Whittingham Hospital Railway aka ‘The Nurses’ special’ and even ‘Sylum Billy.

[@MrTomatoAloo]

What a splendid little video. I have known of the railway for a long time, but I did not realise that there were so many photographs. Many thanks.

[@railwayscene]

Many Thanks. I did a lot of searching for the photo's. I even learned just two days before posting that the passenger carriages were green. I'd assumed they would be red or brown.

[@jamfjord]

@MrTomatoAloo I was planning to write almost exactly this comment but you beat me to it. Fascinating video

[@railwayscene]

@jamfjord Thank you- very much appreciated

[@Sonny1751RN]

Please don’t use the terrible AI voiceover.

[@railwayscene]

Noted

[@jamfjord]

​@@railwayscene fwiw I'm completely fine with the voiceover

[@railwayscene]

www.youtube.com/@jamfjord/ Thank you - I know it isn't perfect but I have heard much worse. However I have taken note of the comments

[@ttm2609]

AI is the future, it's already doing the thinking for us

[@RalphFreeman-ok5of]

It hard to comprehend post Beeching, just how pervasive the railways were between the wars. They were truly the lifeline of the nation.

[@railwayscene]

So true. And more freight should be on the railways today. Thanks for watching.

[@tonyrobinson362]

What a refreshing video enjoyed it thankyou.

[@railwayscene]

I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. Much appreciated

[@ragarse3]

Yes an eyeopener. Don't live a million miles away but didn't know about the railway and as was the order of the day ,hospitals, especially those dealing with mental health, were always built behind high walls and hidden from view. Great find but oh the use of computerised voice input

[@railwayscene]

The use of AI voice was a trial. But you may well prefer it to my voice 😀. Pleased you found it interesting

[@ragarse3]

@@railwayscene No please stay human! The number of people I talk to who first get distracted and then turned off by AI. It adds nowt and takes away your character - surely part of the project? Well done anyway, Ill take a ride out there soon.

[@railwayscene]

@@ragarse3 OK I will give it try on a later video.

[@dancedecker]

It was a fascinating little railway, though very little now survives as it is now mostly a huge new housing development. Its main claim to fame is that throughout its entire existence, it NEVER issued a ticket, as it was always completely free. It was unique in that regard in the UK, if not the world. That said, they were sadly mostly only ever one way journeys. Excellent video, though I'm pleased you have taken on board the comments regarding the voice-over. I understand that you had to try it, but....!!

[@railwayscene]

Thanks for watching. It must be remembered that the line was built primarily for goods/freight for the hospital. Passenger coaches (if you can call them that), were purchased a little later. Most passengers were staff and locals, though of course some would be one way new residents.

[@dancedecker]

@railwayscene Thanks and yes, noted. But other similar hospitals had similar beginnings and without exception, that I know of, always introduced a fares system of some sort, some admittedly much subsidised, for staff, patients and certainly visitors. I think it was just the friendly nature of the Lancastrians that was prevalent here, but being one, maybe I'm a bit biased. I'm not sure it would have happened in a neighbouring county where they are renowned for being maybe a bit more "careful " with their finances. Lol.

[@railwayscene]

As a Lancastrian too, I fully understand LOL

[@dancedecker]

@@railwayscene I'm sure you do. Lol.

[@HowardLeVert]

There were quite a few hospital railways in England. I certainly remember one quite serious railway magazine covering one some thirty years ago.

[@railwayscene]

There certainly was. Infact this railway was featured in one, an article by a Mr Casserley.

[@tominnis8353]

A similar line ran from Leekbrook to the hospital on the hill - the traction was electic

[@railwayscene]

Was that a short line too? I never realised before posting this video just how many hospital railways there were! Thanks for watching.

[@alanmcgunnigle4186]

Amazing historical photos. I remember seeing a train stopped at Grimsargh in the early 1950's when I was on a bus going to Longbridge. I always wanted to see things run there but never got the chance.

[@railwayscene]

Sadly passenger trains had stopped running to Longridge in the 1930s. Thanks you, glad you liked it

[@stephenbrass1808]

Very nice video Jed, well thought out and edited video of times long gone, cheers 👍

[@railwayscene]

Thank you Steve, much appreciate your comment

[@TachyonDriver]

I wonder when the bridge over Brabiner Lane was dismantled? I'm sure I remember driving under it when taking driving lessons, but given that I passed my driving test in 1984, that seems unlikely it was still standing then. .. unless there was only the parapets left and I imagined the bridge itself... 😊

[@railwayscene]

I read that it was demolished in the 1970s. Thanks for watching.

[@mikesouth01]

There was a similar railway for Winwick Asylum as well near Warrington.

[@railwayscene]

Thanks for watching. When I made this video I never realised that so many hospitals/asylums had railways. I've only learned this from the comments made in this video, which I appreciate greatly.

[@martyn6792]

Fascinating video, never knew about the line

[@railwayscene]

Thank you, comment appreciated

[@davidowen6977]

Appreciated this 😊 Voiceover acceptable

[@railwayscene]

Thank you, pleased you enjoyed it, and thanks for comment re voice over.

[@forrestrobin2712]

Personally I Identity as a pot of yoghourt. It’s my right.

[@railwayscene]

Personally I think you'd be eligible for a one way free ticket. It's their duty :-)

[@nige7577]

That was an interesting watch Jed, it must have been a big asylum, cheers 👍

[@railwayscene]

@nige7577 Thank you, comment much appreciated.

[@amazoniaamazonia7225]

Interesting video, I wonder how much the patients were involved in the day to day running.

[@railwayscene]

I believe they were involved, especially in hobbies like gardening, were there was beautiful gardens to maintain, an orchard with many varieties of apples (still there). There were greenhouses, sports fields eg cricket, bowls, tennis, putting etc. Thanks for watching

[@harryfaber]

Fascinating.

[@railwayscene]

Thanks for watching - much appreciated.

[@itsonlyme9938]

I have spotted on old maps the line and I think on Google maps some of the track bed is still visable.

[@railwayscene]

Hello and thanks for watching. The trackbed is still there in places and in fact, a very small section of track is still visible and in situ. The 25" maps in the Scottish National library are excellent, even showing a passing loop east of Whittingham Station

[@itsonlyme9938]

@@railwayscene That's interesting about some of the old track still in situ. When I first saw the map my first thought it might have been there for WW1 soldiers wounded as railway coaches where converted to carry the wounded soldiers.

[@railwayscene]

@@itsonlyme9938 They did take in military and POWs. In fact in the asylums church graveyard there is a small area for them. I can remember seeing the grave off an Italian. The section of track is only about 4 yards long, if that.

[@cedarcam]

Interesting video. I am pretty sure there was a model railway based on this line years ago.

[@railwayscene]

Pleased you enjoyed it - thanks for watching.

[@TimothyWorel-xj9he]

I believe that Abergavenny Workhouse also had a private rail link for deliveries.

[@railwayscene]

Thanks for watching. All these little railways will have interesting tales to be told probably

[@mikhaines]

If the last train was to Whittingham , how did passengers get back again, or were they left at the hospital?😂😈

[@railwayscene]

The engine shed was at Whittingham, and maybe nurses and hospital staff were starting shifts. From then on they would have to use buses to Longridge or Preston. Though in 1957 passenger numbers would have been low. Thanks for watching - i hope you enjoyed it.

[@acampbell8614]

Maybe they're still there...?

[@michaeltaylor1869]

Another lovely video well done great camera work as usual I am really looking forward to seeing your next video I hope you get a nice video next time also when is your next video going to be on KZbin bye for now Philip

[@railwayscene]

Thank you very much!

[@jamesgilbart2672]

Interesting video, shame about the robot narrator.

[@pn112upfast]

Excellent video

[@railwayscene]

Thank you, appreciated.

[@brucelamberton8819]

@2:12 this unusual looking locomotive is on display at tge Ribble Steam Railway & Museum.

[@railwayscene]

Yes there is a Sentinel at Ribble Steam but it is a different engine. All the Sentinels were odd looking

[@22pcirish]

They had the last surviving Stroudley D tank. It should have been recognised as such, and saved.

[@railwayscene]

They did and sadly ended up on wooden batons near the shed. There is a rumour that one engine was buried on the site. There is a tip down the side of the station yard where plenty has been dumped.

[@22pcirish]

@@railwayscene There are lots of strange rumours about buried locos. The only genuine ones that are documented as such were a bunch of either class 26/27 that were wrapped and buried due to asbestos.

[@modelrailpaulcee]

Oddly enough, I thought the voiceover was pretty good, until it started on loco details, which just didn’t work! Interesting video though…

[@railwayscene]

I agree - it's the first time I have used it. And, like you thought it was good till wheel arrangements were spoken. Thanks for watching, appreciated.

[@georgepitchley3946]

Great video but absolutely ruined by the AI voiceover, why not use a real person?

[@railwayscene]

Thanks for watching. Comment noted, I'll buy a mic. AI converts from text to speech.

[@Akhunslet]

@@railwaysceneso do your eyes, brain and mouth! 😂 with the greatest respect, I agree that the AI narrator ruins this otherwise fantastic video. However, I also can understand the usefulness in reducing the time for editing.👍

[@RailsUpNorth]

I thought it was fine to be honest. Certainly didn’t ruin for me

[@railwayscene]

@Akhunslet Thanks for comment. Like I have previously stated it was my first time using it and I have noted the comments

[@cedarcam]

@@railwayscene I rather have subtitles than AI speech if you do not feel confident to do a voiceover. AI sounds awful

[@michaelmiller641]

AI

[@railwayscene]

Thanks, hard to beat an A1 marking, depending which font you use ;-)

[@TheWirksworthGunroom]

Just do the voice over yourself. Record it on your phone if needs be. Anything. No matter how bad you think you are you will be better than that. I stopped watching a minute and a half in so the rest of your efforts were wasted.

[@railwayscene]

Thankfully you didn't watch the rest of it, I dread to think how discourteous your comment may have been. As I have said in other replies I have taken note of peoples views.

[@RailsUpNorth]

Are you the Mayor of Gobshiteshire, Gunroom?

[@martinsims1273]

At least you made this, and posted it, or else I (& probably loads of others) would have never heard of this railway. Thank you. ​@@railwayscene

[@railwayscene]

​@@martinsims1273thank you, I'm pleased you enjoyed it and thank you for your comment. Very much appreciated.