Just found this great video on TH-cam. I really like the style of presentation. It gives me a great insight of how this disused railway line was. Looking forward to watching the other parts and more from this provider "Pathfinder:
Brilliant brilliant brilliant ! I thought I'd made the definitive film about this line in 2019 (Dumpman Films, at your service), but this is way better. I made the same mistake as you on the cutting/embankment question in the woods there and I also correctly identified the crash site after much map consultation. However, I didn't spot the cross gate posts in the bushes (how cool !), nor did I gain access to the field next to Bentworth and Lasham or indeed the station site. Fantastically researched, gripping stuff, can't wait for the next instalment.
Thank you so much for your kind words. The cutting/embankment error was so obvious once I'd got home and viewed the footage. I suppose that's what it's all about. Never be afraid to admit you're wrong. We were very fortunate to be allowed into the private areas and they paid dividends. Next stop... Alton.
Hi Bob, I think you've found enough light rail to build a light railway in your back garden!! Interesting that you passed right by Lasham Airfield, I can remember going gliding a few times there, test flights, I'm not a pilot, Sometimes those big aircraft would come in and land right next to you, it was like being at Farnborough Air Show. Up there in the glider I would have got a birdseye view of part of the route. Some great finds like the base for that Wind Pump. Some great footage from the Wrecker, perhaps those posts really are from the film, it does look likely I think. And all set to some great music as well!! Recently I have got the bug to get up and film a lot of what we have in the neighbourhood and publish part of it on social media including some old footage and photos. With a bit of practice I will make some TH-cam videos as well. Nearby, on the next river valley are the remains of the mountain tramway which closed in 1974. My wife travelled on it as a little girl. Here is a short film I found showing a great deal of the route, th-cam.com/video/EC4P6Lpup54/w-d-xo.html. My task will be to see what remains 50 years later, a large reservoir has been built in the middle but there is still quite a lot that is interesting, including a plan to restore parts of it using more modern machinery. Good luck from Spain!!
Lovely piece of nostalgia. Once again, you found an old fence straining post. They were used to tension the plain wires. A spanner would have been used to tighten the wires from the previous strainer and would have probably been held taught by a ratchet pawl, to keep the tension correct. Just think how many years that has been there. I guessed the trackbed was above that dip in the path. You proved that by looking back at the line.
Those tension posts and sections of narrow gauge railway become more frequent as the series continues, It always amazes me to think these things have been lying all these years, their original purpose largely forgotten.
@@PASTFINDERexploring Tension posts (modern version) are still in use today. Anywhere which uses plain strands of wire this type of strainer is essential.
This line is a treasure trove, seeing the wind pump from the 339 was frustrating but standing on site was special. Hours of work we put in discussing the Wrecker and I know you dug through maps until we were sure. All the mud and local hospitality makes it worth it. Treloars, here we come. Top job Bob.
Bentworth and Lasham Station was in the 60s, and for quite a while after I believe, used as a Coal depot first by Lockwood Coal, then by K.V. Elliott coal, they servicing Alton, Basingstoke and many surrounding villages all year round. In the early 60s, the foreman was Keith Windsor who lived in Dixons Caravan Site adjacent to the B&A line at Winchester Rd, Basingstoke. Ken Elliott worked there as well and eventually bought the business from Mr Lockwood who was by then living in Dorset(?) and running a Donkey Sanctuary. Keith was my Uncle, and I spent many school holidays playing in the station building, climbing the 3 large trees on the platform (you showed the first one, the other two were where the clear part is now) and at the age of 12 falling out of one onto a pile of coal and getting 13 stitches in my skull at Lord Mayor Treloar's hospital in Alton! The Coal was delivered by Tipper Lorries onto the Sidings level and bagged manually on the platform, before being stacked onto the flatbed coal lorries which were parked on the Railbed. From the station, you could clearly see the traces of the line in the winters at that time.
Hi Andy, yes it was, there are plenty of pictures on the internet which show the coal depot in use, with the station fully intact, including the original station building.
That's a cracking tale. It seems that all the stations were used a play area's over the years. I myself used to play on the platform at Cliddesden. It's also quite rare that every platform, Basingstoke plat 1a, Cliddesden (albeit buried), Herriard. Bentworth & Lasham, Alton Park and Alton Plat 3 still exist. Thank you for watching. Very much appreciated.
When I worked at Hawker Siddeley`s in Kingston I had a friend called Bob Coles and was an aircraft collector who kept all his aeroplanes at Lasham, you may have seen some of those.
I often saw the station building from the a339, which existed until the 1980s I believe. Was then being used as a coal yard. Would have been worth looking at the railway terrace cottages. Whilst much modified evidence of the original window locations can be seen in the brickwork. Your work is worthy of being seen on a terrestrial tv channel. Very enjoyable to watch.
Thank you David for your kind words. I had a good chat with the residents of the cottages who relayed some very interesting stuff. I was told that the station building was demolished only 10 - 15 years ago.
Fantastic finding the crash site, the water tower base, and Bentworth station. I've cycled around those lanes a lot in recent years and had no idea of the railway history that was so close by. Looking forward to the next installment Bob.
Fascinating stuff Pastfinder really enjoying this series. Terrific detail and what a lot of relics that are still lying around. Hope your luck finding helpful landowners continues in the next segment
fantastic work bob l wondered for years where the crossings were and the old parts of the railway infrastructure that are still around excellent you nailed it bob.
Top stuff as ever Bob. I remember finding those pillars at the Wrecker site in the mid 70s on one of our expeditions on push bikes following the line. Pretty sure we found some rotting gates in that thicket too. Of course they may not have been linked.
Will you being doing a part 4 Bentworth to Alton? I was born 1975 and grew up in Alton/Four Marks, and I am sure I have faint memories of the old Trelour hospital extension and a bridge that went across chawton park road. Would love to know if that bridge being there was an actual memory from my childhood. Plus the stretch of trackbed that goes between Bentworth and Alton is very visible from the A339.
Hi Gubstar, yes all the way to Alton although as I have so much interesting footage I may have to do 5 parts, however, It's all filmed and waiting to be edited etc. You are correct, there was a bridge across Chawton Park Road and the Trealors station still exists. Lots of footage in next part. Should be out in next few weeks.
A slice of trivia. Did you know that the character 'Dr Alton Bentworth' appears in a Biggles book? He's a bent plastic surgeon who features a short story 'Mystery On The Moor' in the book 'Biggles Flies To Work'. I can only assume that W.E. Johns perused maps for inspiration, or maybe he liked rural light railways?!
Just found this great video on TH-cam. I really like the style of presentation. It gives me a great insight of how this disused railway line was. Looking forward to watching the other parts and more from this provider "Pathfinder:
Brilliant brilliant brilliant ! I thought I'd made the definitive film about this line in 2019 (Dumpman Films, at your service), but this is way better. I made the same mistake as you on the cutting/embankment question in the woods there and I also correctly identified the crash site after much map consultation. However, I didn't spot the cross gate posts in the bushes (how cool !), nor did I gain access to the field next to Bentworth and Lasham or indeed the station site. Fantastically researched, gripping stuff, can't wait for the next instalment.
Thank you so much for your kind words. The cutting/embankment error was so obvious once I'd got home and viewed the footage. I suppose that's what it's all about. Never be afraid to admit you're wrong. We were very fortunate to be allowed into the private areas and they paid dividends. Next stop... Alton.
Great videos , keep up the good work. ! .👍😁
Thanks Andrew, appreciated
Hi Bob, I think you've found enough light rail to build a light railway in your back garden!!
Interesting that you passed right by Lasham Airfield, I can remember going gliding a few times there, test flights, I'm not a pilot, Sometimes those big aircraft would come in and land right next to you, it was like being at Farnborough Air Show. Up there in the glider I would have got a birdseye view of part of the route.
Some great finds like the base for that Wind Pump. Some great footage from the Wrecker, perhaps those posts really are from the film, it does look likely I think. And all set to some great music as well!!
Recently I have got the bug to get up and film a lot of what we have in the neighbourhood and publish part of it on social media including some old footage and photos. With a bit of practice I will make some TH-cam videos as well.
Nearby, on the next river valley are the remains of the mountain tramway which closed in 1974. My wife travelled on it as a little girl. Here is a short film I found showing a great deal of the route, th-cam.com/video/EC4P6Lpup54/w-d-xo.html. My task will be to see what remains 50 years later, a large reservoir has been built in the middle but there is still quite a lot that is interesting, including a plan to restore parts of it using more modern machinery.
Good luck from Spain!!
Hi David, The narrow gauge track became more plentiful the closer we got to Alton. Absolutely none around Basingstoke.
We have really enjoyed your B&ALR series. Thank you! Looking forward to the next episode :-)
Thank you Eliza, please you enjoyed it.
Lovely piece of nostalgia. Once again, you found an old fence straining post. They were used to tension the plain wires. A spanner would have been used to tighten the wires from the previous strainer and would have probably been held taught by a ratchet pawl, to keep the tension correct. Just think how many years that has been there. I guessed the trackbed was above that dip in the path. You proved that by looking back at the line.
Those tension posts and sections of narrow gauge railway become more frequent as the series continues, It always amazes me to think these things have been lying all these years, their original purpose largely forgotten.
@@PASTFINDERexploring Tension posts (modern version) are still in use today. Anywhere which uses plain strands of wire this type of strainer is essential.
Can't wait for the next part, keep up the amazing work.
Thanks Michael, very kind.
This line is a treasure trove, seeing the wind pump from the 339 was frustrating but standing on site was special. Hours of work we put in discussing the Wrecker and I know you dug through maps until we were sure. All the mud and local hospitality makes it worth it. Treloars, here we come. Top job Bob.
Thank you. I'm glad we managed to get to the wind pump especially as you say, we were so tantalisingly close.
A very interesting part three. Well done🚂🍺🍺
Thanks, Part 4 will be out soon.
Bentworth and Lasham Station was in the 60s, and for quite a while after I believe, used as a Coal depot first by Lockwood Coal, then by K.V. Elliott coal, they servicing Alton, Basingstoke and many surrounding villages all year round. In the early 60s, the foreman was Keith Windsor who lived in Dixons Caravan Site adjacent to the B&A line at Winchester Rd, Basingstoke. Ken Elliott worked there as well and eventually bought the business from Mr Lockwood who was by then living in Dorset(?) and running a Donkey Sanctuary. Keith was my Uncle, and I spent many school holidays playing in the station building, climbing the 3 large trees on the platform (you showed the first one, the other two were where the clear part is now) and at the age of 12 falling out of one onto a pile of coal and getting 13 stitches in my skull at Lord Mayor Treloar's hospital in Alton! The Coal was delivered by Tipper Lorries onto the Sidings level and bagged manually on the platform, before being stacked onto the flatbed coal lorries which were parked on the Railbed. From the station, you could clearly see the traces of the line in the winters at that time.
Hi Andy, yes it was, there are plenty of pictures on the internet which show the coal depot in use, with the station fully intact, including the original station building.
That's a cracking tale. It seems that all the stations were used a play area's over the years. I myself used to play on the platform at Cliddesden. It's also quite rare that every platform, Basingstoke plat 1a, Cliddesden (albeit buried), Herriard. Bentworth & Lasham, Alton Park and Alton Plat 3 still exist. Thank you for watching. Very much appreciated.
When I worked at Hawker Siddeley`s in Kingston I had a friend called Bob Coles and was an aircraft collector who kept all his aeroplanes at Lasham, you may have seen some of those.
Thanks so much for watching this series so far. Very much appreciated.
@@PASTFINDERexploring I binge watched them all in one sitting.
@@angelsone-five7912 Great stuff, Thank you.
I often saw the station building from the a339, which existed until the 1980s I believe. Was then being used as a coal yard. Would have been worth looking at the railway terrace cottages. Whilst much modified evidence of the original window locations can be seen in the brickwork. Your work is worthy of being seen on a terrestrial tv channel. Very enjoyable to watch.
Thank you David for your kind words. I had a good chat with the residents of the cottages who relayed some very interesting stuff. I was told that the station building was demolished only 10 - 15 years ago.
Fantastic finding the crash site, the water tower base, and Bentworth station. I've cycled around those lanes a lot in recent years and had no idea of the railway history that was so close by.
Looking forward to the next installment Bob.
Thanks Scott. I'm glad you are enjoying the series.
Fascinating stuff Pastfinder really enjoying this series. Terrific detail and what a lot of relics that are still lying around.
Hope your luck finding helpful landowners continues in the next segment
Great stuff, Thank you Steve. Just the one farmer to ask for permission for next part. Fingers crossed.
fantastic work bob l wondered for years where the crossings were and the old parts of the railway infrastructure that are still around excellent you nailed it bob.
Thanks Joe for your kind comments.
Superb once again - many thanks
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent video, very interesting! Thanks!
Thanks Frank, glad you enjoyed it.
Top stuff as ever Bob. I remember finding those pillars at the Wrecker site in the mid 70s on one of our expeditions on push bikes following the line. Pretty sure we found some rotting gates in that thicket too. Of course they may not have been linked.
Thanks Alan. The fact that you discovered them nearly 50 years ago adds weight to them being the genuine article.
Will you being doing a part 4 Bentworth to Alton? I was born 1975 and grew up in Alton/Four Marks, and I am sure I have faint memories of the old Trelour hospital extension and a bridge that went across chawton park road. Would love to know if that bridge being there was an actual memory from my childhood. Plus the stretch of trackbed that goes between Bentworth and Alton is very visible from the A339.
Hi Gubstar, yes all the way to Alton although as I have so much interesting footage I may have to do 5 parts, however, It's all filmed and waiting to be edited etc. You are correct, there was a bridge across Chawton Park Road and the Trealors station still exists. Lots of footage in next part. Should be out in next few weeks.
A slice of trivia. Did you know that the character 'Dr Alton Bentworth' appears in a Biggles book? He's a bent plastic surgeon who features a short story 'Mystery On The Moor' in the book 'Biggles Flies To Work'. I can only assume that W.E. Johns perused maps for inspiration, or maybe he liked rural light railways?!
No I didn't know that. Maybe W.E.Johns comes from the Alton area?
@@PASTFINDERexploring Maybe, that thought hadn't crossed my mind. Thank you for posting Part 4 today, most excellent!
The higher level of the embankment where you found the culvert is the track bed, the lower section is a much later farm track.
Yup, you are correct. We corrected ourselves in the film.
My Grandad went down to watch them film that train crash
Hi, brilliant that there are still some passed on memories to the events. Shame they haven't been recorded.