I was a regular user of the old GCR when I lived in Leicester and Nottingham in the early 1960s, mainly between the two but also to London for jazz weekends at the old Ronnie Scott's. The machine engineered track encouraged fast work by the drivers on the B1's which we were then the mainstays on the passenger trains. Fast running between Leicester and Nottingham was always a thrill. The line should never have closed, as many now being considered for re-opening as Cambridge-Oxford. Transport policy in the UK has always need misguided without any vision for the future. We do not not need faster trains such as HS2, but a nationwide comprehensive, affordable and punctual service.
@trammix
Жыл бұрын
I can remember being able to walk along the track bed from Brackley to Sulgrave. As a youngster I lived at Helmdon and also remember the tracks being lifted shortly after closure. Thanks for the video. I can only describe HS2 as environmental vandalism.
@seamusmcevoy2011
2 жыл бұрын
What a beautiful old bridge, still standing proud despite the onslaught. We got down to the old GCR station at Quainton Road by the way and had a great time, it really is a magnificent place.
@NWP_EXPLORING
2 жыл бұрын
Yes it’s a lovely place to visit. BTW I just hope HS2 look after this bridge because they have knocked down anything else in its path to do with the old GCR
@seamusmcevoy2011
2 жыл бұрын
@@NWP_EXPLORING That would be criminal, but sadly, not surprising.
@alistairkewish651
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making this video. You saved me about 110 miles, round trip by the only available form of transport. And that’s not a push bike.
@simplysimon9868
Жыл бұрын
Fencing could be Yarrow wood from Australia. Tuff stuff!! They used it for canal locks. Good video
@JohnSmith-bx8zb
Жыл бұрын
There was a full study about using the whole of the route, Manchester- Sheffield with its extension to London. It appears that it failed because there was not enough cash to be made by contractors
@levelcrossing150
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing this video, but somehow I can't get excited about HS2 like I am with the GCR. Interesting to see what is left.
@NWP_EXPLORING
2 жыл бұрын
I have the same feeling for hs2
@levelcrossing150
2 жыл бұрын
@@NWP_EXPLORING So sad, take that culvert you showed, it was still in lovely condition and was built to help give the railway a long life.
@mikehindson-evans159
Жыл бұрын
@@levelcrossing150 interesting, that mid-1890s GCR construction legacy has lasted around 120 years (*but* the old metal bridges at Finmere station were falling apart when they were removed in summer 2021 to make way for the new HS2 alignment - which is designed for 120 years of useful life.)
@levelcrossing150
Жыл бұрын
@@mikehindson-evans159 I don't know anything about the condition of the bridges at Finmere, but surely lack of maintenance since the line closed was probably the key factor into them falling apart when removed in 2021.
@ctyl5686
2 жыл бұрын
Great video once again. Thank you.
@mikehindson-evans159
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for an interesting travelogue. Nice to see what the updates are for your area of HS2. Remember that the "land take" includes a massive green curtain either side of the alignment (watch out for "leaves on the line" despite a tree-free regime between the boundary fences of the actual line).
@horchan1216
Жыл бұрын
And a lot of the landtakes are actually temporary!
@NWP_EXPLORING
Жыл бұрын
It’s what it takes down and with it that ‘s shocking.
@beecee2205
Жыл бұрын
GCR, beautifully built, timeless, typical of that Victorian blend of functionality and design. HS2 - appears to be designed by a concrete vandal who wants to lay waste to the countryside. No wonder its so expensive.
@sturmtigerking4263
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing this! Great video.
@scottpeacock5492
Жыл бұрын
The Great Central Railway line would have been great use for HS2 had it not been destroyed back in the 60's in favour of Motorways and now most of the track bed has now been lost to other development.
@peterwilliamallen1063
Жыл бұрын
No it would not of been as the old GCR route goes no where near Birmingham and the West Midlands the sole reason for HS2 to improve and speed up rail travel from this area to London.
@peterwilliamallen1063
Жыл бұрын
How would the old Great Central route be of any use for HS2, the old Great Central route goes no where near Birmingham and the West Midlands of which the HS2 line is desighnd to improve Rail travel and speed it up between Birmingham and London
@grahamholliday9962
Жыл бұрын
@@peterwilliamallen1063 thr route diverges from Brum direction at Brackley GCR route could have been used to that point apparently it was considered but I've never seen a straightforward explanation as to why it couldn't have been used other than that they were set on trains running at 320/225 speeds and requirement that imposes for a dead straight track. Given how much its costing I wonder what electrification and a quadrupling of Chiltern Line would have run to as an alternative for the southern section Biggest issues with WCML capacity are I believe north of Rugby?F
@peterwilliamallen1063
Жыл бұрын
@@grahamholliday9962 They are only using a short section of the Old Great Central route as the rest is totally new track formations, plus the old Great Central route goes no where near Birmingham or London Euston. The quadrupling and electrification of the Chiltern route would not work due to land constraints on this route, Victorian Railway infrastructure and the fact that like the WCML it is used by other Passenger and freight services such as Chiltern trains and X Country train services. The HS2 route will only be used by HS2 trains travelling at 250 MPH with in cab signalling and no other passenger or freight trains.
@mikehindson-evans159
Жыл бұрын
@@peterwilliamallen1063 and beyond, through Crewe to Manchester with a (currently-truncated) spur eastwards towards the East Midlands.
@Mac_Cam
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for a great video
@tatradak
2 жыл бұрын
Just can not understand why they didn't do a cut and cover prefab tunnel system...what an absolute waste of good land..and the noise of these high speed trains are ridiculous, its like a low flying jet going by...100db or more..Thats why in the EU they put them on stilts, in tunnels or behind walled cuttings..
@AlexanderWright1
Жыл бұрын
Cut and cover would have been vastly more expensive. In addition, it would make any accident considerably worse, and harder to get emergency services to.
@compostjohn
Жыл бұрын
Culvert, not calvert.... but hey, nice vid, thanks.
@NWP_EXPLORING
Жыл бұрын
Yeah I know 😆
@alistairkewish651
2 жыл бұрын
Best way of feeding a cold - find a large field.!
@hoagy_ytfc
2 жыл бұрын
KZitem is only offering me this in 360p for some reason! (On a very high speed connection)
@NWP_EXPLORING
2 жыл бұрын
I’ve always wondered why this happens, I think it gets better after a few days.
@alistairkewish651
2 жыл бұрын
A good walk ruined…..Samuel Clemens……
@robertpalmer5803
Жыл бұрын
I bet they knighted the bloke who signed to close the Great Central Railway..! Seems a bit daft they are building the HS2 on nearly the same route... classic case of Government wasting taxpayers money...Bob...Paignton....
@JohnSmith-bx8zb
Жыл бұрын
There was a full study about using the whole of the route, Manchester- Sheffield with its extension to London. It appears that it failed because there was not enough cash to be made by contractors
@chrisyalland3752
Жыл бұрын
HS2,a blot on the landscape to please the money men,a bit like Mr Marples the motorway king of the 60s,with his lackey Beeching, oh how little changes!
@laurentivoli1183
Жыл бұрын
Not exactly a straight line is it! More like a BMX track, GCR on the other hand....
@joginns778
Жыл бұрын
Good video work but as you know hs 2 is a complete waist of tax payers money Billions of pounds waisted just to knock ten minutes of the west coast train's time, that money should have been put to good use reopening outher line's that are needed,
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