Worlds LONGEST pier! - Southend Pier & Railway

This is Southend-on-Sea, home of the longest pleasure pier in the world! The reason the pier was built was to enable boats to be able to dock at low tide. Southend has large mudflats so when the tide is out, it's not very deep for about a mile. The original pier was opened in 1830 and was made from wood. It was extended several times and by 1848, it was the longest pier in Europe at 1.3 miles (2.1 km). Because of increased visitors in the 1850s, a new pier was proposed and was made out of iron. This was opened in 1889 with an electric railway. By 1980, usage of the pier had declined and along with high maintenance costs, Southend Council proposed to close the pier permanently. This led to protests and the pier remained opened until funding for repairs was secured by 1983. The current railway is a 3ft narrow gauge line served by two diesel-hydraulic locomotives. One is named Sir WIlliam Heygate, the other Sir John Betjeman.
I take a ride on the train and a brief look around the pier!
Google Maps Link: goo.gl/maps/yDmunJYCVPaUhLZHA
More Info: www.southend.gov.uk/info/2003...
#Southend #Railway #Pier

[@meakinroy4341]

Yet another superbly chosen mini-documentary, filmed by a now well established and much respected filmmaker.

[@morthren]

Thanks very much

[@catenaire]

@@morthren I didn't even notice it was you who had filmed this video when I started to watch it off my suggestion list. When I noticed that, I was like, I KNOW this will be excellent!!

[@slash-1971]

Great video! I've lived in Southend all my life and had a view of the pier for 20 years from my flat. I miss looking out to sea every day.

[@maddielow4884]

why is youtube recommending videos of where i live this is concerning

[@doveronefoxtrot4417]

Because your device tracks you via location settings.

[@dickhead8775]

It recommended this video of where I lived 1961-1985.

[@evchen8413]

maddie low bro.... hi

[@maddielow4884]

floofie mae BRO

[@davidbooker3852]

@@dickhead8775 ppppp

[@dhdwarrior9508]

Is everyone in the comments from Southend lol why did we get this. Still great vid

[@antony6913]

Yes

[@amypinto531]

Yup. It just came up and I was like ok then 😂

[@BritishRail60062]

I'm in Londonderry and this came in my recommendations :).

[@antony6913]

@@amypinto531 lies Amy you were searching as your a train fanatic

[@freddykhan1036]

Aha innit

[@jfreelan1964]

Thank you for the tour of the pier and the brief history lesson.

[@benters3509]

Thanks for posting. I lived in Leigh on Sea for many years, so this bought back memories for me. I was there during the seventies and eighties - so witnessed those disasters. I remember the two fires very well.

[@paulgw101]

I live here in Southend n can’t remember the last time I visited the end of the pier. I must go & visit it soon, before another catastrophe happens! 👍🏻

[@cady7944]

I should try make a career as a fire pucker in Southend...

[@paulgw101]

Cady , sorry to be thick, but what’s a Fire Pucker?

[@cady7944]

The moment you want to make a joke but Google translator sucks. I mean the artist who spits fire out. fire-breather or so

[@paulgw101]

😂

[@carolallnutt8036]

Paul White on my “to do list” ! I am only 20 mins away and never been😁

[@bripicsuk]

Nice bits of information nicely scattered throughout the video, enjoyed watching it.

[@TheBestTrainsAreReal]

Imagine if your riding the train in your in the middle of the pier and a bad storm hits...

[@1BarnetTE.]

=99.99999999999999% chance of death.

[@Peasmouldia]

Such a shame we've lost the electric railway, the rolling stock and shore terminus of the original electric line were really impressive. Thanks for uploading this. I'd previously been having a gander on Google earth trying to see the state of the pier railway, but couldn't see much there, so this was spot on. Anyone remember the North Thames Gas Board pier further up the beach? Thanks.

[@edm_pversatile1350]

This video has made me decide to visit South End Pier. Thanks for the information on its history.

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

I was living in Australia when I first heard of Southend Pier - the closing credits of TV show Minder! Great video.

[@davidmurphy4233]

I remember southend in the 1960s, I livered there for 10 years or more I sometimes miss it.

[@alejandrayalanbowman367]

In the late 40s they had a "toastrack" train. It was electrically operated and the carriages were pretty much flatbed with seats on. The only guardrail to stop you falling off was a chain attached to the end of the row of seats and hooked onto the next row. This was replaced in 1949 by the green and cream, fully enclosed electric trains that most people remember. At one time (early 60s) 3s 6d (17½p) gave you a return train ride + a lunch in the Dolphin Restaurant + the afternoon performance in the Sundeck Theatre.

[@PontiusKak]

I was born and brought up in the centre of Southend in 1949. Walked it every Sunday to watch tv. We didn't have one then.

[@spencerdodds2207]

Peter Harris was there a tv at the end?

[@PontiusKak]

@@spencerdodds2207 Oh yes, I went to watch Rag,Tag and Bobtail!

[@bryaneast2513]

I have very fond memories of Southend-on-Sea. As a boy it was our day-trip from London's East End. We had holidays there as well. There was the Kursaal, Mayflower waxworks, Peter Pan Playground, gardens opposite Peter Pan Playground, and I remember there being a track with motorized cars. Not forgetting - The Pier - especially the train with my memories being of the Green and Cream jobs. Loved Southend. Bryan

[@alanmuddypaws3865]

Your videos are always interesting and informative. This one had particular fortuitous timing as I am about to start building a model pier with railway, so there were lots of interesting details. Thanks for sharing!

[@ian540]

Brilliant memories of many happy times at Southend-on-sea. I had relatives that lived there so a lot of time visiting was spent on and around the pier around 1955-1963. Just a few of my memories are The Kersal and the marvellous water shoot, The Southend Lights open top buses along the front and under that low bridge. And of coarse the trains which if my memory serves me right were green and white. and they had reversible seat backs. Thanks for bringing back these memories.

[@michaelbruchas6663]

Thanks for “the outing” to South End!

[@johnturner561]

i lived in westcliffe between 1980 to 81 loved southend the kursaal the top of the town night club only went on the pier once to go bowling i think .. will never forget southend on sea it was a great place .. i may visit again soon its been to long .. great vid tho thanks for posting

[@carlavision6143]

What a beautiful pier! Really enjoyed your video!

[@jayewaters9122]

Been going to southend for years, Always a great time

[@twotone3070]

Hythe in Hampshire has a narrow gauge pier railway, the oldest continuously running pier railway in the world. It serves the end of the pier and ferry service to Southampton, used daily by commuters and sightseers. The loco dates from 1917.

[@hellotherekindsir1137]

Twotone I’ve ridden on it loads of times

[@weebrahim]

Great video, thoroughly enjoyed the information tidbits and camera work

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

A very nice vid, thanks for up-loading. It takes me right back to my childhood in the 1970s, trips down the pier on the green & cream electric trains. And i remember the fire that destroyed the pier end in 1976, it was said to have started on the ghost train in the pavillion, the lower floor was an amusement arcarde type place with a few rides inside. I remember going back shortly after the fire, some of the amusements had re-opened at the pier end along the edges of the pier near the station. Some of the workers showed me coins they had rescued after the fire, all bent up & burnt as i remember! Happy days (Southend in general, not the fire......)

[@GARYINLEEDS]

Thanks for sharing, shared. Love Learning.

[@dobbinism]

Very interesting, brings back a lot of childhood memories....

[@kyleb06]

Great video!

[@McRocket]

Brilliant video. Fascinating place.

[@giannischiralli4491]

You beat E. Bolt's record ...LOL.....THNX for this...It was really inetersting.....:):):)

[@stuartmenziesfarrant]

Nice video, thanks!

[@stephenowers3037]

Nice to see the end of the pier not been down there for years, Nice video

[@richxsmith72]

Very informative. Great video.

[@ChinaAl]

Great little video and info. Thanks

[@perrywilson2897]

I love going to Southend on Sea i likegoing down to the pier & going on the train

[@walterfink9782]

Looks like fun. The whole area has many places to eat and things to do, per this video.

[@chrischeltenham]

Cool video as always :)

[@plinkplanky]

Ahhh my hometown.... wish I was old enough to remember it in its heyday with the proper trains... i was born in76... The original trains were more like trams and were sold for scrap (they were made by AC Cars) but a couple of carriages survive in museum...

[@chrisavery5980]

Jed .Clampett I have fond memories of the 'old' trains. Green and cream, they were like a cross between a tube train and the old Blackpool streamline trams. The coaches were 28 ft long 4 wheelers with a 14 foot wheelbase. The noise was amazing. Perfect rhythm!

[@ianbaxter8299]

@@chrisavery5980 And you could hear it for miles as the passage of the wheels over the rail joints was synchronised..... clump, clump, clump, clump!

[@johnmh1000]

Sad memory - the original trains, after decommissioning were stored at the back of the kids playground in Christchurch road before (presumably) being shipped to the breakers yard.

[@dalem1140]

Great vid👍

[@S3r53]

Beautiful!!

[@FerrisWaller]

Thank you, I enjoyed very much.

[@Ricksta66]

I can remember going on the old green and cream electric powered trains back in the early 1970s with my dad, we used to go fishing right at the end of the pier, it's was great back then. Used to be my second home Southend-on-Sea, spent many of my childhood days fishing on the pier and visiting the old Kursaal amusement park, before they pulled it all down. I enjoyed your video and gave you a thumbs up 👍 Regards from Ricky Greenleaf

[@Aline-dv9hu]

i walked that pier like 5 times this summer with my family

[@gingerbread6614]

That was cool. Thank you

[@Bethi4WFH]

Haven’t been on Southend Pier since the 1950s.......good to see it again. Not sure if one should call it the sea here, or if it is still the mouth of the Thames.....(for those who do not know, the Pier runs out from the southern Essex coast, towards the northern Kent coast which you can see quite clearly.). Thank you for an interesting well shot video.

[@morthren]

Thanks!

[@weebrahim]

Is Google spying on me? I just went there today and came back home an hour ago

[@cralendo8469]

Spying is a has been renamed to Gathering Intelligence lol :)

[@xaiano794]

We are.

[@sageivu]

Lmao I went there yesterday

[@158alfie]

There is location tracking on google services to give you things on what you are interested in and where you have been, I think.

[@rocker-barrel4786]

Freeky lol

[@dorothyparkinson2823]

I adore this place. Sadly though you get the the end and there is nothing really there! Southend Council needs to do something better - theatre? Market stalls? Anything!

[@theuktoday4233]

Isn't France at the end?

[@lukebuckley6550]

@@louiscarpenter7144 like what

[@MochaSugar50658]

Southwold pier has TONS! You should go on a holiday there!

[@PatronSaintPatTate]

Where the fucks Southwold lol.

[@esterherschkovich6499]

Like it used to be a long time ago😁

[@ListerDavid]

Good old Southend, who here still calls it Peter Pan’s?

[@killuminatibeatz]

Robert's Video Madness southend shit hole full of crack head stabbings

[@doreenfawcett9717]

Very lovely well done 👍

[@snivla4]

Southend Forever ....... It was better when the Bowling Centre was there. It was also a record holder with the highest linage in the world . I know because I worked there and I also worked the last shift before it burnt down.... I make this comment in Memory of Kay Hills who was my boss and the most honest and hard working person I have ever worked alongside.

[@giteausuperstar]

You should do a follow up video on another attraction in Southend - the world's shortest railway. There's an old Victorian "lift" which goes up the cliffs from the seafront and it's technically a tiny train on rails.

[@esterherschkovich6499]

So cheap for a ride,if you can not walk up the stairs.

[@qwertyTRiG]

A funicular?

[@tonys1636]

Funicular railways are prolific in costal towns, most Victorian, some gravity/water powered so very green today. This works by both cars having a water tank beneath, the tank on the lower car is drained making it lighter than the car at the top, which has a full tank, as it descends it pulls the other one up, which has the tank refilled at the top often using water fed from a stream.

[@davidbosquette6604]

The beauty of Southend Pier lies in the fact that it remains understated. Nothing better that to take a walk along the Pier out of season to clear the mind. It's got an unspoiled charm that money can't buy. There are just a few shops and a cafe at the end but that's what makes it unique in my opinion. It's WELL worth a visit if you want a calm relaxing day out. On return how about a trip to Rossi's ice cream parlor and a walk to the more chilled out beaches of Chalkwell or Thorpe Bay. 👌

[@holnrew]

I went in 1995 just after the fire, so the railway was closed. Still had grand time at the fairground though :-)

[@toddhunter3137]

I grew up on the Isle of Sheppey, the island you can just about see from the pier head in the distance, and never been to Southend, I now live in Manchester but one day I'd love to visit Southend and the pier although I think I'd walk up first then train back lol 😂 😉 😉 great video and thanks for sharing. 😁 😁

[@ronsmith1364]

the shore, an amusement park, a pier, arcades, sea food places Wonder where this formula originated & how many seashores replicate with the same elements. Coney Island Myrtle Beach Atlantic City Santa Cruz Does Amsterdam do this? Always Fun Thanks for posting

[@hellotherekindsir1137]

Ron Smith Clarence pier southsea Portsmouth

[@steveguinness8472]

I can remember the pub at the end of the pier, and going ten pin bowling with the school, where the pavilion used to be, sadly not there anymore lots of great memories of the pier, going fishing with my grandad was always great perfect to visit on a hot sunny day, but just as good to wrap up warm on a cold windy day and walk down to the end and back !

[@johnbailey5616]

What a great interesting video it was want to go to Southend soon as possible now just to go on the pier thanks for uploading the video. Used to think Skegness Pier was long and that cost over 20.ooo in the 1880s .

[@RebeccaFarquharson]

If I ever won big on a lottery I would invest in building a pier at a small seaside town. When run properly they are beautiful structures and profitable.

[@spencerwilton5831]

Rebecca Farquharson Wouldn't it be better to buy and restore one of the many historic examples in desperate need of saving?

[@RebeccaFarquharson]

@@spencerwilton5831 Probably not because the reason those are in poor keep is a lack of business. The piers brought in huge crowds to small seaside towns and then the towns grew and offered more to holiday makers than the piers could. The pier only works profitably as a destination where it can compete against businesses on the land. So wouldn't it be better to build a new pier somewhere small but looking to expand their tourist reach, thereby establishing a profitable business and helping the local economy grow?

[@johndufton9686]

You're not very talkative but your videos are always really interesting and informative. I never knew about this pier so I shall be making a trip there at some point. I really saddens me to see how many of our piers have been so sadly neglected and allowed to fall into disrepair. It's good to see one that is thriving.

[@morthren]

I get a mixed reaction about not talking. Some people prefer it because it's about the scenery and ambiance rather than me talking. But then others say they don't like the subtitles.

[@johndufton9686]

@@morthren I wouldn't change a thing. I really like the subtitles and the subtle humour.

[@jamespotter3334]

You can see some of the original rolling stock in the museum at the station.

[@alarmmuseum]

Cool railway!

[@benters3509]

Lived there for years. Looks great from the other side of the world! The water looks nice. Must have been cleaned up somewhat.

[@grahamebelton9832]

When I lived in Southend the train livery was green and cream. I used to lie in bed at night when I was a kid listening to the pier trains clattering along the wooden track. My brother used to go fishing off the pier.I will always remember walking along it one Easter time clutching a chocolate egg. The wind was so cold it gave me an ear ache.It not only had a lifeboat at the end of the pier but also many amusement machines which disappeared after the last fire.

[@Trevor_Austin]

It is a shadow of its former self. I grew up in Rayleigh and we often used to visit Sarffend and one of the things I remember were the trains on the pier. If I remember correctly they were German made, very stylish electric multiple units. They had seat backs that could be reversed. Later (1973-74?) on whilst at college we used the train every Wednesday afternoon to get to the end to go fishing. It looks totally different now for the reasons you stated. But it still brings back memories. Thanks.

[@harleancarpenter8043]

Oh, memories of my teenage years. Yes, back then, it was double track, electric trains, as we are talking last trip around 1976, or so! Interesting to see the modern version though

[@iankings6405]

I was on the old pier in the 50s the fun fair was called the Kersal the big wheel was constructed mainly from wood, happy days. and a short ride from London easily reached by bike.😊

[@bryancallahan6300]

I was born and brought up in southend in the 50s 60s 70s I used to love that place always down the front and pier and the cliffs as a kid it was fantastic. All my family still live there I left because it changed so much I could not recognise it they spoilt it.

[@MikeStarKaraokeUK]

I like Southend great place to visit. Looks different now as I have been a few times. The ice cream shop is good and the shops.

[@wordreet]

A fun video and nicely edited. :¬)

[@MetroTitanD78]

The trains were originally red and we're only changed to Blue about 15 years ago. Their electric predecessors were green and cream and at least one car survives in a museum not far away.

[@Reddsoldier]

There's one in a shop in Leigh On Sea just down the coast as well.

[@robinpinnock2678]

There are some of the old train carriages in the pier museum, underneath the shore end station.

[@Ducks-are-cool1]

I was just reading up on this Pier the other day

[@RingLordSonic]

this reminds me of Busselton, Western Australia which has the longest pier in the southern hemisphere. Not as big as Southern. great vid btw

[@kkrispy2009P]

Love it piers and trains thanks and theme park

[@marcelkopp768]

It is so beautiful there

[@AliGroves450]

Im From Hampshire And For Some Reason Ive Been On This A Lot And A Lot In The Future

[@TheAviationChannel]

*damn. I remember going on one of those over 10 years ago at 5 years old*

[@ivyanddadmetaldetectinguk9192]

Nice for a day trip , gone to the dogs in the last few years . Lived here all my life , thankfully moving out of Essex in the new year

[@highrevs6110]

What a downer you are.

[@ivyanddadmetaldetectinguk9192]

Peter Pan do you live in Southend ?

[@staffanlindstrom576]

Jolly good!

[@JulieWallis1963]

I was on this pier in 1976 when it caught fire.

[@rexy_1000]

It only takes me about 30mins to get there but the parkings a fortune...

[@klbird]

Very interesting.

[@macman975]

I have literally just moved to Southend and this popped up in my recommended.

[@survivorxp-oldalt9381]

It's cause they know

[@macman975]

@@survivorxp-oldalt9381 😳😳🤣🤣

[@KashouWannabe]

Ah, you've caught one of the rare times that it wasn't on fire.

[@alstokesveteranfilmmaker913]

Days of my childhood; at least one Saturday spent up from London and last things were a visit on the pier and the Golden Hind. To this day I'm still not sure if that sea front galleon was for real or a replica. Haven't been back for a visit since my early teens but have been thinking of going back since I moved to Norfolk. Still not sure since I learned about the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery - US ammo ship sunk to the South-West off the Isle of Sheppey during the war with at least half it's cargo still on board. I say, are those fish & chips hot? BOOM! One thing I do remember about the train, it used to go 'domidy bom' and now it goes 'clickerdy-clack.' Fings ain't what they used to be. Almost a Mod last time I went there, important to remember that beach was more mud than sand and what it could do to a pair of Levis.

[@UKHeritageRailways]

Many happy days spent in Southend in the late 50s and 60s. We used to live in London but traveled there by train. Hot summer days on the seafront and the pier, and always a visit in winter to see the illuminations and go in to Never Never Land. I have to agree with Nigel Mathews below, before Adventure Island Peter Pan's Playground was much better. The Golden Hind was a smaller replica of the real one . I now live only 10 miles away so no excuse not to go.

[@billcobbett9259]

Dad took me on one of the electric trains in the 60's. I think they were green with cream lines down the side. Even then they were old.

[@esterherschkovich6499]

My old home town :)

[@drawingboard82]

Ha, I was born there. Been along that pier many times since the early 90s

[@Xenthera]

It's really weird seeing a beach without waves... more like a large pool...

[@Gaminggunzeller]

A train that can take anyone along the pier eh? Thats cool. Beats other people from walking on the pier.

[@fifaryan1584]

Omg adventure island is my fave theme park of all time

[@uddino]

I went here tday so fun

[@user-fi8wx2oo6j]

Спасибо !!!

[@Ahmed_Sudani]

I love southend.

[@valvlog4665]

Haven't been since a kid. Maybe they should keep going ---> Southend to Sheerness Light Railway. (With a big hump in the middle for boats)

[@morthren]

That would certainly make it quicker to get to Essex

[@han-fk9gh]

this pier seems very star-crossed lol

[@themrseed2070]

I've been on the pier twice!

[@lesbird2074]

I well remember travelling on the electric trains. They looked better than the current ones, especially the green and cream livery.

[@rivafussball6719]

That train is so cool

[@taxyway]

This is similar to the one in Busselton jetty, Western Australia. It has a train line on it too and has an aquarium at the end and is 1.8 km long. But this one is still a lot longer xD!

[@rexy_1000]

Southend technically has 2 lifeboat stations. 1 at each end. It has a D class and another boat and a D class and an all-weather lifeboat at the end.