The Lost Railway Station of Alton Towers
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- Alton Station closed in 1965, but today it would have been a popular station with thrill seekers heading to Alton Towers. We take a look at what remains today, including a tour inside the former station masters house and the Earl of Shrewsbury's private waiting room.
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#adventureme #alton #altonstation #altontowers #disusedrailway #churnet #disusedstation
Well done Darren for getting inside the station house👍👍👍
Those fades are spot on - very good.
Hi Darren. Great video as always. That curious building is a WW2 pill box....made back then to 'blend in' with the surroundings and a good vantage point.
Always interested in old railway architecture and stations and this one no exception. Nice that the family who were about to start their holiday let you have a look round inside the building.
Next station north is Froghall, the start of the heritage Churnet Valley Railway. It is very good, and has recently been extended. I think it is them trying to extend south to Alton.
Next station north would have been Oakamoor first. And that extension is very unlikely due to it's status as a national footpath, and the tunnel being condemned.
That and they're always talking about expanding in each direction and it never happens
Excellent vlogging as always Darren. Loved this can't wait for more to come. Figure of speech, We all say Raised To the ground. Should it NOT be lowered to the ground. 5*****
@@Dave1976. I think its razed to the ground. Means its been erased, not just levelled. If you're interested, in the 1800s, some small 3 deck ships of the line had the top deck removed to make them a heavy 2 deck frigate. They were known as Razees.
I've been on the Churnet Valley Railway as we were moored up on the canal, our boat wasn't suitable to go under Froghall Tunnel so we took the train instead. It's a fantastic experience
The building at the top of the bridge is definitely a pill box as many were built along Railways, roads and canals.
The hatch in the station building is definitely the ticket office.
The space under the stairs at a guess would probably been a coal store either for the Station house or for the locomotives.
6:46 - Those gates and railed walkways were built (in the 1930s I believe) to enable the vast numbers of visitors to the towers to exit the station directly into the tower grounds without crowding the narrow staircase up to the bridge.
Superb Video once again. Those photo fades are incredible 👍
It's always nice to have something to look forward to watching, before bedtime, on a Sunday.
Wow, thanks for this. Yes the looong bus ride in takes ages. If the railway line was re-linked to the network it would be a much better option. Other major themeparks around the world have direct rail links into their parks.
Love Alton Castle, lucky enough to live locally and I’ve spent a fair few nights in there for school trips!
Especially the location. High up makes it more picturesque. I'm 14 miles away.
What a beautifully preserved station, inside and out. Many thanks.
This takes my back, I went to school (in the 60's) in the castle on the top of hill, we went on walks around the area, and many times we would go inside the abandoned station.
10:25 imagine that view in winter, that would look realy nice.
What lovely people letting you have a look around! Great video as always Darren, thanks for doing what you do
I think that huge ramp was more for visitors rather than the lords luggage. That's why the platforms are so long, there were lots of excursion trains to alton towers in the decades before closure. It was a massive tourist attraction even before it became a theme park.
I knew the old station buildings were now holday homes ect BUT allways wondered how muchof the original fixtures and fittings were still left inside! ..It looks like a LOT TBH even though its been slight modernised as in fitting an up to date kitchen ect they have kept as much of the orignal interior as they could ( the floors are just great ..even if they may have had to do some restoration and replacment of the tiles)! ..and i for one will join you in saying a BIG thank you to the folks staying there for letting you have a look round!
All in All a fab vid Darren! ...i ALLWAYS wanted to see inside Alton station (without obv spending the money to stay there ..its NOT cheap as i looked into it one time lol) so thank you for the vid and as i siad the family that were staying there for allowing you to film ect!
Wow lovely station, great fade ins as usual, and you dropped on there getting the inside views amazing. Thanks Darren 😎
You know, as a guy who has visited the now preserved section of the Churnet Valley line more than once, it'd be quite the historical moment for this section of the line to finally be opened once more, kind of similar to the sections of the Corris railway that are being re-laid in the future.
Fantastic video, if you get chance, pay a visit to the Chained Oak, an ancient tree nearby whose branches are chained up with huge cast iron chains.
They named one of the attractions after it.
Such a fascinating legend surrounds it regarding the Earl of Shrewsbury who originally owned the estate.
It can still be visited today.
Already filmed mate haha. Same day as this one. Coming soon.
Pill box looks in great condition
Thanks for another great video, and what a gem of a holiday let that station is. Also, agreeing with previous comments about the mystery building, which is certain to be a relic from the war. Seems ideally placed for the Home Guard to defend the railway and the road at the same time.
I was at Alton Towers just yesterday. Great video.
Hope you enjoyed it!
Thanks Darren, always top quality! So nice that the family invited you in, well done!
This is an interesting video. I didn't know that this station was still in existence until you filmed this. It was obviously very thoughtful of the person who was stopping as a guest to show you around. It's in a very delightful setting, and the building still looks very original. Many thanks, Darren.
Yes. Still going strong 💪
Another fab video. I’m so glad you got to look inside 😊
I was about to say, surely it’s a no brainier for them to have a station built?
Then I remembered they charge £10 per car nowadays at Alton Towers. No chance they’re ever wanting to reduce that!
That’s exactly what I thought! 🥺
Another real gem you have shared with us, beautifully put together. Many thanks for making and sharing.
Very interesting video Darren - had no idea about that station
Well done mate, we're big fans of the photo fades as they bring the location(s) to life and be able to see what they were like back in the day 👏
Great video thanks 👍
The station platform was extended by British Railways in the 1950s, as you walk along the old trackbed you can see where it changes design.
Alongside the down platform, the one opposite the surviving station, was a siding for storing excursion trains of about ten carriages in length .
Further up the line towards Leek, was Oakamoor station, sadly demolished .
Thank you Darren for another excellent video. I never knew before how interesting and beautiful this area is. The closest I have been is Froghall. Well, how delightful railway station used to be. This is a prime example of many. Ugly utilitarianism is what we have to suffer now.
Brilliant vlog Darren, keep them coming.
I used to be a coach driver taking groups to Alton Towers and was told that the former owners of Alton Towers tried to purchase the disused line.
There intention was to park coaches visiting the theme park near the JCB headquarters at Rocester and bring the visitors along the line, by train, to the station and then have a cable car take them to the theme park.
I don't know what happened in the end, I never heard any more.
Wish it did
Brilliant video thanks, really atmospheric stationmasters' building/waiting rooms, I must go visit the line. Great period fittings still there, a look back to a different world. I love those hidden doors. Like a prison, condemned cell, awaiting the hangman's entrance etc
Brilliant video, It's a disused station that I would like to have a look at one day. Lots of interesting things still there
Station looks like a nice place to stay. So nice of the guys to let you take a look.
Superb video. How sad they done away with the station and line. It should be reopened. What a lovely holiday let you were allowed into . Lots of info and filming past and present. Beautiful walk. Thank Darren. Amazing as always.
It is definitely a pillbox for home guards built in WW2 and disguised as a building, the centre stonework inside the middle of the building prevents shots entering firing slits from passing through two ports or hitting soldiers in the back
I don’t live to far from there I been there a few times didn’t know about the wooden station building tho I’ll have to go and have another look a big thank you Darren and to the lovely guests for the exclusive look inside 👍
14:05 It was a tollboth in the 1830's for the road according to old maps, you can see the bricked up door near the railing :) Great video!
Thanks for the info!
Another brilliant video, enjoyed it, glad to know that Alton was an actual place! Amazing history on the station
Excellent and interesting vlog covering the history of this old station. I love how you do the picture fades showing the old against the new. 👍
Another illustration of the folly in lifting tracks on closed railway routes; makes it more difficult to reopen them.
Thank you for the walking tour of today’s video. Picturesque views and historic buildings. Hopefully see you on the next, Darren.🇬🇧🙏🏻👍🇺🇸
looks like a bunker from ww2, to protect the station
Loved this video, very interesting!
As you said, imagine how much easier it would be to get down to Alton Towers if it was still operating, and how much more busier the park would get! 😳😄
Very true!
Great content as ever, and your fade into the past really makes these short videos, you did one of Scarborough and Butlins and the fades took me right back......brilliant.
Glad you like them!
I stayed there some 25 years or so ago. We stayed in the Left Hand building as viewed from the platform and at the time were told it was the station masters house with the RH building building being the station building, ticket office etc which fits with it having a ticket hatch still in situ. At the time the RH building had not been restored and was locked up etc. Strange thing though, we were there for a whole week and late one night we heard a steam train go through the station, the ex wife was a bit nervous after that🤣 the house itself though had no ghostly feel about it, was a really nice place to stay. And no we didnt visit Alton towers!!
The small building built in to the bridge was a luggage lift used by the Earls staff to raise his bags from platform to road level. The walkways up to the road were built for tourists and not the Earl.
I doubt Alton will ever be connected to the mainline again. In one direction the line has a huge JCB factory built over it and in the other is the chutnet valley heritage line and their plans are prioritised to extending their line in the opposite direction and in to Leek. Reinstating Oakamoor tunnel would cost a colossal amount of money and that’s before you approach the issue of it having a preservation order on it due to a bat colony
Great video Darren,such a beautiful place,and beautiful station building, great that you were able to look around it,if the line to Alton station opens it would benefit the area, and would probably link up to the main line 👌👍😀
Brilliant video as always
Looks like an old pill box, those windows are gun slits.
Yea I agree it’s been added for the war effort
Where's the door? Would you get into it from under the stairs?
@@alicebutler2007 You can se it bricked up at the top of the stairs where the handrail ends.
@@chinafox1949 I'll have to have another look👍🏻
Definitely WW2 pill box.
Big up the guests, very nice of them 🎉🎉🎉🎉
We stayed in the station master house about 10 years ago and it didn’t look like that. They’ve really put some money into it. Excellent video too
Id love to stay there
didnt even know that there was a station near alton towers i found this video very interesting thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed
Absolutely brilliant, Darren. love that you got into the old station and brilliant shirt 😊
Thank you kindly
Used to stay in the pub at the bottom of the hill. Had to walk up passed the old station towards the park
Absolutely mint this Darren. Really fascinating place.
Nice touch at the end with the music 👌
I had to lol
Excellent video Darren thank you 👍
My Son told me that in Alton towers there is an old cabin with toilets behind a ride somewhere. From the 80s full of 80s posters and things? I'm not sure if it's true? You would probably know Darren.. Great video. You always learn something new with you.
Yeah he's right. There is. I'm hoping to film it later.
oh wow , just seen this , thanks darren
Great to see the former station buildings have been superbly refurbished as holiday accomodation. They are beautifully situated . Has any consideration has been given to extending the Churnet Valley railway from Oakamoor to Alton - with possible support of the theme park.
Yes it's apparently on the cards
Once again outstanding video,great content,Very interesting.Thank ypu.😂
Fantastic video!
The bedroom was the booking office, so that hole in the wall was a ticket window. The station master lived in the other building. The Landmark Trust's site states that the kitchen is in the former ladies waiting room.
Brilliant. Thanks
That room at the top of the staircase looks like either a gun in placement ?/ maybe some form of every shelter with those small tiny windows
Ja, das ist überall das gleiche.
Schade um die wunderschönen Gebäude.
Und die Pferde 🏇🏻, herrlich anzusehen ❣️❣️
Eine gute Lösung für die Gebäude, toll.
Thank you Darren 👋🏻👋🏻🤩
Fascinating video 👍👍
Great video 👍 I think Uttoxeter stationi is next closest to Alton station
Uttoxeter is closer, but it's easier to get to from Stoke.
Another cracking video Darren
Thanks mate
Not only a great video as always Darren but great to see you have put you're own stamp ob your Hello Fresh advert lol
Glad you enjoyed it
@@AdventureMe a pleasure as always
Darren, Great watch, also outstanding photo fades. The little windows are/were gun
ports -- probably WWll, So much history, so little time............
The bunker on the bridge could be an AA emplacement or pillbox since Alton Towers was used as a training ground for troops during World War Two
That bit of music ( Edvard Grieg, in the hall of the mountain king) Alton towers theme, will always remind me of when I was part of a team who did a fireworks display at Alton towers. A week of setting up, hearing that music every 10 minutes almost drove me mad.
I bet it did haha
The building on the bridge is a pill box and the window slits are gun points
That is a terrible shame the line to Alton Towers was closed down - and worse still - ripped up. It would combine my two favourite things - trains and rollercoasters.
if you stay on the track bed and go past the station and keep following the old line you will in to a dodble station and then and then a bit on up the line you will come across the old gate house and next to it is the old tunnal
I hope they rebuild it because it good for tourists from London and the whole of the UK
Great one Darren! Love the photo fades as always. Nice that the station master's house and the private waiting room have survived. maybe the structure at the top of the stairs was some kind of military training structure. Did the Earl sponsor a militia at all? Just a thought, as the "windows" look a bit like rifle ports for guards. Cheers!
I think he was long gone by then
@@AdventureMe 👍
another great video darren always watch your theme park content. It would be great if you could do a video on the chained oak which is near by and is all to do with the hex ride ?
Already filmed haha. Out in a few weeks.
@@AdventureMe awesome can't wait for that always find it so fascinating the story and there something quite erie about seeing the tree with all the cains hanging from it .
Would definitely make getting to the park easier if this was still open
You're correct it a shame I've only been to Alton Towers once because I dont have a car and it's really awkward to get to.
Thanks for another great video. Lovely scenery, as always (especially during the "Hello Fresh" segment) ;-)
Glad you enjoyed it
Maybe Darren can get a sponsor from the Sox company now too 😁😎 had to put my sunnies on the whiteness was blinding me 😜 Pound on Darren
Love the old railway vids. Where did the line go in both directions?
I wonder if the gated access point at the foot of the steps led to a stairway up to the PILL box / guard post there doesn't seem to be any other doorway.
Just to think the paths and greenways we walk on were once tracks and the old loopline
I would agree with some other comments that the building at the top of the steps looks like an old pillbox.
I`ve always been curious about the station when driving a coach to the theme park. Just on the village side of the station is the mother and father of all narrow and steep hills with a nasty corner at the top, no fun in a coach when something big comes the other way!🤣
Believe there are remnants of a disused canal behind where the wooden station would’ve been (Uttoxeter canal I think? Runs parallel with much of the line)
Yes there was. I saw it on the old maps
Lots of people find disappointment at Alton Hants rail station when told they are 150 miles from Alton Towers!
Well thanks for that, mate… I now owe my Dad a pint 😂😂😂
Why?
i have a story like this, i was walking the Cuckoo trail (old rail way in East sussex) while on magic mushrooms, as we walked up to a old station which was creepy as hell! :D
Love it
Hi. How about doing something on the history of the Towers itself and the Earl of Shrewsbury. Thanks
I am planning to
This station should be re opened to aid public transport users to get to the park easier. Merlin should fund the track laying project and the heritage railway run the trains. They would need to run a 30 min interval service during park opening and closing times and then a hourly service during the day to make it work. Im sure a couple of pacers brought back into action could serve this need.
Great video, would be good if it reopened as a heritage railway line. MOT.
I didn’t even know this existed before watching this video
would make sense as the place is a nightmare to get to Darren