Weymouth Harbour Branch (Quay Tramway)

On December 29th 1994 33109 Capt. Bill Smith RN took the Ocean Liner Express along the Weymouth Quay line much to the surprise of motorists, especially those who had their cars moved and even towed away.
The Weymouth Quay tramway, well the tracks at least, appear in "Broad Fourteens" the story of an MTB crew made in 1945. Watch it at • Weymouth MTB features ...
In January 2009 it was reported that Weymouth and Portland Borough Council wanted the tramway removed. The following month the council agreed to purchase the line from Network Rail for £50,000, prior to a final decision on its future.

[@Lolsus4u]

It’s so sad to see the tracks of this line being torn up and taken out of the road in 2021. I will forever miss this line

[@beremill2184]

Heritage means nothing to morons

[@richardhunt304]

One of my fondest memories of Weymouth was seeing the Boat Train coming through the Town. MAGIC !!

[@20PhantoM07]

Why did they spend all that money destroying it 🤬

[@LondonTransport466]

@@20PhantoM07 What was the point in keeping it?

[@gordanpalmers]

@@LondonTransport466 it's uniqueness and the extravaganza and excitement it brings is incomparable to anything in the country, in sum way it's like taking down the Clifton suspension bridge in "Bristol" in or the cern Abbas giant

[@100Ref]

I remember as a child going on the Boat Train to Weymouth to catch the ferry to Jersey... and it was amazing being on the train going along the street in Weymouth - we did it 6 or 7 times in the '80s. Looking out and seeing the cars so close and holidaymakers looking up at us was a memory that is still with to this day. Shame it still doesn't run to the Ferry Terminal anymore... but great memories!

[@powerspade]

MY family and I went to weymouth in 1986 and on the last day there we visited the harbour to watch the fishermen land a haul of crabs, We heard a strange noise behind us and had a shock to see the train coming along to catch the ferry. I have never forgot that moment - pure magic

[@TRSPomerania]

Great retro footage. Gotta love the 90's. Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of rail history. Thumbs up, regards from Poland!

[@davepavey5212]

In my Youth, my Parent and I went on holiday to Jersey, we caught the ferry from Weymouth, and in those days it was not, drive on, drive off, a crane, lifted your car in to the hold, one at a time. after that was done we had to wait for the boat to sail, so we would often have Breakfast in Weymouth, and this line was in hourly use (I believe) ie there were trains (Class 08 as I know them now, and ablaze with Wasp stripes!) ran up and down the street. I was totally stunned as a 6 to 8 year old watching these Loco go up and down the street. we kept going to jersey each year, but each year bought changes ir roll on, roll off, new docks both ends, but this video bough many memories flooding back. (THANK YOU!)

[@christianmendoza2865]

I wasn’t even born when this video was filmed but I’m glad someone filmed it so I could see it

[@JW1_1]

I love how they just rocked and bounced the cars out of the way. I would've love to see this in person!

[@AlexanderWright1]

It's surprising how few people you need to move a car. I've done so myself (with eight friends).

[@timpearson5086]

Very normal in the 1970s - seen it numerous times back then. Probably harder on modern cars than on old leaf-sprung Fords.

[@JW1_1]

@Stig Martin Thats amazing haha, but probably the reason why I haven't seen thia is because cars are much heavier now. Either that or someone might get their phone out LOL

[@ACELog]

I did see this in person, as a kid in the 1960's

[@neiltimperley2203]

I’m glad I’ve seen this. I remember being in Weymouth and seeing the train going down the Main Street. None of my friends believed me and I have to admit, I wouldnt have believed it had I not seen it It was a great sight!

[@lasermate]

Absolutely fantastic video. I well remember travelling via Weymouth Harbour station and British Rail ferry to Jersey. So having experienced this route both as a passenger and later as a Weymouth holidaymaker, it brings back some very happy memories.

[@dibley1973]

Awesome to watch this video and reminisce. I've lived in Weymouth since 1978 and used to love sitting on Alexandra footbridge and watch the class 33s and 47s roll in and chug back out. It was also great seeing the trains go along the harbour to the Sea Link ferry terminal. Thank for uploading so I can watch them once more.

[@U2QuoZepplin]

Another reason why I like this is that it conjures memories of parts of Hull where I was born and grew up where there were certain parts of the road along Spring Bank that looked like they still bore the relatively recent scars or traces of tram or railway lines . And it just so happened that there was a coal yard or something where you often saw engines parked up , quite similar to this gorgeous old locomotive beast . So obviously at some point in recent to not so recent history goods trains carrying coal would come along there via Hull Paragon Station and drop off coal supplies for the houses 🏘 and households of Hull who depended on a supply of coal to keep their fires and stoves lit . I hope it’s still there . I always had visions of them stopping the traffic in a similar way to this video, at the junction of Spring Bank , Chantlands Avenue and Spring Bank West so that the train could pass and deliver it’s supply of coal for the people of Hull to the depot there , though I never actually saw it.

[@bramber69]

This is common place in towns in Switzerland and the like - Train / Trams coming through the streets but to see this actually happening in the UK is incredible. Especially with the standard coaches and so many of them, it really is an historic sight. I so enjoyed the sight of all the manoeuvres to get the train through the quite narrow streets. Preserve for years to come (the film) unfortunately not the railway line.

[@MG06ZT]

Great shots Fred, I was in Weymouth last week (08/2013) and the tramway is still in existence. It is still connected to the national network and not used. It would be a massive tourist draw to operate a service over the line. It shows a terrible lack of foresight/ability that the council haven't developed the idea. Please, can someone takeover the tramway before it is lost!

[@pev2611]

Wow, thanks for posting this. I moved to weymouth about 6 weeks later and moved to Commercial Road, never saw such an event in all the 10 years I lived there. Great piece of nostalgic history

[@chrismaley512]

This brings back memories of a holiday in Guernsey in 1965. The ferry was a "car ferry" - the few cars that were carried had to be loaded into the hold of the ship by dockside crane! Very nice video.

[@johncolman8883]

Chris MALEY job

[@astronomenov99]

I was in Weymouth on holiday as a young boy in the early 70s. I saw the train on the tramway! Awesome sight! I tried to recreate it on my model railway when I got home!

[@trainstop236]

What a great piece of film, Doesn't seem long ago 1994 but haven't times change. Looking back life seemed a bot more relaxed than 2019

[@nickthegog]

Took me back to my childhood in the 60s, holidays down to Weymouth by train and then the ferry to Guernsey. Amazing as the train went through the town. Thanks for posting this.

[@neilbolger2679]

Brilliant footage of Old Bill gradually making its way to the old pier . This line will be missed . So glad you shared this video . Memories is old school should be kept alive . Brilliant

[@julieherve-brazier4570]

A really wonderful reminder of holidays in Weymouth back in the 60's and 70's and seeing the train making its way down to the quay, quite an awesome sight.

[@willhayfield]

great film - I remember travelling on the branch in the days of steam 1959? hauled by an 0-6-0 tank and in 1977 with a Class 33 diesel - great film - thanks for posting

[@thumbsup3763]

Amazing how 33 109 is still going

[@TheBaldmeister]

I remember going through the streets of Weymouth on the boat train to Weymouth Quay several times in the '70s and '80s, en route to holidays in the Channel Islands. Even then when it was a regular scheduled service I remember cars having to be shifted out of the way before we could proceed. I visited Weymouth today - the tracks are still there in the road but sadly it doesn't look like they will ever be used again.

[@elizabethwaddell9066]

We went to Jersey from Weymouth. We couldn't believe the train going through the streets. Such a shame it doesn't happen any more. A direct journey from London.

[@alexmarshall4331]

Cor!! what an amazing time we were having in the presence of a class 33 crompton diesel...took me back to second manning @ hither green depot in the 70s..dark days indeed

[@brianbaker191]

Great stuff, the more so because I was on that train, which was part of a railtour from Waterloo, back via western mainline to waterloo. Even more so because I can be seen, black beard & dark glasses leaning out of a door window at 9 min 3 sec. I really enjoyed the old memories this video brought up. Brian

[@saaa9964]

Can you tell more about it? Where can I find out more

[@margarets195]

When was this video taken ?

[@jillis69]

@@margarets195 Can you read?

[@BenDover-wu7ed]

Pervert

[@RickJando]

I remember this well.i thought that it was kind of broom hanging out not realizing that it was a person with brushchops !

[@garymitchell7095]

It was lovely to watch this bought back memories for me when i was a kid living in Weymouth and i also lived on Portland for a while,i still have family living in Weymouth.

[@andyrussell9892]

i remember the first time i saw this, couldnt belive my eyes, i was about 11 or 12 and went down to Weymouth from Bath on my own on the train just to have 3 goes on the gokarts, school holidays.!

[@Noactualdirection]

Fabulous, thanks for posting. I remember as a lad the trains used to do this sort of thing in Ipswich, they would cross at obscure places and run right along the whole dock front, Alas, these are just memories now as the tracks are ripped up and the docks are now one of those horrid 'Waterfront developments@.

[@DieyoungDiefast]

Dunno if they still run, but the Weymouth rails are still in place.

[@KempSimon]

No regular, scheduled service since 1987!

[@beefabob]

I can remember as a kid (I'm now 66) watching an old steam train doing this very same journey. I was eating fish and chips... and Weymouth still do the best fish and chips anywhere. I should know... we still go every year!

[@coolboy2811]

Wow. Never seen this before . Beautiful

[@stephenwilliams1269]

Fascinating.....I thought I had seen almost everything but to see a railway locomotive and carriages moving down the narrow streets AMAZING. I so wish I had had that experience. Thank you for sharing this Gem.

[@globaleye8]

I have happy family memories of this trip along the road in Weymouth, my aunt lived in St Helier, Jersey and this was very much part of the many visits we made during the 1950s

[@garywarden9231]

Saw this happen several times when I lived in Weymouth... there was always advance notice and the roads were quite clearly marked to keep clear in case of trains.

[@wordsmith52]

but there were always people that ignored them...

[@stephensmith4480]

@@wordsmith52 If there is one thing you can`t plan for, it`s the Idiot factor!!

[@SuperMikado282]

@@stephensmith4480 exactly...it would be even worse today

[@stephensmith4480]

@@SuperMikado282 👍👌

[@grahamfrench340]

Thanks for uploading this, it's this sort of thing makes a place unique and interesting, I hope the council don't destroy the track.

[@Thorpe]

In February 2020, it was reported that £1.1 million had been awarded by the British Department for Transport to facilitate the removal of the track as it was "In a deteriorated state" and was no longer usable.

[@SuperMikado282]

How can you re-surface the road?

[@SiVlog1989]

I was too young to remember it, but in the 50th anniversary commemorations of D-Day held in Weymouth, me and my Dad apparently walked alongside one of the trains as it made its way slowly through the streets

[@canutomanila1121]

Thanks for posting, brought back a lot of memories.

[@RallyBasher]

What a fascinating video. Such a shame that the branch has now passed into the history books. Thank you for being there to record it.

[@bobhatcher5505]

Great Video, I had many holidays in Weymouth when I was a kid and remember that train well, always fascinating to see. Thanks for the vid and memories.

[@Havoc5429]

Went down this track on a Pathfinder tour way back. Amazingly close to cars, never forget this. Brilliant filming. Thank you 😊

[@marierhead9039]

Just come back from holiday in Weymouth and I realise now why there were tracks on the road! Lovely place.

[@karenrendell7369]

Fascinating! The tracks are still there. I enjoyed seeing that again!

[@alanfurmage6940]

Karen Rendell haha karen

[@TheF0nz1]

Just to say thank you for posting this video.

[@Wilayaat]

An incredible sight. Loved the trains from the 70s anyway but seeing one like this!

[@theorgandude]

i remember seeing that on a daily basis in the 70s, it was always an exciting spectacle. great video, loved seeing the cars from my youth.

[@Graham_Langley]

Brought back memories of a family holiday to Guernsey back in 1969. It would be a great pity if the line were permanently closed.

[@100_blackrock7]

Thanks really enjoyed this. A difficult line to operate with all those parked cars. Sad to see that the rails are to be lifted and salvaged for scrap.

[@zzippster]

Hi! Thanks for posting this... I recently did an video update just before they removed the line. I will do another when they have finally finished...

[@Flappatackle]

One of the most surreal video's in my recommendations 😄

[@sese182]

Came for the diesel train, stayed for the 90's nostalgia.

[@dr2stroke611]

i dont even know what im doing here but seeing all those 90's cars was a cool trip

[@peterendall7935]

When I was a kid back in the 60s we went to Weymouth on holiday and I remember seeing the train drive down the road, so cool.

[@RUOKH]

If you had a Weymouth Town to London ticket, you could travel on the boat train from Weymouth Quay on payment of a 'tramway fee' and I still have a tramway fee ticket! Was worth the money for the entertainment of traversing the streets and looking into the windows of the passing houses. Thanks for sharing this wonderful clip of nostalgia.

[@roderickmacpherson6737]

Twicw in the early 1960s, I went from Waterloo to here and caught the ferry to Guernsey. Same thing coming back. There were even customs on that quayside.

[@HSTandy]

I'm frequently down in Weymouth and every time I drive down that road I think what shame it is that no rail traffic has run on it since 1999.

[@OfflineSetup]

After all these years ...so I was right, my car was further to the left than when I parked.

[@KALOKALPDL]

HAhhaahaha nice one

[@28YorkshireRose12]

So it was you who stole my car and parked it there - Nice big fine for that! 😉😊 Happy New Year.👍

[@OfflineSetup]

28YorkshireRose12 happy new year!

[@mikkolukas]

Idiot parking

[@tractorsmachinesro1405]

Great & awesome video as always....True rail therapy...I like IT!!!! Thumbs UP from Romania

[@toucan65]

Wonderful memories for me of staying with my Aunt in Rodwell. Used to watch the Boat Train going along the quay quite often

[@djburland]

Brilliant memories of a bye gone era when we didn't let cars dominate everywhere!

[@danw1374]

Went there couple of years ago, the roads were chocablock!

[@maxstarn3299]

This is the kind of thing I’d see in a dream while I’m sleeping. Something that happened in my dream but makes no sense like how would a train have been driving on a road

[@emmyjo720]

Used to run that train daily along there, my Grandparents lived on the otherside of the harbour ..So I grew up watching it...Always loved..I see this was filmed three weeks after my grandfather died...In Weymouth Hospital,,,

[@2ToneWalt]

When I was a kid we spent our holidays in Weymouth and I vividly remember the train running round the harbour up to the Sealink ferries on their way to Jersey etc, great days.

[@mafoomatty7494]

jeez i remember this,ive lived here there for 38 years now,,,

[@johnshannon6536]

wow I've lived in Weymouth since 2002 and can't imagine this!!

[@Hephasto]

Why you can’t?

[@gsxrinfrance5827]

To add to all this excitement, in the late '60'- 70's during the summer months, we use to load the channel Islands tomatoes off the quayside on the raised platform by the rear of the beach front hotels. There would be as many as 20 articulate lorries there from 6am to around 4 or 5 ,pm. It was fun when you had to shift them off and back onto the quay to let the train through. It did give the holiday makers something else to look at too..it was organised chaos at times, but part of the job, and after loading, sheeting and roping the trailers a quick dip in the sea, before setting off to deliver the toms to markets all over the UK. Anyone remember seeing the lorries loading ?

[@sparkllleeesss1600]

I love how at 5:04 it says 'keep clear - trains' on the road! If only that was there today!

[@jonwilliams40]

Great footage. Health and safety would have had a field day had they been around back then. I love the bouncing of the cars out of the way. Thank you for sharing.

[@petittrainguernsey3297]

Health and Safety was around back then. The only reason things like this stop is because they are commercially unviable and in Weymouths case, the ferry terminal closed.

[@eemarshi24]

That’s my grandad moving those cars!

[@Jademyheart]

Lovely day's, Saw the Burma 🌟 Star 🚂 around these neck of the woods... Great day's, Diesel & Coach, A no finer way to travel..... Great upload 👌

[@NickB_Yorkshire]

Fascinating stuff. Looks so surreal travelling down the Main Street 😁🚋

[@oldbloke01]

I can remember when steam trains used to run that and my uncle used to be the captain of the paddle steamer that ran out of Weymouth. Oh happy days..

[@JawTooth]

That was a cool video!

[@dreadnaught3894]

Good film, Fred . . . there's an insistent flavour of the good old British 'get it done and keep cheerful'' attitude throughout the proceedings! Love it! Thanks from Canada!

[@ADMIRALSCORNER]

I have seen those rails and wondered about their history. Thanks for the info.

[@Tommaso_28]

wau, fantastic video!!! THE BEST!!!

[@rorymacve]

One of the few street running routes in Britain, Great vid m8!

[@jaseeljasi1745]

Covid

[@simonjames3845]

Wow now 25 years ago! Fun to see one of my managers, long before I knew him looking so young (7m53) .

[@kotik9254]

I remember the baot train from the early 70's, I remember standing at that junction at 3:10 waiting for it to go by; must have been about 5 at the time.

[@joemck2260]

Driver shouts to young PC at 6:07 "you'll be on KZbin one day!". PC replies, "what is KZbin?!". Driver responds,"....buy some shares!"

[@samuelgrange796]

haha

[@goatmanjohn]

This is like a dream.

[@KempSimon]

A very pleasant dream, I hope, and not a nightmare!

[@goatmanjohn]

Yes, a good dream, but a strange one. I've dreamt about being on a train that's going down a street with cars and people; it was just like this.

[@GrahamElder10]

goatmanjohn I was going to reply that I too have recurring dreams about trains running on sections of road (with no rails though). The video is the first I've seen it outside of a dream!

[@robertbruce7686]

Wow. I would not argue with that on the road!!

[@davidashton3396]

Saw the line in use in the early 1980s, and what a good 10 minute view this is with all the shoving vehicles out of the way, guard with a flag and the rest…

[@pit_stop77]

Awesome sight, a full size train chuntering down the same road as cars

[@Layla462]

Gosh how Weymouth quay has changed so much since then. Esperly by B&Q.

[@dazzqpr]

Iwent on this train many a time going to Jersey, was always fun seeing the driver trying to bump the trains off the tramway. great memories

[@exploringwithkim5274]

I remember seeing that everyday when I was a teenager in the 1970,s so sad it's gone.

[@Gayestskijumpever]

You can do it when you B&Q it!

[@thetessellater9163]

What has that got to do with this video??

[@pjandthecraxfords1559]

it's like that bit from inception

[@KempSimon]

A regular steam~hauled, Summer~only dining service from London Waterloo to Weymouth Quay, connecting with a vintage Paddle Steamer doing a day trip along the Jurassic Coast to Lulworth Cove, would be a license to print money! I can remember riding in the return Boat Train working from Weymouth Quay to Bournemouth in, I suspect, 1987 or thereabouts, and hanging out of a droplight to take photographs as we chugged majestically along Weymouth Quay. It was the experience of a lifetime!

[@ChrisColes]

Thank you very much. I shall show my kids this, they will be amazed!

[@shaunjoyce2099]

Has anyone got any clips of my late Grandad driving this train I was told that he drove it. His name was Mr lenard Dominey (budgie) cause he never stopped churping talking.

[@exgunrunner]

Remember this train very well--used to put a penny on the line and it would be twice as big after the train ran over it

[@steviewonder2049]

exgunrunner I tried that with my todger...alas no joy

[@wilfbm9067]

@@steviewonder2049 😂maybe next time mate

[@danw1374]

@@steviewonder2049 Hahahaha too funny😂😂

[@1957WalkerAdrian]

Amazing video I Used to live in Weymouth for a few years when I was just a wee kid , and I remember the steam trains running throught the streets pulling or pushing wagons.. Surprised that the tracks are still in the streets and the loco can still run on them. Great.

[@csharpminorseven]

Thank you Fred Ivey for that great bit of footage - much appreciated!

[@smiffy1071]

The locomotive now lives at the east lancs railway, in Bury.

[@Mrdoctile]

Reminds me of Santa Cruz Beach train (Still Operating)

[@benters3509]

Yup, know it well. Used to live in San Jose.

[@slipthegreyhound]

As a child in the 1960's I remember catching the boat train to Weymouth Quay, from Sheffield, so we could board the ferry to Jersey. My dad worked for British Rail, so got free travel for us all. The ferries were also run by British Rail. I remember watching them load the cars onto the ferry by crane, no 'Roll on Roll off' in them days!

[@paulbrennan3760]

That’s a great film. Thank you for recording this for posterity 👍👍👍

[@100Domas]

I done this trip on a Hertfordshire Railtours Pullman Christmas Special in the late 80's. I think the locals were better informed then of us coming! I think this run has to be done every now and again or the local council can close it as with Public Footpaths but I'm sure someone will put me right on this.(July 2014 track bed still there).

[@tahakarram2430]

جةطؤض يرشششذ

[@smiffy1071]

Hasn't been used since 1999.

[@filtonkingswood]

Fantastic. Im a Dorset lad so no stranger to this in the 60s when you could get a train direct to the Sealink ferry to Jersey. Golden memories. Weymouth was lovely then. Complete Shit hole now sadly.

[@sharonplant4102]

Filton Kingswood hmmm Weymouth is not a shit hole it’s lovely every place gets riffraff I’m afraid

[@darrenwilson8042]

You've never been to Redcar clearly ha ha

[@darrenwilson8042]

Does Hugh F-W know?

[@slinkynet]

He's right. It is a shit whole.

[@David-ci1vn]

My boyhood family holidays were always to the likes Bognor or Weymouth and I remember well going with my Dad in the mornings to sit on the grass and watch steam locomotives shunting (around Cutom House Quay I think) and encountering the occasion fery train later; 1963, short trousers, any flavour ice cream you want so long as it's vanilla and,,,space. Where did we go wrong.

[@trevorbrown5390]

I use to go on the boat train to Guernsey in the 50s it was a great time

[@Inludoest]

Lucky enough to go on this in the late 70s, great experience.