The long gone railway is lamentable in its absence but we are so fortunate you could use what is left to show a beautiful cross section of the countryside. Thanks once again for your time and talent to bring it to us.

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much - that's very kind of you. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

A fabulous video. One of York best in your lost railway series. A wonderful walk where I'm sure you can hear the ghosts of trains gone by

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Michael 🙂🤗Yes, I really did enjoy walking this section of old railway line. It is rather picturesque in sections and railways in East Devon have much interest. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

Very beautiful trail for hiking with gorgeous views in some area. It’s very informative sharing. Love the birds chirping from the time to time 😍👍👍Subbed🔔🤝Wishing you have a wonderful day🤗🤗

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for subscribing too! Take care, Paul.

Good morning Paul. That was all new to me, apart from Exmouth station. I had no idea there were so many lines in that area and it's great to see all those beautiful bridges still standing. That trackbed you were walking seemed to be completely devoid of potholes. In fact, it was very well maintained. Yes. You are correct in saying BR deliberately ran lines down, to make their case for closure more convincing. No forward thinking involved. There are a number of lines close to me that suffered the same fate, but today, would have been invaluable as diversionary routes, especially for freight. Thanks for taking me along with you on your walk.

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Yes, sadly East Devon, just like North Cornwall and North Devon, was decimated by the Beeching cuts of the 1960s. The irony is that as soon as the line closed, house and factory building went on apace, and, especially in Exmouth, the towns are much bigger and busier now than they were then, and could easily support a line running between them now. Alas, that is no longer possible, because, as you saw, it has been built over! Just over the border into Dorset too, the branch to Lyme Regis would be invaluable now with all the tourists that flock to the lovely Jurassic Coast town. Glad you enjoyed the walk. Take care, Paul.

Lovely. I know that walk. Thanks for sharing.

@westcountrywanderings

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! Yes, I had perfect weather when I filmed it late last spring. It is a gorgeous part of Devon. Cheers, Paul

Glad to say my school friend and I even had a ride on the foot plate of a steam engine at Littleham station the length of the platform when I was a small lad. The station master was apparently not looking and it was the driver and firemans idea of course. I never forgot their kindness or that adventure.

@westcountrywanderings

6 ай бұрын

That's a really lovely memory to treasure! Thank you for sharing it with me too. Take care, Paul

It's a shame the railways are lost, but it has provided you with some excellent walks & given us views of some great bridges. You certainly made the most of your day.

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Faith! Glad you enjoyed the walk. Yes, I made the most of my cheap (well, ish!) day return rail fare I think. I hope to return to Budleigh though - loved that town. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Take care, Paul.

Thank-you. A deliberately-implemented tragedy. As equally the, as-presently experienced, UK.

@westcountrywanderings

2 ай бұрын

Thank you and thanks for watching! We certainly could do with these railway lines now with our overcrowded roads. Cheers, Paul

Really enjoyed watching this video Paul. It's so interesting to see that you can still walk along the old route apart from places the have built on. Looks a great place to walk. David 📷👍

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you David! Yes, I enjoyed this walk too. Sad that they have built over part of it though. Budleigh Salterton is a lovely town - I was very impressed with it. Take care, Paul.

Well done Paul, Beautiful day out, beautiful place, beautifully filmed. A folding bike would have been useful. Take care. Ron

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Ron! There will be another Lost Railway Walk again soon. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

That was a really nice walk Paul, thank you!

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Sumac - I hope you got some tasty doggy treats for completing the walk to Exmouth. Take care, Paul 🙂👍🐕🐾

Another delightful and informative walk in your lost railway walks series. Good to see you can still walk most of the former trackbed, though what a pity the link between Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth was severed - a distance of a few miles!

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Malcolm! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, there are just some sections where it has been built on (why?!) but that means it can never reopen, sadly. It is now a useful cycleway and footpath, although part of it is by a busy road. I was most impressed by Budleigh Salterton - a most lovely town. Take care, Paul.

I also recall helping to fight a fire on the railway embankment. The brigade were on their way and there was a thatched cottage not far off which could have been at risk, I climbed up the embankment and lit a small fire in the gorse which burned its way down towards the real fire. I did explain this to the fire chief who knew me. All was well. I also saw a thatch cottage roof fire near the knowel bridge. This has nothing to do with steam engines. I only share cuz you reminded me😊😊.😊😊

@westcountrywanderings

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing that memory! I would have loved to have travalled on this line when it was open, and, with our roads getting ever more congested, it would be really useful railway again now, but, sadly, it is unlikely to open. Paul

@bobcholawo6787

6 ай бұрын

Thank you for reply. I nearly did not mention these adventures, but thanks to your video it reminded me.

That was such a nice walk and a really interesting video. I love Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton. This was a really different way to walk between the two places that I would never have considered. Brilliant information which added lots of interest to the scenic video.

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I think I certainly crammed a lot into that day! I think I was trying to maximise the return on my train fare! The two walks were both very different - I really love Budleigh though - I am definitely going back there again! Thanks for a lovely comment Louise!

@SouthWestSundays

Жыл бұрын

@@westcountrywanderings Budliegh is great! Very friendly place too! I went there for my second ever KZread video and ran out of phone battery there. Although I could find nowhere with phone chargers ( I never thought to take one with me at that point!) everyone was really helpful with their suggestions of where I might find one. Its lovely there for a beach stroll and the beach cafe.

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Oh, that's lovely! Yes, I found it a friendly place too. Because I was making two videos that day, I didn't spend as long in Budleigh as I would have liked to.

Hey Paul! It's so sad the line is gone, but what a great walk!

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed this railway walk. Budleigh Salterton is a lovely coastal town. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

Hi Paul. I loved the opening film on sunny Budleigh Salterton beach and I enjoyed the railway walks. Thank you.😊🦀🏖🌳🌳

@stephenchappell7512

Жыл бұрын

Yes Cathy Burleigh Salterton is not the first place that springs to mind when you think of the Devon coast but the pebble beach and fishermen sold me 🦀🐚🐟🌊

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Cathy! Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I think I got my money's worth out of my cheap day return to Exmouth! It took a fair bit of planning to fit two videos in, in one day, but it certainly improves my productivity ratios! I preferred Budleigh Salterton over Exmouth. Although (arguably) the beach is better in Exmouth, the town isn't; it is now unfortunately an urban sprawl, with far too many cars, that is in dire need of better public transport. If only there was another railw... Oh, wait! Budleigh Salterton is a town of much character, and a lot of independent shops too. I hope to return to cover the nature reserve, and walk to Otterton next time. Thank you for watching and commenting 👍 Take care, Paul 🙂

@cathydyer3774

Жыл бұрын

@@stephenchappell7512 🙂

@cathydyer3774

Жыл бұрын

@@westcountrywanderings 🙂 your productivity ratios must be high!

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

@@cathydyer3774 I do try Cathy - though sometimes not hard enough, I feel.

Yes a lovely walk & vidio,in my mature years I intend to cycle maybe next year2024, If you visit Exmouth Museam there are photos of old railway bridges now removed I am thinking the Main bridge one crossing over Exeter old road now traffic light system it’s all completely changed of course you would have to get hold like your good self a old map of area, Part of old track now single track roads the one I am thinking use to go to Exmouth Docks & harbour past the old dock / harbour house still visible where the old SHARPS timber yard which now is new housing,the timber once unloaded from ships distribution to Exmouth & Exeter timber yard at Queen Street ExEter for myself I used to walk on the old railway line to the old house as a young boy with my family now long gone and railway line covered for cars to drive and swim in estury near behind rugby / football club now used by wind surfers a lot sorry I cannot be more specific with Road names as I live in Exeter the names escape me at present with out making notes possibly some time in future but not much help now, I digress great vidio memories. R.Stoneman 2023 December 👍😆🤣

@westcountrywanderings

7 ай бұрын

Thank you Robert. Glad my little video brought back some memories for you. Yes, so much of Exmouth's railway history has been wiped completely away under tarmac. That extra railway capacity at Exmouth would be welcome these days, as the service on the branch to Exeter is well used, but there is only that one passing loop at Topsham, which prevents a more frequent service. The station at Exmouth is a mere shadow of its once grand self, and is more akin to a bus shelter - very basic facilities for quite a sizeable town. Thanks so much. Take care, Paul

The widening of the enbankment shown at 15.40 was because of gravel pits. I took this from Google regarding the viaduct in Exmouth shown on your map. "The alignment of the viaduct is revealed in the in fill developments in Park Lane, Park Road and Bridge Road where the odd wall lines of the Victorian/Edwardian houses indicate the line of the viaduct. Stand at the foot of Marlpool Hill and there is a small modern terrace of houses with Victorian/Edwardian houses either side. Showing where the viaduct stood." Am I looking back through rose tinted spectacles when I see the old railway films such as can be sen here on KZread. "Memories of the Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton Branches"? I suspect that the people living at the time of the then new railways looked on with horror at the countryside being despoiled. Perhaps it is the changes that one sees that provokes regret for things lost in the same way as the red telephone boxes that were looked on with disfavour now have become icons. Who knows? All I can say is that when I see videos of the railways we have lost I feel rather sad.

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Yes, I feel exactly the same John! From the OS maps, surprisingly, it didn't look like the gravel pits were rail served though, but it does explain the apparent widening. Thank you for the additional information John. Much appreciated. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

Hi Paul, That was a carefully planned pair of videos, train in, coastal path, walk back on old route and train home, great stuff, well done!! You integrated the maps and old photos perfectly Its good to see that large parts can still be used, how strange to see the part tarmaced over, it must be great as a cycle route. As far as I recall the old line from Fareham to Gosport was made into a busway (not guided) and this a town with a population of over 80,000 in the municipal census and now with no rail link. If the Victorians had rail fever then what an earth did we have in the second half of the 20th century? Both the Budleigh line and the Gosport line would have been really useful. Down my way there are rumblings about openening a completely new line to the coast its a drop of 800 metres in 52Kms as the crow flies, or 1 in 65!! It was originally served by a cable way of which I hope to catch some photos soon. And of course they want to reopen the line connecting Andalusia and Murcia, I was lucky enough to come across parts of this recently, you will see some photos posted. Great video always like to see the train ones. Have a great week and good luck from Spain!!

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thanks David! Yes, I like to mix things up a bit, as my channel isn't primarily train or railway focussed, as I know that not everyone that likes the Westcountry (of England) likes trains or railway history. But, there will be some Railway Series videos from time to time! Ditto canals. I did enjoy this (well both!) walk! It did take a fair bit of planning to get the timings right, linked in with train times, etc, but it was a productive day. The only downside, although I got something to eat in Budleigh, I would have had liked more time there for photography, as it is a super place. Ah, well, next time! Yes, it did seem a popular through cycle route, as well as a number of people walking it too. I love what you wrote here: "If the Victorians had rail fever, then what an earth did we have in the second half of the 20th century?" Exactly! Madness? Greed by the road, car maufacturing and oil producing lobby groups, I suspect. They are certainly on the wrong side of history. I hope that they are aware of the environmental damage that they have wrought on their own, and others, future generations. Wow! A town with no rail connection that has over 81,000 pop. I don't know Hampshire at all ( I went to the Isle of Wight once from Southampton - does that count?!) and I am completely unfamiliar with the area, but that is very surprising - closed in 1953 too, well before Dr. B., according to a rail history website. I wonder if there is a campaign to have a rail or tram system linking it to Portsmouth and/or Southampton? 1:65 is a fairly steepish gradient for a mainline. I hope it goes ahead to take cars off the road. Here in England, both Bristol and Bath now have ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zones - if you have all electric vehicle you can enter freely) which means you have to pay to drive in to those urban areas now. This has increased public transport use, and reduced the number of cars, but, our public transport is such that it is town or city centre obsessed, and most journeys are suburb to suburb, especially with more people now WFH (hopefully for good - large office blocks are completely unnecessary) . Things may improve - but, slowly, I feel. Thanks for watching and commenting. It is greatly appreciated. Take care, Paul.

@davidberlanny3308

Жыл бұрын

@@westcountrywanderings Hi Paul, there was a proposal to create a circular underground overground system tunneling under the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour, this was about 1999 I haven't heard anything about this for a long time so I imagine nothing happened. The terminus in Portsmouth is the harbour station, built on a pier. From the end of the pier you can get a ferry over to Gosport also a catamaran to the Isle of Wight. On the Gosport side almost opposite there was a branch to the harbour I think for military use. It would have been a spectacular system and really really useful, a real millennium project. Instead we got the Spinnaker Tower and the millennium walkway!! You've got a great mix of subjects on your channel, all you need to do is change the name to West Country (and Wessex) Wanderings, then you could pencil in a Hampshire visit (Bournemouth used to be part of Hampshire) but I'm just joking .... Don't change a thing!!

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

@@davidberlanny3308 Thanks for the info - sounds like a wasted opportunity! I bet the ferry doesn't run if the weather is bad - the Dartmouth one didn't - I had to drive an extra 20 miles to get to work when it didn't!

@davidberlanny3308

Жыл бұрын

@@westcountrywanderings Its probably an hour's drive if the ferry isn't running depending on traffic Gosport is the largest town in the UK without a railway connection although getting to Portsmouth Harbour station is relatively simple. It would have created an amazing system and unified Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth. Definitely a lost opportunity

@rogerdraycott3486

4 ай бұрын

Excellent video thanks for sharing, maybe I will cycle it in the future.

A lovely walk,Paul, so sad that these railways have closed, if they only mothballed them!

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Yes, so sad that they have built right across the trackbed in Budleigh Salterton - making it impossible to reopen the line, unfortunately. Thanks for watching and commenting Michael. Take care, Paul 🙂👍

A very nice adventure, Paul. Good to see the line still accessible and well done on remembering all those old station names. That’s quite a complicated layout. Thanks for sharing and take care. Ron🙂👍

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Hi Ron! Yes, it was quite a complicated set up in East Devon. It is mad how they close a station in a rural area like at Littleham, then spend the next 20 years building all over it without any thought to transport links! Good to see nearly all the bridges are intact and the route put to good use though. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Cheers, Paul 🙂👍

@dianarolph1770

Жыл бұрын

There was no forward planning in the fifties & sixties. The car was ‘king’ & rail was a thing of the past. Thank goodness there were far-sighted volunteers who kept a few old railways going on shoestring budgets. Anyway a lovely walk -thanks

@westcountrywanderings

Жыл бұрын

Thank you too Diana! Yes, no forward thinking at all. It would have been easy to have mothballed this and many other lines to prevent them being built over to enable future reopening. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍 Take care, Paul

Never say never.

@westcountrywanderings

10 ай бұрын

True!

Just for the sake of clarity, the Newton Abbot- Heathfield line is still owned by Network Rail and entry is therefore aggravated (criminal) trespass. Now I couldn’t care less, live and let live, and I dare say NR have far better things to spend time and money on than prosecuting people for walking on a line that is presently unusable due to flooding, but….just so you know….

@westcountrywanderings

3 ай бұрын

I only walk on PROWs (Public rights of way), so the Heathfield Line would not feature in my Lost Railway Walks series. It may featured as a seperate video using archive video and photography taken from the public highway. I have never trespassed during the course of making of my videos. I have however, cut a barbed wire where one was illegally place along a PROW and subsequently reported it to the appropriate local authority. I understand action was later taken against them. NR would be quite right within their rights for prosecuting anyone trespassing along the Heathfield Line, as it is, as far as I understand, not a closed line, just temporarily mothballed.