Superb series, Darren! I particularly love your 'photo-fades' showing the 'then' and 'now' views (I prefer the 'then's!). I know 'progress' (Blackpool's motto) is inevitable but we have lost some marvellous pieces of infrastructure...
@@jonathanhall7334 I have to agree - the Blackpool of my youth has been swept away by development after development over the years - not always to the town's favour!
@@TheLordHiggs absolutely traffic has always been terrible round tabot Road. Building that new hotel would have been better as a bus station . Its an accident waiting to happen.
As a boy I lived in Ullswater Road South Shore where we had a family bakery business on Lytham Road. I remember the huge crowds of holidaymakers streaming down Waterloo Road bridge from the station into South Shore and queueing in our shop for their pies and cakes to take to the beach. Also the sounds of the trams on Lytham Road and the trains out from South Shore well into the night being a comfort and watching the big 'iron horses' to and fro' along the railway embankment, over the 'Ferodo bridge' as we played in Watson Road park in the daytime. We then moved to Lytham when I was aged 12, so quiet in terms of bustle and noise it was scary to a young boy used to the noise. Thanks for all your research and hard work, the series has been a great watch.
Blackpool does have such incredible history and not just the railways and trams and of course the beach, Blackpool Tower and arcades but how Blackpool became so popular. With lots of people coming all over the country to visit Blackpool and to spend holiday at Blackpool. I still want to go to Blackpool. As always keep up the good work. 👍☺️
Hi Darren, fabulous end to the B/pool central series. I'm godsmacked at the size of the station and platforms from all those Ariel shots and it was foresight(?) that the trackbed was left to become Yeadon Way the arterial road into B/pool central area. Those more modern cine films of trains pulling in, passengers, the fashions of the day all add to the memories of what was. Cheers DougT, oh and give Barney a scratch behind his ears for me.
Another absolute triumph Darren, as always of course. I was amazed when I was told that the station had been moved to a residential location about a hundred years ago and that it STILL survived. But it really is the old station as apparently it was felt it was just too recently built and in such good condition, that it would be such a shame to just throw it in a skip, or as it was mostly of wooden construction, just torch it, so there it still proudly stands to this day. Also it's relatively small size and wooden build, meant it wasn't a particularly big or heavy task to move it, even way back then. Just as an aside, the Kirkham line was also called "The Fast Line", for obvious reasons, as it ran directly to Kirkham from Blackpool Central/ South, avoiding all the potential stops or delays from being behind stopping trains at Moss Side, Ansdell and Fairhaven, Lytham, St Anne's etc and even a couple of little halts that are now long gone. The railways wanted to get you to Blackpool as quickly as possible and enjoy your journey, so that was thought to the best way to make that happen. Excellent once again Darren.
I've really enjoyed this series. I used to drive buses in to and out of Blackpool and had no clue about Lytham Rd station. The photo fades are fascinating and it's incredible to think that I drove past that site regularly but had no clue what used to be there. Thank you 😁
Great series of videos. I'm in my 70's now and can still remember walking down the platform ( which seemed a very long way) at Central looking forward to getting into Blackpool.
Brilliant! Thanks so much for all your hard work. My dad who's been visiting Blackpool since he was 3 and is now nearly 87 remembers the train lines and as a child watching the hoards of holiday makers streaming up the roads from various station drop offs! I personally remember the old toilets, it was 2p to use them via the slot on the door! Amazing memories!
This was great, it’s exactly the type of video I love and I have learnt so much! Love all the photo fades and a chance to see how it was before. Thanks
Another banging Video Darren, another fantastic History lesson from you. I wish you were on everyday! It really shows your passion for these past places. You definitely deserve your own TV show. 👍👌 Thank you for sharing 😊
Absolutely fascinating, Darren, especially those photo fades, a surprise at the end to see that high quality footage, and the station building transplanted! We'll done!
Really enjoyed this series, the aerial shots of the sidings full of trains and the masses of people using the station really makes you realise just what has been lost. Thanks for these looking forward to more.
I must say, your Sunday videos are like an alarm clock. Look up at the Grandfather clock, and it’s 07:00 EST here in the USA. Your videos are breath taking. Your the best Darren. Cheers mate😊
Hi, Darren, can't thank you enough for this gobsmacking series, lovingly researched and immaculately put together. I came to Blackpool just over 8 years ago and live in the 2007 flats at the end of Osborne Road. Had no idea about Waterloo Road station or Lytham South Shore station, and it has been eye-opening to realise what has been there before and what was knocked down to build the flats. Your work and commitment to keeping the past alive are greatly appreciated.
Absolutely great, thank you. It was like a trip down memory lane watching it. Being of a certain age I remember Blaclpool Central and arriving at it from Preston (my home), which was always the start of an exciting day out. Back then we took it for granted of course, but your videos do so much to teach us more about how it was and point out things we missed noticing. Your time fades are amazing as always as is the archive footage, and you really put a lot of work into these things. Thanks for all you do, and keep up the good work lad.
These videos brought back so many memories to me. Mid 50s to late 60s, I lived on Coronation St. We could see the station from our front door looking down Hull Rd. Central Station was where I used to carry visitors cases to the hotels from the station. Taxi drivers hated us because we were taking their business away from them. When the station closed down, i was still a young tearaway. There was a small building near the signal control box, and we broke the lock on the door and found detonators inside. We used to hang these detonators on a wall and throw stones at them to make them explode. I was led to believe that these detonators were used to put on the tracks so as a train ran over them, they would explode, therefore warning the train driver that they were approaching workmen on the track. Thanks for taking me down memory lane. Loved the videos.👌👌👍
What a series! I don't know how but I managed not to watch the the first two until this one came on. I wanted to see them all together. Don't you just wish you could step in to the photo fades (as always excellently done) just to feel what it must have been like? I never imagined how big the site was. It was an eye-opener. You make history live, thank you.
What a fantastic mini series. The images are so evocative. I think my interest in abandoned railways must have been the twice annual holidays to Blackpool and seeing swathes of land that were once part of this massive railway complex prior to the construction of the largest car park in Britain! I certainly remember the toilets!
Great video Darren and love this series. Certainly a man after my own heart looking in bushes to find traces of history lurking there. Keep up the good work 😀
Excellent series of videos Darren . It's amazing to see what was once there and how it is now , great photo fades as always which gives great context to images as they are now . Is sad that the railway is no longer there but the track bed being now the main road into Blackpool highlights how the world has changed .
As someone who’s recently moved to Blackpool area, I find this very interesting, your photo fades are amazing and spot on. It’s nice to compare the differences. Also very well researched. I see other channels and people waffling on without much idea or thought, as if they thought I’ll go and video something. Once again first class video 👍
Tremendously impressed by the precision of your photo-fades - maybe this will inspire others to give us a sense of "then" and "now" in other parts of the country. It's truly remarkable to see modern traffic gliding through the world as it was, really brings the past to life.
Great series again and also the Tram Town vlog. We did Tram Town back in August when staying at Fleetwood and also travelled by train from Blackpool South to Lytham. The lasting impression of much of that part of Blackpool can be summed up in two words "urban decay". I hope that it can revived but it will be a long uphill struggle. I was brought up 15 miles from Blackpool in the 1950s and was a regular visitor with the family for shopping, cinema, pier shows, illuminations, the Tower etc. and the Blackpool of today cannot even be considered as faded glory.
Blackpool has changed so much, I grew up in Blackpool and drove through a couple of years back. I remember thinking to myself, so many childhood, teen memories knocked down, gone forever. Even the prom is different, and Tyldesley Road has practically been demolished on one side, hotels that were owned by old friends of mine, it made me feel quite sad if I'm honest, but times change and new infrastructure has to be built for new generations, doesn't make it any less sad though. Does anyone remember the old football ground and greyhound track? Rigby Road, maybe do a video Darren. I remember it being demolished for the cinema and gym, I'd have been maybe 15 or 16 then. I believe Bonny Street Nick is going also, and I'm sure Montegue Street has already gone, I worked out of both many moons ago.
Darren With every new video your editing skills blow me away. Your attention to detail is wonderful. And, with your photo overlays and fades you take me back to times long gone. I love local history, even if that history is at the other end of the country. Well done mate. Another fabulous and entertaining video chock-full of interesting facts and a personal take on days-gone that I find rather appealing.
A great series, Darren. It's interesting to see your drive up Yeadon Way. The shrubbery has grown so much it's hard to realise it was once the railway. At least it was still very obvious when Yeadon Way first opened. The stills of Lytham Road you used were very interesting as all the trams visible in the photos were Lytham St Anne's Blue Trams which were promoted for many years as "Travel on the Blue Tram" .
Thank you so much for the research and effort you put into your videos. Each one an historical treasure. They are appreciated by a long term resident of Blackpool (originally from north London) who’s keen to expand my knowledge of the town I love.
Astounding to see that old platform still intact, Darren. A good reminder that there was a main railway line into the town at one time. The past and present scenes that you've produced are totally remarkable, and it's also great to know that the old station building got preserved into a private residence. Many thanks for this video showing, and looking forward to your next production.
Fascinating as always, Darren. You can't help wondering why they didn't just rationalise Blackpool Central down to a single island platform and retain it for the Lytham line, can you? Even if it had to be cut back three or four hundred yards - terminating it at Blackpool South feels like a determined effort to render the service permanently vulnerable, off season. For all that I understand why North became the main line route into Blackpool, as most of it would have had to have remained open at that time anyway, for the still-busy freight line to Fleetwood. And the chances are, if the direct line had been retained and the M55 hadn't been built, Blackpool would be a complete ghost town by now. Well done for checking out those bushes, by the way - we believe you!
I lived on Station Road for many years at what was the Blue Danube hotel now called "ParkRoyal" hotel. It's charming to see that in the hallways and landings the hotel still has my mum's chosen carpet in there, so that's 40 years old! But with regards to this video, I always used to wonder as a kid why the road was called Station Road and so it is very charming to see the history and the photo fades. I also see that what was the casino, a rather grand building on the corner was burnt down and surprise surprise replaced with a car park. Wonderful times they were back in the 1980s. And thanks for completing the history! Anyways back to my view of the Solent now 👍🏻
The video of the train pulling into the station took me right back to my childhood and holidays with my grandparents in Blackpool. Darren your a star 👍👍
Brilliant series, Darren. Like other viewers I particularly liked the photo fades. It’s fascinating to see how Blackpool looked back in the day, when most people went there by train. At least there are more railways still running there than elsewhere! A “then and now” railway map might have been a good thing to add. Best wishes, Andrew in Brighton
hiya darren we are all sat here in awe , that was another beautiful film , and yes the thens are much better too , never like to see a railway destroyed , anyway thank you so much for all your wonderful films , best wishes from nick and tracy in wigan lancashire
I recently attended a conference in Blackpool and stayed at the Premier Inn on Yealdon Way. Without knowing anything about the railway the road seemed to me to resemble the path of a railway and so I investigated looking at historical maps and pieced the course of the railway. Your TH-cam video answered all my questions and I found it truly fascinating. Thank you for the time taken to put all this together-an excellent record, what a pity the north and south railways never connected it may have resulted in survival of the complete route to this day. Well done.
Absolutely brilliant production values; your research, presentation and editing skills are outstanding. I knew about the former Central Station and parked on the site hundreds of times in the '80s and '90s, but I had no idea of the sheer vast scale of the rail network, stations and sidings leading into Blackpool. Thank very much for this series!
Mate awsume vid i remember all that as a kid something reminds me that it was blackpool north that was supposed to go but the council at the time wanted central to go so they could use the Land utter shame but then again all the mills have gone so the holiday times are gone as well
Excellent videos of Blackpool Central Station, Blackpool South Station and Lytham Road Station. It's a shame they got rid of this vast railway. More evidence of this can be seen at Andsall and Fairhaven station. Loved the way you were able to show the old fotos over the modern footage. Xxx
Amazing series this one Darren, I’m a Wigan and missus from Preston, spent sooo much time in Blackpool as a kid, tonnes more after meeting the missus and now we have kids we go once a quarter - always drive up Yeadon way and this video blew my mind as I had no idea 🤷🏻♂️that any of this existed. I can’t wait to go back now with the family and take them on a tour with your photo fades and show them. Keep up the great work 👍
Great video. Darren at the very start of the video if you turn round the cobbled road at the foot of tbe bridge was the entrance to the former coal yard and on the corner of Hampton Road just beyond are two white long buildings now apartments they were the original railway stables .
Great series. I grew up on Marton Drive, just down from the Ferodo bridge. My high school was Palatine (now South Shore Academy) on St Annes Road. We used to do cross country running along the embankment when it was just a gravel track.
Excellent, well researched and presented series! I knew nothing about Blackpool Central previously, other than it existed. The aerial shots in particular reveal much about the route as it originally ran. So thanks... and do keep 'em coming!
Thank for a very informative 3 videos on Blackpool train lines. I have lived here for 30 years and you have shown me thinks I have seen and not realized what they were. Thank you . Looking forward to the next video.
This week's episode regarding the old Blackpool Central Station and the tracks leading into it was, for me, the most interesting one. Once again your research has unearthed some real historical gems along the line. The Lyrham Road station building being the crowning glory. I'm amazed how the complete building was moved to it's current site in that day and age. Great work superimposing the old photos onto current images. It really does clearly show the changes down the years. It's to be hoped your material could be used by a Blackpool Heritage group to be kept and shown to future generations, demonstrating the evolution of central Blackpool and beyond. Great job Darren - a very professional presentation 👏 What have you got next up your sleeve??
Thanks for sharing these fascinating videos. I live on Elland Place which sits between Waterloo Road and Bloomfield Road, it was previously called Railway View. Looking at your old images of the train lines up to Central Station I can see why, just a shame they chose to rename it and remove that part of history.
Amazing! Theses Last 3 video's on & about Blackpool station have been brilliant. Great information, great detail. Love your fade in shots with old pictures. Production & continuity bringing it all to life as you narrate. Keep up ur amazing work 👏🤛🏼👍🤟🏼🤍
So interesting and thank you for this informative series on a lost station and railway into Blackpool. Maybe when I next get to Blackpool I will try and walk part of the route myself. Love the fade out/in from pictures of yesterday.
Thanks, Darren. Really enjoyed watching these about Blackpool Central. Absolutely loved the photo fades. I only vaguely remember Central and South as they were, but this did evoke some great memories. Thanks, once again.
Fantastic visuals, its amazing how little of the area has been built on. Its virtually all just car parks. I was in Blackpool at the weekend and we sad to see how it is today. Needs some significant investment off the prom.
Your part three of Blackpool was stunning, from what it was to what it is today you would have to say that Blackpool's railways were butchered. But thanks for brining it all to life once again. Can't wait for your next production. Be Proud.
Great series of videos!! I didn't realise Tram Town was opposite the football ground, that arial view of all the sidings nearby really gives you an idea of the magnitude of what was there. I enjoyed the trip out following the view from the car and the progress on the map. Good luck from Spain!!
The black and white enhancements make you want to jump into the past to meet those people, the M55 that I have used a lot is such a straight route to East Lancashire and brought millions on their holidays, it's as if all this never existed, so thank you.
These are truly excellent videos of a place I visited many times as a child - although long after the railway had gone. I get the strange feeling that 'Blackpool' is taken from the old Norse 'many car parks'.....
Superb series, Darren! I particularly love your 'photo-fades' showing the 'then' and 'now' views (I prefer the 'then's!). I know 'progress' (Blackpool's motto) is inevitable but we have lost some marvellous pieces of infrastructure...
Glad you enjoyed it
I wouldn't call it Progress I don't think Blackpool has been the same since they Closed Central Station.
@@jonathanhall7334 I have to agree - the Blackpool of my youth has been swept away by development after development over the years - not always to the town's favour!
It would be so handy to have a line directly into the middle of Blackpool.
It was abig mistake getting rid of blackpool central. If only they could just extend it to the football ground I'd be happier.
You can blame the council.
@@Adzcantsing Money would be better spent doing that then the stupid Tram Extension to Blackpool North 😂
@@TheLordHiggs absolutely traffic has always been terrible round tabot Road. Building that new hotel would have been better as a bus station . Its an accident waiting to happen.
As a boy I lived in Ullswater Road South Shore where we had a family bakery business on Lytham Road. I remember the huge crowds of holidaymakers streaming down Waterloo Road bridge from the station into South Shore and queueing in our shop for their pies and cakes to take to the beach. Also the sounds of the trams on Lytham Road and the trains out from South Shore well into the night being a comfort and watching the big 'iron horses' to and fro' along the railway embankment, over the 'Ferodo bridge' as we played in Watson Road park in the daytime.
We then moved to Lytham when I was aged 12, so quiet in terms of bustle and noise it was scary to a young boy used to the noise.
Thanks for all your research and hard work, the series has been a great watch.
Thanks for watching
Blackpool does have such incredible history and not just the railways and trams and of course the beach, Blackpool Tower and arcades but how Blackpool became so popular.
With lots of people coming all over the country to visit Blackpool and to spend holiday at Blackpool. I still want to go to Blackpool. As always keep up the good work. 👍☺️
Thanks for another cracking vlog very interesting story and well shot 🎉with the fading in and out makes it really stand out
Fantastic. Your faded in and out are brilliant. Loved the music. Blended so well with the footage. Thank you Darren. You are a master at your craft.
Awesome, thank you!
Hi Darren, fabulous end to the B/pool central series. I'm godsmacked at the size of the station and platforms from all those Ariel shots and it was foresight(?) that the trackbed was left to become Yeadon Way the arterial road into B/pool central area. Those more modern cine films of trains pulling in, passengers, the fashions of the day all add to the memories of what was. Cheers DougT, oh and give Barney a scratch behind his ears for me.
Another absolute triumph Darren, as always of course.
I was amazed when I was told that the station had been moved to a residential location about a hundred years ago and that it STILL survived.
But it really is the old station as apparently it was felt it was just too recently built and in such good condition, that it would be such a shame to just throw it in a skip, or as it was mostly of wooden construction, just torch it, so there it still proudly stands to this day.
Also it's relatively small size and wooden build, meant it wasn't a particularly big or heavy task to move it, even way back then.
Just as an aside, the Kirkham line was also called "The Fast Line", for obvious reasons, as it ran directly to Kirkham from Blackpool Central/ South, avoiding all the potential stops or delays from being behind stopping trains at Moss Side, Ansdell and Fairhaven, Lytham, St Anne's etc and even a couple of little halts that are now long gone.
The railways wanted to get you to Blackpool as quickly as possible and enjoy your journey, so that was thought to the best way to make that happen.
Excellent once again Darren.
Thanks as always David
@@AdventureMe You are, as always, most welcome
I've really enjoyed this series. I used to drive buses in to and out of Blackpool and had no clue about Lytham Rd station. The photo fades are fascinating and it's incredible to think that I drove past that site regularly but had no clue what used to be there. Thank you 😁
This is a tremendous series, anticipated the latest part each week, so fascinating, thank you for spending the time to make each video
Thanks Robin
Great series of videos. I'm in my 70's now and can still remember walking down the platform ( which seemed a very long way) at Central looking forward to getting into Blackpool.
Brilliant! Thanks so much for all your hard work. My dad who's been visiting Blackpool since he was 3 and is now nearly 87 remembers the train lines and as a child watching the hoards of holiday makers streaming up the roads from various station drop offs! I personally remember the old toilets, it was 2p to use them via the slot on the door! Amazing memories!
This was great, it’s exactly the type of video I love and I have learnt so much! Love all the photo fades and a chance to see how it was before. Thanks
Thanks Sara
Another great series brilliant work as always. It’s fascinating to think that Blackpool once had such an extensive rail network
Many thanks!
Another banging Video Darren, another fantastic History lesson from you. I wish you were on everyday! It really shows your passion for these past places. You definitely deserve your own TV show. 👍👌 Thank you for sharing 😊
Absolutely fascinating, Darren, especially those photo fades, a surprise at the end to see that high quality footage, and the station building transplanted! We'll done!
Really enjoyed this series, the aerial shots of the sidings full of trains and the masses of people using the station really makes you realise just what has been lost. Thanks for these looking forward to more.
I must say, your Sunday videos are like an alarm clock. Look up at the Grandfather clock, and it’s 07:00 EST here in the USA. Your videos are breath taking. Your the best Darren. Cheers mate😊
See you on the next. Enjoy the week ahead.
Another interesting and well put-together series. Great stuff Darren.
A great video and the whole series on Blackpool trains, special call out to the photo-fades, beautifully done.
Amazing video I love the photo fades and vintage video. Your attention to detail is fantastic.
Hi, Darren, can't thank you enough for this gobsmacking series, lovingly researched and immaculately put together. I came to Blackpool just over 8 years ago and live in the 2007 flats at the end of Osborne Road. Had no idea about Waterloo Road station or Lytham South Shore station, and it has been eye-opening to realise what has been there before and what was knocked down to build the flats. Your work and commitment to keeping the past alive are greatly appreciated.
Absolutely great, thank you. It was like a trip down memory lane watching it. Being of a certain age I remember Blaclpool Central and arriving at it from Preston (my home), which was always the start of an exciting day out. Back then we took it for granted of course, but your videos do so much to teach us more about how it was and point out things we missed noticing. Your time fades are amazing as always as is the archive footage, and you really put a lot of work into these things. Thanks for all you do, and keep up the good work lad.
Darren that was amazing. The effort you put into these films is astonishing., but really appreciated. Thankyou so much.
My pleasure!
Darren I have just been in Blackpool for the very reason of following your historic trails. Just amazing. I salute you. Charles and Charlotte.
These videos brought back so many memories to me. Mid 50s to late 60s, I lived on Coronation St. We could see the station from our front door looking down Hull Rd. Central Station was where I used to carry visitors cases to the hotels from the station. Taxi drivers hated us because we were taking their business away from them. When the station closed down, i was still a young tearaway. There was a small building near the signal control box, and we broke the lock on the door and found detonators inside. We used to hang these detonators on a wall and throw stones at them to make them explode. I was led to believe that these detonators were used to put on the tracks so as a train ran over them, they would explode, therefore warning the train driver that they were approaching workmen on the track. Thanks for taking me down memory lane. Loved the videos.👌👌👍
What a series! I don't know how but I managed not to watch the the first two until this one came on. I wanted to see them all together. Don't you just wish you could step in to the photo fades (as always excellently done) just to feel what it must have been like? I never imagined how big the site was. It was an eye-opener. You make history live, thank you.
Thanks for watching
brilliant, don't see many others doing the photo fades as good as you, i still think it's really sad that it's all gone
Thanks mate, i try.
What a fantastic mini series. The images are so evocative. I think my interest in abandoned railways must have been the twice annual holidays to Blackpool and seeing swathes of land that were once part of this massive railway complex prior to the construction of the largest car park in Britain! I certainly remember the toilets!
My God I can still see my Grandparents stood there in 1961, I am now 75, is it the evocative music doing this, such memories, thankyou.
Thanks for watching
Great video Darren and love this series. Certainly a man after my own heart looking in bushes to find traces of history lurking there. Keep up the good work 😀
This guy is something else. Should get his own tv programme
Thanks mate
Those photo fades are brilliant aren’t they… and with the tower as a landmark, you know they’re so precise 👍
Brilliant video/series, thank you for all your hard work putting this together. We really enjoyed it 👍👍
No problem. Glad you enjoyed
Excellent series of videos Darren . It's amazing to see what was once there and how it is now , great photo fades as always which gives great context to images as they are now . Is sad that the railway is no longer there but the track bed being now the main road into Blackpool highlights how the world has changed .
As someone who’s recently moved to Blackpool area, I find this very interesting, your photo fades are amazing and spot on. It’s nice to compare the differences. Also very well researched. I see other channels and people waffling on without much idea or thought, as if they thought I’ll go and video something. Once again first class video 👍
Thank you for an amazing trio down memory lane.
Great video, the house is indeed the old station building. It was the home of my great grandfather. The Dugdales were market gardeners on that site.
Tremendously impressed by the precision of your photo-fades - maybe this will inspire others to give us a sense of "then" and "now" in other parts of the country. It's truly remarkable to see modern traffic gliding through the world as it was, really brings the past to life.
Great series again and also the Tram Town vlog. We did Tram Town back in August when staying at Fleetwood and also travelled by train from Blackpool South to Lytham. The lasting impression of much of that part of Blackpool can be summed up in two words "urban decay". I hope that it can revived but it will be a long uphill struggle. I was brought up 15 miles from Blackpool in the 1950s and was a regular visitor with the family for shopping, cinema, pier shows, illuminations, the Tower etc. and the Blackpool of today cannot even be considered as faded glory.
Thanks for the memories William
Look forward to Sundays and watching your fab videos Darren - love the photo fades! 🙂
Thanks Rachael
Blackpool has changed so much, I grew up in Blackpool and drove through a couple of years back. I remember thinking to myself, so many childhood, teen memories knocked down, gone forever. Even the prom is different, and Tyldesley Road has practically been demolished on one side, hotels that were owned by old friends of mine, it made me feel quite sad if I'm honest, but times change and new infrastructure has to be built for new generations, doesn't make it any less sad though.
Does anyone remember the old football ground and greyhound track? Rigby Road, maybe do a video Darren. I remember it being demolished for the cinema and gym, I'd have been maybe 15 or 16 then.
I believe Bonny Street Nick is going also, and I'm sure Montegue Street has already gone, I worked out of both many moons ago.
Great video I wish I could have visited Blackpool Central..
Darren
With every new video your editing skills blow me away. Your attention to detail is wonderful. And, with your photo overlays and fades you take me back to times long gone.
I love local history, even if that history is at the other end of the country.
Well done mate. Another fabulous and entertaining video chock-full of interesting facts and a personal take on days-gone that I find rather appealing.
Thanks mate
A great series, Darren. It's interesting to see your drive up Yeadon Way. The shrubbery has grown so much it's hard to realise it was once the railway. At least it was still very obvious when Yeadon Way first opened.
The stills of Lytham Road you used were very interesting as all the trams visible in the photos were Lytham St Anne's Blue Trams which were promoted for many years as "Travel on the Blue Tram" .
Thank you so much for the research and effort you put into your videos. Each one an historical treasure. They are appreciated by a long term resident of Blackpool (originally from north London) who’s keen to expand my knowledge of the town I love.
Astounding to see that old platform still intact, Darren. A good reminder that there was a main railway line into the town at one time. The past and present scenes that you've produced are totally remarkable, and it's also great to know that the old station building got preserved into a private residence. Many thanks for this video showing, and looking forward to your next production.
Fascinating as always, Darren. You can't help wondering why they didn't just rationalise Blackpool Central down to a single island platform and retain it for the Lytham line, can you? Even if it had to be cut back three or four hundred yards - terminating it at Blackpool South feels like a determined effort to render the service permanently vulnerable, off season. For all that I understand why North became the main line route into Blackpool, as most of it would have had to have remained open at that time anyway, for the still-busy freight line to Fleetwood. And the chances are, if the direct line had been retained and the M55 hadn't been built, Blackpool would be a complete ghost town by now. Well done for checking out those bushes, by the way - we believe you!
Thanks Paul
I love watching these when my other half is away with work. Feel like I'm watching a friend ☺️
You are
I lived on Station Road for many years at what was the Blue Danube hotel now called "ParkRoyal" hotel. It's charming to see that in the hallways and landings the hotel still has my mum's chosen carpet in there, so that's 40 years old! But with regards to this video, I always used to wonder as a kid why the road was called Station Road and so it is very charming to see the history and the photo fades. I also see that what was the casino, a rather grand building on the corner was burnt down and surprise surprise replaced with a car park. Wonderful times they were back in the 1980s. And thanks for completing the history! Anyways back to my view of the Solent now 👍🏻
Thanks again for another great series.
Amazing before & after pics 😏 Well done 👍
Great video again, amazing how much has changed over the years.
Glad you enjoyed it
Another great video. Thanks for sharing.
The video of the train pulling into the station took me right back to my childhood and holidays with my grandparents in Blackpool. Darren your a star 👍👍
Brilliant series, Darren. Like other viewers I particularly liked the photo fades. It’s fascinating to see how Blackpool looked back in the day, when most people went there by train. At least there are more railways still running there than elsewhere! A “then and now” railway map might have been a good thing to add. Best wishes, Andrew in Brighton
Will be in Brighton soon.
An excellent trilogy! Well done.
Thank you kindly!
I'm guessing that there's more car parks than railway stations and tracks now. I love the fact they moved the old station instead of demolishing it.
Thanks again for all this! Ive never seen video footage before!
Thanks Sean
hiya darren we are all sat here in awe , that was another beautiful film , and yes the thens are much better too , never like to see a railway destroyed , anyway thank you so much for all your wonderful films , best wishes from nick and tracy in wigan lancashire
Thanks 👍
I recently attended a conference in Blackpool and stayed at the Premier Inn on Yealdon Way. Without knowing anything about the railway the road seemed to me to resemble the path of a railway and so I investigated looking at historical maps and pieced the course of the railway. Your TH-cam video answered all my questions and I found it truly fascinating. Thank you for the time taken to put all this together-an excellent record, what a pity the north and south railways never connected it may have resulted in survival of the complete route to this day. Well done.
Thanks for watching
Absolutely brilliant production values; your research, presentation and editing skills are outstanding. I knew about the former Central Station and parked on the site hundreds of times in the '80s and '90s, but I had no idea of the sheer vast scale of the rail network, stations and sidings leading into Blackpool. Thank very much for this series!
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a amazing video IAM a big fan of old railway videos Briton as lost so many lines over the years
Thanks Andrew, plenty on my channel
Plainly and simply, thank you Darren, thank you.
Your content is a work of art, thank you as always.
Love this and the other two, the photo fades brilliant. Thank you.
Thank you for the like.
Mate awsume vid i remember all that as a kid something reminds me that it was blackpool north that was supposed to go but the council at the time wanted central to go so they could use the Land utter shame but then again all the mills have gone so the holiday times are gone as well
Excellent videos of Blackpool Central Station, Blackpool South Station and Lytham Road Station. It's a shame they got rid of this vast railway. More evidence of this can be seen at Andsall and Fairhaven station. Loved the way you were able to show the old fotos over the modern footage. Xxx
Darren super detail and allways spot on love your presentation and allways come across so happy 😊 keep hard work up
Very very interesting, keep the videos coming.
Thanks, will do!
Amazing series this one Darren, I’m a Wigan and missus from Preston, spent sooo much time in Blackpool as a kid, tonnes more after meeting the missus and now we have kids we go once a quarter - always drive up Yeadon way and this video blew my mind as I had no idea 🤷🏻♂️that any of this existed.
I can’t wait to go back now with the family and take them on a tour with your photo fades and show them.
Keep up the great work 👍
New to your channel, outstanding work. Love the fading from one photo to another, none better!! You've put in a lot of work to do these videos.
Thanks and welcome
Great video. Darren at the very start of the video if you turn round the cobbled road at the foot of tbe bridge was the entrance to the former coal yard and on the corner of Hampton Road just beyond are two white long buildings now apartments they were the original railway stables .
Thanks for the info
Fantastic video amazing how it has transformed from rail to car and who knows what to in the future
Yes and now they want rid of them ha ha
really good that ,the excitement on these trains into the central station mill workers etc ,love to be able too turn back the clock and see it again
Great series. I grew up on Marton Drive, just down from the Ferodo bridge. My high school was Palatine (now South Shore Academy) on St Annes Road. We used to do cross country running along the embankment when it was just a gravel track.
Thanks mate. Bet they were good memories.
Excellent, well researched and presented series! I knew nothing about Blackpool Central previously, other than it existed. The aerial shots in particular reveal much about the route as it originally ran. So thanks... and do keep 'em coming!
This excellent @AdventureMe. So brilliantly done. And I love all the old footage. Thank you so very much.
Thank you
Thank for a very informative 3 videos on Blackpool train lines. I have lived here for 30 years and you have shown me thinks I have seen and not realized what they were. Thank you . Looking forward to the next video.
Excellent
Thanks Geoff
This week's episode regarding the old Blackpool Central Station and the tracks leading into it was, for me, the most interesting one. Once again your research has unearthed some real historical gems along the line. The Lyrham Road station building being the crowning glory. I'm amazed how the complete building was moved to it's current site in that day and age.
Great work superimposing the old photos onto current images. It really does clearly show the changes down the years. It's to be hoped your material could be used by a Blackpool Heritage group to be kept and shown to future generations, demonstrating the evolution of central Blackpool and beyond.
Great job Darren - a very professional presentation 👏
What have you got next up your sleeve??
Thanks Kenneth. Lots more to come
Thanks for sharing these fascinating videos. I live on Elland Place which sits between Waterloo Road and Bloomfield Road, it was previously called Railway View. Looking at your old images of the train lines up to Central Station I can see why, just a shame they chose to rename it and remove that part of history.
Amazing! Theses Last 3 video's on & about Blackpool station have been brilliant. Great information, great detail. Love your fade in shots with old pictures. Production & continuity bringing it all to life as you narrate. Keep up ur amazing work 👏🤛🏼👍🤟🏼🤍
Thank you matey. More to come
Brilliantly done, sad to see so much gone, great work gone into these videos - thanks.
Keep the good work coming 😊
Thanks Ben
Car park of choice for my dad in the early 90s when taking me on a day out. I still remember the steep climb up the bridge and the ornate railings.
Yes and mine too
As always Darren fantastic video, can’t commend you enough on how good your channel is mate. Excellent!!
Thank you so much 😀
So interesting and thank you for this informative series on a lost station and railway into Blackpool. Maybe when I next get to Blackpool I will try and walk part of the route myself. Love the fade out/in from pictures of yesterday.
Thanks David
Fascinating series, love your blackpool videos
Thanks, Darren. Really enjoyed watching these about Blackpool Central. Absolutely loved the photo fades. I only vaguely remember Central and South as they were, but this did evoke some great memories. Thanks, once again.
Fantastic visuals, its amazing how little of the area has been built on. Its virtually all just car parks. I was in Blackpool at the weekend and we sad to see how it is today. Needs some significant investment off the prom.
Fabulous series loved it... thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Your part three of Blackpool was stunning, from what it was to what it is today you would have to say that Blackpool's railways were butchered. But thanks for brining it all to life once again. Can't wait for your next production. Be Proud.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great series of videos!!
I didn't realise Tram Town was opposite the football ground, that arial view of all the sidings nearby really gives you an idea of the magnitude of what was there.
I enjoyed the trip out following the view from the car and the progress on the map.
Good luck from Spain!!
Thank you Darren, just watched all 3, that must be your best series yet.
Glad you think so!
Excellent documentary series. Thank you!
The black and white enhancements make you want to jump into the past to meet those people, the M55 that I have used a lot is such a straight route to East Lancashire and brought millions on their holidays, it's as if all this never existed, so thank you.
Just brilliant Darren . Thanks for showing these videos of central station. It’s so interesting 👍🏻😀
Marvellous videos. Well done! I suppose that it must have seemed back in the day, that all lines led to Blackpool.
These are truly excellent videos of a place I visited many times as a child - although long after the railway had gone.
I get the strange feeling that 'Blackpool' is taken from the old Norse 'many car parks'.....
Great videos
Thanks!