Hello Paul. It is a shame that these railways are lost and slowly being reclaimed by nature. Not a total loss though as they make for beautiful walks. Looking forward to the next. Thank you.👍
Thank you Daryl. Yes, it is a shame, but in this case, the purpose of this particularly line ceased when the coal and the iron ore mines closed. The passenger services in the Forest always played second fiddle to the freight - now only the one station remains, Lydney, although it does have a very good service, with many through trains to places like Newport, Cardiff, Chepstow, Gloucester, Birmingham and Notttingham. I am hoping to do another one in the Forest again soon, but I will probably do a revisit to the Cotswolds next, as I like to mix things up! I am also working on a coastal one from Devon too. Take care, Paul
Hi Paul, I really enjoyed this walk and love these lost railways. It's a bit of a nature walk but fascinating to see the remains of brickworks and fencing in the forest. It's helpful to do these kinds of walks in the fall when you can see more of the land. Loved the slightly ominous music in the intro and the segment of you walking in the forest.
Thank you Donna! Yes, it is so peaceful and untouched here, and I love the freedom that you have where you don't have to just stick to the footpath, as is usually the case. As I said, that only normally happens in the National Parks, like Exmoor and Dartmoor, in 'my' region that I cover here on TH-cam. The colours of the autumn really added to the walk, and I loved seeing the ferns here too, as well as the stream running by. It is also one of those places where you can 'feel' the history all around you. Lovely to hear from you! Take care, Paul
Interesting railway walk in magnificent surroundings, which would have looked very different when the mines were in operation. A pity that more of the industrial heritage has not been preserved, but Nature is making a very fine job of reclaiming the landscape - for free and for our enjoyment. Looking forward to Part Two!
Thank you Malcolm! Due to the very wet conditions underfoot Part Two may not arrive until the New Year - it was like a swamp in that cutting! My boots 🥾 are still recovering 🙂Hope you are well, take care, Paul
I was so worried re your safety on this walk! There’s not much underfoot as slippery as masses of wet leaves. You just can’t get traction! And to get on top of that tunnel in those conditions….! Despite this I did enjoy the walk! The miners had such terrible conditions in which to work. No doubt the mining companies did clear the work places but it was inherently dangerous- something we easily forget about. And I always wonder about the wild boars that have been allowed to make it their home. I wonder if there have been many incidences of aggressive boars in the Forest. Thanks Paul!
Thank you Diana! Yes, I don't like taking chances, and I was not prepared to go any further and risk twisting my ankle, or worse. I won't take the chance just for getting a couple of shots, which could put me out of action for a while. Yes, they did have a lot of lives lost. As we go further away from those mining days, the memories of the miners and that generation fades away, but I think that it should still be remembered. Although I have been in the Forest a few times I have never seen a boar! Take care, Paul
Congratulations on your 400th video Paul! 👏 I really enjoyed watching this as the Forest of Dean is my favourite place. Lovely to see your exploration of part of the Mineral Loop line. Love all the detail you put into your videos, and this I found particularly interesting. Sorry you were unable to reach Moseley Green Tunnel. I remember going there over 20 years ago, and it wasn't easy to reach then, but clearly it has become even more inaccessible over the years. Here's to another 400 videos! 😃 All the best 👍
Aww! Thank you, and lovely to hear from you. Yes, as you already know well, The Forest of Dean is a very special place, and it is a place where the word unique is truly deserved. I feel lucky to have it not too far away from where I currently live in Gloucestershire. It was very slippery underfoot after all the rain that we have had in October and November, and I think the 'stream' was water pouring out of the tunnel entrance itself - I don't think that normally happens. That, and the sheer number of fallen trees in the area made it a no go on this occasion, unfortunately. Maybe another time! I will certainly be doing another in my Lost Railway Walks series exploring one of the many lines that criss crossed the Forest - it is always a pleasure and a delight to film here. I do thoroughly enjoy your videos, not only the excellent ones that you have made in the Forest, but also The Peak District, an area I don't know well at all. As you know being a creator yourself, there is never enough time to watch and comment on other fellow TH-camrs videos, as well as researching, filming, travelling, editing and other life things! Thanks for a lovely comment! Take care, Paul
@@westcountrywanderings No worries at all Paul. I never have much time to watch and comment on other channels either. Just carry on with what you're doing and enjoy! I'll look forward to your future videos in your lost Railway walks in the Forest 👍
Hi Paul, well firstly congratulations on doing 400 videos, thats quite some achievement, well done!! Great intro music, what was was it? ..... maybe from the BBC sound effects studio (Dr Who department!!). It was just wonderful to see the autumn colours really spectacular, a photographers heaven. Thats quite some incline 1:40 those steam engines must have really barked going up that one. Shame you couldnt get to the tunnel portal, but you did the right thing especially being out there on your own. Interesting to hear that they built the line to dual gauge. Its something that we can see down here would you believe. The Spanish network was built to a broad gauge, known as Iberian gauge. More recently the HST network was built to standard gauge and is now reaching out all over the place from Madrid. Its all new construction built funded I think from the EU, or partially at least. The HST arrived in Granada a few years ago now but its very difficult terrain so they opted for dual gauge, rebuilt to HST standard, for a couple of years there was practically no rail connection. In order to make use of this new line they are in the process of commisioning an automatic gauging change system. Essentially you drive in a broad gauge and come out the other end a standard gauge. IKB would have loved that!! Great filming and narration, well done. Have a great weekend!!
Thank you David! Yes, it is weird that it doesn't feel like 400 videos - obviously some are quite short (Short Bites) I think the line from the tunnel is 1:40 to Pillowell, where the siding was - a fairly steep and continuous gradient. Wow! That's amazing that you still have mixed gauge over there in Spain - but fascinating too! Yes, the music did sound like BBC Radiophonic Workshop! It was called 'To Pass Time' by Godmode - I overlayed it with some homemade audio FX to give added atmosphere! Thanks so much David. Hope you have a good weekend too. Cheers, Paul
Hello Paul - greetings from Poland. A superb video about a loop line I know nothing about despite my mother being born and bred in Symonds Yat and brought up from the age of 6 in Coleford. I've spent many an Easter Holiday in The Forest of Dean from the middle 50s to middle 60s. I can remember how industrial Cinderford was and the railways of the area, but not this one. Beautiful walk and well done on your explorations. Camera work and commenatry as ever were brilliant. The photographs at the end of this video really put things into perspective.
Thank you so much Michael! Yes, I was only vaguely aware of this line, until I dug into the railway history books recently. I don't think that it is that well known at all. I really enjoyed the walk and the autumnal colours, but was a bit disappointed that I could not get right up to the southern tunnel portal - it was just too wet and fallen tree ridden! I hope to visit this area again soon for another Lost Railway Walk. It is an area with much to offer. Take care, Paul.
Well done on the 400th video, I have watched & enjoyed them all. How on earth you walk with the camera, looking at it, giving all that great information, whilst walking on a very difficult surface, I don't know.
Thank you Faith! And thanks too for being a big supporter of Westcountry Wanderings. Yes, I try and learn my lines before heading out, although I do have a 'cheat sheet' in my pocket as I am hopeless with dates, etc. Take care, Paul
Hi Paul, you may be interested in a book by Neil Parkhouse called Forest of Dean lines and the Severn Bridge which covers all these lines around the forest.
Hello Paul. It is a shame that these railways are lost and slowly being reclaimed by nature. Not a total loss though as they make for beautiful walks. Looking forward to the next. Thank you.👍
Thank you Daryl.
Yes, it is a shame, but in this case, the purpose of this particularly line ceased when the coal and the iron ore mines closed.
The passenger services in the Forest always played second fiddle to the freight - now only the one station remains, Lydney, although it does have a very good service, with many through trains to places like Newport, Cardiff, Chepstow, Gloucester, Birmingham and Notttingham.
I am hoping to do another one in the Forest again soon, but I will probably do a revisit to the Cotswolds next, as I like to mix things up!
I am also working on a coastal one from Devon too.
Take care,
Paul
Yes, Paul, I did enjoy that, and yes, I am into that sort if thing! Keep them coming! Thanks!
Thank you Michael - glad you enjoyed it 🙂👍The Forest of Dean has so much to offer. I will be back this way again soon. Take care, Paul
Hi Paul enjoyed the video ,lovely colours this time of the year 👌👌
Thank you Roy! Yes, lovely autumnal colours here. Thank you! Hope you have a great day - should be nice today. Take care, Paul
15 lk👍wow such a wonderful sharing,thumb up
Hi Paul, I really enjoyed this walk and love these lost railways. It's a bit of a nature walk but fascinating to see the remains of brickworks and fencing in the forest. It's helpful to do these kinds of walks in the fall when you can see more of the land. Loved the slightly ominous music in the intro and the segment of you walking in the forest.
Thank you Donna!
Yes, it is so peaceful and untouched here, and I love the freedom that you have where you don't have to just stick to the footpath, as is usually the case. As I said, that only normally happens in the National Parks, like Exmoor and Dartmoor, in 'my' region that I cover here on TH-cam.
The colours of the autumn really added to the walk, and I loved seeing the ferns here too, as well as the stream running by.
It is also one of those places where you can 'feel' the history all around you.
Lovely to hear from you!
Take care,
Paul
Interesting railway walk in magnificent surroundings, which would have looked very different when the mines were in operation. A pity that more of the industrial heritage has not been preserved, but Nature is making a very fine job of reclaiming the landscape - for free and for our enjoyment. Looking forward to Part Two!
Thank you Malcolm! Due to the very wet conditions underfoot Part Two may not arrive until the New Year - it was like a swamp in that cutting! My boots 🥾 are still recovering 🙂Hope you are well, take care, Paul
I was so worried re your safety on this walk! There’s not much underfoot as slippery as masses of wet leaves. You just can’t get traction! And to get on top of that tunnel in those conditions….!
Despite this I did enjoy the walk! The miners had such terrible conditions in which to work. No doubt the mining companies did clear the work places but it was inherently dangerous- something we easily forget about.
And I always wonder about the wild boars that have been allowed to make it their home. I wonder if there have been many incidences of aggressive boars in the Forest. Thanks Paul!
Thank you Diana!
Yes, I don't like taking chances, and I was not prepared to go any further and risk twisting my ankle, or worse.
I won't take the chance just for getting a couple of shots, which could put me out of action for a while.
Yes, they did have a lot of lives lost. As we go further away from those mining days, the memories of the miners and that generation fades away, but I think that it should still be remembered.
Although I have been in the Forest a few times I have never seen a boar!
Take care,
Paul
Congratulations on your 400th video Paul! 👏 I really enjoyed watching this as the Forest of Dean is my favourite place. Lovely to see your exploration of part of the Mineral Loop line. Love all the detail you put into your videos, and this I found particularly interesting. Sorry you were unable to reach Moseley Green Tunnel. I remember going there over 20 years ago, and it wasn't easy to reach then, but clearly it has become even more inaccessible over the years. Here's to another 400 videos! 😃 All the best 👍
Aww! Thank you, and lovely to hear from you.
Yes, as you already know well, The Forest of Dean is a very special place, and it is a place where the word unique is truly deserved. I feel lucky to have it not too far away from where I currently live in Gloucestershire.
It was very slippery underfoot after all the rain that we have had in October and November, and I think the 'stream' was water pouring out of the tunnel entrance itself - I don't think that normally happens. That, and the sheer number of fallen trees in the area made it a no go on this occasion, unfortunately. Maybe another time!
I will certainly be doing another in my Lost Railway Walks series exploring one of the many lines that criss crossed the Forest - it is always a pleasure and a delight to film here.
I do thoroughly enjoy your videos, not only the excellent ones that you have made in the Forest, but also The Peak District, an area I don't know well at all. As you know being a creator yourself, there is never enough time to watch and comment on other fellow TH-camrs videos, as well as researching, filming, travelling, editing and other life things!
Thanks for a lovely comment!
Take care,
Paul
@@westcountrywanderings No worries at all Paul. I never have much time to watch and comment on other channels either. Just carry on with what you're doing and enjoy! I'll look forward to your future videos in your lost Railway walks in the Forest 👍
Hi Paul, well firstly congratulations on doing 400 videos, thats quite some achievement, well done!!
Great intro music, what was was it? ..... maybe from the BBC sound effects studio (Dr Who department!!).
It was just wonderful to see the autumn colours really spectacular, a photographers heaven.
Thats quite some incline 1:40 those steam engines must have really barked going up that one. Shame you couldnt get to the tunnel portal, but you did the right thing especially being out there on your own.
Interesting to hear that they built the line to dual gauge. Its something that we can see down here would you believe. The Spanish network was built to a broad gauge, known as Iberian gauge. More recently the HST network was built to standard gauge and is now reaching out all over the place from Madrid. Its all new construction built funded I think from the EU, or partially at least. The HST arrived in Granada a few years ago now but its very difficult terrain so they opted for dual gauge, rebuilt to HST standard, for a couple of years there was practically no rail connection.
In order to make use of this new line they are in the process of commisioning an automatic gauging change system. Essentially you drive in a broad gauge and come out the other end a standard gauge. IKB would have loved that!!
Great filming and narration, well done. Have a great weekend!!
Thank you David!
Yes, it is weird that it doesn't feel like 400 videos - obviously some are quite short (Short Bites)
I think the line from the tunnel is 1:40 to Pillowell, where the siding was - a fairly steep and continuous gradient.
Wow! That's amazing that you still have mixed gauge over there in Spain - but fascinating too!
Yes, the music did sound like BBC Radiophonic Workshop! It was called 'To Pass Time' by Godmode - I overlayed it with some homemade audio FX to give added atmosphere!
Thanks so much David.
Hope you have a good weekend too.
Cheers,
Paul
Hello Paul - greetings from Poland.
A superb video about a loop line I know nothing about despite my mother being born and bred in Symonds Yat and brought up from the age of 6 in Coleford. I've spent many an Easter Holiday in The Forest of Dean from the middle 50s to middle 60s. I can remember how industrial Cinderford was and the railways of the area, but not this one.
Beautiful walk and well done on your explorations. Camera work and commenatry as ever were brilliant. The photographs at the end of this video really put things into perspective.
Thank you so much Michael! Yes, I was only vaguely aware of this line, until I dug into the railway history books recently. I don't think that it is that well known at all. I really enjoyed the walk and the autumnal colours, but was a bit disappointed that I could not get right up to the southern tunnel portal - it was just too wet and fallen tree ridden! I hope to visit this area again soon for another Lost Railway Walk. It is an area with much to offer.
Take care,
Paul.
Cheers for posting Paul 👍👍👍
Thank you Lee!
Well done on the 400th video, I have watched & enjoyed them all. How on earth you walk with the camera, looking at it, giving all that great information, whilst walking on a very difficult surface, I don't know.
Thank you Faith!
And thanks too for being a big supporter of Westcountry Wanderings.
Yes, I try and learn my lines before heading out, although I do have a 'cheat sheet' in my pocket as I am hopeless with dates, etc.
Take care,
Paul
Hi Paul, you may be interested in a book by Neil Parkhouse called Forest of Dean lines and the Severn Bridge which covers all these lines around the forest.
Thank you!
That sounds an interesting read.
I will try and track down a copy.
Cheers,
Paul