As an ex petty criminal and addict of multiple drugs for decades these stories have been very important to me for a couple of reasons firstly as a wholesome evening entertainment but also if I have trouble winding down or waking too early they can relax me so much as to make me get back off to sleep much easier . I have made Audiobooks of various kinds a bit of a hobby of late and have sampled many great readers including the likes of Stephen FRy reading some of these tales , though I am a big fan of Stephens I have come to love Gregs interpretations so much that it just wasn`t the same it not being him , when itt comes to reading fiction and of Sherlock Holmes he is without doubt my personal favourite , his reading of Black Peter the Reigate Squire and the tales especially of "chickens coming home to roost from abroad type" as I call them are my favourites .

Huge gratitude for this treat helping a restless patient make it through the evening with ease. Three more big cheers for the ever wonderful G.W. Illuminating A.C.D.

This could so easily have been a Sherlock Holmes story. Sir ACD was a true genius, and wonderful narration from Greg

Thank you for all your hard work! Seasonal depression has me down in the dumps lately, but having you read Doyle's wonderfully calming stories to me always helps. You're really doing some of the Lord's work here!

A railway enthusiast from liverpool, a sherlock holmes/ ACD enthusiast, A Magpie audio Enthusiast, it’s hard to believe I’ve discovered this one by accident on a different page, relieved to find Mr Wagland has given this beauty of a recording

I hope everybody is having a splendid Saturday so far. Greg, thank you for brightening my day with this SH story.

I’m continually astonished at how timeless these stories remain. Wonderful -thank you!

Excellent story, and excellently told! I have never heard this one before, but I will never forget it. Thank you Mr Wagland!

This could only happen in a different age. I can't see anything this big going missing in our age. Well read sir.

This. Was. Fabulous. Thank you!!!

Hearing about lil Sherlock extras like this that I wouldn't have ever known about are EXACTLY why I subscribe to this channel. Love it! 💙

I've been much enjoying the Sherlock Holmes series, and now, with all listened to, I'm listening to these Conan Doyle stories. Imagine my surprise to hear my little insignificant town of St Helens and local districts appear in this story, joy of joys. Thank you Mr Conan Doyle, I never thought it possible :-D And thank you for the readings and the uploads 👍

One of my favourites, not least courtesy of Lord Wagland's narration. Splendid! Thanks as ever Greg.

Love this, how can anyone dislike it??,

Absolutely love your stories!!! The way you read them ... everything. Thank you 😊

Excellent... Thank you!

Thank you!!! For your time and talent.

Greg, thanks for this and all your pitch perfect SH readings. Love em! Keep it up.

I finally figured out how the thumbs down show up on your videos. I just brought this video up (which I've listened to more times then I can even recall), and saw to my shock that I had pushed the thumbs down by accident at some point in time 😱😱. So that's it. They're all accidents. No other possibility. Lol

Wow my first "members only" advance story and one I've never heard of before. Off-piste: Do you remember a popular jacket from the 1980's/1990's called "Members Only"? Black, light material, long-sleeved. It was considered to be very, very cool at the time and very exclusive. A bit like the Greg Wagland/Magpie Audio members only releases. Love it!

Read so well, I had to put my knitting down, to listen. Enjoyed this, immensely!

Listening to this in my bubble bath, clutching the soap bar in fear. 🧼

A truly intriguing narrative. A big thank for sharing this great unsung ACD story. Thank you!!

I heard this puzzle before somewhere but forgot the details. Such a pleasure to discover it again. What a beautiful narration, thank you!

Was the letter writer Sherlock Holmes? I think it more likely that it was Mycroft Holmes. Sherlock would have left Baker Street and investigated all 7 sidelines and doubtless discovered traces of the replaced rails, and footprints of the workmen who laid them and then removed them. Then he'd have brought in Lestrade and others and followed the track all the way to the mine, and thence to the train. Mycroft, on the other hand, would not stir from his armchair, give a few seconds thought to the matter, but not bother to do any actual legwork and stir from the Diogenes Club. A letter would be enough for him!

Stunning work, Greg! Speaking as a VO actor.

A new story i had not heard. Excellently narrated. A devious plot indeed!

A really dark dog eat dog story from ACD and superbly read. Thank you.

Superb narration, as ever, and I concur with your assessment of the story's quality, one of Doyle's very best I think - and of course the identification of Holmes. I've also heard it suggested that de Lernac's "English agent" could be Moriarty, but I don't think that's likely... although the description of him as a respectable military looking man might identify him as Colonel Sebastian Moran? I may have thought about this far too much...

This is the first story I listened to before delving into the SH&W stories. I absolutely loved it. I am a brand new subscriber and wanted to thank you. Do you have a pay pal button or some way to make a donation? What a wonderful vocal performance. I know I am going to be a fan of your channel and can only imagine how much work, time and love go into making a quality channel. Your narration is gorgeous and I find it both soothing and exciting listening to these wonderful stories. Many of us depend on channels such as yours to get through long days, to distract us from chronic pain and some for before going to sleep. We all have our reasons for loving a channel such as yours. Finding SHSMA (speaking for myself) is like finding a secret room or a buried treasure. Music and books have been my constant and loyal friends since I was a little girl. Few things compare to finding a great story. I love to read and be read to. So many of us know what it is like to fall in love with great stories. You've made a truly special channel and I can't wait to listen to more! Thank you so much for all you share with us. Stay well. Peace and good health to all. Please do let me know where I can send a donation.

Thankyou very much. It is very good to have these to listen to during lockdown.

Thank you once again for a wonderful reading !!

Another good yarn. As a son of the fair City of Liverpool and whose father worked for the railway company most of his adult life, this was an enjoyable narrative BUT just how realistic the "disappearance" of the train was I must leave to rail-track engineers !

Thank you so much for sharing this one! I had not heard it. I think it could have been a SH story but I like the differences I heard. Anyway, I’m glad you read for us. Have a great day!

Thank you for another story..so excellently done!

Another fine reading Another fine story!

An enjoyable listen Thank you 👍

Another great story thank you

This is one of my favorites.

Didn't expect the little cameo! :D I'm absolutely here for this story!

Some time ago I listened to the same or very similar story. Perhaps it was drawn from this tale. I suppose 11 years of concentrated listening to these stories has provided an enormous background of tales. Many are the same or similar. Nevertheless I continue on the path. Sir Greg yet another narrating masterpiece!

9:06 TIL The literal origin of the word "sidetrack"

Well read, as always! Clever story, and dark.

I had not read this one so it’s new to me and it was great! I heard SH giving direction. Thanks Greg!

Having read this awhile ago it was grand to hear this excellent reading.

Thank you Greg. A surprise to be sure! On travel in Tokyo and a wonderful story to enjoy! Wish your family healthy and happy for the lunar New Year.

Gred dude. Awesome. 😍👍👍

Thank you so much, Greg! Saving this for later. Meanwhile, I wish someone would send me a Special - here in France trains on strike since December 5! Not chuffed!

Loved it

This was a bad ass story. Rock on!

Great stuff! thanks for this audio short story,I have it in paper and it was missing in audio!! no longer LOL

What if this is the very first time Holmes found out regarding the existence of Moriarty, the genius the Frenchman talks about at the near end? Maybe even vice versa, considering the detective's theory of a cabal of criminals?

In bed+listening..thank you🙂

I was litterly just sad because I couldent listen to this because I wasent a member. So I'm so excited I will be going to sleep early 🤗🤗

Peter Haining collected this story and many others, and published them in a book entitled “The final adventures of Sherlock Holmes” back in 1993 which included a foreword by Jeremy Brett, and this story was one of them. Another story was a play called “ The Crown Diamond” which Arthur Conan Doyle subsequently re-wrote as a short-story, “The Mazarin Stone”. Just a little bit of trivia-information for you. It was, however, great to hear this story as an audio-book. You did a fantastic job. Thank you.

Well! this story certainly got people talking and debating every possibility under the sun. From all the comments it is clear that much of the debate is down to the measured narration of Greg. I could add my penneth worth, but in all honesty, it has all been already said. Thanks Greg. 👌

Great story & I'm sure that is S.H. thank you!!

Chilling

19:42: Ripped almost word for word from Holmes.

Greg as Watson/Holmes? I like to imagine so...

A truly fantastic performance as always, but here's my logical quibble: Wouldn't the railway company and/or Scotland Yard have engaged Sherlock Holmes to investigate this case, instead of ignoring his perfectly reasonable (and correct) letter to the Times? Of course, if they had done so the story would have been over after about twenty minutes, but you'd think Inspector Lestrade would have at least paid him a visit!!

The (Heavy) implication is that Holmes exists in this storyline. A question that occurs to me is 'Why does Holmes not solve it?' Why Holmes does not involve himself by himself can be evident to those who have read the stories. Holmes has egocentric requirement that people ask him to help so he can show them how it's done. But, why does not an agent of the Railway or the police force ever consult him?

Sweeeeeet!

*The Slow of Despond* ? That sounds like a dream place from John Bunyan's *Pilgrim's Progress* .

Loved this story. I missed the cameo - by whom? Must listen again. I was busy wondering if de Lernac's "English Friend" might have been Moriarty but possibly ACD had not yet invented him? I'm not so devoted a Sherlockian to have memorised the chronology.

You Tube is cracking down on fake info I heard today Wait till they find out your not really Sherlock Holmes. Oh My God!!

Are you on Spotify??

Interesting story, but technically ‘iffy’.. track laying is neither a quick nor easy exercise, particularly if you don’t want to leave any traces..

Er yes that is a pretty obvious "easter egg" as gamers call it, heh. I hadn't read the description and was just listening to audiobooks to relax. I thought "oi! What's Mr Sherlock Holmes doing in this story??"

Must I say it ???.. well read as always ..lol

pillows fluffed up horlicks drank now sleep THANKS

Do you have paypal or another way to make a one time donation to you?

No... no conversation between SH and Watson.

Visto 1/21/20

A David Timson

Kinda not getting what it is all about

Oh yes Sherlock Holmes did write that published letter. It seems he offered to help the railway, but the officials and the police refused. Great reading by the way.

An entertaining but completely preposterous story.

This was so ridiculous, drawn out and BORING.

Kinda not getting what it is all about