Cinderford Stations Royal Forest of Dean Gloucestershire
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- If you read enough literature about the Forest of Dean railways, it is possible to believe that there were three Cinderford station sites. I knew where to find one and set off in search of the other two. You might think it is any excuse to go for a forest walk, and you would be right. The forest gives up its secrets slowly and although railway sleeper posts are a good clue, the rest takes some deduction and grovelling around in the undergrowth.
The Forest of Dean is covered in old rail and tramways which are there to be discovered, which adds spice to a day out in the woods among splendid surroundings. A lot of the track beds have been converted into cycle and foot paths. There is a cycle centre where it is possible to hire a mountain bike for all the family so that you can cover much more ground in this fascinating railway heaven.
Some good detective work there, Ron. Nice job! Very enjoyable video again.
Thanks for watching. Ron
That's a lovely walk around Cinderford Ron. So much railway in it's day and hardly a relic left from it! Takes quite a bit of detective work to try and work out where everything was. Those first bricks with the long slots looked a little bit lightweight and modern to me. Old bricks are often solid or possibly have 2 or 3 large plain holes through them, but I have to add I am no expert on them! Lovely photography once again, you can't beat a beautiful crisp winters day like this one. Many thanks, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Best Wishes....Tim
I think you are right about the brick Tim, another of your talents. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks I just have to add that the first picture would look absolutely beautiful framed up in an antique gold frame, quite timeless. Can you imagine it as an oil painting in an art gallery?.....I can. 👍
@@levelcrossing150 I see where you are coming from Tim but I'm not sure it would stand up to close scrutiny. Pauline says I'm like an old master, well old anyway. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron, It looks well on my computer full screen so it can't be that bad. Tell Pauline, oh no no no no no, surely not for one moment, I think she's teasing you! You have a great little channel here, you travel about, show no fear of tackling any terrain to get to a location of interest, you make beautifully edited videos, up there in the IT technology, excellent researcher, you are a warm and friendly presenter with a nice sense of humour, and you have a great young approach to things! 1,620 subscribers proves it, I'll rest my case!
@@levelcrossing150 Hi Tim, I don't know how to respond to that, you are far too kind. Actually I think the Parkinson' s will get me first, I'm having a few issues at the moment which I hope I can get on top of for when we are allowed out again. We live in hope. Once again thank you for your lovely comments and support. Ron
Well done Ron. You never give up. It’s all there if you search deep enough. They might have closed those lines 60 years ago, but if you know where to look, there’s usually a trace of something special.
So right Lionel, I think a little luck helps as well. Ron
Hi Ron, very inspiring vlog, as a resident living just outside Ross Vegas I shall endeavour to explore the Forest!!
Go for it! Ron
Wonderful - thank you.
Pleasure John. Ron
Absolutley fantastic Ron. A very enjoyable walk - you've managed to bring an old railway back to life. Great video with a superb commentary.
Thank You Michael, hope everything is going OK for you over there. It's getting a little scary over here. Ron
Fantastic Ron very enjoyable, must of been a long walk about. So sad to see all that old History all gone never to return. Thank you for sharing stay safe and take care.
Many thanks John. Ron
Great video Ron, great way to start 2021. The Forest of Dean is lovely and scenic whatever time of year it is. Once again thanks
Glad you enjoyed it Steve. Ron
"on the right track" indeed Ron, thanks for doing that walk for us!
No problem James. Ron
A lovely walk, Ron! Great that you could get out on what I'm sure was quite a cold day, and even enjoy a little bit of sunshine. I think you should swap that hat for a deerstalker, as worn by that other famous detective.
I'll bare that in mind Jim. Ron
Absolutely fantastic detective work there Ron. You have eyes like a hawk when it comes to old railway infrastructure. Very good indeed👍
Many thanks David. Ron
Thank you for a fascinating ramble through the tangled railway history of the Forest. I've been there often and I've got several good books on the area, but almost everything has been swept away so a book of 1950s pictures doesn't help much. I love the way that you share the thrill of discovery, even if it's only half a brick of possible railway origin. Keep them coming, your walks are just what we prisoners need.
LOL Thanks Philip, made me smile. Ron
A fascinating piece of railway detective work! I hope to follow in your footsteps, once the Covid brambles are cleared away!
I'm sure you will enjoy it Malcolm, have fun. Ron
Hello Ron, another very interesting video of Railways past history. Abololutly fascinating after all this time you can still trace the infrastucture sometimes buried others just covered by nature and progress.Great research on tracing these old Gems. Nice scenery aswell, Bye from Australia
Thanks Gary, great place the Forest of Dean, love it down there. Ron. ps was it you that was getting 40 degree heat a while back?
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron I think it was Perth Western Australia but where i am in Rochester Victoria it's starting to warm up again expected 35c today 38c tomorrow 39 monday . That's fairly normal for this time of year late January february and into march it's not un common to get mid to high 40's . The forrest of dean looks to be a very beautiful place , Ron where we live is 28kms from Echuca Victoria on the Murray River and I don't know if you want to look it up or even heard of it . But there is a lot of Paddle Steamers that people can ride on and the steam engines are open so you can stand and watch them operating very interesting. Ok Ron i won't take up anymore of your time mate and look forward to your next video bye for now Gary
Thank Ron for another very enjoyable railway detective exploration video. Great narration. Happy New Year to you!
Thanks, you too. Ron
A very nice video. I'm lucky enough to live and work in the Forest of Dean, there's nothing better than to take a walk though beautiful countryside and woodland punctuated by exploring remnants of our past. It always amazes me how much has been removed within living memory.
You might know that there were 2 brickworks close by, Broadmoor (closed fairly recently, the buildings and ovens are still there) and Coleford Brick and Tile (still going strong). The bricks you found looked like Broadmoors, they're often red with dark blue mixed in and can be spotted in many of the local building. There is a also a large brick dump close by where the faulty bricks and waste were taken, the bricks you found were perforated and may be too modern to be from the station?
Thanks.
Hi Bob (not forgetting Joe) I love your brick analysis, just the sort of local knowledge that is helpful. I agree on the age of the perforated brick. I wonder how it got there. Ron
Enjoyed your walk around Cinderford Ron. There's so much of the old railway infrastructure in and around the forest. Myself spent many a day walking the old routes. Finding the old collieries. Have you come across Paul and Rebecca Whitewick TH-cam channel l am sure you have.Its really worth checking it out. Take care Ron.... Cheers Lee
Thanks Lee, yes I follow the Whitewick's. Ron
Hi I've just watched your latest walk in the Forest of Dean in search of Cinderford Old Station, after watching it I went on "Side by Side Georefer maps" and I think I may have found it's location the maps are free to download from the National Library of Scotland, but I'm sure you know this already , anyway have a look at the OS 25inch 1892-1914 map and see what you think!
Keep up the good work and stay safe , best regards Nige.
Thanks Nige, I'll have a look. Not much chance of checking it out at the moment thou. Ron
Your videos continue to inspire an interest in fence posts which I never dreamed I'd have! Walking around Cirencester I now notice a lot of rather random, concrete fence posts, often with holes in them and bits of rusty metal in various forms sticking out. Are these likely to be connected to the old railway do you think? Thanks again for your videos, which really make me pay more attention to the town I live in.
Hi James, most concrete posts are either military or railway, farmers can't afford them. Railway posts will have plain wire rather than barbed wire. Ron
Cinderford old station opened 5.8.1878 and closed 2.7.1900 the same day the new station opened and the high level line came into use. The new station was originally called Cinderford Goods then renamed Cinderford Town until closure on 3.11.1958. The high level line closed 31.12.1950 leaving Cinderford connected only to the line from Bullo Pill. Ruspidge Halt was originally called Cinderford Goods until 1.12.1884 (The mysterious 3RD Cinderford Station) then Ruspidge until 10.06.1918 then Ruspidge Goods until closure on 3.11.1958. The black and white photograph @ 15:18 is of Bilson South Junction (Facing Junction) with Bilson S & W Junction Ground Frame, the curve to the left is Cinderford South Loop, the Trailing Junction is to Bilson Yard.
Great information Andrew, thank you. Ron
Thanks Andrew, that is really interesting. I found that Rail Map online offers a detailed view of this area, see: www.RailMapOnline.com/UKIEMap.php?lat=51.82308&lng=-2.53972&zoom=14.0 In that turning on Stations and Features (with Labels) shows candidate positions for passenger and some goods stations and junctions. Those data include an interesting position for old Cinderford Station.
Here at home, I have my Ian Allan books "British Railways Pre-Grouping Altas and Gazetteer" which shows two Cinderford Stations (one GW, one S&W). Meanwhile the "Pre-Grouping Railway Junction Diagrams 1914" has a clearer map of the area and show the GW station from the Altas as being only a Goods Station.
@@derekp2674
Thank you for your message and the information contained in it. Cinderford Old Station was the S&W station which was a terminus on the line from Lydney Junction. Cinderford Second station was originally connected on the High Level Line from Laymor Junction (near Cinderford first station) on 02.07.1900. The second station was connected from Bullo Pill on 06.04.1908. From that date the second station appears to be taken over by the GWR. The second station was known as Cinderford Goods until renamed as Cinderford Town some time between 1951 and 01.08.1952; I have not been able to track down the exact date. The line connecting Bullo Pill to Cinderford second station was merely a curve from Bilson Junction to the high level line forming what became Cinderford Junction.
Ruspidge Goods was known as Cinderford Goods until 01.12.1884 then Ruspidge until 10.06.1918 then Ruspidge Goods until 03.11.1958. This should not be confused with Ruspidge Halt which opened on 03.08.1907 and also closed on 03.11.1958 which was opposite Ruspidge Goods. The passenger station was to the south of the main line whilst the Goods Station was to the North of a siding entry for which was from Ruspidge Goods Ground Frame. It is confusing but I hope that will enable you to have a clear understanding as to the development in the area.
@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron, @ 19:13 I am able to confirm that there were no tracks on the inner face of the platform where the water is. The Terminus Station was on a curve using the outer face of the platform which was to the North of the later opened High Level Line. To the right of the platform line was a second line which was connected to the platform line to the South by a facing Junction and to the North by a trailing crossover to allow the locomotive to run round the coaches for the return journey. The goods facility installed 1890 was to the South East of the Passenger Station on a siding which came off the Passenger Station Locomotive run round line via another facing Junction. A Ground Frame controlled the points to the Passenger Station, the line to the right of the platform line and entry to the Goods Platform. The Ground Frame was installed when the Goods Platform was put in in 1890. The locomotive trailing crossover would almost certainly have been a sprung point on the passenger station line and a hand operated point on the run round line. It is possible that the short goods platform might be confused as the third station but as already stated this was what later became Ruspidge Goods.
@@andrewmerriman7133 Thanks Andrew, this is all fascinating stuff. After some trawling on the National Library of Scotland Maps, here's a scrollable side-by-side view that covers most of the story: maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17&lat=51.82912&lon=-2.51747&layers=178&right=168
Hi Ron, sitting here in Suffolk enjoying watching you do all the hard work and trying to imagine the railway as it was in days gone by. It may help in your search of these old stations to try and locate the station approach road since passengers and goods would have used this bye-way as part of their journey. What are your thoughts regarding the massive information boards?
Hi I quite like the info boards, they are very informative and help to confirm you are in the right place. The problem with lookong for access roads in the Forest is that there are so many of them! Ron
Thanks for your reply Ron. It's just as scary here. I point you in the direction of Paul and Rebecca Whitewick, fellow UTubers. I see that they have 3 videos to do with the Forest of Dean/Severn and Wye railways. The specialise in locating disused stations - why not see if Cinderford is mentioned?
Thanks for that Michael, look after yourself. Ron
Nice day out 😃 ate all my virtual sarnies
Same here! Ron
Interesting, but are you really allowed to travel to the Forest of Dean if you live in Cheltenham?
No you are not. This was filmed last year. P.W.
Excellent vlog, Ron. Always good to relocate missing railway archaeology, especially in the wonderful Royal Forest. Have a look at this link, when you get a chance www.railnews.co.uk under the heading ‘Highways England Is Going To Finish What Beeching Started’. Looks like they have plans for more old railway demolition.! Take Care, Mate.
Thanks Ron, will do. Ron
After more fun with the NLS side-by-side maps, it looks as though the 1908 GWR "Cinderford Loop" has been swept away by the Birchwood Close (etc.) industrial estate, see: maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17&lat=51.82632&lon=-2.51035&layers=BingHyb&right=206
That view also shows that the Cinderford Station site has now truned into several residential roads, all to the east of Valley Rd.
The remains of the Station Hotel, albeit in a rather sorry state, can also be seen on Google Streetview: www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.8239456,-2.5063457,3a,90y,203.75h,94.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sl3TDB2OSf1ugauBkOEgqWQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Thanks for the info Derek. Ron
There's no 't' in Bilson. But otherwise, nice video -- I lived not far away from here in the 80s.
Thanks for the correction. P.W.