Parkinsons Walks Friday Vlog 11th September 2020
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2020
- Friday Vlog. Looking back to last week, a welcome return to abandoned railway hunting. Next week we continue on the Cheltenham and Banbury Direct Railway, through Chipping Norton with its impressive mill, Hook Norton with its huge viaduct pillars and on to Kings Sutton. This is where the Cheltenham to Banbury Direct Railway, joined the main line Oxford to Banbury, so this in theory is the end of the line for this particular abandoned railway adventure.
The Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway evolved around the 1870's it wasn't the first to make a similar connection and others notably 'The East Gloucestershire Railway' 'The Northampton & Banbury Junction Railway' 'The Midland Counties & South Wales Railway' as well as a few others proposed schemes for similar routes and of course the Great Western Railway took an active interest in any railway that could compete with them. The Cheltenham to Banbury Direct Railway was a relative late comer being approved in the mid 1870's it was then built piecemeal between then and the end of the century.
There were some formidable challenges to be overcome to build it including the climb up the Cotswold Escarpment, tunnels to be constructed, and a magnificent viaduct to span the valleys near Hook Norton, having already crossed the 21 spans of Dowdwell viaduct. The line branched from the Midland & South Western Junction Railway at Andoverford, climbed over Notsgrove the highest station on the route, through Bourton on the Water and Stow before meeting the Birmingham to Oxford main line at Kingham. This was a terminus for a while until the major obstacles between here and Kings Sutton ( Tunnels and Viaducts ) had been completed. Because there was an element of 'hurry up' in the final stages several of the structures had problems as well as two partial tunnel collapses. The excellent book 'The Cheltenham & Banbury Direct Railway' published by Lightmoor Press gives a blow by blow account of the trials and tribulations of the building of the railway.
The railway passes through stunning Cotswold scenery and if you fancy a day out from Gloucester, Cheltenham or Oxford, then spending time routing out the Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway will not disappoint. Exploring the line takes you into some of the finest Cotswold countryside and many days out can be had tracing the line of this magnificent railway where you can truly appreciate the effort and skill involved in its construction. This film is one of a series that follows various sections and highlights some of the more challenging issues faced by railway builders taking on undulating landscapes and the Cotswold escarpment, and you can marvel at their audacious solutions. You cannot fail to be impressed at the skill involved using what today would be very basic equipment. - บันเทิง
Great stuff Ron, looking forward to your trip to Gloucester docks next Friday. Thank you and take care.
Thanks John, look after yourself. Ron.
Morning growing up in tredworth in the 60s as kids we used to follow the railway line through the park to the docks. Climbing into wagons trying to change the points typical kids no fear of danger. Remember the coasters in the docks too. There's a bit of track near the sala light ship on the dock side. Look forward to next vbog.
Happy days Lee. P.W.
another great video keep up the good work
Thanks Gary, will do! P.W.
Haha a very sensible decision Ron, winning first prize would have no doubt gone to my head and would have caused endless problems!!!!! Also congratulations to Sharron Idol, her pudding sounds fantastic and quite honestly I think she won fare and square! I'm looking forward to Gloucester Docks next week, I'll bring plenty of extra pudding with me just in case someone fancies some! Take care and enjoy your week Ron!....Tim.
Tim, you are such a gentleman, I have been waiting for a letter from your solicitor all day, or at least a demand for a recount! Pauline says I shouldn't judge everybody by my standards, she is probably right. Although I'm not sure if your offer to bring extra pudding is a threat or a promise.
Hopefully we made a few people smile which is all that matters in the end.
Keep smiling. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Oh Ron I'm really so sorry to spoil your day. I've been cutting my conifer hedge all day concentrating on getting the thing straight after reducing the height last year. I came in got cleaned up, made a cuppa and sat down to relax at my computer. I've just spent the last ten minutes rolling about the floor at your reply, I honestly think you are nearly as bad as me! You've sussed me out quick enough but Pauline does not know how bad I am does she? Anyway, I'm glad we've got a laugh out of it....great fun! Thanks, I will keep smiling and you do the same too! Tim
@@levelcrossing150 Hi Tim
Hope you’ve got the hedge done, I did mine a few weeks ago, horrible, dust, bugs, moths then the clear up which takes longer, not nice
Pauline is one of the nicest ladies you could hope to meet, but there aren’t any laughs in that, so she has to put up my with my warped sense of humour poor girl.
Been out filming in the Forest of Dean today, have to grab the weather when you can this time of year.
Have a good week. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalksYes thanks Ron, I got the hedge finished on Saturday but as you say the clearing up was the slow bit. I still have pruning back to do and and single conifer to trim but I'm doing it as I fill up my bin to avoid a mess hanging around. Then there is the car that needs some servicing and the decorating to continue with all to be done before the weather goes off......so not much really!!!! Pauline sounds like a treasure to me, I'm sure you are very lucky to have her keep a check on you!!!! The Forest of Dean sounds like a lovely place to be, enjoy the lovely weather while it is still around. All the best for the week to you both....Tim
Hi Ron. Looking forward to the dock excursion, visited the museum many years ago and found it most interesting. Not sure if aviation is likely to feature in future adventures, however, a visit to the Bristol Aeroplane museum at Kemble would be appreciated.
Hi T. M. As far as I can tell the aero museum at Kemble is closed, I think everything was moved to Aerospace Bristol where they have Concorde. If so that is very fortunate because I filmed it a while ago and it is waiting in the pile to be processed.
Take care. Ron
Suggestion. When visiting the aviation museum FAIREY cakes should be included in the lunch box.
@@toolmaker5433 For goodness sake don't start Level crossing Tim off again! Lol. Ron
Lovely to see you in such good fettle Ron. Congratulations to the virtual pudding winner. Looking forward to next weeks trip to Gloucester Docks. 3rd visit this time? Keep safe dear friend.
Hi Michael, yes it keeps drawing me back, I think it is because we were not allowed in when I was young and I always wanted to see what was behind the Wall! Hope all is well in Poland, I think we are about to fall off the cliff here, holding tight. Take care. Ron.
Keep up the good work, I always enjoy your content. If you’re on Facebook, pls look up the ‘Gloucester’s Old Railways’ group, it’s full of great photographs.
And the line speed on both the up and down lines is 90mph through Kings Sutton station.
Thank's Rob, I haven't heard from you in ages. Like twitter I will join Facebook when hell freezes over! 90mph .. that explains it. P.W.
Hi Ron - new fan... I have quite a number of railway books that are perhaps of interest to you ? GWR, some quite obscure. I was thinking of donating to Toddington but as you do a lot of research and like to walk these old lines, perhaps of use to you.? You can of course pass them on / dontate elsewhere. I suspect you might like them. Please PM me if so, and I can call using a new fangled device - a telephone. Cheers. Steve
Clubsport what an amazingly generous offer, thank you. Unfortunately I dare not take you up on it, my wife says if I bring another book into the house there will be severe consequences! (Last time I bought a book I had to leave it in the car for three days, until she went out so I could smuggle it in.) The book shelves are groaning so I had better leave it. I'm still blown away by the offer though, Thank you once again. Ron.,
@@ParkinsonsWalks OK Ron - shame... some of them are super juicy ! - right up your line / alley / canal / walkway. Anyhow, keep at it. I will see if the local oxfam will take them as not sure if Toddington can / will. One of the folks in the village (a Doctor) gifted me 30-40 books and a lot I passed on - only a few left now. Cheers for the moment
@@clubsport9118 I love books, I hope they find a good home. Ron