Aha, my old stomping ground. Every time since childhood. The same old joke when we stopped two stations up the line. “Where are we?” “You know ful-well”
Or where I live now ... "Where are we?" "Ware". "Yes, where?" The other story was of the GWR express that stopped out of course at Aynho (pronounced Eye-no). Peppery old gentleman lowers a window and asks the porter "Where are we?" "Aynho, sir". "Yes, dammit, I know you know, but I want to know" ...
@@iankemp1131 I for real had that very same conversation with a lost motorist near Hoddesdon about a decade ago. He was trying to find his way to Ware and unwittingly played along with the skit nicely. 😉
The Racecource was 'saved' at the start of 2020 as the plans for housing were cut back to just 550. They tried to offer up the site as a way to deliver all the local council's housing requirements for a number of years, but the council did not include the site in its local plan making statements about not building on greenbelt land etc.
I think there council was also concerned about the traffic the houses would generate. Unlike other sites in the borough, they couldn't claim that people wouldn't want cars as public transport was so good. One small station and a road that's a permanent traffic jam, chaos would ensue.
Interestingly "Waterboarding" is a relatively modern term to describe water torture. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding#:~:text=was%2015%20years.-,By%20the%20French%20in%20the%20Algerian%20War,hand%20experience%20of%20being%20waterboarded.
That looks very much like Southern Green paint. Perhaps a vlog about the "Coast" stations on what is now the Tyne & Wear Metro. Especially Tynemouth with its abandoned bay platforms at both ends of the Coastside platforms. Or possibly the disused and vanished railways that used to serve the area before the aforementioned Metro
The British Railways Southern Region colour specification sheets of the 1950's are the same as the Southern Railway schemes, only with 'Southern Railway' crossed out and 'British Railways Board' wriiten on them, often in handwriting!
Another great vid, Jago. When Wifey and I first married we had a flat right opposite Shepperton Station at the end of this line (itself quite an interesting station). We used the branch line to Kingston quite a lot. At that time (early 90s) Kemton Park was only used on race days.
My nearest station is also a Racecourse Station, in this case, Cheltenham Racecourse, once used by racegoers but now the southern terminus of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway.
I currently volunteer at the narrow gauge railway there (for the last 6 months or so) and its been a great experience so far. Everybody has shown nothing but passion for the line and getting to maintain (and also occasionally fire and drive Darent) every week is a treat! And, more relevant to this video I believe there are ideas for the extention to join up to Kempton park station as well which could maybe make it a bit less lonely! I hope you had a fun visit Jago!
In HG Wells’ “The War Of The Worlds” (1898) the railways in Surrey were a major part of the “catastrophe” as well as (plot spoiler) the final “redemption”. Wells researched both by bicycle and by rail. We would appreciate your video…!
After electrification, the Shepperton service was predominately to/from Waterloo via Kingston, but with additional peak hour trains via Richmond (typically non-stop Richmond-Waterloo). Kempton Park was additionally served by limited-stop specials on race days (some running via East Putney) until at least the late 1960s. These quite often ran close behind the regular (half-hourly) trains and, if checked by the Fulwell down starter, one could see the motorman trying to keep his train moving jerkily through the platform to prevent anyone from boarding. Horsebox specials were run until at least WW2. Some, direct from Newmarket via Stratford, went right to Kempton behind a Westinghouse-fitted GE/LNE loco - presumably with a pilot driver from Willesden.
Very interesting, jago. Closer to my neck of the woods, there’s both Epsom Downs and Tattenhan Corner railway stations that serve Epsom downs race course - I would imagine they are worth a video (as is the reason why Tattenham corner had to have a new station building!!)
I do find it amusing that you describe a station that sees two trains an hour as 'lonely'. It's quite understandable of course, but I can't help but compare it to my own city's single functional railway station. Yeah, privatization was a complete disaster for New Zealand rail... (can't remember if the southern excursion train still runs... if so, that staiton gets 9 passenger trains (or 18 if you count the same train leaving in the morning and returning late in the afternoon seperately)... per week.)
I went there, to the races, once, ages ago. Even with all the people around, it felt a bit sad. If I recall correctly, I lost some money betting. Not a lot, that was impossible as I didn't have much.. The only other racecourse station I have been to was Newmarket, but I was there for sausages, not horses. Well, I hope not.
Nice cantor through the history of a unique station, Jago. We weren't saddled with needless detail. I imagine you used Shank's mare to get around the site..?
4:03 - This is apparently one of the setups to ship freight cars over to France after D-Day. Rails ramping down to the water, set in pavement, and rails on the LST's ("Large Slow Target") bow ramp and vehicle deck. Contemporary photos show 4 wheel cars being loaded, to deal with the sharp angle between land and the ship. Conveniently, this time they didn't have to align the rails to unload POWs.
Ah ha ! I think this the fist time *ever* I've spotted an error in one of Mr Hazzard's videos ! The engine room in 'A Night To Remember' was actually Cricklewood Pumping Station - alas, the engine is gone but the building and chimney remains.
@@annother3350 I know ! It's disgraceful - I'll never watch any of his videos again !! Actually, someone at work told me this years ago but if you look at a freeze frame from the film, you can see the pressure gauges are different to the one at Kempton. Somewhere on RU-vid, there's a documentary on the making of A Night To Remember and it says it was Cricklewood - I'll see if I can find it and a link. Edit. Here you go @17.30 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Z7enSrgrqDM.html
Unbelievably, it was the owners of Kempton Park, the Jockey Club, who wanted to demolish the racecourse and replace it with a huge housing development; they were only stopped by a vociferous campaign by the racing community and a much smaller development was proposed. Kempton Park is a busy racecourse and it's 'Blue Ribbon' event is the King George VI Stakes on Boxing Day; naturally, this one of the days of the year the railways don't run!
As a guard for SWR there's been times where i haven't picked up passengers in either direction literally in and out 20 seconds they do have a market now so does get busy one day a week
Hurst Park racecourse, on the Thames near Hampton Court, was sold for development (including an incongruous tower block) in the early 1960s. The same company owned Epsom and Sandown, and wanted to close Kempton so that housing for 20,000 could be built. To this end 'planning gain' in the form of a regular service to the race-day platform started in 2006, but objectors got the housing plans scaled back. Nevertheless KP continues to enjoy two trains an hour to Waterloo, one on Sundays- but the three extra semi-fasts via Richmond in peaks do not call there. There was also a scheme to make it a Park & Ride for Kingston, but the decline in shopping made it unnecessary. At the height of the Thatcher government's war on trains, BR considered closing Sunbury-Shepperton, arguing that too many Shepperton commuters preferred to board at Chertsey. The branch is a long way round, and the trains stop at every intermediate station. The next station to the east, Hampton, has ten times as many passengers. Even Longcross gets more.
I remember a works Christmas party at Kempton Park in the late 90s. The racecourse was in financial trouble and threatened with closure, and they offered favourable rates in order to drum up business.
Well remember days out at that racecourse with my father when home from school and he was on leave along with the days at the old Hurst Park Racecourse and the station which was also race days only. Located between Hersham and Surbiton or was it Hersham and Walton on Thames a long time ago. After the station closed under Dr. Beechng the racecourse followed shortly or other way round now all houses. Is the station/halt for Sandown Park still in use?
Been seeing so many videos about RU-vid sponsors who are cons (the Scottish titles one, and the faux Japanese knives come to mind) that I am waiting to hear what is wrong with Surf Shark. LOL. Loved me a good Dick Francis novel, I feel like this place mush have shown up in a book or two of his. That water works building is amazing. What a delightfully wistful tale. Thanks again Jago.
If you use a VPN, it is worth reading their terms and conditions very carefully to find out what data they collect about you. Such things might matter if (god forbid) you ever used the web for something your grandmother might not approve of.
In my youth (I can just about remember...) I lived near Sandown Park (much nearer than I realised, I've just discovered, courtesy of Google Maps - were it not for the River Mole, it would have been a reasonably easy walk!). But I digress (as per) - my journey to school was via Esher Station, which is right next to the race course, and I distinctly remember, somewhere close to the 'normal' station, several very long platforms, which I now realise must have once been used for 'race day specials'. Even by then (1960s) they were abandoned and grown-over, and I'm not even sure if they still had tracks, but they've always stuck in my mind - a sort of weird ghost station, or so it seenmed to me, as a kid with an overdeveloped imagination. Finding out now that they were 'just' platforms for the race course is a little depressing - another childhood memory turns to dust. Another fairy dies.
Again in WW2 a lot of the racecourses were used for military encampent and settlement , so would have seen many trains then. Sandown has a decent golf course in it (and I think a go-cart track in the middle), the Stands - like Kempton, host events including Antique Fairs and Toy and Model Train Collectors fairs, but they dont seem to open the racecourse stations for such events
Kempton Park racecourse is technically in Surrey and not far from the county boundary with Greater London as it’s right close to the M3 Motorway. And is also near to Thorpe Park, Sunbury-on-Thames, Virginia Waters and Chertsey. Plus the Shepperton branch line is also to be part of the future Crossrail 2. And from next year South Western Railway is to introduce the Class 701 “Arterios” that will operate on the Shepperton line and other suburban services in Southwest London. And on the Reading & Windsor and Eton Riverside services that will also see Class 701s operating on from next year.
There is a certain amount of material on the MWB railway - though I am not certain about the item at The National Archives (use TNA's Discovery to find).
I have used that station when visiting the waterworks on a day when t was in steam. It's a strange station and the walking route to the waterworks isn't straightforward either.
Lot of race courses in the area - probably from when it was all countryside and the sport of kings had to be celebrated frequently and often. Epsom downs station also has had something of a chequered history . Todays rather pathetic offering is at least 4 furlongs from the original multi platformed terminus which sadly caught fire in mysterious circumstances.
Cameron'sTitanic film's engine room is the Triple Expansion Engine of the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. -Wiki. They added undersize features and CGI to make it look much bigger than it is, but used because it runs, the ship goes places,
Great video Jago. My neck of the woods. This branch line cuts through Sunbury golf course where I can be found some times trying to hit a golf ball or two. Didn’t know about the Hanworth sidings which must’ve been close to where I live. Thanks for sharing. Roy.
I can't remember exactly when Kempton Park became a regular stop but I know when I moved to Sunbury in 2003 it was still race days only but I'm pretty sure it was a regular stop by 2008 so some time between those two.
Love your stuff Jago!! one small point, always a risk on a nerd channel: "Saving Titanic" was filmed at Kempton, but I think the engine room scene in "A Night to Remember" was filmed at Cricklewood. Maybe you could do videos on both stationary steam engines - naturally tying back to railroads somehow... no small ask that :)
Very interesting. I visited Kempton Park over a year ago, going towards Teddington; however, I haven't done between Sunbury and Kempton Park, or the curve from the branch to Strawberry Hill yet, even though I live less than 5 miles away, because there's no direct trains from Staines to Shepperton.
Plumpton Station is located right next to the racecourse,(very nice course and a really pretty location) and has evidence of an older much longer platform than the current ones.
Funny this; I had a blazing row with he old man earlier; storming out of the home I thought 'stuff the old git'; seeing this just reminded me when he'd sneak me into the bookies as a wee lad back in the day when he bet a few quid on the nags, usually the 2:10 from Kempton Park and I'd be sipping sheepishly from a glass bottle of coca cola. Brought a smile to my face, so thanks! All said, even after our barney, I do love the pig-ignorant old man 🤗
Jesus Christ - I just discovered this channel and liked it so much I thought I'd do the usual and binge watch it from the beginning. It's impossible!! How can anyone make so many videos?! And good ones at that. Has anyone joined as late as me and managed to watch the lot??
Typing 'Kempton Park Station' into Google Maps also brings up a colourful view of the London Underground spaghetti. Harry Beck's circuit diagram version was much more convenient, although it lacked internet connectivity 🤣🔌
Another brilliant video from you, but is there a story to tell about the relationship between Esther station and Sandown Park racecourse as we are on the subject of horses?
The Waterworks hold occasional Open Days, and also days with one of the engines working. I have also done photoshoots inside with Steam Punk cos-players. Well worth a visit if one has any interest in things engineering. Not sure about wheel chair access and there are several levels connected by metal staircases. Many thanks for the video, Jago
Ah yes, I could see how the horses would get on the coaches and sit down cross legged adjust their monocle and enjoy a spot of tea before going to work...
At 2:20 you sound as though you are saying that the two signal boxes are at Hanworth and ????? Would you mind clarifying the names please since neither makes sense. I live in Sunbury and know the line quite well although I never knew that Kempton had a bay platform. Edit: Just had a look at an old 1934 map and notice that there is a signal box on the 'down side' just east of the station, it also shows the bay platform.
Hello Jago,I wasn’t really aware of this line until now,but it struck me,why end at Shepperton? Looking at my railmap book,could the idea have been to join other routes at Chertsey?Just a thought.
Interesting video as ever, thank you!! I am wondering why Class 05 D2554 "Nuclear Fred" appears in video as my last track of this loco was at the IOW steam railway? Would appreciate any feedback from any other loco heads
Probably just to show the British Railways logo. Jago is always ingenious at re-using footage, like the LSWR electric suburban stock and "M7" no.245, both at the NRM at York.
It'd be nice if there were houses and the race course stayed. It could be a thing, like the racing becoming a family thing on Sundays or something🤷🏾♀.
so I have now come to the conclusion that if you have a channel you like and want to stick around, then liking and commenting will bring prying eyes. This has happened a couple of times to channels I was following that aired(? shared?) old long out of circulation BBC podcasts. I have learned a valuable lesson.
