I worked with a lot of Birkenhead men who then went on to Ellesmere port and finally, Warrington. They used to stable the 03 shunt Loco outside the pub overnight. The Railway we work on today is very different to those days 👍👍
There was a similar level crossing setup at Wareham station in Dorset back in the 70's, but I've no idea if it had alarms and/or bells or not. I've just checked on Google Maps, and part of the crossing is still there. There's just two of the gates and two wigwags left now, pretty much one half of it left.
This is when I first ventured onto the Wirral and I remember walking around the various dock roads looking at the various rail lines but I never saw any trains operating there. Most likely because it was the last days of the operations by trains there and there was already a lot of lines being lifted. Now there's hardly anything left, only a few rusty isolated sections here and there, with the Birkenhead dock line down Corporation road long out of use and heavily overgrown and some of it lifted and buried under piles of rubble.
Myself and the original cameraman from this video paid a visit to this area less than a week ago. If they crossing lights weren't still there at Canning Street North, you wouldn't know it was the same place, the box is still there but completely hidden in trees, and like you've said the rest is overgrown/buried and lifted.
@@stephensrailways It needs all to be demolished and relandscaped to include retail, leisure, and residential and green spaces to enhance the Birhenhead water front.
Brilliant video. This location retains some of the atmosphere and activity of the old railway, which still hung on in a few places into the early 1990s. How dull the railway is now in comparison. Surprised to see a Mk1 Ford Escort still going strong in 1989!
In the clip of the Escort was a Rover 90/100 from early 60's I guess. A Ford D series truck and a Dolomite spitted too. The Cavaliers in shot must have been nearly new. Looked a popular road for learner drivers as well, including a Nissan with L plates. ✔👍💯🇬🇧😉
I have always studied docks railways, namely, Boston, Sutton Bridge, Wisbech both sides of river, Kings Lynn, Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Ipswich, Felixstowe, Wells Next the Sea, and Weymouth, at present Boston is still there as is Griffin Wharf at Ipswich... Great video...
@@michaelward2082 This is all disused and derelict. It needs to be broken up and demolished. The site could be repurposed for retail, leisure, and housing to enhance the riverside area.
What a fantastic set of clips - a precious piece of railway history now, as all the railway seen in each clip has gone. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Considering the birkenhead dock branch is the second oldest railway in the world, which helped build the fortunes of liverpool! Its a shame wirral council plan to sweep it all away… The historic importance of this railway It should be put into heritage preservation 💜
"the birkenhead dock branch is the second oldest railway in the world" I don't think that's correct. The docks themselves don't seem to have opened until 1847, and there were hundreds of railways, in multiple countries, by then.
I watched a video of the line earlier seriously overgrown now, I remember in 1988 when on day release on a YTS I studied at a college on Laird Street often I would wander down back then you did see the occasional engine, great video thanks for the memories
I worked with a lot of Birkenhead men who then went on to Ellesmere port and finally, Warrington. They used to stable the 03 shunt Loco outside the pub overnight. The Railway we work on today is very different to those days 👍👍
There was a similar level crossing setup at Wareham station in Dorset back in the 70's, but I've no idea if it had alarms and/or bells or not. I've just checked on Google Maps, and part of the crossing is still there. There's just two of the gates and two wigwags left now, pretty much one half of it left.
My dad used to take freights down there many years ago. Lots of old stories told of it.
This is when I first ventured onto the Wirral and I remember walking around the various dock roads looking at the various rail lines but I never saw any trains operating there. Most likely because it was the last days of the operations by trains there and there was already a lot of lines being lifted. Now there's hardly anything left, only a few rusty isolated sections here and there, with the Birkenhead dock line down Corporation road long out of use and heavily overgrown and some of it lifted and buried under piles of rubble.
Myself and the original cameraman from this video paid a visit to this area less than a week ago. If they crossing lights weren't still there at Canning Street North, you wouldn't know it was the same place, the box is still there but completely hidden in trees, and like you've said the rest is overgrown/buried and lifted.
@@stephensrailways It needs all to be demolished and relandscaped to include retail, leisure, and residential and green spaces to enhance the Birhenhead water front.
@SteamlocoScrapper there's no money in Birkenhead to justify the expense
Love it my hometown my dad used to be a shunter on these lines
Love it.. my Glorious Town .. Thank you for uploading ☺
Brilliant video. This location retains some of the atmosphere and activity of the old railway, which still hung on in a few places into the early 1990s. How dull the railway is now in comparison. Surprised to see a Mk1 Ford Escort still going strong in 1989!
In the clip of the Escort was a Rover 90/100 from early 60's I guess. A Ford D series truck and a Dolomite spitted too. The Cavaliers in shot must have been nearly new.
Looked a popular road for learner drivers as well, including a Nissan with L plates. ✔👍💯🇬🇧😉
I have always studied docks railways, namely, Boston, Sutton Bridge, Wisbech both sides of river, Kings Lynn, Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Ipswich, Felixstowe, Wells Next the Sea, and Weymouth, at present Boston is still there as is Griffin Wharf at Ipswich... Great video...
Cool
hi there
@@michaelward2082 This is all disused and derelict. It needs to be broken up and demolished. The site could be repurposed for retail, leisure, and housing to enhance the riverside area.
What a fantastic set of clips - a precious piece of railway history now, as all the railway seen in each clip has gone.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Considering the birkenhead dock branch is the second oldest railway in the world, which helped build the fortunes of liverpool!
Its a shame wirral council plan to sweep it all away…
The historic importance of this railway It should be put into heritage preservation 💜
"the birkenhead dock branch is the second oldest railway in the world"
I don't think that's correct. The docks themselves don't seem to have opened until 1847, and there were hundreds of railways, in multiple countries, by then.
I got the information from a Thomas brassie society booklet, iell try to dig it out and post. 👍
@@standclear502 Thanks -- that would be great!
Nice like the old level crossing
Were you there with John K. Wells? He has footage that appears to have been shot on the same day, but from a very slightly different vantage point.
I watched a video of the line earlier seriously overgrown now, I remember in 1988 when on day release on a YTS I studied at a college on Laird Street often I would wander down back then you did see the occasional engine, great video thanks for the memories
Nice one. So that was 'then', when BR days were numbered. Would be nice to see a 'now' video of these locations today. ✔👍💯🇬🇧🤔
Awsome😊
Should have left it the way it was?theyve destroyed birkenhead!!!not interested bringing life back,😮sad