The Lost Railway Station of Alton Towers
Рет қаралды 22,990
Күн бұрынAlton Station closed in 1965, but today it would have been a popular station with thrill seekers heading to Alton Towers. We take a look at what remains today, including a tour inside the former station masters house and the Earl of Shrewsbury's private waiting room.
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#adventureme #alton #altonstation #altontowers #disusedrailway #churnet #disusedstation
@hyper2high Ай бұрын
Well done Darren for getting inside the station house👍👍👍
@davidnm21 Ай бұрын
Always interested in old railway architecture and stations and this one no exception. Nice that the family who were about to start their holiday let you have a look round inside the building.
@DavidMartin-ym2te Ай бұрын
Those fades are spot on - very good.
@paulboardman01 Ай бұрын
looks like a bunker from ww2, to protect the station
@notwenjohn6852 Ай бұрын
Hi Darren. Great video as always. That curious building is a WW2 pill box....made back then to 'blend in' with the surroundings and a good vantage point.
@lezking5060 Ай бұрын
It's always nice to have something to look forward to watching, before bedtime, on a Sunday.
@leephipps3530 Ай бұрын
Superb Video once again. Those photo fades are incredible 👍
@AtheistOrphan Ай бұрын
6:46 - Those gates and railed walkways were built (in the 1930s I believe) to enable the vast numbers of visitors to the towers to exit the station directly into the tower grounds without crowding the narrow staircase up to the bridge.
@Jake_5693 Ай бұрын
Love Alton Castle, lucky enough to live locally and I’ve spent a fair few nights in there for school trips!
@stephenelliott7071 Ай бұрын
Wow, thanks for this. Yes the looong bus ride in takes ages. If the railway line was re-linked to the network it would be a much better option. Other major themeparks around the world have direct rail links into their parks.
@garthcox4307 Ай бұрын
I think that huge ramp was more for visitors rather than the lords luggage. That's why the platforms are so long, there were lots of excursion trains to alton towers in the decades before closure. It was a massive tourist attraction even before it became a theme park.
@dianadaly6793 Ай бұрын
The building at the top of the bridge is definitely a pill box as many were built along Railways, roads and canals. The hatch in the station building is definitely the ticket office. The space under the stairs at a guess would probably been a coal store either for the Station house or for the locomotives.
@DrivermanO Ай бұрын
Next station north is Froghall, the start of the heritage Churnet Valley Railway. It is very good, and has recently been extended. I think it is them trying to extend south to Alton.
@rhodrage Ай бұрын
Next station north would have been Oakamoor first. And that extension is very unlikely due to it's status as a national footpath, and the tunnel being condemned. That and they're always talking about expanding in each direction and it never happens
@Dave1976. Ай бұрын
Excellent vlogging as always Darren. Loved this can't wait for more to come. Figure of speech, We all say Raised To the ground. Should it NOT be lowered to the ground. 5*****
@DrivermanO Ай бұрын
@@Dave1976. I think its razed to the ground. Means its been erased, not just levelled. If you're interested, in the 1800s, some small 3 deck ships of the line had the top deck removed to make them a heavy 2 deck frigate. They were known as Razees.
@dianadaly6793 Ай бұрын
I've been on the Churnet Valley Railway as we were moored up on the canal, our boat wasn't suitable to go under Froghall Tunnel so we took the train instead. It's a fantastic experience
@trebun1 Ай бұрын
Looks like an old pill box, those windows are gun slits.
@davidnm21 Ай бұрын
Yea I agree it’s been added for the war effort
@alicebutler2007 Ай бұрын
Where's the door? Would you get into it from under the stairs?
@chinafox1949 Ай бұрын
@@alicebutler2007 You can se it bricked up at the top of the stairs where the handrail ends.
@alicebutler2007 Ай бұрын
@@chinafox1949 I'll have to have another look👍🏻
@jeremywade9287 Ай бұрын
Definitely WW2 pill box.
@paularkell5589 Ай бұрын
This takes my back, I went to school (in the 60's) in the castle on the top of hill, we went on walks around the area, and many times we would go inside the abandoned station.
@MaragiMusic 11 күн бұрын
10:25 imagine that view in winter, that would look realy nice.
@retrogamelover2012 16 күн бұрын
You know, as a guy who has visited the now preserved section of the Churnet Valley line more than once, it'd be quite the historical moment for this section of the line to finally be opened once more, kind of similar to the sections of the Corris railway that are being re-laid in the future.
@N_O_R_R_I_E Ай бұрын
Well done mate, we're big fans of the photo fades as they bring the location(s) to life and be able to see what they were like back in the day 👏
@tangerinedream7211 Ай бұрын
The station platform was extended by British Railways in the 1950s, as you walk along the old trackbed you can see where it changes design. Alongside the down platform, the one opposite the surviving station, was a siding for storing excursion trains of about ten carriages in length . Further up the line towards Leek, was Oakamoor station, sadly demolished .
@baileysbritain Ай бұрын
Fantastic video, if you get chance, pay a visit to the Chained Oak, an ancient tree nearby whose branches are chained up with huge cast iron chains. They named one of the attractions after it. Such a fascinating legend surrounds it regarding the Earl of Shrewsbury who originally owned the estate. It can still be visited today.
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Already filmed mate haha. Same day as this one. Coming soon.
@levelcrossing150 Ай бұрын
What a beautifully preserved station, inside and out. Many thanks.
@stannisb7693 Ай бұрын
Pill box looks in great condition
@dizzydevil547 Ай бұрын
I knew the old station buildings were now holday homes ect BUT allways wondered how muchof the original fixtures and fittings were still left inside! ..It looks like a LOT TBH even though its been slight modernised as in fitting an up to date kitchen ect they have kept as much of the orignal interior as they could ( the floors are just great ..even if they may have had to do some restoration and replacment of the tiles)! ..and i for one will join you in saying a BIG thank you to the folks staying there for letting you have a look round! All in All a fab vid Darren! ...i ALLWAYS wanted to see inside Alton station (without obv spending the money to stay there ..its NOT cheap as i looked into it one time lol) so thank you for the vid and as i siad the family that were staying there for allowing you to film ect!
@darleytransportandtravel6353 Ай бұрын
Thank you Darren for another excellent video. I never knew before how interesting and beautiful this area is. The closest I have been is Froghall. Well, how delightful railway station used to be. This is a prime example of many. Ugly utilitarianism is what we have to suffer now.
@Rancidhamster 9 күн бұрын
It is definitely a pillbox for home guards built in WW2 and disguised as a building, the centre stonework inside the middle of the building prevents shots entering firing slits from passing through two ports or hitting soldiers in the back
@garethrees3592 Ай бұрын
The small building built in to the bridge was a luggage lift used by the Earls staff to raise his bags from platform to road level. The walkways up to the road were built for tourists and not the Earl. I doubt Alton will ever be connected to the mainline again. In one direction the line has a huge JCB factory built over it and in the other is the chutnet valley heritage line and their plans are prioritised to extending their line in the opposite direction and in to Leek. Reinstating Oakamoor tunnel would cost a colossal amount of money and that’s before you approach the issue of it having a preservation order on it due to a bat colony
@davidbennett906 Ай бұрын
Thanks for another great video, and what a gem of a holiday let that station is. Also, agreeing with previous comments about the mystery building, which is certain to be a relic from the war. Seems ideally placed for the Home Guard to defend the railway and the road at the same time.
@HYUKLDER1 Ай бұрын
Another illustration of the folly in lifting tracks on closed railway routes; makes it more difficult to reopen them.
@scotteaglen4872 Ай бұрын
I was about to say, surely it’s a no brainier for them to have a station built? Then I remembered they charge £10 per car nowadays at Alton Towers. No chance they’re ever wanting to reduce that!
@nataliesmith303 Ай бұрын
That’s exactly what I thought! 🥺
@terryc8164 Ай бұрын
I stayed there some 25 years or so ago. We stayed in the Left Hand building as viewed from the platform and at the time were told it was the station masters house with the RH building building being the station building, ticket office etc which fits with it having a ticket hatch still in situ. At the time the RH building had not been restored and was locked up etc. Strange thing though, we were there for a whole week and late one night we heard a steam train go through the station, the ex wife was a bit nervous after that🤣 the house itself though had no ghostly feel about it, was a really nice place to stay. And no we didnt visit Alton towers!!
@tmaddison7523 Ай бұрын
What lovely people letting you have a look around! Great video as always Darren, thanks for doing what you do
@SteveSmith-qf3sk Ай бұрын
Excellent video Darren thank you 👍
@amc5966 Ай бұрын
Absolutely mint this Darren. Really fascinating place.
@leopoldbluesky Ай бұрын
Thanks Darren, always top quality! So nice that the family invited you in, well done!
@ShaunCoyle1 Ай бұрын
Brilliant vlog Darren, keep them coming.
@nataliesmith303 Ай бұрын
Another fab video. I’m so glad you got to look inside 😊
@johnlaw3323 Ай бұрын
Another real gem you have shared with us, beautifully put together. Many thanks for making and sharing.
@marktmdyorkshire7610 Ай бұрын
Another brilliant video, enjoyed it, glad to know that Alton was an actual place! Amazing history on the station
@oddsandwindsocks5905 Ай бұрын
Station looks like a nice place to stay. So nice of the guys to let you take a look.
@suesmith4366 Ай бұрын
Wow lovely station, great fade ins as usual, and you dropped on there getting the inside views amazing. Thanks Darren 😎
@stevetrotter1286 Ай бұрын
Brilliant video as always
@aldeanblair9727 Ай бұрын
I hope they rebuild it because it good for tourists from London and the whole of the UK
@Fanriffic2020 Ай бұрын
Excellent and interesting vlog covering the history of this old station. I love how you do the picture fades showing the old against the new. 👍
@shaunwest3612 Ай бұрын
Great video Darren,such a beautiful place,and beautiful station building, great that you were able to look around it,if the line to Alton station opens it would benefit the area, and would probably link up to the main line 👌👍😀
@johnKnight-mw8cq Ай бұрын
Great content as ever, and your fade into the past really makes these short videos, you did one of Scarborough and Butlins and the fades took me right back......brilliant.
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Glad you like them!
@donfranktv Ай бұрын
Very interesting video Darren - had no idea about that station
@shirleylynch7529 Ай бұрын
Superb video. How sad they done away with the station and line. It should be reopened. What a lovely holiday let you were allowed into . Lots of info and filming past and present. Beautiful walk. Thank Darren. Amazing as always.
@martinmarsola6477 Ай бұрын
Thank you for the walking tour of today’s video. Picturesque views and historic buildings. Hopefully see you on the next, Darren.🇬🇧🙏🏻👍🇺🇸
@daffyduk77 Ай бұрын
Brilliant video thanks, really atmospheric stationmasters' building/waiting rooms, I must go visit the line. Great period fittings still there, a look back to a different world. I love those hidden doors. Like a prison, condemned cell, awaiting the hangman's entrance etc
@Rusty_Pig Ай бұрын
Great video thanks 👍
@julesjwg Ай бұрын
Fantastic video!
@JanMartin-co9oo Ай бұрын
didnt even know that there was a station near alton towers i found this video very interesting thanks for sharing
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed
@paulwalker9262 Ай бұрын
Absolutely brilliant, Darren. love that you got into the old station and brilliant shirt 😊
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Thank you kindly
@similarart1074 Ай бұрын
Big up the guests, very nice of them 🎉🎉🎉🎉
@SimonM-63 Ай бұрын
Fascinating video 👍👍
@iowarails 27 күн бұрын
The bedroom was the booking office, so that hole in the wall was a ticket window. The station master lived in the other building. The Landmark Trust's site states that the kitchen is in the former ladies waiting room.
@AdventureMe 26 күн бұрын
Brilliant. Thanks
@ste.h9825 Ай бұрын
Once again outstanding video,great content,Very interesting.Thank ypu.😂
@lindseykaine-walley6339 Ай бұрын
My Son told me that in Alton towers there is an old cabin with toilets behind a ride somewhere. From the 80s full of 80s posters and things? I'm not sure if it's true? You would probably know Darren.. Great video. You always learn something new with you.
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Yeah he's right. There is. I'm hoping to film it later.
@reddeviluk Ай бұрын
I was at Alton Towers just yesterday. Great video.
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Hope you enjoyed it!
@waynecheshire7878 Ай бұрын
I don’t live to far from there I been there a few times didn’t know about the wooden station building tho I’ll have to go and have another look a big thank you Darren and to the lovely guests for the exclusive look inside 👍
@TheMagicMudkip_2 Ай бұрын
The bunker on the bridge could be an AA emplacement or pillbox since Alton Towers was used as a training ground for troops during World War Two
@tracya4087 Ай бұрын
oh wow , just seen this , thanks darren
@tjweston1 Ай бұрын
Another cracking video Darren
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Thanks mate
@Sim0nTrains Ай бұрын
Brilliant video, It's a disused station that I would like to have a look at one day. Lots of interesting things still there
@themeparkkieran4573 Ай бұрын
The building on the bridge is a pill box and the window slits are gun points
@ThemeParksAndAttractions Ай бұрын
Nice touch at the end with the music 👌
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
I had to lol
@bendursley Ай бұрын
Would definitely make getting to the park easier if this was still open
@theme_parkmad Ай бұрын
Loved this video, very interesting! As you said, imagine how much easier it would be to get down to Alton Towers if it was still operating, and how much more busier the park would get! 😳😄
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Very true!
@christelbraune4530 Ай бұрын
Ja, das ist überall das gleiche. Schade um die wunderschönen Gebäude. Und die Pferde 🏇🏻, herrlich anzusehen ❣️❣️ Eine gute Lösung für die Gebäude, toll. Thank you Darren 👋🏻👋🏻🤩
@Roblilley999 Ай бұрын
Used to stay in the pub at the bottom of the hill. Had to walk up passed the old station towards the park
@jetsons101 Ай бұрын
Darren, Great watch, also outstanding photo fades. The little windows are/were gun ports -- probably WWll, So much history, so little time............
@asa1973100 Ай бұрын
We stayed in the station master house about 10 years ago and it didn’t look like that. They’ve really put some money into it. Excellent video too
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Id love to stay there
@neilwilkins7686 Ай бұрын
Not only a great video as always Darren but great to see you have put you're own stamp ob your Hello Fresh advert lol
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
@neilwilkins7686 Ай бұрын
@@AdventureMe a pleasure as always
@roytabberer7427 Ай бұрын
I used to be a coach driver taking groups to Alton Towers and was told that the former owners of Alton Towers tried to purchase the disused line. There intention was to park coaches visiting the theme park near the JCB headquarters at Rocester and bring the visitors along the line, by train, to the station and then have a cable car take them to the theme park. I don't know what happened in the end, I never heard any more.
@sglenny001 Ай бұрын
Wish it did
@Scarletpach Ай бұрын
14:05 It was a tollboth in the 1830's for the road according to old maps, you can see the bricked up door near the railing :) Great video!
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Thanks for the info!
@malcolmrichardson3881 Ай бұрын
Great to see the former station buildings have been superbly refurbished as holiday accomodation. They are beautifully situated . Has any consideration has been given to extending the Churnet Valley railway from Oakamoor to Alton - with possible support of the theme park.
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Yes it's apparently on the cards
@angelsone-five7912 Ай бұрын
I`ve always been curious about the station when driving a coach to the theme park. Just on the village side of the station is the mother and father of all narrow and steep hills with a nasty corner at the top, no fun in a coach when something big comes the other way!🤣
@eyybabyj1397 Ай бұрын
You're correct it a shame I've only been to Alton Towers once because I dont have a car and it's really awkward to get to.
@leonhutchinson8264 Ай бұрын
another great video darren always watch your theme park content. It would be great if you could do a video on the chained oak which is near by and is all to do with the hex ride ?
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Already filmed haha. Out in a few weeks.
@leonhutchinson8264 Ай бұрын
@@AdventureMe awesome can't wait for that always find it so fascinating the story and there something quite erie about seeing the tree with all the cains hanging from it .
@rubbershorts999 Ай бұрын
Hi. How about doing something on the history of the Towers itself and the Earl of Shrewsbury. Thanks
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
I am planning to
@MartinFarrell1972 Ай бұрын
Love the old railway vids. Where did the line go in both directions?
@rontanser9369 Ай бұрын
That room at the top of the staircase looks like either a gun in placement ?/ maybe some form of every shelter with those small tiny windows
@coasterblocks3420 Ай бұрын
That is a terrible shame the line to Alton Towers was closed down - and worse still - ripped up. It would combine my two favourite things - trains and rollercoasters.
@seany84uk Ай бұрын
This station should be re opened to aid public transport users to get to the park easier. Merlin should fund the track laying project and the heritage railway run the trains. They would need to run a 30 min interval service during park opening and closing times and then a hourly service during the day to make it work. Im sure a couple of pacers brought back into action could serve this need.
@JAYSADVENTURES50 28 күн бұрын
if you stay on the track bed and go past the station and keep following the old line you will in to a dodble station and then and then a bit on up the line you will come across the old gate house and next to it is the old tunnal
@mitchellgiffard1978 Ай бұрын
Great video 👍 I think Uttoxeter stationi is next closest to Alton station
@rhodrage Ай бұрын
Uttoxeter is closer, but it's easier to get to from Stoke.
@jeremywade9287 Ай бұрын
That bit of music ( Edvard Grieg, in the hall of the mountain king) Alton towers theme, will always remind me of when I was part of a team who did a fireworks display at Alton towers. A week of setting up, hearing that music every 10 minutes almost drove me mad.
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
I bet it did haha
@jeffdayman8183 Ай бұрын
Great one Darren! Love the photo fades as always. Nice that the station master's house and the private waiting room have survived. maybe the structure at the top of the stairs was some kind of military training structure. Did the Earl sponsor a militia at all? Just a thought, as the "windows" look a bit like rifle ports for guards. Cheers!
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
I think he was long gone by then
@jeffdayman8183 Ай бұрын
@@AdventureMe 👍
@caleblindley7142 Ай бұрын
Great video, would be good if it reopened as a heritage railway line. MOT.
@rogerelzenga4465 Ай бұрын
i have a story like this, i was walking the Cuckoo trail (old rail way in East sussex) while on magic mushrooms, as we walked up to a old station which was creepy as hell! :D
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Love it
@sukiesparkles116 Ай бұрын
Well thanks for that, mate… I now owe my Dad a pint 😂😂😂
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Why?
@tedioustotoro4885 Ай бұрын
Going based on Google Maps, it seems like the line Alton was on went between Uttoxeter and Macclesfield
@briangriffiths1285 Ай бұрын
Lots of people find disappointment at Alton Hants rail station when told they are 150 miles from Alton Towers!
@lezking5060 Ай бұрын
Thanks for another great video. Lovely scenery, as always (especially during the "Hello Fresh" segment) ;-)
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
@douglasthompson296 Ай бұрын
Maybe Darren can get a sponsor from the Sox company now too 😁😎 had to put my sunnies on the whiteness was blinding me 😜 Pound on Darren
@Peter-MH Ай бұрын
Believe there are remnants of a disused canal behind where the wooden station would’ve been (Uttoxeter canal I think? Runs parallel with much of the line)
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
Yes there was. I saw it on the old maps
@Morgan_baker Ай бұрын
I didn’t even know this existed before watching this video
@_wood Ай бұрын
I wonder if the gated access point at the foot of the steps led to a stairway up to the PILL box / guard post there doesn't seem to be any other doorway.
@simonbradshaw3708 Ай бұрын
I would agree with some other comments that the building at the top of the steps looks like an old pillbox.
@richbrown8174 Ай бұрын
Just think of the cars journeys running trains could replace 🤔
@icepee9252 Ай бұрын
You'd think the theme park would be incentivised to part fund improved transport to their park. Especially since Universal is rumoured to set up shop here.
@AdventureMe Ай бұрын
They probably will do
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