The Walk - EP 100 - Memories Of The Isle of Wight Railways - Shanklin To Ventnor - Isle Of Wight
I can't believe it's episode 100 already.
I am back on the sunny Isle of Wight, and I am back walking with my Dad, David.
We take a walk along the trackbed of the former Isle of Wight railway between the coastal towns of Shanklin and Ventnor.
The line between Ryde in the north and Shanklin on the east coast, opened in 1864 and still remains open today, but we'll be walking the southern section from Shanklin, that opened in 1866, and lasted for 100 years before closing under the axe of Dr Beeching.
There are plenty of railway remains to be found, as well as my dads memories of travelling along this railway in the 1960s.
Join us on a nostalgic journey through the history of these wonderful railways.
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Пікірлер: 65
Gotta love David Icke,Tough as old boots,never any bullshit or flashy clothes or jewellery and not full of himself. Inspirational man.
“Haven’t had my leg over for years” 🤣 A wonderful video of a father and son taking us all on a stunning walk. 🙏
You couldn't have made a better 100th episode. Well done!
Just to clarify at 31:55, that the Labour Minister of Transport was Fraser who was the first transport Minister following the Wilson Labour government win in October 1964, and not Castle as stated. She was Transport Minister after Fraser in December 1965. Fraser did the bulk of negotiations with BR over the Island line closures (Smallbrook Junction to Newport/Cowes) and the decision to electrify the truncated section that survives today. BR intended to close the bulk of the lines on the island and notice of closure was served in Feb 1964. BR did not expect the backlash from the passengers and business communities over the proposed closure, nor did they anticipate a general election in the October 1964 with a labour government whose election manifesto stated it was opposed to the railway closures. Indeed BR on closure of all of the remaining Island lines, proposed keeping the Ryde PH to Esplanade station open, with a bus interchange at the Esplanade station. This did not court favour with the Local authority, who stated that they would oppose any plan to build an interchange, as it was ill thought out. At peak summer time some 54,000 passengers on a Saturday alighted at the PH station to travel on the trains. This would require, at the Esplanade station some 42 double decker buses per hour to transport these passengers, who alighted the ferries, on to their destinations; it would add to the congestion on the roads, and the bus company did not have sufficient stock to transport that number of passengers, neither would it buy in additional stock only for it to remain idle for 8 months of the year. This was IMHO one of the main reason why the line from Ryde PH to Shanklin was kept open, and agreed by the Minister. BR were also adamant that the business case to retain the line from Shanklin to Ventnor, was poor, and they told the local councils this was the case in the early closure negotiations in 1964. BR had evidence from ticket sales and receipts that the bulk of passengers alighted at Shanklin, and not that many at Ventnor. Ventnor for all its charm was in the wrong plane for the town. Some 300ft above it, passengers alighting had to carry their luggage down steep hills to their holiday accommodation. When their holidays ended, it was carrying the luggage uphill with souvenirs and kids in tow. Get off at Shanklin (or another earlier station) catch a bus in to Ventnor, which delivered you into the town, an easier journey. The train timetable for a peak summer operation in 1965 was 6 trains per hour from Ryde PH station, the bulk of them (4) terminated at Shanklin, and a half hourly service to Ventnor (2). Another reason, was that to electrify down to Ventnor from Shanklin would need a 4th 33kV/650V DC traction substation, 33kV O/H line connection, extra tube stock, conductor rail etc. costing £264k. Money BR did not have authority from government to spend. At the time BR was involved in the £16 million Bournemouth electrification scheme, and there was pressure on it to remove steam from the railway network. BR only just managed to electrify from Ryde PH to Shanklin on £500k, with 3 traction substations, u/g tube stock, 33kV OH line connections, etc. Now the issues with the tunnel IMHO, are a red herring; as some years ago one of the Directors of Southern, Chris Green stated in a lecture here in Sussex, that there was a fall in the tunnel. A video filmed in mid 2000 exists of a visit and a walk in the tunnel courtesy of Southern Water, shows there was no evidence of a fall. Indeed Southern Water use the tunnel as a way of getting mains water into Ventnor, on one side and there is a sewage pipe on the other. Both are visible in your video. In fact Southern water may well own the tunnel or have a permanent easement or lease arrangement, to have their plant running through it. This water-pipe also runs under the old track bed of the former route from Shanklin to Wroxall and onto Ventnor, again probably on a permanent easement. I would add that the local councils tried to pressurize BR to fund the electrification from Shanklin to Ventnor. This BR refused, stating that the councils could fund both the fixed and running costs of that line. The councils OTOH refused stating that it was an additional cost on their ratepayers, the bulk of whom were retired anyway. There the matter lapsed.
Delightful family delightful walk, just lovely ❤
Wow i never knew the icon legend David Icke was your wonderful dad as im a massive fan of David icke i own h copies of his books su h an honoir it is to have the icon person still your videos are an absolute to watch all your videos learning all about disused railway lines
Very impressive Video Gareth! Our island is so embedded in History just above Ventnor Station in the depession of Coombe Bottom circa 1860 is a rifle/gun range and the brick structures left today are the rifle butts they used! This place was used to train soldiers for battle at Galipoli! Thankyou for this Video it was Very interesting!👍
Great walk with the ickes. Do this walk every year with my daughters whilst holidaying at lower hyde
Thank You Dad and Son what a GIFT for us all 💝 Look at the violet light over David when filmed ..
Your dad's great 👍 I enjoyed watching this .
Listening to you two talk about normal stuff was very wholesome.
What a great 100th episode. So lovely to see you walking with your Dad and to see the enthusiasm and love you both have for the railways. Precious moments ❤
So sorry for your loss. Iv just learnt of it. No parent should bury their child. You're dad's a legend and I am sure you will be come one Gaz. ❤
Aww, that was gorgeous, and the perfect celebration of 100 episodes! Beautiful scenery, beautiful weather, beautiful stories - I particularly liked your dad's story about his dad's shoes! 😊 Lovely to see your dad looking well and reminiscing about his time on the steam trains. Thank you both x
Sunshine, railway history and Ickes, a great combination certain to brighten any day. Much gratitude and love, chaps.
Great video, have been following David's work and reading his books since I first bought The Truth Vibrations, so it's an added bonus to discover his love of railways too! The concrete hut looks like the remains of a Fogman's hut. A Fogman, when fog or snow reduced visibility, placed detonators on the rails ahead of signals or temporary speed restrictions imposed due to works etc. to provide additional warning to train drivers. The Southern railway had their own cement works at Exmouth junction, and they prefabricated everything from platform facing, huts, lamp posts, fence panels, all made of concrete many of which can still be seen on the network today. Further details can be found in the book "Southern Nouveau and the lineside".
@IckeWalks
3 ай бұрын
Ah! Thank you very much!
Really enjoyable 100th episode Gareth, a really nice surprise to see your dad with you sharing his stories about the Isle of Wight...great stuff! 👍
Happy 100th episode! I suffer from depression, ADHD, so your episodes help me chill and escapism. A few years ago i was diagnosed with gout so i can no longer walk like i use to so i enjoy watching these episodes. Your videos make me laugh with David calling you a nerd and David going over the gate. Great video as usual. Lots of love, Ant.
@IckeWalks
4 ай бұрын
Thanks a lot Ant. Sorry to hear of your troubles, but I am happy these videos seem to help!
@stevenberryhill9209
4 ай бұрын
Made me chuckle, too👍🏻
Special! Thanks for sharing this HUNDREDTH :-) episode with us. Glad I’m here at this time in life to get to watch this father and son walk. Cheers from TX
Just found you as watching videos on the island. I loved this video and a big fan of your dads. He’s such an interesting dude. I’m moving to Ryde in the summer, would love to meet him one day. Subbed. Thanks for such an interesting and informative vid.
A pleasure to see you and your Dad (and in fine fettle). Thank you
@stevenberryhill9209
4 ай бұрын
fettle - a new word for me ;)
Great journey with your dad, adding his personal memories of the old steam trains. Happy 100th walk!
Thoroughly enjoyable (I remember David in earlier days - still a character!). Platelayers' hut - a trackside base for rail maintenance workers, for e.g. storing tools and materials, assembling everything for a job, and providing shelter in inclement weater. Often had a solid fuel stove for heating, and for warming up food. The term platelayer comes from horse tramways (late 18th/early 19th centuries. pre steam locos). The track for such early railways was made up of cast-iron 'plates', around a metre long, bolted together.
Now that was nice to see another side of your Dad and yourself both enjoying each other's company. Pleased that you had a nice day to shoot the video also 🌞 I'm glad your Dad made it over the gate or you would have got some stick from folks 👏😆🚴
what a lovley video, your dad seems like a proper gentleman . keep up the epic work my dude
That was lovely. I was brought up in wroxhall, bonchurch, and Caristbrooke (gunvile rd , where the west wight line use to run. Memories of walking into ventnor from bonchurch and the the other way through "land slip" are still strong. So thank you for this, both of you .
Cool, inspired me to go out and explore my area.
Cheers Gareth and David for a lovely video. Very moving with the mention of Kerry as well.
Thanks Gareth & David! Really enjoyed that. Love your energy for all the detail! R ❤️X
We're on an adventure from Shanklin to Ventnor Along the straight an narrow, past plate layers huts, is that where they use to do the dishes,oh how we wishes we could turn back time not only for steam but many a dream, of everything we miss an that miss us, underneath the arches an passing through the red brick bridges, to a tunnel an then a quarry where once it was train an now it is lorry, coal merchant caves that's a wow, how different we live from then to now. Really good this Gareth an David my heart goes out to you, take care, an if we don't see you here we'll see you there. Cheers.
Another great video, Gareth. Great to see with your dad again, mate. Would love to see you do more walking type videos like the ones on ickonic - really enjoyed them! Take care.. Phil.
Another Great IOW train video Gareth and wonderful to see your Dad.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. A lad and his dad. And the enthusiasm shared between the two of you, was great to watch!
@IckeWalks
4 ай бұрын
Cheers mate.
Gareth your very dedicated to your exploring have really enjoyd the scenery and your knowledge. So special your Shari g this episodes with your David. Congrats on 💯 th episode.🎉🎉🎉😂😂❤
Great Video ,great walk with you and your Dad, have great memories of Shanklin as we had very memorable family holiday there back In 1967 a year after steam finished ,we a very rare holiday by train from Woking it Could have been steam from their might have been a Spam can will never know as steam from Waterloo lasted into 67 ,but I do remember loads of young hippy getting on Woking and the girls all had what they called cow bells hanging from their necks which was fashion back then ,when we got off in Shanklin outside the Station the whole area outside was full of Porters willing to take your luggage on trolley to your Hotel from the Station as you walked up the road with them !! GooD old Days !!!😂 where have they all Gone ?😮 Great Video I esp love those of IOW magical thankyou ❤❤
@chrisfrost8456
4 ай бұрын
Forgot to mention reason for all the teens getting on at Woking was because of the famous Music fest on the IOW with Jimi Hendrix and few others but as I was only 9 then too young 😢 .
Thank you both for a lovely video & glad it was a lovely day too! Fascinating stuff ❤
I have been to iow only once 1995.. A day trip from n.ireland..loved it..beautiful countryside and history very interesting.. I read about 'Sandown Sam'..the clown..interesting if true.. Very enjoyable watching this walk. First one i watched..as with ikonic..very informative... Paul hoye.
Love the isle of Wight, been Lower Hyde many a time as a kid, I take my own now and stay up Yaverland, my sister travels from Cyprus with her kids and we have two chalets next to each other every year, I always wonder if one day I'll bump into David there, it would be a pleasure. Seen him shoot some video casts from Culver Down and it always reminds me of our view from Yaverland down to Shanklin. Thanks guys great video
Very nice tour David and Gareth.
I open now and see this 😊i.know why ❤wonderful video I think very nice holiday area i learn many things i like train station so much energhy is a best there End of the video so you and your father very nice and funny and happy i like this ..❤i hope i can come for holiday there.very best area i say thank you to you now ❤please say your father Thank you too from me ❤❤❤
@IckeWalks
4 ай бұрын
Thank you!
Enjoying the series Gareth. Have you built a model railway yet. Natural step for many a muso 👍
Love your walks! My Grandad rented one of the caves for his car in Ventnor Station when it was running. Always look forward to watching your videos of my homeland! (currently living on the Isle of Man 🇮🇲)
@IckeWalks
4 ай бұрын
Oh the Isle of Man is one on my list! Loads to do there, too!
@MissyMadge
4 ай бұрын
@@IckeWalks bring your dad too! Lots of lovely walks on the Isle of Man. Go and see the biggest working water wheel on the planet. It's right here!
@IckeWalks
4 ай бұрын
@@MissyMadge Is that up near the gin distillery?
@MissyMadge
4 ай бұрын
@@IckeWalks The Fynoderee distillery is in Ramsey, right next to the Manx Electric railway that goes through Laxey (where you can get the mountain railway to the summit of Snaefell) to its terminus at Derby Castle in Douglas.
@MissyMadge
4 ай бұрын
I told my hubby that you want to come over to the Isle of Man. He said maybe meet up for a coffee and a chat and take you round the TT course?
What a fab episode, from Hi-De-Hi, to Butlins, there is still one in Skegness too, but maybe not quite the same. It feels like a Blankety Blank game, but I wouldn't win that one. What a great route for walking though. It brought back memories of me, my sister and Dad on the 'old railway' as we called it with him showing us how to get the nectar from nettles. Definitely a fitting episode for the 100th.
Hello Gareth I have been looking forward to this video really good to see your dad on it I really love the view of the island ut is like been there you and your dad make me laugh you have cheered me up after a stressful day lol haha I am looking forward to the next one keep up the good work take care peace and love xx
We literally missed you by 3 days ! Ventnor is a scary collapsy mess isnt it :( . Great to see your take on the place.
Hi di hi guys and very informative video. My Granparents used to take me and 2 of my cousins every year to Skegvegas Butlins and it was pretty much how your Dad described it ! The remaing ones are shadows of their former selves , these days, in a world full of Commercialisation and Health & Saftey mumbo jumbo 🙄
@IckeWalks
4 ай бұрын
They're crazy money now mate
Great video the ones you do with your dad are the best..... would love to see you do some content around the Stockton to Darlington railway 200 year anniversary next year there's actually an organisated walk next year starting from eaglescliff station to Stockton following the old track bed
Another brilliant video of the island, nice one Gareth. (Dennis Jones)
@IckeWalks
4 ай бұрын
Cheers Dennis, mate.
Btw, the huts would store railway tools.
@IckeWalks
4 ай бұрын
Ah, makes sense.
⚠Spoiler alert: They took a taxi home.