I walked this route 40 years ago. The curve is equally 'visible' in many other streets not covered in the video. As the line was originally laid across open fields, the later housing developments followed the curve. .
East Southsea Station was taken over by The Stringer Motor Co and then into Wadham Stringer garage group. There was a plaque hidden behind the wall of the mechanics workshop that commemorated the opening of the station. Many apprentices came out of this garage and it's sad to see a housing development on it now. Portsmouth City Council have never been known for their brains.
Fascinating. I’ve lived in Portsmouth all my life, my grandparent also and they have lived in Fernhurst Road for 70 years and I’ve never heard about this old railway line. Great work!
Excellent video. I’m from Portsmouth originally and it’s great to see how our ancestors would have known and seen Portsmouth. Fantastic piece of social history.
I've recently discovered your wonderful channel. I find your matching of photos absolutely outstanding! And a wonderful way of putting things into perspective. I'm 56 now. Our childhood holidays were spent in camper van. We travelled all around the UK. I used to read the maps on our journeys, and remember wondering why I could see so many dismantled railway lines. My parents explained the Beeching Cuts to me, and it became a bit of an obsession with me as I was born in '65. It was never about the steam trains for me, it was the civil engineering that fascinated me....and still does. If you ever get the chance to visit Glasgow, I think you'll find the old lines very interesting. Thank you again for your wonderful videos.
Thanks Alison. It's one of my things I do in most videos as you will see. Sounds like you had a similar childhood to me, reading maps in the car was my thing.
I worked on a house near here a few years back that the customers elderly parents had owned she remembered her dad digging up thengarden and finding railway sleepers
Love seeing a new perspective to Southsea. I've just recently moved down here from the northwest and I love it. So much character and history. Thanks for sharing
@Dr Hollingsworths Testicular fortitude no it was in buckland that the old barnet turned to barbed wire but the problem solved itself b4 southsea owing to the absence of hair
Been looking for a detailed video on this line for a while now, I'm from Portsmouth and I love finding out about its history in time. Great video mate respect 👍
Absolutely fascinating to learn that there was once a Southsea/East Southsea station, but at least Beeching can't be blamed for its demise. I lived in the Portsmouth area in the late 1960s and early 1970s and attended school in Commecial Road, hence my interest.
Last time I was in Fratton, had to walk to Hilsea to get to my hotel since they cancelled the last train! Brilliant Video really enjoyed looking at where the Southsea Railway was.
Extremely interesting to me as I worked as part of my electrical apprenticeship in what was the old Southsea station. It was vehicle sales and repair facility called Stringers, later to become Wadam Stringers. I recall in the area where the vehicle repairs were carried out which would have been the station's platform area there were cast iron pillers with ornate casting around the tops of pillers very much like you would have found in vogue in the Victorian period. Keep up the good work and stay safe.
3:45 You are stood on the corner of Devonshire Avenue and Fernhurst Road. Jessie Road is about 200 yards to the west of where you are. Thanks for the heads-up on the Chewter Close mural, I didn't know about that!
Thanks for this! There's so little information out there about this line, and even fewer photos. A few points: there is a bit of a hump in Jessie Road, opposite the Co-Op, where the bridge started, and much more obviously, at the other end of the bridge, there's a grassy reservation in the middle of Devonshire Avenue. This is what's left of the southern side of the bridge. On the northern side, the houses there, from east to west, have progressively higher steps in their front yards, dating back to when their gates opened up onto the bridge itself. It's possible to work out just how shallow that bridge was, with the line itself being in a cutting. I believe the Albert Road Halt site is now occupied by a Chinese takeaway, just to the right of a short access road leading to the back of the laundrette and the large Co-Op (formerly a cinema) built partially on the trackbed.
At 5:42 into the video, the short bits of angle iron on the left hand side by the kerb are old railway signalling equipment, they would have held the signal wires that operated the signals.
Very good, but I'm surprised that you didn't include the area just north of Albert Road through the archway by Mum's Cafe. Part of the route is still visible there, where the lock-up garages are.
Not so, the line came out a few yards away from the café. A small gap between a cleaners (next to the Coop) and a Chinese Restaurant. He was standing in the correct place opposite the school.
I’ve lived here my entire 37 years of life & had NO IDEA this existed! I can’t believe there was a massive bridge outside the Festing! Thank you for this
Very interesting. Love how you do then and now pictures. We know progress is inevitable but it is still sad at the loss of the stations and trains. Love the mural. Brilliant vlog . Thank you again Darren. Never cease to entertain us
Awesome video of this short, but cool branch line. I love how you find the exact viewpoint of old photos to show what is different. There are too many channels that just do "here's a pic of the station, and here's the spot", so thank you for that.
Used to live in Fareham and work in Portsmouth and took a very good look at this old line too, some good remains around, I'm glad you did this video, amazing as always
Thanks for this video Darren,I lived for eight years in Waverly Rd, opposite Stringers Motor Parts, where I used to get all my Car bits. Always found it interesting that it was once part of the old East Southsea Railway. It really is a most fascinating Video.
Excellent video. I have been interested in the old line ever since noticing the old station building that still existed back in the 1970’s, it was part of a maintenance garage and still had the original canopy that covered the platform. All gone.
Thank you for that. I'm currently reading a Philippa Gregory novel in which the East Southsea Station is mentioned. As a man born and raised in Portsmouth, I became curious about the line - I'd heard a bit about it before, but not much. Great video. Many thanks!
I’ve lived in Portsmouth since I was born and have only just found this randomly! Loved hearing about the history of the line. I used to ride my bike on most of those roads!
Thank you, Darren for another trip into the past. You have an uncanny way of taking your audiences back in time. I always look forward to your videos. See you on the next one. Cheers mate! 🏴😊👍🇺🇸
How odd your video popped up just as I was walking past fratton station, lived in Portsmouth for over 15 year and never really new about the old railway, Great video 👍
7:39 that house on the end is my Nan and Grandad's old house. Im turning 40 in a few days time. I never knew about any of this. All this history that once existed and I've been oblivious all my life. Amazing.
@@AdventureMespoke to my Dad this week about this. Fun fact - grandad had to have house under pinned. When they dug the ground up, they found old railway mens tools discarded. Funny how I found this video from your Filey videos - I'm from Portsmouth 😂 let me know when your down South again!
I lived in Eastney from 1956 to 1976 and also walked this route sometime in the mid 1960s, having done some research. I recall finding the original Southsea Station, much altered, as it was a garage by that time and had been for many years. It must have been impressive originally. The line was actually extended 50-60 yards or so to roughly Granada Road and the new tiny primitive station renamed East Southsea. The line was never taken over by a large railway company like the LSWR, which sealed its fate, for, shortly after the first World War started, the government issued an edict that any unprofitable railways, or even stations, should close immediately. This sealed the fate of the line and it never reopened.
Have you ever thought of doing the old Scarborough to Whitby railway? Lots of interesting stuff about this line. And some old buildings which are still here today.
Very well done! I am often walking and cycling around the rail route you so brilliantly showed, especially with the historical photos overlaid on the streets of today. Now I understand how the branch line got down so near to the seafront. Thank you.
brilliant video, as a pompey boy, and interested in steam, i found out about this railway line a couple of years ago, thanks for posting the video and sucsess with future projects in portsmouth, note not many bungalows in pompey but on your video at 5.35 there is about half a dozen.
Extremely interesting video. Having worked in Southsea for many years and driven along all the routes here I was fascinated to learn about this long gone branch line.
Hi Darren, Very enjoyable video, well done!! I didnt know about the murals, they must be fairly recent I think. It looks like the stopwatch is set to 10 to 3 not 6:57!! Amazed that so many residents dont know about this line, as you can see its not obvious unless you stop and think, why are the streets like that?, why is this road called that? Lots of interesting things all around us wherever we are in the world, thanks for making this one better known! Good luck from Spain!!
Thanks David. I couldn't believe how many people weren't aware of this like you said. Even my family in Portsmouth had no clue. The murals have been there quite a few years so I am told.
That was a really good video. I was born in Portsmouth in 1956 and still live here. My father originally from Southampton moved to Portsmouth as a young boy. He told me about the existence of this line but I didn't know any of the details except for tramlines still being a part of the road in Francis avenue, if I remember correctly, when I was a kid. He had a garage business and I remember going to what was wadham stringer many times to pick up parts and remember this being the station. Did you know that the cutting where Fratton station and the railway is used to be a part of the Portsmouth/Arundel canal that started in locksway road (clue in the name there)? There are still a few remnants of the route like the remains of the old locks and a footpath called towpath mead, then after fratton station you have canal walk. It terminated near the old Debenhams in commercial road. It was originally called landport drapery bazaar (LDB) then became Alders then Debenhams. I'm not even sure it's still around. I thought this might be the subject for a video. There's plenty of info on it and you probably know about it anyway.
Just discovered your video I have lived in Southsea for many years and often wonders the roots of the Railway thanks for a brilliant and informative video subscribed
Thank you for this! I really enjoyed what was for me, a trip down memory lane. I was brought up in Widley, and went to school in Old Portsmouth, having friends in Southsea (much changed now, looking at your film!). I moved away in the mid 80’s and now live in Oxfordshire, another lovely place.
Wadham Stringers garage. My dad travelled on this line with my grandparents as a baby. He was born in Shearer Road. Even I can remember the trolleybuses in the fifties.
The old station building actually housed the bodyshop and part of an old machine shop after wadham stringers merged their staff from Castle road in southsea into the one site. They were told because of the historical value of the building, no alterations or removal of some of the wrought iron pillars could be carried out. When they finally sold the site the developer obviously didnt listen or care and it all got knocked down for the houses you see there now.
My late mother, born 1921, lived as a toddler at the top end of Bath Road backing onto the railway. She spoke of the line at the back of the house but whilst it may have still had track on it I guess it would have been after it’s last use even as a siding from Fratton? Thank you for adding to the family archive of background information.
It was the old wadham stringer garage behind the old granada pub there....I remember reguarly walking round there in the 60's and my Dad saying that the old platform of southsea station was still part of the garage building.
Ha, not too far from me - I'm from Gosport, just across the water from Portsmouth. I had no idea there was an abandoned railway line in Southsea! Very interesting.
Used to be a pizza delivery driver and frequently drove down these roads and saw these places, it’s so cool learn about this bit of local history! Love it! Thanks!!!
Wow.. great bit of video. Wish I'd had known you were recording on that day, I could have shown you parts of the line that still exist to this day. At around 4.00 on your video you're standing by Fernhurst Rd about 100 yds behind you in the next road a tiny section of the bridge is part of someones forecourt wall ! I often wonder how many locals realize that. Hope you return to Pompey again one day, there's history on every street corner.
Loved that video.Lived in fasting as in the 80s.Thought I could see the Festing Hotel where I was on the darts team.Stuart and Gloria Barfoot were landlords til they moved to the Phoenix pub in North End.Ive moved to the north west since where the water is softer
I meant I lived in festing rd in the 8o,s.Could it be that the railway is the reason that the entrance to festing rd is so unusually wide at the Odeon and Festing hotel and?
Behind, what used to be the Granada Pub, the new houses were built on the site of the old Hendy Lenox Ford garage( which was built on the site of the old station) when the Garage was there ,there were still large bits of the station platform existing.
The tracks were lifted about 10 years after the line closed so it's not surprising so few people know about it. When I lived in Southsea in the 1990s you could walk most of the route. It was mostly lock up garages then and what was left of the station buildings was car dealer iirc.
I went to the Albert Road School as a child (Craneswater) and we learned all about the Southsea railway during our Victorians topic! I also heard that when it closed Southsea station, they had to change the name of the one in town so that the rich people would get off there. They did not want to alight at Portsmouth station. There is still a snobbery in the city about being from Southsea (or below the tracks) as opposed to Portsmouth (above the tracks!)
Great video and fascinating to find out about this. I used to walk along Goldsmith Ave to Uni and often wondered why Francis Ave and Heidelberg Rd ran at such a strange curve compared to other roads in that area. Guess Heidelberg would have backed on to the Railway. The current track that runs from Fratton to the Portsmouth & Southsea station runs under a road bridge that I guess would have been similar to what would have been along the Southsea line. Thanks for sharing this.
Thought I knew about all the lines in the south of England, but this is new to me, so thank you for this informative video which has made me research further (lots on wiki). It was apparently a joint line run by the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway and London & South Western Railway.
Another super video Darren, thank you. Have you ever thought about doing a historical video of Cleethorpes? As a child in the 50’s and early 60’s my parents used to take us on day trips by train to Cleethorpes. As you probably know, the Station terminates right on the seafront in the centre of town. As you came out of the station turning left the promenade used to have a massive arched sign saying ‘Wonderland’. It was just crammed with fairground rides and attractions. Right at the far end of the prom there was like a big wooden structured Big Dipper and dodgem track where all the Teddy Boys would gather back in the day. I’m sure it was a bit of a ‘hot spot’ where Mods & Rockers used to clash. Sadly, it’s a bit of a rundown area these days but, as a child it was an amazing place. There are still signs of the old Victorian buildings and also some remnants of Art Deco facades. The pier there seemed to go out for miles too. It would make a fabulous addition for your style of yesteryear type videos, it was a glorious place back in the day and still has a few clues to its heritage.
Born in Portsmouth and used to live just up the road from Fratton Station.....now live in Fife Scotland. It's changed alot since I was last there some 15 years ago.
Great vlog Darren . Only found out about this line a few years ago and pleased that you have covered it . It's amazing what lines where built in time gone by . Good that you got your Ice Cream at the end of it !
When you was stood on the corner of Fernhurst Road, a little further down on that side is the owner of the railways House and yard., it has currently got a new built garage which is white with grey door and 2 big wooden grey gates,, recently renovated by me and others. It stands out as its the biggest house and garden along that run.
Wow! I was so many times in Portsmouth and I didn't notice nothing that can show up anything about old line. I'm from Milton Keynes, and ofc I already walk by old Newport Pagnell to Wolverton line, but it is much more easy to notice ! Great movie
Nice seeing where I live get some attention. I'd noticed the more modern houses that in-fill where the line used to be, but nice to see it get some interest.
Lovely too see the route the only problem was the very last bit the final station was on the opposite side of Granada road. When in about 2010 they built a block of flats ( next to the old coastguard tavern pub ) they found the original platform ties along a supporting wall.
Please accept my appology for my rudeness. It was not intentional. So much of Portsea Islands history has gone from sight. And now we seem to get so many different versions of the truth. I was 15 when my Grandfather gave me his version of the route and closure of the line. Looking at it over the years, his version became most beleivable. Did you know that there was a turntable found in the delevery of the supermarket. Some say there was an engine shed there. My own Father , a member of the Peak district Railway, at that time, informed them about it. They needed one, bought and took it up there. I'm 61 now but I still remember vividly being 15 and listening to my much loved Grandad. Again I am sorry.
Thank you so much for this video... I was so curious to know about this when I came to know about southsea railway few mouths before.. Thank you so much for the wonderful information..❤️❤️
I walked this route 40 years ago. The curve is equally 'visible' in many other streets not covered in the video. As the line was originally laid across open fields, the later housing developments followed the curve. .
East Southsea Station was taken over by The Stringer Motor Co and then into Wadham Stringer garage group. There was a plaque hidden behind the wall of the mechanics workshop that commemorated the opening of the station. Many apprentices came out of this garage and it's sad to see a housing development on it now. Portsmouth City Council have never been known for their brains.
Yes! There was. I just posted about the ticket office and forgot about the plaque.
Fascinating. I’ve lived in Portsmouth all my life, my grandparent also and they have lived in Fernhurst Road for 70 years and I’ve never heard about this old railway line. Great work!
Thanks for watching.
Excellent video. I’m from Portsmouth originally and it’s great to see how our ancestors would have known and seen Portsmouth. Fantastic piece of social history.
Thanks mate.
I've recently discovered your wonderful channel.
I find your matching of photos absolutely outstanding! And a wonderful way of putting things into perspective.
I'm 56 now. Our childhood holidays were spent in camper van. We travelled all around the UK.
I used to read the maps on our journeys, and remember wondering why I could see so many dismantled railway lines. My parents explained the Beeching Cuts to me, and it became a bit of an obsession with me as I was born in '65.
It was never about the steam trains for me, it was the civil engineering that fascinated me....and still does.
If you ever get the chance to visit Glasgow, I think you'll find the old lines very interesting.
Thank you again for your wonderful videos.
Thanks Alison. It's one of my things I do in most videos as you will see. Sounds like you had a similar childhood to me, reading maps in the car was my thing.
I worked on a house near here a few years back that the customers elderly parents had owned she remembered her dad digging up thengarden and finding railway sleepers
That sounds like a great find
It’s true. My mate James and his parents were certain they were over the platforms which had been largely left in place.
Love seeing a new perspective to Southsea. I've just recently moved down here from the northwest and I love it. So much character and history. Thanks for sharing
As someone from Pompey, welcome to our city! I hope you enjoy living here!
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Welcome to Pompey! 🥳
Wait til you wash your hair in that horrible water and find it turned to wire..chalk yuk
@Dr Hollingsworths Testicular fortitude no it was in buckland that the old barnet turned to barbed wire but the problem solved itself b4 southsea owing to the absence of hair
Been looking for a detailed video on this line for a while now, I'm from Portsmouth and I love finding out about its history in time. Great video mate respect 👍
Thanks for watching, more to come.
@@AdventureMe anytime mate, especially for quality content.
Absolutely fascinating to learn that there was once a Southsea/East Southsea station, but at least Beeching can't be blamed for its demise. I lived in the Portsmouth area in the late 1960s and early 1970s and attended school in Commecial Road, hence my interest.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@FrozenHero2010 IIRC the railway closed at the beginning of WW1 and the tracks were taken up in 1923/4.
Fantastic trip into the past, never a dull moment when you take us on a journey of discovery with you. 😊
Last time I was in Fratton, had to walk to Hilsea to get to my hotel since they cancelled the last train! Brilliant Video really enjoyed looking at where the Southsea Railway was.
There a hotel in Hilsea?😮
@@ap9970 Travelodge, 10 minutes from Hilsea Station
@@Sim0nTrains as I said "There's a hotel in Hilsea?" 😋
Fascinating to me - I used to drink in that pub (The Festing) for years and never realised it was right opposite where a railway station used to be!
Thanks for watching David
Wow, im going to visit them murals later today, its only a 5 min walk for me… im pompy born an bread and to see my heritage like that is quite moving
Extremely interesting to me as I worked as part of my electrical apprenticeship in what was the old Southsea station. It was vehicle sales and repair facility called Stringers, later to become Wadam Stringers. I recall in the area where the vehicle repairs were carried out which would have been the station's platform area there were cast iron pillers with ornate casting around the tops of pillers very much like you would have found in vogue in the Victorian period. Keep up the good work and stay safe.
My dad showed me the platform canopy in wadhams yard when we picked up his car. That was mid sixties.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Wow my mum used to work there many years ago
3:45 You are stood on the corner of Devonshire Avenue and Fernhurst Road. Jessie Road is about 200 yards to the west of where you are. Thanks for the heads-up on the Chewter Close mural, I didn't know about that!
It is present day. But the bridge right in front of me would have been Jessie Road Bridge.
Thanks for this! There's so little information out there about this line, and even fewer photos.
A few points: there is a bit of a hump in Jessie Road, opposite the Co-Op, where the bridge started, and much more obviously, at the other end of the bridge, there's a grassy reservation in the middle of Devonshire Avenue. This is what's left of the southern side of the bridge. On the northern side, the houses there, from east to west, have progressively higher steps in their front yards, dating back to when their gates opened up onto the bridge itself. It's possible to work out just how shallow that bridge was, with the line itself being in a cutting.
I believe the Albert Road Halt site is now occupied by a Chinese takeaway, just to the right of a short access road leading to the back of the laundrette and the large Co-Op (formerly a cinema) built partially on the trackbed.
Fascinating. Just goes to show there's always more. And yes, I couldn't find many pictures at all. My videos are normally packed with them.
At 5:42 into the video, the short bits of angle iron on the left hand side by the kerb are old railway signalling equipment, they would have held the signal wires that operated the signals.
Very good, but I'm surprised that you didn't include the area just north of Albert Road through the archway by Mum's Cafe. Part of the route is still visible there, where the lock-up garages are.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Not so, the line came out a few yards away from the café. A small gap between a cleaners (next to the Coop) and a Chinese Restaurant. He was standing in the correct place opposite the school.
I’ve lived here my entire 37 years of life & had NO IDEA this existed! I can’t believe there was a massive bridge outside the Festing! Thank you for this
Thanks for watching
Brilliantly done. A world with no need to leave space for roads only walkways, everything so close to other things.
Fascinating! I knew nothing of this despite having lived in, and had family live in Portsmouth and Southsea all of my 73 years! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it
Very interesting. Love how you do then and now pictures. We know progress is inevitable but it is still sad at the loss of the stations and trains. Love the mural. Brilliant vlog . Thank you again Darren. Never cease to entertain us
Thanks Shirley for your many kind comments.
Awesome video of this short, but cool branch line. I love how you find the exact viewpoint of old photos to show what is different. There are too many channels that just do "here's a pic of the station, and here's the spot", so thank you for that.
Thanks mate. The photo fades are my speciality as you will see in most of the videos I do.
@@AdventureMe Yea, I remember watching your Manchester video with all of the old photos. That one was great too.
Used to live in Fareham and work in Portsmouth and took a very good look at this old line too, some good remains around, I'm glad you did this video, amazing as always
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Brilliant stuff, I am from Pompey and never knew there was this train line.
Thanks for watching
isn’t that really lovely that this rail history of Southsea is honored in the wall murals. Terrific.
Thanks for this video Darren,I lived for eight years in Waverly Rd, opposite Stringers Motor Parts, where I used to get all my Car bits. Always found it interesting that it was once part of the old East Southsea Railway. It really is a most fascinating Video.
Thanks Bob.
Excellent video. I have been interested in the old line ever since noticing the old station building that still existed back in the 1970’s, it was part of a maintenance garage and still had the original canopy that covered the platform. All gone.
Glad you enjoyed it
Lived in Pompey all my life. I thought the Southsea line ran through Edinburgh Road. Thanks for the vid. Very interesting 👍
No problem 👍
That would have been the "Dockyard line" from town station high level going into the Dockyard near Unicorn gate.
Fascinating. I've been in Portsmouth all of my life and never knew. Great work! 👏👏🤝
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you for that. I'm currently reading a Philippa Gregory novel in which the East Southsea Station is mentioned. As a man born and raised in Portsmouth, I became curious about the line - I'd heard a bit about it before, but not much. Great video. Many thanks!
I’ve lived in Portsmouth since I was born and have only just found this randomly! Loved hearing about the history of the line. I used to ride my bike on most of those roads!
Thanks for watching
I know Portsmouth/Southsea pretty well from growing up/working here, but never knew about this line. Many thanks
Thank you, Darren for another trip into the past. You have an uncanny way of taking your audiences back in time. I always look forward to your videos. See you on the next one. Cheers mate! 🏴😊👍🇺🇸
Thanks for watching Martin
Nice one daz. Can't wait for you to do some more local railways again.
I will be don't worry.
OHHHH Thank You as lived here all my 59 yrs and my family for at least the last hundred years .
Glad you enjoyed it
Ahh this was brilliant, I've lived in Southsea for the last year and a bit and love railway history so thank you, esp the old bridge photos too 😃
How odd your video popped up just as I was walking past fratton station, lived in Portsmouth for over 15 year and never really new about the old railway,
Great video 👍
Hope you enjoyed it!
7:39 that house on the end is my Nan and Grandad's old house. Im turning 40 in a few days time. I never knew about any of this. All this history that once existed and I've been oblivious all my life. Amazing.
Thanks Matty
@@AdventureMespoke to my Dad this week about this. Fun fact - grandad had to have house under pinned. When they dug the ground up, they found old railway mens tools discarded.
Funny how I found this video from your Filey videos - I'm from Portsmouth 😂 let me know when your down South again!
I lived in Eastney from 1956 to 1976 and also walked this route sometime in the mid 1960s, having done some research. I recall finding the original Southsea Station, much altered, as it was a garage by that time and had been for many years. It must have been impressive originally. The line was actually extended 50-60 yards or so to roughly Granada Road and the new tiny primitive station renamed East Southsea. The line was never taken over by a large railway company like the LSWR, which sealed its fate, for, shortly after the first World War started, the government issued an edict that any unprofitable railways, or even stations, should close immediately. This sealed the fate of the line and it never reopened.
i remember a car sales showroom at the end of the line, in the early 80's. With Rolls Royces on the showroom floor.
Have you ever thought of doing the old Scarborough to Whitby railway? Lots of interesting stuff about this line. And some old buildings which are still here today.
He's done bits of it! th-cam.com/video/XJ3FrtNTa4U/w-d-xo.html
Yes I have. Ive already done a section of it on the channel in my ravenscar videos.
Very well done! I am often walking and cycling around the rail route you so brilliantly showed, especially with the historical photos overlaid on the streets of today. Now I understand how the branch line got down so near to the seafront. Thank you.
brilliant video, as a pompey boy, and interested in steam, i found out about this railway line a couple of years ago, thanks for posting the video and sucsess with future projects in portsmouth, note not many bungalows in pompey but on your video at 5.35 there is about half a dozen.
Extremely interesting video. Having worked in Southsea for many years and driven along all the routes here I was fascinated to learn about this long gone branch line.
Thanks Jerry. Lots of things like this hidden all over
Someone has really done his homework, excellent video , very informative and interesting!
Great video, always wondered what the railway's specific route was, good superimposing again for that shot with the Festing pub in the background.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
4:00 the road that would have been Jessie Road is now part of Devonshire Avenue where it intercedes
Hi Darren, Very enjoyable video, well done!!
I didnt know about the murals, they must be fairly recent I think. It looks like the stopwatch is set to 10 to 3 not 6:57!! Amazed that so many residents dont know about this line, as you can see its not obvious unless you stop and think, why are the streets like that?, why is this road called that?
Lots of interesting things all around us wherever we are in the world, thanks for making this one better known!
Good luck from Spain!!
Thanks David. I couldn't believe how many people weren't aware of this like you said. Even my family in Portsmouth had no clue. The murals have been there quite a few years so I am told.
@@AdventureMe Yes, I'm sure your right, it seems like yesterday that I lived there but actually its coming on to 25 years ago!!. Time flies ....
Great video, love seeing interesting things about Southsea. Seems like your southsea videos are the most popular!
That was a really good video. I was born in Portsmouth in 1956 and still live here. My father originally from Southampton moved to Portsmouth as a young boy. He told me about the existence of this line but I didn't know any of the details except for tramlines still being a part of the road in Francis avenue, if I remember correctly, when I was a kid. He had a garage business and I remember going to what was wadham stringer many times to pick up parts and remember this being the station.
Did you know that the cutting where Fratton station and the railway is used to be a part of the Portsmouth/Arundel canal that started in locksway road (clue in the name there)? There are still a few remnants of the route like the remains of the old locks and a footpath called towpath mead, then after fratton station you have canal walk. It terminated near the old Debenhams in commercial road. It was originally called landport drapery bazaar (LDB) then became Alders then Debenhams. I'm not even sure it's still around. I thought this might be the subject for a video. There's plenty of info on it and you probably know about it anyway.
Yes a future video there
Just discovered your video I have lived in Southsea for many years and often wonders the roots of the Railway thanks for a brilliant and informative video subscribed
Thanks Graham. A few pompey videos on my channel and more to come
Thank you for this! I really enjoyed what was for me, a trip down memory lane. I was brought up in Widley, and went to school in Old Portsmouth, having friends in Southsea (much changed now, looking at your film!). I moved away in the mid 80’s and now live in Oxfordshire, another lovely place.
I lived in Fareham but went to school in Widley. (Purbrook Park, actually, but nearer Widley than Purbrook).
Lived in the area all my life and I never knew about the Southsea branch line. Thank you for the education.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Brilliant clip of history, seeing the old rail link, i never even heard of before!
Thanks for watching
What a great video! Thank you for sharing, I live near there and know all the spots you mention.
Glad you enjoyed it!
When I was a teenager in the 80s, the old station buildings used to be an Austin Rover dealership
Harry Lime's night club?
@@DaveSuperThomas Next door, where the housing estate is now.
Wadham Stringers garage. My dad travelled on this line with my grandparents as a baby. He was born in Shearer Road. Even I can remember the trolleybuses in the fifties.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
The old station building actually housed the bodyshop and part of an old machine shop after wadham stringers merged their staff from Castle road in southsea into the one site. They were told because of the historical value of the building, no alterations or removal of some of the wrought iron pillars could be carried out. When they finally sold the site the developer obviously didnt listen or care and it all got knocked down for the houses you see there now.
Another very interesting watch, Love the blended in pictures they bring a whole new perspective, Keep it up 👍
Thanks for watching, more to come.
My late mother, born 1921, lived as a toddler at the top end of Bath Road backing onto the railway. She spoke of the line at the back of the house but whilst it may have still had track on it I guess it would have been after it’s last use even as a siding from Fratton? Thank you for adding to the family archive of background information.
It was the old wadham stringer garage behind the old granada pub there....I remember reguarly walking round there in the 60's and my Dad saying that the old platform of southsea station was still part of the garage building.
Ha, not too far from me - I'm from Gosport, just across the water from Portsmouth. I had no idea there was an abandoned railway line in Southsea! Very interesting.
Thanks Daniel. I'll be covering the Gosport ones soon too
@@AdventureMe Oh lovely, looking forward to that then. 🙂
Thanks 😊Darren brilliant 👏video 📹allways look forward to seeing your work makes Sunday not so boring
Thanks mate
I know the area well. Spent a lot of my youth in Southsea and Portsmouth, so thank you for a great video
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Very interesting. I work as a Shunter at the depot you were standing above at Fratton.
Thanks mate. Any evidence left at track level?
Fab editing, love your fades. Well researched and succinctly delivered! Bravo!
Thanks Tim. Much appreciated.
Used to be a pizza delivery driver and frequently drove down these roads and saw these places, it’s so cool learn about this bit of local history! Love it! Thanks!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow.. great bit of video. Wish I'd had known you were recording on that day, I could have shown you parts of the line that still exist to this day. At around 4.00 on your video you're standing by Fernhurst Rd about 100 yds behind you in the next road a tiny section of the bridge is part of someones forecourt wall ! I often wonder how many locals realize that. Hope you return to Pompey again one day, there's history on every street corner.
Thanks Ross, no I didn't know that. I am often in Pompey, I have lots of family there.
Loved that video.Lived in fasting as in the 80s.Thought I could see the Festing Hotel where I was on the darts team.Stuart and Gloria Barfoot were landlords til they moved to the Phoenix pub in North End.Ive moved to the north west since where the water is softer
I meant I lived in festing rd in the 8o,s.Could it be that the railway is the reason that the entrance to festing rd is so unusually wide at the Odeon and Festing hotel and?
Thanks for watching
Excellent video, thank you for posting it. I have explored most of the disused lines of Hampshire, and beyond, but not this one.
Thanks Anthony
My children lived in that exact area and on my visits I would research the route from Fratton. Very interesting video you've done. Thank you.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Brilliant video - lived in Portsmouth all my life but never knew the story :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for video. I live in Southsea and used to be on Goldsmith Avenue which is mentioned. I’ll have to explore your itinerary.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Fareham to Gosport and the Portsmouth docks branch are worth a cycle/walk and a explore, but there's lots of sub bits that come off the former too
Yes I'll be doing that soon.
Subscribed today loving the video,s so far very informative look at history and the past and present .
Thanks for watching, and welcome aboard.
Behind, what used to be the Granada Pub, the new houses were built on the site of the old Hendy Lenox Ford garage( which was built on the site of the old station) when the Garage was there ,there were still large bits of the station platform existing.
Really appreciate this video, have been to Southsea and the Pier etc, but never knew where the railway was until now .
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
The tracks were lifted about 10 years after the line closed so it's not surprising so few people know about it. When I lived in Southsea in the 1990s you could walk most of the route. It was mostly lock up garages then and what was left of the station buildings was car dealer iirc.
I’m a Pompey boy and seen those roads with slow curves, never knew it was a railway but now explains why the roads are like that👍
Amazing, there used to be a train Gosport ?
From around st. James's hospital around that area I think there's still a few tracks and plaque
A lot of it is a bus route now.
Yeah I'll be doing that one.
Fantastic video, mad seeing a road in front of houses that was a railways not too long ago, Amazing research as usual 👍
Many thanks!
I went to the Albert Road School as a child (Craneswater) and we learned all about the Southsea railway during our Victorians topic!
I also heard that when it closed Southsea station, they had to change the name of the one in town so that the rich people would get off there. They did not want to alight at Portsmouth station. There is still a snobbery in the city about being from Southsea (or below the tracks) as opposed to Portsmouth (above the tracks!)
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Great video, I really liked it when you merged the photos old and new. Did you know that Fratton Station is built in an old Ship Canal?
This is my hometown. I knew about Southsea Station but didn't know about the two halt stations and deffo didn't know that mural was there! Nice work!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful place thank you for sharing
Thanks for visiting
Great video and fascinating to find out about this. I used to walk along Goldsmith Ave to Uni and often wondered why Francis Ave and Heidelberg Rd ran at such a strange curve compared to other roads in that area. Guess Heidelberg would have backed on to the Railway. The current track that runs from Fratton to the Portsmouth & Southsea station runs under a road bridge that I guess would have been similar to what would have been along the Southsea line. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for watching Stephen
Thought I knew about all the lines in the south of England, but this is new to me, so thank you for this informative video which has made me research further (lots on wiki). It was apparently a joint line run by the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway and London & South Western Railway.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Great video Darren. I always enjoy the fact that you make a street or an empty field interesting.
Thanks 👍
Brilliant video. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Dean
I've often wondered what remained of that railway when dad and I wandered off to Southsea when he lived at Gosport.
Thanks mate. Happy times
Interesting as per usual ...good one keep them coming
Thanks, will do!
Another super video Darren, thank you. Have you ever thought about doing a historical video of Cleethorpes? As a child in the 50’s and early 60’s my parents used to take us on day trips by train to Cleethorpes. As you probably know, the Station terminates right on the seafront in the centre of town. As you came out of the station turning left the promenade used to have a massive arched sign saying ‘Wonderland’. It was just crammed with fairground rides and attractions. Right at the far end of the prom there was like a big wooden structured Big Dipper and dodgem track where all the Teddy Boys would gather back in the day. I’m sure it was a bit of a ‘hot spot’ where Mods & Rockers used to clash. Sadly, it’s a bit of a rundown area these days but, as a child it was an amazing place. There are still signs of the old Victorian buildings and also some remnants of Art Deco facades. The pier there seemed to go out for miles too. It would make a fabulous addition for your style of yesteryear type videos, it was a glorious place back in the day and still has a few clues to its heritage.
Thanks Steve. yes I have it on my list if I ever venture over that way.
Born in Portsmouth and used to live just up the road from Fratton Station.....now live in Fife Scotland. It's changed alot since I was last there some 15 years ago.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
I just moved here from Southampton, and as someone who is obsessed with history, thanks for this!
Thanks for watching
Great vlog Darren . Only found out about this line a few years ago and pleased that you have covered it .
It's amazing what lines where built in time gone by .
Good that you got your Ice Cream at the end of it !
Thanks mate. Yes a good old 99
When you was stood on the corner of Fernhurst Road, a little further down on that side is the owner of the railways House and yard., it has currently got a new built garage which is white with grey door and 2 big wooden grey gates,, recently renovated by me and others. It stands out as its the biggest house and garden along that run.
Didn't know that. Thanks
Wow! I was so many times in Portsmouth and I didn't notice nothing that can show up anything about old line. I'm from Milton Keynes, and ofc I already walk by old Newport Pagnell to Wolverton line, but it is much more easy to notice ! Great movie
Thanks for watching.
Nice seeing where I live get some attention. I'd noticed the more modern houses that in-fill where the line used to be, but nice to see it get some interest.
Thanks for watching
Wow. I had no idea nor knew of the walls and muriels. Well done again.
Thanks for watching, more to come.
Lovely too see the route the only problem was the very last bit the final station was on the opposite side of Granada road. When in about 2010 they built a block of flats ( next to the old coastguard tavern pub ) they found the original platform ties along a supporting wall.
I had no idea! I want to try this route out for myself now, especially to see the mural! Great video!
Thanks for watching
Please accept my appology for my rudeness. It was not intentional. So much of Portsea Islands history has gone from sight. And now we seem to get so many different versions of the truth. I was 15 when my Grandfather gave me his version of the route and closure of the line. Looking at it over the years, his version became most beleivable. Did you know that there was a turntable found in the delevery of the supermarket. Some say there was an engine shed there. My own Father , a member of the Peak district Railway, at that time, informed them about it. They needed one, bought and took it up there. I'm 61 now but I still remember vividly being 15 and listening to my much loved Grandad. Again I am sorry.
Thank you so much for this video... I was so curious to know about this when I came to know about southsea railway few mouths before.. Thank you so much for the wonderful information..❤️❤️
Thanks for watching, more to come.