I Took a Ride on the Southend Pier Railway. A Little Train with a Big Surprise!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ค. 2024
- I’m in Southend-on-Sea this week guys to take a ride on the Southend Pier Railway. Having never been to the city before, I must admit, I wasn't really sure what I was going to find. I won't spoil it for you here but the pier is home to quite a few interesting features and itself holds the world record for being well, like I said, I won't spoil the surprise here.
Join me, we'll pay the money, I'll tell you how much everything costs, we'll have a look at the trains, enjoy the ride and we'll have a wander around all the stuff we can see at the end of the pier.
⭐️ And of course in this video guys, I'm offering you the chance to pick up a pair of the binoculars you saw me using for a discounted price. Just click on the link below and enter my exclusive promo code for a 10% discount (valid up until 31 March 2024).
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XW2B8G5
⭐️ PROMO CODE for 10% off: EWPBZRR5
Thanks as always guys for taking the time to watch my videos. All likes, comments, subs are most welcome and be assured, there is plenty more content coming your way.
Cheers for now.
Mark
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📖Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:35 - Sponsored segment
01:37 - Off to the pier
04:30 - Boarding the train, journey & history
08:32 - At the end of the pier
12-22 - The journey back
14:49 - Summary
Excellent video - great to see my home city! The Paddle Steamer Waverley operates from late September to mid October. Jetstream Tours also operates local sailings from Easter to October using their vessel "Cruiser". The occasional sailing vessel sometimes calls during the year as well.
I remember the 2005 fire as I was on the pierhead in the afternoon to sail on the Waverley up to Tower Bridge. We came back by coach and coming along the seafront, we saw the pier on fire!
Southend Pier is currently the National Piers Society Pier of the Year!
You may also be interested to know that near to Southend Pier there is a sunken US Liberty ship from WW2 called SS Richard Montgomery. It ran aground and broke up in August 1944 and still has a large amount of unexploded ordnance on board. You can still see the buoys marking the wreck from the pier head.
Thanks TS, you are indeed a mine of information! My first time down here (as you can tell) but I found it quite nice down by the pier and with the history and from what you've said here, there's a lot more to see. I'll try and get back at some point - maybe even on the Waverley (that would be a great video!). Cheers.
I live in Hemel Hempstead and Southend was our day trips as a child and it means the world to me . We actually took my mum down here last summer for the day as we had just lost my father to dementia. Again it never let us down as we just love it so so much . Southend will always be in our hearts and good people 👍
Thank you for highlighting this little gem. I went out there in thick fog a few years ago. Such a surreal experience standing halfway along looking at the pier disappear into the fog in both directions. You couldn’t tell which way was towards the land! Absolutely magical though, if a little eerie!…and the train was still running that day.
Oh that would have been great to get some photos
The Waverley Paddle Steamer still berths at the Pier seasonally when she is on the Thames- late September to mid October in 2024. There are discounted train and walking fares (20% off) in connection with her sailings
Thank you, greetings from Ontario.
In our childhoods this was a day or evening out. In the 1980s it became a bit of a day out pilgrimage on visits to the UK. The new trains have been painted in the same colour scheme as they were in our childhoods.
Impressive Never made it as far as Southend on the C2C but seeing a structure that juts out so far is very impressive. As a youngster I used to visit Shanklin Pier on the IOW till it was destroyed in the big storm of 87 and in my Teens the 3 Blackpool Piers. In last few years I visited Eastbourne Pier which was bustling in the summer and last year Santa Monica pier which I love the view from. Glad to see quite a few surviving.
Great video Mark. You’re right, the length of the pier is directly connected to the tide, it goes out a long way and therefore they needed a long pier to make sure that they could still launch lifeboats.
Last time I did that trip was on the lovely AC (as in AC cars) 1949 EMU trains. Must go back and do it again.
Yes it’s changed a bit!
A very nice trip, You where wise to do it in winter as I imagine that this would be very popular in summer, thanks for taking me along and stay safe and well, cheers.
Only 25 minutes away by Train from upminster visit as often as I can
It was always a great treat when my parents took us on the pier train when I was a kid in the early 70’s
Great video again! Haven't been to Southend in a while, went before COVID to visit family, beautiful place!
Hope you come Liverpool again and try the Mersey Ferry, new trains and new Merseyside hydrogen powered buses. 🙏🏻
Another great video Mark. Sorry I missed you as I was in Southend for the day when you were filming. Look forward to enjoying your next adventure. PS - I have been on the PS Waverley several times from Glasgow sailing around the Firth of Clyde. Def worth a trip for you as the Waverley is the last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1946 I believe. Cheers.
I love how all the trains have been immacutely preserved and looked after. Looked like a lot of fun!😊
Last year there was a problem with the new battery electric trains so the remaining Diesel one was returned to service for a while.
Love a traditional pier, cheers for this mate!
Cheers Steve, thanks as always for watching mate 😊👍
Surprisingly for a person living in Kent ive never been to Southend and it's pier
It’s worth a visit Keith I think. I enjoyed it anyway 👍
We used to all get on the C2C at Limehouse to go to Southend when it was summer time when we were kids. That adventure island used to be called 'Peter Pans Playground', we would spend all day in there. We would walk down the pier and get the train back 😂 too. Then go and get fish n chips before getting the C2C back to Limehouse to get home.
I remember Southend Pier around 1965, I think. Package holidays were beginning to be popular, though not many leaving from Scottish airports. So my Mum, Dad, wee sister and myself, after a long overnight drive from Scotland, found ourselves with time to spare before our flight on a Bristol Brittania? which would leave Southend Airport later that day. We were flying to Milan Airport where a coach would take us to our final destination, Rimini. TH-camrs you have it easy!!!! Anyway, the pier. I remember that we walked out - all the while my Dad reminding us that it was the longest pier in the world. We didn't need much reminding I can tell you!! There were amusements I remember but most were closed. We returned by the little train as to do otherwise would have meant two very upset children !!!
What a fun thing to do on a winter's day. I'm sure those trains are absolutely packed in the summertime.
This reminds me of my childhood visiting relations who lived in Southend in the '50's, we went on the pier trains a lot and it must have been the 1949 stock trains you mentioned. Nice to see they have kept the same livery for the new trains. The famous funfare ( the Kursall ) was a big attraction for Londoners at the time but went into decline when foreign package holidays killed a lot of English seaside resorts.
Yes that happened to a lot of the Welsh towns nearer to me: Rhyl, Prestatyn etc. shame really and I guess it’s partly to do with the weather too but on a summers day, I bet it still pretty busy down here. I’d definitely go back, quite liked the place down by the pier.
Last visit Southend in 2023. I made the trip to the end of the pier in 1988-89 when I worked in the area stayed at the West-cliff Hotel everything was decorated Chinz with Pink woodwork.
The pier was walk both ways must have been off season! The best of times.
Brings back some memories, as I grew up not so far away. These new Battery-elec trains look OK, but the previous diesel ones were pretty miserable. When I was young, the previous electric ones were in service, and they were quite classy - more like proper EMUs than the current ones, complete with wooden interiors! And they could shift surprisingly quickly if there was a high number of passengers and they wanted to get trains back and forth pronto! I'm sure they could touch 30mph on occasion!
Enjoyed the video. I don't like seeing the sea through the wooden slats either 😬 Glad you liked the train ride. Looked a bit cold at the end of the pier.
Take care 🤗
I’ve been on the new Southend Pier train couple times and it’s so quiet and very enjoyable to ride on. Despite these new pier trains are battery operated and have had some issues when it first came into service.
Thanks Mark, another great report, one for the future for me I think 🤔
I went there about 3 years ago &, yes, it is a nice little town. There is a Sealife place on the pier & the train does help. I walked back & used the lift on my way back to the train station. On the way to the pier I bumped into Stephen Mulhern recording a bit where he get people on the street to do a quick quiz. I think it was broadcast on Sky, might be wrong there. I know it's not a train, but try the thing they have in Brighton, it gives great views or perhaps the Spinaker Tower in Portsmouth.
Great video. Looked really nice there
Thanks Mark. Another great video. 😊
Thanks Wesley, appreciate the comment mate 😊
The old pierhead and Lifeboat Station had a slipway launched All Weather Lifeboat with the crew using the train ro reach the station which would set off as needed. Double tracked then. The Hovercraft is based onshore.
I believe the Volks Electric Railway in Brighton was the first electric one still running.
These are so new trains. Last time I went on one, a couple of years ago and they were real bone shakers, but serviceable. A sea at Southend becomes a river at the lock gates at Teddington, so going by that explanation London is coastal, London on Sea eh ! As I understand it any river that is actually tidal is classed as the sea until it becomes not tidal.
😮 wow a great cheap trip and a lot of history mark thanks for the 🎥 m8 all the best John 😊
Cheers John, thanks for watching and commenting mate.
I really enjoyed the views in this video and the history too, you made everything go so smoothly together!
Yet another great trip! ✌
Cheers Paul, glad you enjoyed it.
Great video - interesting to see it open in this weather! Must have been freezing. --Pete Baston
Cheers Pete. It wasn’t too bad a day in the end. Main issue for me was lugging my heavy rucksack around all day! Hence the main reason I didn’t decide to walk one of the legs.
I think that train fare is far too expensive for what it is.
That was where the end credits of Minder were filmed (Gary Webster era 1991-94)
Yes, i need to watch that again now I’ve been there 👍
Ah my home town and still live here today 😊
I liked it Jess - my first time there.
Hi Mark, thanks for highlighting that little treat! Surely though, the best discount code for you would have been #cheersfornow😂
Haha, yes you’re right. Unfortunately I didn’t have any control over that 😊
An estuary is part of a river like the Thames Estuary and the Ribble estuary. The sea is after the mouth of the river. Southend is really on the Thames estuary
Great video
Another great video, Matt. Keep them coming🙃🙃
Cheers mate 😊👍
Watching it whilst having a beer by the beach here in Pozzallo, Sicily, heading back home to Malta tomorrow.
I heard sometime ago about the pier in Southend, and I would definitely love to ride on such a nice train, cause it seems unique in its kind
I think there have been one or two other pier trains dotted about (Southport?) but this is I think the most well-known. Was it worth £6.20? Yes I think so as I could’ve stayed longer and I bet it’s lovely on a warm day 👍
WOW brilliant video Mark
Cheers Caleb, thanks, as always, for the comment mate.
There is an RNLI hovercraft building close to station entrance which is used on the mudflats.
Interesting, I'd loved to have seen that in action!
Reminds me of the closing scene on every minder on the last 3 seasons.
I never knew this Wayne but a few have said this so I'm going to have to watch it now. Cheers mate.
River Thames becomes the sea at the Crowstone - Chalkwell Beach. Also, I disembarked the Paddle Steamer Waverley at Southend Pier, last October, and walked up those steps.
Interesting, someone else has mentioned the Waverley too so I guess that’s a real occasion when that arrives. Would love to see it! Cheers mate 😊👍
Fabulous little train, I knew it had a railway but really didn’t know much about it at all. Probably best travelling when you did, I’d imagine it would be very noisy in the summertime with children ..
Cheers Walter, yes if the weather's decent, you can't beat travelling at this time of year when it's quiet! Heading up to Scotland again this weekend though so I'll be crossing my fingers!!
There is an old Dr Feelgood at the Kursaal vid, which shows the pier when it was longer (a storm knocked bits off the end).
😎! It's obviously a sponsor...🙄
You walked past where Jamie & Jimmy Cafe was used for filming his Saturday series @9.40
I've got to admit Alan, I'd never heard of it until you said and then I had to Google it of course and yep, it does seem to be quite a famous spot. I'll remember for next time mate, cheers.
Awesome video buddy from Alan in Lowestoft buddy 👍 😊
Cheers Alan and thanks, as always, for taking the time to watch and comment.
You didn't bump into Arfur Daley and Terry MacCann at the end of Southend Pier by any chance?
Wasn't the jamie oliver cafe he filmed in open for a brew?
It might have been but tbh, I didn’t know anything about it until someone told me in the comments!😂🙄
Southend is a great place
I liked it yes!
Very interesting and extremely informative video as usual. In answer to your question Mark about sea, estuary, river, a long time ago I lived in Allhallows on Sea on the other side of the estuary from Southend, never quite worked out why Allhallows was called “on sea” as it looked out over an estuary🤔.
Yes Diana and of course it's Southend-on-Sea too yet I've even seen reference to the 'river' at the same point (hence my question). Nice area round there though, full of history. I'll defintely be back.
✅
The thing to do is walk down and ride back.
I did think about that Geoff. If I’d have had more time etc I would normally do that but I had to get back to London for a train (which ended up being cancelled anyway!).
As featured in the end credits for post Waterman Minder - th-cam.com/video/s_IfgrIrqjk/w-d-xo.html
What a gorgeous part of the world. So quaint to have a little railway trundling up the pier. Thanks for sharing your excursion!
I agree. I'd never been before and tbh, it was nicer that n I expected. A good day out!
Fire safety isn't their strong point then?
An estuary becomes a river when it stops being tidal.
That’s what I thought then the Severn is tidal for quite a way so that’s what made me think tbh. Cheers mate 😊👍
Piers sre notorious for catching fire. I was rather concerned on one visit when a woman came running to the station to collect an extinguisher, but it turned out to not be anything serious.
Good presentation . I did think it was too expensive though , the operator must be laughing all the way to the bank 😆, it must the the dearest bit of track / mile in the World . Have you ridden the Stourbridge Town -Stourbridge Junction shuttle ? …. That’s an interesting little train .
Cheers David. I have done the Stourbridge branch way back in my early (and not very good) filming days. There is a video on it somewhere in my railway playlist if you go back far enough. 👍
I believe the DART from Luton Airport Parkway to Luton Airport maybe dearer
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😀😀😀😀😀😀
Thanks mate 🚝🚝🚝🚝🚝👍👍👍👍👍😊😊😊😊✅
Hi, Mark. Usual great review. I thing of taking a ferry journey next year and was wondering if you had tried yet? I goes from Geelong to Davenport in Tasmania.Any suggestions😅😅😅
I haven’t mate. I’d love to get over there one day but it’s finances really atm. Never say never though 😊
Quality 🙃
Cheers mate
The big surprise is the cost of this, when I last went on the pier, it was free and the train cost very little, I'm stunned!
Was it? Didn’t realise that as it was my first time here. I wonder how long they’ve charged for access? Bit like Lands End - that used to be free until some company took it over!
@@LetsMakeaTrip Yes it was bought sadly so no free pier again but blimy didn't know it happened at Lands End? That was free when I went too!
They charge people to WALK on the pier?!?!?!
They do, yes.
Are these newer trains ? I remember the Red (Blue for some) ones that had a "flatter" front
Yes the trains prior to these were blue.
@@LetsMakeaTrip Painted Red when I knew them., nice to see the carriages surviving on the peir as static shelters, hope they survive the sea air (southend is not too bad) , but could be turned back into a train if track laid up the road at mangapps farm
Did there used to be a similar train on Southport pier? 👍
Yes quite possibly. That is also a very long pier.
@@LetsMakeaTrip yes last time I went I only walked so far then got tired lol
Nice one mate. We used to go on it lots as a child, we had family in Essex, but haven't been since the last fire/ closure. And congratulations on becoming influential enough to attract sponsors! 😜
Cheers mate, thanks. The odd one or two comments complaining about sponsorship well I guess it'll never please everyone all the time but I have to eat! lol
Ad was too long
Skip it then?
Or get ad block.
I thought it was ok but a shock that he did one
Spoilt by the promo