Used to travel the line from Ross to Gloucester regularly and now and again to Hereford as a 'lad'. The Monmouth branch from Ross was at the bottom of our road. There was a daily freight to Cinderford right up to the closure if I remember rightly. The line from Hereford to Gloucester was used regularly as a divert when the Severn Tunnel was closed for maintenance. A young spotty spotters dream as Castles, Halls and Counties regularly passed through Ross on those weekends. In the days before high viz and clipboards, the signalman would always give us lads a heads up when there was a busy divert weekend. Thanks for the memories.👍

Bellingham Tunnel completed 🚂🚂👍👍

Cofferdams are built in the river wye for the bridge supports.

The old Engine shed is still standing in Ross on Wye, as others mentioned building viaduct piers used cofferdams, or metal shoes, there is a photo of Larpool Viaduct at Whitby, showing a metal shoe being sunk through the mud at the bottom of the river, with a diver ready to clear out old trees and rocks etc, they built the brick piers on top of the shoes.

Hello Whitewicks, fantastic video, Holme Lacy Station platform had large slabs of stone which when it closed with most the fixings their were auctioned off, these stone slabs are now up the road in Shipley Gardens, the owner has laid them out as his patio outside his house overlooking the gardens (beautiful place well worth a visit just for the peacocks, overgrown covered swimming pool, tea and cakes).

I love looking at this beautiful English Countryside so different from what I'm used to seeing here in West Texas best to you my friends

For the folk of Holme Lacey - check out what the local community has done in Honing, Norfolk, great little restored station with the remains of some buildings still there. Or Great Yeldham in Essex where the platforms have been cleared recently.

Gawd, that little white dwelling close to the viaduct . . . Living there would be like living in a Victorian poem. I would do nothing but read, write and go for long walks. Even that B&B looks like something out of a fairytale. Nice work, as always.

Hi Paul and Rebecca, another great railway explore and one I have looked at many times. I believe when this railway was first opened it was built in broad gauge but was converted to standard gauge in later years, but it just goes to show how we used to get things done in those days because the change from broad gauge to standard gauge was done in "one week." I wonder how long it would take today lol. Love the videos looking forward to the next one.

Good edit and use of music. Caisson/Cofferdams is the word you're looking for Paul! Like Rebecca's giggle at the chickens!

Thank you God bless

Hi, thoroughly enjoyed watching , your journey, shame that they have been left , so much history. As a young girl, I could hear the trains at Holme Lacy station. Unfortunately I never got to use them, and, yes, would be great, if some of these stations, could be brought back to life, if only for the history and nostalgia , . Thankyou.

I have just watched your peace about ross to hereford railway and have enjoyed it very much. I have memories of traveling on this line from ross to hereford in the 1950's with my mother and the country side is absolutely stunning and the local people would get on with produce to sell in the market in hereford . the railway tickets where oblong in shape with the destination on it and the price on it I think the fare was 2 shillings and 11 pence but I may be wrong , and another memorie have is having a cup of tea and a chelsea bun at the buffet room on hereford station . I can still hear the whistle and noise and motion of the steam train and also in the carriage there was always a selection photographs of the area we where passing through

Bridge foundations in rivers are normally built from within a coffer dam.

You have my admiration for slogging it out across all that mud. Great country side. Would like to see it in the spring.

Another excellent video. Really well edited - map views, music and good old British countryside. You two are great!

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson arrived at Ross-on-Wye Station in 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'!! Herefordshire is a beautiful county; hope you both had a lovely time exploring. Best as always, Peter A :)

Well done you guys, You have stirred many fond memories ! I grew up in Ross on wye and know all of the stations that you mentioned. My mum used to take my brother and i to Hereford using the train - can clearly remember the heat from the engine as it pulled into Ross station. We used to go to the station on saturday morning to see a special carriage of pigeons being released (racing) feathers, noise and crap everywhere - we loved it. The station building was a wonderful structure - so sad that it was demolished, the engine shed is now used as a antiques centre. At the bottom of brampton hill you will find the remains of the bridge that carried the line out of town towards the river. On a nice day walk alongside the river to backney bridge. This is a lovely area to explore, you must go back in late spring.

Glad you made it to holme lacy we used to clear it when I was at college there and further down on track bed we made benches etc overlooking the river but all that seems to have stopped

Nice history video 🚂🚶🏼‍♂️🚶🏼‍♀️

Great presenters, great choice of railway, fab music what's not to like

i never even knew there was a station in Holme Lacy, i live in Hereford. You learn something new every day.

A wonderful video. What a shame that only the viaduct pillars are left standing. The Wye Valley = modern tourist trap. What a fabulous heritage way the railway trackbed would have made,

This episode was sponsored by Wickes as after the opening monologue, Paul said at 6:46 when in the potato field that the area had had a "wickes worth of rain fall" ;-0) Another cracking vid guys :-)

We're only in February and you've found my entry for the top ten of 2020! Holme Lacy. How surreal are those gates. Staggered they're still in situ. Great vid. Thanks.

Another super video by the two of you.

Try the Ross to Monmouth line, there is a full station hidden in an industrial site and they may well let you visit if you ask the site guard. Plus tunnels and at least one other station building is still in situ. parts of the line are in valleys remote from any road and also site of filming for Harry Potter. I lived there and it is a magic place to be. Much looks left in situ in the hope of the line being rebuilt - and it may well.

On the subject of land owners, permission, etc. I know someone who lives in a house that is built on top of a dismantled railway at Theddingworth, Leicestershire (Rugby to Market Harborough line), it is right next to the old Theddingworth station which is now converted into a house, I don't know the people at the station house but my family still live in the village, I am sure investigations could be made. An interesting feature nearby as Husbands Bosworth is where this line crosses over the top of a grand union canal tunnel. Nowhere near this video location but just an offer for the future if useful any time.

Great video again, Looking forward to the next one, Just like to say if you get the chance to go back to Ross, There is a large goods shed still standing quite near toolstation, and there is a very old broad gauge engine shed still standing,Well worth seeing, also smack bang in the middle of ross is the remains of a bridge that crossed the road with lots a railway relics placed with it, well worth seeing,

I think Fawley tunnel had to have some work completed recently, some of the stone work was in need of repair and bat droppings had to be removed after a buildup of gases were discovered. The one viaduct crossing the Wye not shown was Strangford, the one pillar washed away in a flood and had to be repaired so the pillars are not equal if I remember correctly,

Another excellent video... Live on the outskirts of Hereford and walked this line many times. The Ballingham tunnel ( north portal) is reachable from the bridge you drove under near the stables? The Holme lacy station there is a weigh bridge there and renements of the gents toilets. Your video's are so much better then the new series on ch 5 recently.. Keep up the good work

The concrete tops of the bridge pillars almost certainly date from when the original wooden spans were replaced with plate girders.

11:53. The gates are so atmospheric.

I admire your determination- your vids make an old man happy!

Thanks for braving the mud to show us these places. I was worried that you would sink into the bog and disappear.

Hi Paul and Rebecca, I stumbled upon your website by accident via a Google search a couple of days ago and have since watched every video you have produced, I love the way you do these, factual without being boring and in a lighthearted manner. Keep up the good work, one more subscriber added !

At Ross there are two old buildings remaining one each direction along the road to where you were an engine shed and a works area, one is now a garden centre the other a vehicle servicing depot. The Fawley tunnel was supposedly the steepest tunnel in the UK and also one of the wettest often needing an additional engine to get trains through. The tunnel is blocked up each end and falling debris has been heard. Ballingham tunnel was blocked in at the Hereford end but this was removed at some point to remove the ballast. I have walked to about half way along it and as it is one a curve you can only see one end most of the time. There has been work on stabilising the tunnel in the last 10 or so years to keep it safe. Backney the embankment was removed for materials and the cutting was used as rubbish dump.

Absolutely loved that. Do hope that area gets done it would be fabulous. Loved the adventure, thanks for taking me along

Been to that area, was stationed at RAF Hereford for around 3 weeks back in 1971

Ballingham tunnel is actually really easy to get to and enter

Really great to follow this video, your production has got insanely better.

Do the Wye Valley from Monmouth to Chepstow. Tintern has a great old station made into a nice place to visit.

Great gate, I like it too. Nice video.

Great Vid again .... i live in this area now and am fascinated by this line

Great vlog guys with a lovely find at the end. Many thanks for your really interesting vlogs.

Ballingham Northern portal is fairly easy to get too. Approach it through the field that meets the road/bridge along the hedge line then down into the cutting.

Wonderful viaducts and plenty of history on that line. It certainly would be good if the local community made the most of the remnants of Holme Lacey station. Great video as always. GWR

Nice video, keep them coming, save's me a lot of walking...!

Great videos you two. You were so close to Ballingham Tunnel northern portal. It's right next to the stone bridge you drove under. The tunnel is open and you can walk all the way through to where the Airbnb is at the other end.

Backney had a deep cutting after the station that led out onto Strangford viaduct. It was infilled with landfill after closure,. If you go to the top of the bank there is a railway bridge that is in the middle of a field... That's why! Ha

Your videos are always very entertaining 👍🏻 look forward to watching more.

Hidden gem with the old railway gate and platforms

Loved those gates...

Another excellent video. 👍👍 Love how much infrastructure is still in place many years after closure.

At the start of this video in Ross on Wye if you'd had gone to you're left up the road and around the bend you would have seen the old engine shed still standing. Great video really interesting.

There are a number of 'normal' ways to build a bridge pier. You can drive piles and then place stones on the piles. You can build a caisson, float it into place and sink it then remove the river bed from under it while you build the stone part above adding height as the caisson sinks deeper. You can build a coffer dam and pump the water out. About the concrete, I would guess they build a replacement bridge in the 20th century and used the original stone piers but added the concrete so the bridge superstructure did not have to be built so tall. The Kentucky High Bridge near Lexington Kentucky was rebuilt in this manner.

Another great video! I've always thought the Wye Valley is so beautiful and I'm sure if the lines had survived they'd be in the same scenic lines league as the Heart of Wales Line and Conwy Valley. Talking of heritage centers, there's a perfect example of that at Irlam Railway Station in Greater Manchester, not a disused station but it makes you think why can't we have more railway stations like this. Disused or not disused!

Herefordshire is such a beautiful county!

Coffer dams is what you were searching for - or possibly "coffee" dams in your case!!!!! Good you ended on a high note plus a good B & W always adds to your excellent trips.

Fawley Station House is a sympathetic family home. Left side of cattle grid down a track.

Ballingham south is actually easy to get to as there is a path running alongside the b & b, I went yesterday and got some photos.

Great video Paul and Rebecca,love the disused station series of videos, definitely need to get that station cleared, what a wonderful piece of history,I'm watching you from my hotel room in Tenerife,it's beautiful weather here,not missing the rain lol, looking forward to seeing your next video 👌😀👍

well done guys , great as ever.

I like your style , very sturdy lol , better than some of the one's i have had to negotiate with a full bergen on . Another great video

Interesting watch as always guys keep up the good work.

Brilliant vid - really nice part of the country...

I used to catch the train at Backney Holt to go to college in Hereford.

Classic episode this week, stations in a mix of states, viaducts and various shots of Paul not quite getting to where you planned- what's not to like! (Though obviously much better prepared in the footwear department than this time last year...)

Super little piece. Interesting how both viaducts look as if they were single track, judging by the tops of the piers. Lovely design. Still waiting for you to explore the old line through Wharram Percy, complete with tunnel, industrial archaeology, and deserted Medieval village. What more could you ask!!! Keep up the good work 👍

Definitely loved Holme Lacey Station! Great video, shame about the mud!

hi, colin here, loving your efforts, cant wait till you get into Scottish lost stations.

I TRAVELLED BEHIND A HYMEK DEISEL HYDRAULIC LOCO AND STEAM LOCO 460 1000 COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX FROM GLOUCESTER TO ROSS ON WYE AND THEN WITH THE COUNTY ALONE ON TO HEREFORD.

Can't believe you went to the site of Ross on Wye Station and missed the old engine shed AND the old stone-built goods shed, both of which survive!

Yet another excellent video. Thank you Paul and Rebecca for showing us more of our forgotten railway history. My suggestion for a great video would be Loftus-Whitby-Scarborough. Wonderful line and parts are very open to walk along with some remaining stations and the beautiful Larpool Viaduct. Keep up the great work please......

Very enjoyable! Thankyou!

I recommend the Golden Valley Railway from Pontrilas to Hay-on-Wye in western Herefordshire

Great aerial footage. Great video all-round.

Thanks for this video very interesting thank you

Squelchy one this week 😳. The wye was well up after the rain too . Love the drone shots 👌🏼. Congratulations on the “ Creators on the rise “ on KZfaq 🤩🧱👍🏽

Ever considered the old line from Limpley Stoke to Camberton? The line used in the”Titfield Thunderbolt.”

I can't believe they removed that bridge! They could have made it a roadway, even if it were just one lane, though I think two would have been possible, it would be very useful for local residents. If those piers are still standing 1,000 years from now future generations might think the locals built a Stonehenge or something.

Well done Mr. & Mrs. W for another interesting vid. Hope the boots stood up to the mud.

Another excellent vid in challenging conditions. Hope the boots didn’t leak.

Enjoy your videos guys. By the way, the steps over walls are ‘Stiles’ not sty’s! 🤣😁 Take care and Stay safe! Stan

They used to have a metal container to dig into river bed can't think of its name but it was a French name and it was sealed with pressure pumped in to keep water out while they dug but the prob with that the navies got the Benz .....thanks great vids

I used to go to those area when I was a kids (Tintern were a popular spot for the miniature railways), not learnt of the railway further up north of the River Wye.

I have been through Ballingham tunnels a few times . It's fantastic but takes some trudging through mud and undergrowth even in the Summer. Only been from the South portal. It's over I km long pretty creepy when your phone torch runs out half way through. Would be happy to show you the best route in the Summer.

Living in Australia , I've never heard of this , and other , lines but I find your videos very interesting. Carry On.

you can get permission from the land owners to go into ballingham tunnel I believe, if not then i do apologise. I've been through it twice when on walks with college as part of my public services course, its very muddy and wet down there.

Another interesting video folks. Pity about not getting to some tunnel mouths and station sites.

I agree with Tim Gray, Crystal Palace High Level station, it has 2 tunnels on the line, it had 3 other stations and the piece de resistance “The Subway under Crystal Palace parade” is a must, I do believe that you can get permission to see it.

Nice video, but you totally missed out the Engine Shed and Goods Shed at Ross, they are both still there! The Goods Shed is now some sort of vehicle maintenance depot, and the Engine Shed is now a Garden Centre. I am currently building a N Gauge layout of Ross Station in my attic! I hope to eventually include Fawley as well (when I get around to it!) ...Cheers. Les.

I wanted a night in a B&B alongside this railway, I told the landlady "I wish this beautiful line is restored one day" She said, "Over my dead body!" My reply was not repeatable and I found a much better place who agreed with me :) Goodness know why some dislike this, probably the same people like the angry landlady!

Another brilliant video! Been on that line a few times. I went to Ballingham tunnel last month but leading up to the portal was impassable due to the amount of bog. Will be back soon for another investigate soon. Been many times and is always impressive. Its easy to get to if the ground is dry. By the way what is the song around 7:09ish? Too good

I live near the old leap gate railway line in stourport. There is a tunnel at burlish.

Do Uplawmoor in Scotland, Royal Train was parked there on a Queens visit to Glasgow in the sixties after the station was shut. Plenty of relics on that line.

guys ballingham tunnel is very easy to get to, you were very very close but somehow missed the way down the embankment, its very shallow at the start, and the tunnel is very impressive and long!, did a band photoshoot down there..

Nice...👍

Brilliant vid

Great video again. A single track line between two large towns. I don't believe there are any left in the midlands which were always single track.