Thanks for this, today I learned. Hopefully Fleetwood will get it’s station back. I see so many old photos of stations long since closed and it makes me sad.

Excellent Vlog Gordon. Very informative, always love an outtake or two!

Thank you so much for this great video, fingers crossed!

Great report, 1st class work and am learning so much about rail in the north.

Nice video best of luck from us at shillingstone railway station Dorset hope all your dreams come true

Thanks for the video and the history of the Fleetwood railway.

Excellent as always and let’s hope some day the line returns to public use

Another super video ☺️ Keep up the good work 👍

Awesome video. Thank you for this.

what a great video Gordon cant wait to see the next video

A great vid thank you. Just for the the record I travelled to Fleetwood by train with my Nan for a day trip to the Isle Of Man (cica mid 50's I guess and they are happy memories). Fleetwood deserves to have a railway link again so power to you elbow!

Great video thanks.

Brilliant vlog! As a regular visitor to Fleetwood this would be ideal. If they build it PEOPLE WILL USE IT! Stops at Cleveleys/Cala Gran/Freeport would be a good shout.. The demand is there.. Pull your finger out Network Rail!!!!

A superb piece, Gordon! Surprised you didn't mention the amount of Fish Train traffic that used the railway when Fleetwood was a thriving fishing town. On still evenings I remember as a child being able to hear the railways wagons 'clanking as they were marshalled on the docks. (I lived on the other side of the river)

Fantastic work guys. As Gordon said the passion that has kept all the volunteers is truly amazing and the results are there to be seen. Many thanks to all.Gordon is that the oldest section of track at the Fleetwood end that was never upgraded? Have they been able to run the full length from the old ICI down to Poulton or are there other bits missing?

Excellent blog thank you

Great Vlog.... I hope that one day, the railway has a future as a heritage line. I also hope the young lady had her dinner... lol...

That was really interesting and you clearly know your stuff!

Cracking video as per, Mr Head!

HA HA WHAT A GREAT VIDEO !! LOVED LIKE THE OUTTAKES CHEERS LEE

Good video. I was a Founder member and Secretary of Rail Link-84, the original Campaign Ctte (Fleetwood & Thornton/Cleveleys Rail Action Committee), and one of the biggest problems we had to face was certain [past] elements on Wyre Council. During 1984, we were told by the Gen/Manager of BR-LM Region that we could have the line back running for about £100,000 and a couple of weekends of work [then]. We did manage to get Wyre to protect the Rail Corridor, and a more pro-active County Council then also wanted to buy the entire route. The former Steam Loco Society at Fleetwood wanted to organise a Service and other Heritage activities, but ABP would not allow them to erect security fencing to stop 'Scrap Thieves from raiding the valuable metals. We did get the original route of the new road amended/mover 8m West, to protect the Rail Corridor. We hoped the PWR would have had a Service and other Rail Activities by now - which was why I originally handed to campaign over to them. The Passenger Services were not withdrawn because of Beeching, (as many mistakenly assume); but by the Cooper Brothers report Commissioned by Barbara Castle. It became known that they over-cost some routes by up to 4 times, so technically - we should still have it. I find it incredibly stupid and short-sighted for our Local Authorities to not press harder to return our Rail Link for a town of about 25k Residents (as you said), whilst the tiny halt of Moss Side (near Wrea Green) got theirs back years ago. Also Wyre Council have missed so many Tourist and Commercial opportunities in which the line could have been used, not least of all the historic London Eusto to Glasgow route that you mentioned. We could have seen seasonal Railway based activities promoting that part Fleetwood played in British Transport history. The sooner Fleetwood breaks away from Wyre the better. We can hardly do worse for our local economy and our future generally. We should at least be running our own Tourism. Jack.

Thanks Gordon, I remember travelling from Preston to Fleetwood with Grandparents in the sixties. Also, from Cop Lane, Penwortham to Southport - another lost railway c/o Beeching and Marples. Perhaps one for you to trace? Great bit of research.

Top notch video buddy.....production and presenting is👌

Fabulous video Gordon - thank you. All the time I spent in Fleetwood as a child and never knew half of that history. And I loved the drone shots, although seeing the old balloon trams withdrawn in what appeared to be a dockside scrap yard was sad. Really hope the preservation group can get the line back up and running. Would love to ride it next time we get back over to the UK - whenever that might be!!

In Washington, Tyne and Wear we have a population of over 67,000, and we haven't had a passenger service on the railway since the Beeching Act closed the railway station in September 1963. In fact, it was the first station to be closed under the Act

Excellent to watch loads of history 👍🚂

Great video, I enjoyed that.

Great video Gordon, enjoyable to learn the history of old disused railways very intriguing, thanks for another good video

Great video.

Up to standard as usual. A very interesting story very well told. Cheers from New Zealand

Brilliant video! I had no idea all that was in my neck of the woods (just moved to the area last year). It would be terrific if Network Rail could square it away and bring trains back to Fleetwood, Cleveleys etc 🤞

Nice video! I would recommend the old station down at fiddlers ferry Warrington! Nice pub that sometimes serves food, and there’s an old station there with the freight line still used today! Nice little series of videos you have here Gordon! Ned

Very informative. Filmed with great style.

Brilliant video, we need the trains back in fleetwood ..loving all your videos keep up the good work

I’ve learnt a lot of history great video!

That was really interesting, thanks. We were in Blackpool on Saturday, it was nice to see the heritage trams running. We took the X2 from Birkdale to Preston then 68 to Blackpool, we took the 61 back. I couldn't help thinking we were in Nodrog country. We had to get the train from Preston, no buses due to Stagecoach driver's strike. Got to see two car CAF class 195 002 at Preston stn. How about the lost stations in and around Southport, like Crossens, or the terminus station at Southport where the Travel Lodge and Morrisons are.

Top vid, Nod. Hope it re-opens, one day.

good video well made

I remember always looking at the tracks turning off at Poulton Le Fylde wondering where they went as a kid.

Loved the end bit lol

Very enjoyable viewing

excellent video well done you should have a tv program.

It's nice to see that you referred to it as a 'railway station' as opposed to 'train station' which is an American expression.

I agree it is a no brainer for a reopening to passenger traffic. If the port traffic can be resurrected a freight hub would be nice too!

I've actually used the line, though I was a small child at the time. until the new spur of the A585 was built the line went all the way up to the dock gates. I remember looking at the old sidings that served the power station when I worked at Lofthouse's in the 80's. It's really sad to see what we've lost here and the removal of the junction at Poulton really rung the death bell for the line.

Another great video Beeching has a lot to answer for

The removal of the remaining junction (there used to be two) at Poulton, and the subsequent track-alterations to allow faster running of "expresses" through the curve at that point, make it unlikely that any reinstated "Fleetwood" line could connect with the existing tracks; it would have to operate to/from a new bay-platform at Poulton.

Never knew fleetwood even had a rail line used to spend many hours as a kid there playing on the beach and on the slots

Beeching had suggested closing the branch from Poulton to Blackpool North and keeping the main Fleetwood line open: it was the Blackpool good old boys who wanted the closure of Central so they could exploit the site. This didn't help Fleetwood which closed in 1970. All Fleetwood can expect is a link into a new, bay platform at Poulton, with no direct access to the specially aligned fast tracks that now cover the site of the former junction (cos new points and new signalling into the relaid branch would cost a fortune).

I've heard stories of an old railway line that ran from Garstang to Knott End and branched off to the old salt mines at Preesall where there was a pier on the River Wyre for the trains to load the boats with salt etc. There also the famous Farmers Friend & the Pilling Pig that ran on the line for many years.

Towns without trains try Maldon Essex had two lines and two stations both running to London So now Maldon is growing as it reckoned to be one of best towns now have to drive to main line ..

Excellent video. All in favour of a return to Fleetwood. It's the sort of line a "heritage 142" could provide service on. Pop over the estuary and do Knott-End as well please. 👍

I enjoyed your interesting video, and completely agree with your comment "never mind the enthusiast,the people of Fleetwood need it". Although I am a transport enthusiast (life member and former volunteer of 2 societies), I regret that the country is now awash with heritage lines, all completing with each other (sometimes in the same area) for visitors and often struggling financially due to the cost of obtaining and maintaining stock. It is the people, not only in Fleetwood, but in many parts of the country who have lost their transport links and in my view, it is because they are not around London, so don't matter. I have only been to Fleetwood once, by tram in the late 60s, and it was quite a long ride up from Blackpool. I think that the tram network is to be extended to give access to one of the Blackpool railway stations and this might mitigate the situation somewhat, but whether a financial case can be made for the rail line re-opening, I am not sure. A similar situation to this is the line to Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, where the track bed and rails are now in place but overgrown. Enthusiasts have achieved nothing. It takes a committed local and national government to make it happen, as in Wales and Scotland, but this is England where you are getting High Speed 2 instead. Oh Joy!

Large towns and even a city in north Wales haven't had rail services since the early 60's. All these could do with being reinstated , although using the original trackbeds is impossible in places

Great video Gordon Fayes looking good to say she will be 150 odd in September

Been to Fleetwood many times while staying in Cleveleys or Blackpool. I knew it had a railway history and found this very interesting.

Don’t neglect your dinner time. You should something about the Whelley loop line and if possible have a walk round springs branch at Wigan. Sample a few Wigan pies, best pies going.

My local line is an abandoned railway that is overgrown in Merseyside the Bootle branch line I could send videos and photos of the line I could walk like 2 mins from my house to there.

Your missis must have the patience of a saint lol, Coming for a week to blackpool begining of sept Yearly holls enforced by my missis will have to visit fleetwood now haven't been for years , were coming by car but will have to take a return to preston now it's been electrified just for the crack (no not that kind we don't do drugs lol) Another excellent vid thank's

Excellent little piece, full of facts and beautifully shot. It's hard to believe that, as recently as 1999, authorities were still *closing* railways. At least the route seems to be intact because, as soon as anything is built on the formation, it's game over. The time has surely come when *nothing* can be constructed on *any* disused line? I'm not saying they should *all* be reopened but, there's nothing surer: the one they build on will be the one that needs reopening. It has happened so often. Blaming Beeching for the closure is maybe a bit harsh, Shap and Beattock killed Fleetwood as it was and *that* status will probably never return. What's needed now is a simple route to Poulton, even if it means changing trains there to begin with. Capacity at Preston will undoubtedly be cited as an insurmountable problem but changing at Poulton means no extra paths would be required on the existing lines ~ simples.😁 I've seen some of your stuff previously, via Paul + Rebbeca's channel and I rather like the way you work. You just got a new subscriber. Cheers for now, Dougie.

Certainly might be a case for a light rail corridor with a separate but complementary heritage railway. Of course that depends on results of feasibility work, which it's high time for (along with South Fylde Line).

Good luck to Fleetwood. Stuck in Aberdeenshire, the place that has arguably suffered the most thanks to Beeching. Peterhead and Fraserburgh are the most cut off towns from the rail network in the UK, despite being key fishing ports and oil towns. There are some half plans to open the line only half way, connecting neither of them to the network. That is just the most important line in Aberdeenshire. My local line could seriously do with reopening too. It would serve the suburbs of Aberdeen, link up commuter towns and serve tourism.

What a surprisingly well made and presented video. Is he 22 or 52? Is that a compliment or a bash? Who knows. Great vid.

13:47 Dinner, Fleetwood.... got to be fish and chips!

I would suggest that viewers consider joining the Poulton and Wyre Railway Society, get involved and help to get Fleetwood back on the railway infrastructure network. Only public opinion and support can get these projects up and running. As Nodrog says the PWRS have done a remarkable job clearing and prepping the line as far as they can. However, if there any Millionnaires watching these vlogs then please consider getting involved and support the volunteers trying to bring life back to these local towns and supporting the people that keep them alive.

Could a Fleetwood station be built at Jameson Road then run to Burn Naze (new station) , Thornton for Cleveleys then join the line at Poulton-le-Fylde. Potentially just single track.

Did we see old trams stored in the year seen from the drone footage? Scrapping or restoring? Loved the video, brilliant.

Nice one.But can you cover some more abandoned Railways stations.or routes in UK

There is an old abandoned railway that went between Bristol and Portishead and it will be reopened within a few years time

I’d love to have a look at the lines for the stamp see where they were made as a lot were made in Workington just down the road from me

The port of Fleetwood got killed off in 2010 when the RORO traffic moved to Heysham. I am adamant this was down to persistant heel dragging by local and national government in not starting on the new link road to the M55. The existing route was slow and unsuitable and during all the bunfighting, a new link road was being built from the M6 to Heysham port. It became a no brainer.

Greetings Nodrog!!

Nice Info Gordon, hope poor Faye got her dinner.

The start of this looked like Miami Vice!😄(but near cleethorpes!😃)

There wouldn't be a more rewarding feeling than clearing those weeds branches to reveal the lost railway

Hi mate what video camera do you use?

Yes I hope they do hope they open the track from pilling to garstang the train that ran on the line was called the pilling pig because wen it whistled it sounded like a pig squealing

You should do a least used station with Geoff Marshall

Molto bello ed interessante. Bravo!

needs to become some sort of tramway connection from bpool north to poulton to fleetwood then join the trams back to blackpool

Have you tried st helens branch line? Next to Haydock Park racecourse Wigan. Similar story.

The track bed near Fleetwood has been built over.

What a perfect place to put a couple of Pacers...who can organise it?

From what i saw on the BBC news today" It looks like your prayers are going to be answered, ! .

I don't think its ever gonna reopened think its gonna remain like this

Why on earth did they pull that beautiful Fleetwood station down So very sad what has happened to Dear old fleetwood. S

Hi there I am new to ur vlogs and live in altrincham do u know anything about the train line in my area

Some of these abandoned lines could be reopened for driverless vehicles, trams etc. Possibly powered by renewable energy. Is there likely to be any joined up thinking like that i wonder.

Careful Nodrog or the BBC will pinch you for a new "Look North" ..Fab video as usual..Thanks

have you looked at Lytham rail station now single line

yes i agree lets get trains back on these tracks proper trains.

Bring it back!

Yes I am sure it will open but it needs cash from any and every source to support the venture, perhaps you could use your channel to explain this and highlight their open days / fund raisers / share sales etc. I have seen their DMU at the Midland Railway Centre at Butterly. Looks to be a runner but in my opinion it needs - as with everything - a cash injection to finish the work quickly. So far your vid has had 3,967 views, a £1 share would raise almost £4000, giving the railway £4000 and the holder say £2 off a ticket, just think with £5 share the funding that could be raised raised. The Poulton connection is severed but a platform and a short link walkway to the NR platforms is planned. Personally the original plan with the Fleetwood line platform located within Poulton station would have been preferable as passengers would walk across adjacent platforms effectively stepping off the national service and on to the Fleetwood service. I understand that this 'Fleetwood Road' was to have its own points on to the main line making a Preston - Fleetwood service a possibility. However I understand that space has been left to allow a future connection if warranted. In other words its now up to the people and councils of the area to support the venture in every way possible to ensure that Fleetwood / Thornton etc does have its railway service back asap. Good Luck to all supporters of this project.

I’ve asked this since the 70’s now you guys can try to figure it out😉

they should make it a steam only heritage line if it is ever built .

What's the chance that the railway line could have trains running on again ?

Can I ask when was the Blackpool tramline introduced?

the biggest town without a station is mine Gosport with a population of over 80000 and the station has been shut nice about the 50s or 60s

I don’t think so Gordon

Hope it dose