I'm always pleased to see the section of track in the middle of Viables Roundabout. I was an engineer working for Basingstoke Development Group, about 1973/4, I designed and supervised the construction of Viables Roundabout and suggested and organized placing that piece of track. The footpaths leading, from the subways, to the pedestrian roundabout in the centre to create room for the track was my idea as well.

I've just finished watching your fantastic series and wanted to express my thanks for your efforts. I grew up in the the 1970s on the Harrow Way estate in Basingstoke. My parents back garden boundary in Stratton Road was on the line of the railway (the railway at this point was marked by a line of trees in front of the Gaston Marbaix factory). The impenetrable woodland you referred to in the children's playground between the Wella Path and Bessemer Road was easier to navigate in the 1970's (possibly I was a bit more agile then!). It was a very shallow cutting and there was a path through the trees. The Railway Track in the middle of Viables Roundabout was originally laid on fresh granite ballast and looked very smart. Interestingly though there was no interpretation board back in the early 1980's to explain why it was there - this must have been added later as I used to walk past it daily on the way home from school and don't remember seeing anything. I also remember as a boy around 1978 being able to walk through the cutting from Viables as far as the M3 boundary. It was a very well defined cutting back them with a flat, fairly unobstructed track bed surface and was a pleasant walk through the trees. It was also quite rural as back then the land between Hatch Warren Way and the line of the railway was undeveloped. It has been many years since I last visited Cliddesden Station but on cycling trips in the early 1980's the platform was visible albeit overgrown. I also seem to remember an Iron Tank of some kind at Cliddesden (water tank?) that had an LSWR namplate.

Superb account of the route - I almost expected Will Hay to jump out any time around Cliddesden - or the old Postman shouting 'Yer wasting yer time'!!!

Great feature. I’m a native and love seeing some of the former railways on my cycles through the area

My Grandmother lived in the Station House at Cliddesden in the 80-90s when the pump still had its tank on top, however, it was badly rusted and leaking so sadly had to be removed.

I moved to Basingstoke in 1973. I really appreciate this type of documentary.

Wonderful stuff and I've just watched the second one too, you've done a cracking job on this, your attention to detail is superb, a man after my own heart. I trade under the name of Dumpman Films and I made a similar film in 2019 tracing the line from south to north, so I'm very excited to see the rest of your trip when it becomes available. Be interested to see where you pinpoint the site of The Wrecker crossing and crash as lots of people argue about that. I managed to get permission to enter Cliddesden station and have a nose around, not a huge amount left to see as you say, although the base of the water tower makes a good garden shed. I also managed to get permission to walk the section south of the chapel and I have to say that was one of the most beautiful bits of disused railway I've ever walked, especially as it was bluebell time. I had to ask permission to walk and film the stretch next to Herriard village as it wasn't a permissive path then; the lord of the manor asked for a £20 donation to the local church fund to allow me on ! Also had permission to walk and film the track leading north out of Alton as far as the bit where the road cuts across it towards Bentworth and Lasham (and did some bits without permission it has to be said). Treloars hospital was great, quite a lot to see there, including the massive capstan, some nice platform and one or two other bits. By all means get in touch if you want to. See details of my stuff (much rougher than yours) at www.dumpman.co.uk and if you want to see some of my stills then click on this link: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124936136090?hash=item1d16c6259a:g:BdgAAOSwCV5cxOxi

I stood and watched the Winchester Road being demolished as a boy with my dad. Brants of Tadley used a giant concrete ball to smash the middle part of the bridge. I used to play on the old railway line and banks at that stretch - we called it 'The Dumps' Then as an 11 year old I used to walk through those underpasses to Cranborne School. Happy memories thank you

Hi Bob, this was a great start to this series, really enjoyed watching and reading the comments. Some really atmospheric photos of those bridges in the process of being demolished. I'm gald to see one or two pieces have been saved shame the station at Cliddesden has been filled to no great obvious purpose, maybe it would make it more attractive to have the station still there but that is for the owners to decide. Although I lived for many years in Hampshire I dont know this particular area very well, on a recent trip back we had a very enjoyable visit to the Milestones museum. I wouldnt have associated Thornycrofts with the town I do remember having an interview with them when it was Vosper Thornycroft down at Portchester. Looking forward to watching part 2 Good luck from Spain!!

Thank you❤

As a kid, I can remember walking the length of line between Worting Road and Winchester Road, I am certain that the track was still in place. This would have been late 60's & early 70's. As my interest in all things Basingstoke grew, I learnt more about this line, and in the mid 70's I explored Cliddesden Station, which was then still accessible and visible, with no infilling. Later, as a teenager I explored more of the line, and near Lasham, I was chased from the line by an old guy with a shotgun when me and my mate found a number of gin traps and set them off with sticks. A great video, thanks.

What a fabulous series. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching these. I work at the police station in Jay's Close and so decided to have a look and see if I could see anything to the right of the building. I fancied I could see a dip showing the trackbed but it may have been wishful thinking! I took some photos, although didn't walk into the vegetation as was in my work clothes 🤣

20:36 I grew up from the late 70s until 1999 living in that very area. I now live in Alton and have developed quite a keen interested in the light railway between Basingstoke and Alton. Funnily enough, I met my mother recently (who still lives there) and we walked a route near viables and a took a look at et very spot you were at 20:36 as I felt certain this held some old track etc. I applaud your work in documenting this history. Well done!

Thank you for these videos, amazing work. I'm planning a visit to Cliddesden as 'Oh Mr Porter' is a favourite of mine and has been since childhood.

Well presented, as a lad in the 50's many a time with mates l walked the old track bed from worting road bridge through the cutting (known as the dumps) to winchester road brige and beyond to cliddeaden station. Thanks for the memories.

When I first found out that Buggleskelly was actually Cliddesden I motored down there and was able to find the station site using the cottages as a reference, at that time the lower corner of the platform ramp was clearly visible peeping out of the earth, I took a photo but alas a change in the direction of my life led to the loss of this photo and everything else I had.

Ah, some great content here! I live on Lower Brook Street not far away from the 'branched out' track coming from the Basingstoke station. A year or so ago I was looking at some old maps and saw the Alton track went past the end of my road (nr the old baths, or Wickes car park as it is now). I saw on Google earth that there was a tree line still following the path. So, I went through the Churchill underpass and headed along Churchill towards the Wickes roundabout. And up a small right turn near the roundabout (before reaching the horses or roundabout itself) there it is.... the old Alton track behind the fencing on the right. Pretty surprised to see it still there.

My father owns Railways and has been there for over 30 years and has the railway cuttings still in his garden....right back to the edge of the M3......The bridge abutress gets checked once a year by the relevant authorities.........

Excellent video - as is part 2. I was walking around the area of the old chapel yesterday. It is a stunning piece of our countryside and I am sure a journey on the train would have been incredible on a summers day.

A fantastic tour of a lost railway I never knew existed before. Oh mistercporter was always a family favourite and I never knew the end was filmed at basingstoke platform 1a.

Very informative video. Used too drive trains past the spot where the line curved off. Was always interested in this line. Now driving in NZ. Great video 👍

I believe the embankments on either side of Winchester road roundabout and in the middle of the roundabout, were built in the 70's to take the new ring road over the roundabout. this work was stopped when Maggie came into power and the ring road construction was halted. for many years there were concrete supports laying on the ground as the construction work was ceased.

Just found this great video on KZfaq. I really like the style of presentation. It gives me a great insight of how this disused railway line was. Looking forward to watching the other parts and more from this provider "Pathfinder:

this is excellent you have explained it very well and the route l'm taking great interest in this old railway line and it's route having walked parts that are accessible to the public l look forward to the next 3 parts.

Very well researched and presented. I am familiar with various parts of the route from Cliddesden towards Herriard, but it was good to learn more about the Basingstoke end.

Great job, you did better than me in finding the buffer stops on that last bit of track from the main line - I never worked out how to get to that! The part about the cutting and the route of the track running by Blatchford & Wella (are they still there?) towards Viables is particularly interesting - so difficult to imagine now especially with a bridge over Winchester Road. You had me thinking about Viables, I remember hearing the same years ago about a level crossing and then a bridge when The Harrow Way was coined as the ‘Basingstoke Bypass’. A world away from the residential area it is now - if things had turned out differently and the line survived I could imagine a station at Viables to serve the business park and part of Brighton Hill. Great idea for a model layout builder I suppose…..

Excellent work. Very evocative for those who remember the area in past times. Well done that man. Looking forward to part two.

Excellent stuff!!

What a terrific film, I'm looking forward to Part Two.

Interesting stuff Bob, keep it coming!

This is an excellent film, thank you for posting. I explored the line some years ago, but not in such magnificent detail. At the time one of the rails had been purloined from Viables roundabout! I look forward to viewing the other episodes.

I remember playing down the dumps as a kid, some buffers had been left there as well.

Please consider a series on the main roads that went through Basinsgstoke before the motorways were bulit and before Beecham, in particular the London Road and Winchester Road as well as the roads such as Wote Street before they were shortened and the cattle grids that were located immediately in front of the train station. It would further reveal how Basingstoke went from beauty to beast. Many thanks.

Interesting

Quality stuff

Thank you for this - very interesting. DFT surely stands for Department for Transport?

Very interesting and well put together. It's a shame you can no longer go along the embankment by the new police station. I seem to remember it had rather steep sides

Re Winchester road bridge, the embankments were created later to carry what was to be a flyover for the ringway. The bridge was at the end of a small parade of shops, a butchers and the bridge cafe

My father was born in Cillensden

Yea

Is it me or does you voice sound so familiar

how did you find some of these photos such as the Thorley craft entry? ive had a struggle finding rare B&A photos

Ps love the vids