@JoeGrohlDJ]

@@RWL2012 Wrexham Central to Wrexham General? They paid for return tickets after all.

[@WillMeganFan]

😆😆😆

[@natestertf757]

Why would there be a part 2 ?? It's part 1 (of 1)

[@SimonS44]

I love how you are doing a parody on yourself

[@MichaelScottRamming]

So there’s no dining car? Can we blame Beeching for that incivility?

[@PeterNancarrow]

Every time I get on an underground train I ask where is the dining car?

[@nickwalter9630]

@@PeterNancarrow Then you see a guy throwing a empty McDs bag on the floor and realise you're in it.

[@PeterNancarrow]

@@nickwalter9630 Mcd's - I was hoping something more upper class!

[@emilyavidon2421]

Blame beeching for everthing (Mill Hill East is not far enough)

[@n1thmusic229]

Yep Beeching can be blamed for all our railway issues "the reshaping of british railways, I think you mean the ruining of british railways

[@wentonmastermind]

Geoff and Vicky - you've got one over on my wife and me. We have only managed Moscow to Beijing and Athens to London, but you two have managed the two Wrexham stations. You have nailed it and you are in a different class to us. We surrender. Sob! Hazel and Michael, Toronto.

[@BravoManUK]

Surely, the stations should be called Wrexham General and Wrexham specific!

[@jayswarrow1196]

Wrexham Point Lass?

[@ssbohio]

Wrexham Central and Wrexham Slightly Off to One Side.

[@kramphillips]

What an amazing journey and you also got to meet Chris Evans.

[@JackBowley95]

I was on my Northern Rail training course with your driver (and guard when it was at Urmston). John's a good mate and now a famous one too.

[@markgaughran4374]

Like the Wrexham General titles. Music sounds like a BBC News programme strand.

[@WhatALoadOfTosca]

Or perhaps a 1980s BBC drama about hospitals ;)

[@andrewholloway231]

I love this video, so much tongue in cheek ... shall we get supplies, sustenance, grumpiness may set in on a 3 minute journey ... Sincerely, you guys are brilliant.

[@warminghurst]

Only Geoff could make such a short journey into a 12 minute video!

[@patmeaden]

God, part 2 will be intense

[@bmtfadediv2601]

Nice profile pic.

[@patmeaden]

Thanks

[@countertony]

And the great bit is, you could amble back to the Premier Inn (I'd know that carpet anywhere) and still be in time for breakfast if you wanted.

[@AliceConsortium]

My favourite part about that line is how the train from Bidston is timetabled to arrive into Wrexham Central two minutes after it's due to depart again. They have time travel in Wales!

[@MercenaryPen]

Not exactly, they frequently pad out the arrival time at a train's final destination to minimise the chance that the train companies will be liable for compensation as a result of a late train.

[@harrytodhunter5078]

I love that everything is effectively one big piss-take

[@waverleyrocker]

I missed the Kickstarter?!

[@rachelquarrell71]

I live in Australia and I find Geoff's videos very entertaining

[@radioman1170]

Wow - revisiting the ATS videos - and realised how much I've missed everything including the music!

[@powderedground78]

Despite Geoff mapping the route, I still cannot get my head around it. Confusing...

[@John_259]

Indeed. Now of course if Humphrey Littleton was still with us, I'm sure he'd know the rules. In the meantime, I'm Sorry.... you need to consult a Mrs Trellis of North Wales.

[@Ulleskelf]

I'm hoping that Mrs Trellis lives in Wrexham

[@jslonisch]

I kind of get where the train goes but I’m still not crystal clear on where it stops. I think Geoff should have spent more time explaining that.😏

[@matthewdunderdale8685]

Ulleskelf fellow clue fan!! #morningtoncresent

[@stevieinselby]

The best bit about that is that his map is wrong! The branch line curves *west* from the mainline and then loops round under the mainline to head east to Central. But maybe that would have been too complicated...

[@UnboundNZ]

If Wrexham General and Wrexham Central were on the London Tube Map they would have a dotted line as it takes less than 10mins to walk (in reference to your video from the other day)

[@pleappleappleap]

Do they put dotted lines between two stations on the same line?

[@ciaranbird3373]

That wrexham general thing, every time 😂😂😂

[@martynbrailsford3943]

Interesting video... To reply to some comment below 'Isn't this service shorter', looking at the Sectional Appendix (Network Rail official distance document) Wrexham Central - Wrexham General 33 chains Stourbridge Town - Stourbridge Junction 62 chains Cardiff Queen Street - Cardiff Bay 1 mile 6 chains Waterloo & City Line 1 mile 20 chains (but not Network Rail) Hove - Brighton 1 mile 35 chains Heathrow Central (Term. 2&3) - Heathrow Terminal 4 1 mile 67 chains

[@fetchstixRHD]

I’m wondering what Newhaven Marine would be, although it’s closed? Might go check it in a bit...

[@martynbrailsford3943]

@@fetchstixRHD Newhaven Marine - Newhaven Harbour is 16 chains. However, as you say Marine is closed nowadays, and when I did it in the 90s the one train a day was an unadvertised service, first stop was Newhaven Town (it missed Harbour out). Also Geoff’s criteria is shortest service, not shortest distance between stations. Before any asks Newhaven Harbour to Newhaven Town is 26 chains.

[@YuvrajHanspal]

Okay - what the heck is "chains" !? I mean how long is it? What's its conversion to metric units?

[@martynbrailsford3943]

@@YuvrajHanspal 22 yards in a chain; 80 chains to the mile. 1 chain is 20.1168 metres

[@fetchstixRHD]

@@martynbrailsford3943: Damn, those distances are actually really short. Of course you're right in that they wouldn't be included for the reasons you stated, although if anyone at Southern wants to create a special service just to snatch that record...

[@ChrisTarling]

Part 1 of 4, gonna be a great series!

[@FredStam]

I think this must be ONE chapter in your next book. What an excitement and tension..... Love it

[@MichaelScottRamming]

Where would you find the most utterly average train for the equinoxes?

[@observer127]

A commuter train... what people usually ride on going to and from work... I would suggest.

[@fetchstixRHD]

Average as in distance(?) Probably one of the LNER trains might have it?

[@kimifur]

LOVE this idea!

[@MrHarveyMGB]

I saw most utterly average and immediately thought of Milton Keynes.

[@juliestockmeyer5871]

You two are the greatest comedy duo EVER! Brilliant video! Happy Christmas to you both from Michigan, USA!! ❤❤🎄

[@InstaSim6]

I travel on this quite a lot myself as I often take the train to Gwersyllt because there's a handy Lidl right next to the train station and Home Bargains isn't too far either. As long as you can do you shopping in about 40 minutes to catch the next train back :) Only costs £1.50 (or £1 if you have a railcard) and it means I get to travel by train :P

[@cjayos7654]

I love these vids! You guys make it look so effortless. And I loved your Tv show pitch, "Wrexham General"!

[@garethhughes6739]

Trivia ... platform 4 of Wrexham General (where Geoff & Vicki caught this train) used to be a completely separate station called Wrexham Exchange.

[@robertgriffith8857]

Yes and Wrexham Central was on the Great Central Line to Birkenhead Woodside before that was closed and later demolished. Wrexham Central itself was a major junction before local lines were closed and the station was demolished and replaced by the current single platform part of a shopping complex.

[@agent_605]

Robert Griffith Not the Great Central, that went to Manchester via Sheffield and Woodhead. The Birkenhead-London line went into Paddington and was part of the GWR. The remaining section of the current Chiltern Main Line from Birmingham to London was rerouted from Paddington to Marylebone when the GCR closed so Marylebone was redundant and Paddington needed extra capacity for more services

[@garethhughes6739]

@@robertgriffith8857 Don't think it was ever a major junction. The line used to continue eastwards to Ellesmere, but Wrexham General (and the Croes Newydd junction and goods/marshalling yard to the south) were the main elements of the railway infrastructure in Wrexham.

[@garethhughes6739]

@@robertgriffith8857 And as for Wxm Central being connected to Birkenhead Woodside - how would that have been the case? As far as I know, Woodside was on the line that connected the Wirral to Chester (what is now the Merseyrail line) - so any direct service from there to Wrexham would've gone into Wxm General.

[@robertgriffith8857]

Yes I got it slightly wrong! The line did run to Chester Northgate and to Birkenhead North as well as New Brighton. All that remains of that network is the current line to Bidston. Central was however a busy freight station.

[@BulletNoseBetty]

Part 2 should be absolutely AMAZING!!!!

[@gyp6857]

Goeff needs a uni degree for the map from general to central really complicated

[@JohnPW22]

Love the show, re-watching most episodes - you guys make me smile all the way through! Love the humour!

[@matthewlewis2072]

I couldn't possibly be that cheerful at that time of the day

[@Castlebridge-00]

You are crazy and nuts....... but please do not change. Love your videos. Barry.Devon

[@neilhendry4390]

Of course ex guards make the best drivers. (He said slightly biased). Great vid guys.

[@jayswarrow1196]

* drammatic low-tone whisper* They know *the system* from the inside, maaan, they've got plenty of gut to run for a cab. State sent the royal mail train over to recount the votes, but it got lost somewhere in route between Wrexham and Wrexham. Officials say, they spent weeks worth search parties, but the paper was gone 4ever...

[@andrewpalm2103]

Greetings from Wisconsin. Love your videos. Please keep it up.

[@SonaTseri]

Andrew Palm Love from Madison! Go Badgers!

[@JCCC1609]

Bloody great you two are a great cure for depression. I am crying with laughter.

[@BillyNoMates1974]

it looked like a really knackering long journey. good video. keep your spirits up

[@nathanw9770]

You should do a race in part 2 where one person gets on the train and the other person runs (maybe invite an athlete or something)

[@Sean-D78]

wow, this is the earliest I've been in a Geoff video.

[@AllTheStations]

This is an All The Stations video, Vicki is here too ...

[@dickjohnson4447]

@@AllTheStations but it's hard to tell she looks different in this one 😉

[@Sean-D78]

@@AllTheStations Yeah I forgot to see which channel this video was on XD

[@traintastictrains3632]

MINIMAL TRAINAGE

[@washuotaku]

Wow, what a rush. I cannot wait to see what happens next time at Wrexham General.

[@laratobias-tarsh8506]

This is the best All the Stations video

[@GoranNewsum]

It's like you're trying to explain something to Father Dougal Maguire.

[@joannegray5138]

That journey must have been exhausting, lol. You certainly earned your cup of tea there 🚍

[@Ed-ws1xe]

I love this video. The comedy factor and how you padded it out!

[@peterdavy6110]

Some of the best padding/filler shots I've ever seen.

[@milesbrown8016]

Always lots of fun on the train- keep chugging…. Well done 🚂

[@mclj10]

I swear I remember seeing a Worcester Forgate Street to Worcester Shrub Hill service on a timetable this year, that must be in the running for one of the shortest journeys, I once got off a train at Shrub Hill and managed to run to Forgate Street before the train I'd got off arrived (I was trying to make a change and failed)

[@daemonartursson7159]

I know train sit at Shrub hill for a while but that's a good 20 minute walk

[@Sim0nTrains]

When you posted at Wrexham on social media, I was wondering why you are travelling from Wrexham General to Wrexham Central but after watching the video it makes sense on why, since General is a starting point and Central is the end of the line... but that was a serious epic adventure... lol really enjoyed it. cannot wait for part 2 :p

[@SolarRailway]

Opening this up I thought it was a revisit to the cutest train (Stourbridge shuttle) but I see what you’ve done here. Great video cheers Matt

[@Silver_Turtle]

This has got to be the funniest "All the Stations' ever! Here in the states, we have a subway line that completes its end to end trip in 90 seconds; with service every 5 minutes [2 in rush hours].

[@jlelliotton]

Times Square to GCT shuttle?

[@Silver_Turtle]

@jlelliotton: Totally correct.

[@SomeYouTubeGuy]

@@Silver_Turtle what about Angels Flight? Okay so it's not a train but it's a service on rail

[@Silver_Turtle]

@nathaniel Offer Didn't know about that.

[@TheTransportHub17]

Great video and in June it was maximum trainage but this time it’s minimum trainage lol.

[@GNTel313]

Love the " Wrexham General " idents Geoff/Vicki 🤣😂🤣😂

[@michaelscott7166]

The auto generated subtitles for this are amazing.

[@juncusbufonius]

Perhaps my favorite tv show... "there's two ways to get to Urmston"

[@johnparry7917]

It is quite funny because central station used to be about another minute down the line years ago but got reduced when car park was built. The train used to go to Wrexham industrial estate during the war but like many lines removed during the Beeching era.

[@alexritchie4586]

This reminds me very much of the curve between Exeter St. David's and Exeter Central, although of course the chord there links two lines, the West Coast Mainline and the line from Exeter to London via Salisbury :) I believe the section of track between St. David's and Central is the steepest grade of any regular passenger service line in Britain :D

[@MorganPriceVideos]

It’s always weird seeing a whole video on your home stations!

[@andyilsley2448]

Hi we were at Wrexham last weekend we got the train with the kids into town from general to central and ticket office lady gave them souvenir tickets which was great #walesandborders

[@garethhughes6739]

Travelling with a complete set of coloured Sharpies in your luggage - are you sure you're not a stage manager? :-D

[@garethhughes6739]

@@geofftech2 You picked a day to visit Wrexham when I was elsewhere, unfortunately. Would've been lovely to see you for a cup of not-coffee ... maybe next time ...

[@spikejrt]

Just scrolled through and stage manager line caught my eye... Thought who on earth typed that and it turns out it's you Gareth! LOL

[@rwm2986]

Good fun to watch, thanks. With a 12 minute video for a 2 minute event you would be good at making programmes for any of several cable channels (Discovery, History, for example) in the USA.

[@rwm2986]

@@geofftech2 That and a few other similar techniques.

[@stevendrennan167]

I was hoping for the longest train on the longest night but this is just as good

[@hotelmario510]

Just one station, that’s all then Just one station, that’s all then Just one station, that’s all then (etc.)

[@ThermoMan]

I love Geoff’s on-train nap

[@olly5764]

The line used to continue to Ellesmere to the west, although Central station used to be another 10 chains further on. The back platforms that the Wrexham - Bidston service uses were actually once considered to be a seperate station known as Wrexham exchange.

[@markemarkpsv1]

Wrexham where I saw my favourite girl, Kerry Barnes 💖 good memories.

[@stephenbrown321]

Have you guys tried to find out what the longest journey is between the shortest distance? For instance Scarborough to Whitby?

[@Tevildo]

Stephen - By National Rail only, Marylebone to Euston would probably be in contention...

[@Mrtestdrivex]

Mallaig to Kyle Of Lochalsh

[@fidgetspinner343]

Scar to Whitby - 36mins in the car and 3hr 42m is the shortest midweek journey. Some Cumbria routes could give it a run too I reckon

[@patrickmeyer2802]

Anywhere that Southern Rail goes. Legend has it that one of their trains will arrive some day...

[@silenthunteruk]

Victoria to London Bridge services on Southern.

[@EricB256]

This was a lot more fun than the Formula 1 USGP from 2005 with its legendary original Austrian TV commentary.

[@Mrtestdrivex]

I flinched when that alarm went off, hate that noise.

[@ThermoMan]

Amazing how many people cannot get the simple concept of this video

[@dorsettyke]

Isn't it!! 🙂

[@Gpcas9]

I Have to say, these high speed trains you got over there in UK are a bit noisy ;-) Did you feel the accelearation at the stations or was it smooth?

[@Stettafire]

tbf On most trains no. I felt it a bit on the Liverpool trains but never really on the Welsh trains

[@terryc8235]

I love you both, this is awesome. I have learnt so much from all the stations and I will be using trains the whole 10 days I am in the UK IN 2020. I hope to spot you on a train. P. S I LOVE Castle's. I want to see as many as possible.

[@tkain61]

I can't believe you made a 12-minute video about a 2-minute train ride. Well, uh, well done? You did it, I guess?

[@HSMiyamoto]

I'm amazed that a station like "Wrexham Central" is still open. Most of these "just off the mainline" stations have been closed in the U.S.A., often decades ago. The only exceptions are those stations in major cities where there is sufficient demand by commuters to downtown, e.g., "Suburban Station" (and now "Center City" station via a tunnel) in Philadelphia, PA, which has no Amtrak service but heavy SEPTA regional rail service. If most or all trains have to back out to continue in the same direction -- as opposed to reversing for service in the opposite direction -- the temptation to "improve efficiency" by making everyone travel "out to the mainline" is usually irresistible. For example, the once-a-day Amtrak Empire Builder used to make a backing maneuver to reach Grand Forks, ND station until a new "Grand Forks, ND" station opened four miles out of town. Broad Street Station in Richmond, VA (in service 1917-1975) avoided the backing problem by being built on a huge reversing loop, like you would see on a model railroad. Los Angeles Union Station is one of the few U.S. stations where trains have to back out in order to continue their runs -- these trains are all diesel-powered "push-pull" units, where the operator walks the length of the train to continue the journey in the cab on the other end of the train.

[@aljones27uk]

The journey used to be longer - the original Wrexham Central site is now under the car park. When they rebuilt the station the line was made slightly shorter. Also, where you caught the train used to be Wrexham Exchange, a separate station to Wrexham General.

[@HenrysAdventures]

I once brought a return from Wrexham General to Wrexham Central when I was doing to Shrewsbury to Bidston Journey. I did the Wrexham General to Wrexham Central and return so my map railways I've traveled on wasn't incomplete !

[@rebeccakew4739]

Love all your videos

[@Rexal_The_Saltiest_Brit]

That's a lovely premier inn you were staying at! PI represent!!

[@AidanMmusic96]

No doubt the liveliest General-Central train they've ever had! :D Lichfield City to Lichfield Trent Valley and Bloxwich to Bloxwich North aren't much longer!

[@batman51]

If I have worked this out correctly, you averaged 12 mph.

[@LukeLovesMc]

I can run quicker than that 😂

[@batman51]

@@LukeLovesMc It's about the same speed I get if I drive around London (which I avoid if possible).

[@TelstarFirst]

I was expecting a short train, this was a short train journey!

[@greatbritishentertainmentl5636]

Presumably there's no toilet either? A long way to cross-your legs! Great fun!!

[@andrewphillips9391]

Curious to see the 0932 to Bidston showing 2 minutes late at 0645!

[@JonGilb]

You spend more time explaining your journey than riding it. Which is fantastic

[@DavidBromage]

Can't wait for part 2! And the outtakes reel.

[@markt1387]

Love it😅 Think the journey time from Bromley North to Sundridge Park comes a close second.

[@philipdann2552]

ahh remember wrexham central as a kid {days out with pops}.station used to be much bigger and furthur along till they redeveloped the area for the supermarket.there also used to be just beyond the used track(just off the original platform end not the new one) a scissor crossing that looked brutally tight and was encumbered with weeds. traction back the was if i remember rightly class101's.

[@felixandrew4319]

Pumped for part 2

[@oldgreygritter]

Love the videos. Have a great Christmas you two.

[@Shmoozo55]

Railroad enthusiasts on the western side of the Atlantic might want to check out the service that runs between Princeton Junction and Princeton in New Jersey. The run takes just 5 minutes and the route is the shortest scheduled commuter rail line in the United States. And best of all, the train's nickname is "Dinky". :)

[@bmtfadediv2601]

I've been past that.

[@bmtfadediv2601]

Some day.

[@dawnlovejoy8917]

Love that the shortest train vid is in 2 parts 😂

[@ianmurray250]

Nah, the Stourbridge shuttle is the shortest train as it's only about seven metres long. The train that is.

[@davidcollins9512]

But at a mere 3.35 metres long the NZR RM Class (Model T Ford Railcar) is shorter. There is a replica being operated by Pleasant Point Museum & Railway near Timaru in the South Island of New Zealand.

[@bmtfadediv2601]

Route length not train length.

[@joesos]

@@bmtfadediv2601 r/wooooosh

[@EuanBCFC]

Next year you have to do the longest/shortest gaps between stations on the longest/shortest days

[@ianmurray250]

I'm pushing for Worcester Shrub Hill to Foregate Street as one of the shortest gaps,

[@ramongonzales1007]

I think the shortest is Ty Glas to Birchgrove