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00:00I'm Si King and I've always loved transport, especially bikes and trains.
00:11Here in Britain, we have every reason to be proud.
00:16This is where the railway was born, 200 incredible years ago.
00:22Change the points, 26 bus, it's all happening here.
00:27But for too long, the real stars of that story, our railway stations, have been overlooked.
00:34I'm never going to look at a train station the same way again.
00:37It's where adventures start and end, where lives change and where extraordinary human stories unfold.
00:45The camaraderie you have with the passengers, I love that.
00:49I'm joined by architect Damien Burrows and transport historian Siddy Holloway.
00:56Together, we'll uncover their hidden history.
00:59Oh, wow. This is a sight you don't see very often.
01:03Stunning architecture.
01:05What an explosion of light and engineering.
01:10And meet the people who keep them alive.
01:13Volunteers, families who have worked the rails for generations and their communities.
01:18I haven't been to many train stations where I've ended up harvesting fresh veg.
01:24From glorious coastlines to soaring peaks, it's a journey full of surprises.
01:30Now that's a pretty majestic view from a railway station.
01:33So join me to celebrate Britain's favourite railway stations.
01:45This week we're visiting railway stations that have shaped the British seaside.
01:50Our stunning coastlines and everything that comes with it.
01:54We're even hopping across the Irish Sea to discover one of the most spectacular coastal stations in Northern Ireland.
02:03From beach huts to sunny promenades, day trippers to locals enjoying the coast,
02:08there is nothing better than getting off a train in a station that screams welcome to the seaside.
02:14This is essentially a coastal lane. Look at this sea. It's fabulous.
02:23While I'm off towards the Norfolk coast, City is visiting Wales to learn a bit more about the railway's involvement at the iconic Barry Island.
02:32I wanted to ask you about Barry Island as a tourist attraction.
02:36150,000 people was the sort of order of the day.
02:39So it was an incredible feat to get all those people in to the station.
02:46And Damien is travelling south to East Sussex, one of the most popular railway stations by the seaside south of London,
02:54to discover its secrets, nukes and crannies.
02:58And right on top of all of this incredibly dense engineering, you've just got the delicate timber of the platform.
03:06Yeah.
03:09Travelling to the east of England, I'm visiting the stunning county of Norfolk.
03:15Known for its man-made broads, a unique landscape dating back centuries, was created by Digging Peat.
03:22Clearing the woodland left over 125 miles of lock-free waterways set in beautiful countryside,
03:30with many charming and picturesque towns and villages along the stunning coastline.
03:36You know, part of the reason that I still live in the north-east is because I love being by the sea and water.
03:42And today I'm quite excited because I'm on the Greater Anglia-Biton Line.
03:49Now that line crosses the Norfolk Broads National Park, and I'm on my way to the thriving coastal town of Sherringham.
03:58Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and a popular holiday destination with stunning beaches,
04:08Sherringham owes its success to its railway industry.
04:11At first, a real stronghold of the fishing industry during the 19th and early 20th century,
04:18the arrival of the railway in 1887 reshaped the town into something more.
04:24But this adventure isn't about the trains, it's about the stations.
04:29Luckily for me, I'm not seeing one, but I'm seeing multiple railway stations today.
04:34Sherringham is the northern terminus of the Bitton Line, but it's also home to the North Norfolk Railway.
04:42This train on the 19th century.
04:44We're here.
04:45We're here.
04:49Meeting me at my first stop is Jonathan, who's been looking after the Bitton Line for decades
04:55and knows exactly why there are two stations.
05:00Now that must be a man waiting at a gate. Jonathan.
05:03Absolutely.
05:04Hello, sir. Good morning.
05:05Good morning. Nice to meet you.
05:06Nice to see you. How are you this morning?
05:07Very well, thank you.
05:08Tell us a little bit about the importance of the lane to the area and the community here.
05:13It's really crucial.
05:14So back in the 1960s, time of the Beeching report, a lot of cuts here in Norfolk.
05:19Basically, it was seen as, you know, rail was declining and that wasn't the future.
05:25Back in the 1960s, a chap called Dr Richard Beeching swung the axe on Britain's railways,
05:30hoping to increase profitability.
05:32His government report shut down thousands of railway stations, all in the name of saving money.
05:38Trouble is, it left whole communities cut off and folks are still reeling from the effects today.
05:45The original Sheringham station was closed in 1967, but in the same year this modern unmanned platform was built to serve the town instead.
05:54Fortunately, the future of the old station was not lost.
05:59Wonderfully, a whole group of volunteers set up the North Norfolk Railway and over the years redeveloped it, reopened it,
06:05obviously kept the lovely heritage station buildings along the route.
06:08Sure. So you have what in essence is a very modern railway, which is where we are now.
06:13State of the art.
06:14State of the art.
06:15Fantastic trains.
06:16And then, conversely, you have the nostalgia of rail travel just over the road there.
06:23Absolutely.
06:24And you've got the best of both worlds.
06:26Thank you and it's been an absolute pleasure.
06:28It's a pleasure.
06:29Thanks.
06:30Now just a short walk up the tracks from the brand new modern railway station of Sheringham,
06:45is the original railway station of Sheringham.
06:49Look at it.
06:50Full of nostalgia and a bygone area of rail.
06:54This is going to be a bit special, I think.
06:57Leaving the modern railway behind, this station in Sheringham is home to the North Norfolk Railway Line,
07:04a heritage railway also known as the Poppy Line, thanks to the area's 19th century nickname, Poppyland.
07:12And it's this charming station which has become a must-visit stop for all those enjoying the coastal town.
07:21Oh, wow.
07:24Oh, look, this is fantastic.
07:27You know, as soon as you walk onto the platform, you get this sense of nostalgia.
07:31It's wonderful.
07:32Look at the bridge.
07:34God, there's been some work in restoring this, man.
07:37This is amazing.
07:40It feels like a proper coastal station where people used to come on the holidays, you know.
07:46Oh, look.
07:47And it's definitely Victorian.
07:48Look at the ornate metalwork and the beautiful canopy.
07:52Oh, it's great.
07:53There's a real sense of like, oh, this is, you know, you've arrived.
07:59Oh, yeah.
08:01It's going to be great.
08:04But before anything else, a cuppa is in order.
08:07This is nice, isn't it?
08:10Hello.
08:11Hello there, sir.
08:12How can I help you?
08:13Could I have a cup of tea?
08:14Of course.
08:23Thanks so much.
08:24You're welcome.
08:26Next stop, more about this incredible railway station.
08:32And if there's one person that can give me the lowdown, it's manager Graham Hookins,
08:38who's been grafting really hard for the last few years to make sure that this incredible piece of British railway history keeps on thriving.
08:47Tea, Graham.
08:49Indeed.
08:50Graham, when was the station built and what was its original purpose?
08:56So the line to Sheringham opened in 1887 and originally the line was built to bring tourists to this area.
09:04So in the late 19th century, Clement Scott kind of coined the term poppy land for this area of the North Norfolk coast.
09:11Ah, okay.
09:12And he wrote for the Telegraph and that made the whole area really popular with tourists.
09:19So, years later, we're still doing very much the same thing, running trains to entertain tourists.
09:26So, fundamentally, the railway really did shape Sheringham then?
09:30Absolutely.
09:31All of the Sheringham that you see today grew up in Victorian times.
09:36Until the railway arrived, it was a tiny fishing village and when the railway arrived,
09:41the Midland and Great Northern actually invested in the hotels and in the infrastructure and the water supply for the town
09:48because bringing holidaymakers in was that lucrative that it actually filled their trains.
09:54What was the shift in fortune for the railway?
09:57It was really the shift towards kind of road transport that was a lot more competitive from the 1950s, 1960s onwards.
10:06And it was just empty and...
10:08So, most of the Midland and Great Northern closed in 1959.
10:13This particular bit survived until 1964.
10:17But, thankfully, this station didn't close for long.
10:19A group of locals came together and by 1975 the railway and its stations were reopened as a heritage line.
10:28It takes a huge amount of organisation and a huge amount of volunteers to actually run the station and the railway.
10:35How do you manage that?
10:36So, they're from all walks of life. We've got over 600 volunteers and their motivations will be kind of many and varied.
10:43So, some will have been involved for 50 or more years since the line closed and helped reopen it way back in 1975.
10:50And we've got volunteers from 10 to 90 plus.
10:54So, the whole spectrum of ages and all absolutely keen as mustard.
10:59It comes across in waves, you know, and really welcoming.
11:03Indeed.
11:04And the tea looks great because railways are built on tea.
11:07Railways run on tea, absolutely.
11:11It's truly inspiring to learn about the station and the volunteers' dedication.
11:16And you never know, I may even get my hands dirty.
11:20It's all happening here.
11:21Today we're exploring Britain's wonderful coastal stations.
11:35From windswept platforms to bustling tourist stops.
11:39It's amazing what you can find when you follow the tracks to the coast.
11:44While I'm keeping busy in sunny Sheringham,
11:46city is in the iconic coastal town of Barrie Island.
11:55From its industrial beginnings as the world's busiest coal port,
12:00to its heyday as a working seaside resort,
12:04Barrie Island's past lives are all hidden away.
12:07But I'm here to seek them out.
12:08Barrie Island Station opened in 1896 to serve the thriving seaside resort in the bustling Docklands,
12:18though the station building itself wasn't finished until 1904.
12:23Not just with style, but with the space to handle vast holiday crowds.
12:30Today I'm meeting John, who's looking after the station's War and Heritage Centre,
12:34which is in the station building, to learn how the railway shapes the town.
12:39John! Hi!
12:41Thank you so much for having me here.
12:43Yes.
12:44This is an extraordinary museum you've got here.
12:47So can you tell me how the railways and how Barrie Island became the biggest coal port in the world?
12:54The Marquess of Butte owned Cardiff Docks and the coal field in South Wales expanded in an exponential rate in the 1800s.
13:05So that by the 1870s, 1880s, it was completely overwhelmed.
13:11And therefore, there were trains coming down the valleys full of coal.
13:16And if they managed to get to the docks, they might have to wait one, two or three days before they got unloaded.
13:21Oh, right.
13:22And so the coal owners basically gave an ultimatum.
13:28Either expand your dock or we'll build one ourselves.
13:33The coal owners did just that.
13:35And by 1913, Barrie Island became the biggest coal exporting dock in the world,
13:41transporting 11 million tonnes through and around the station.
13:45The concrete pillars left today once supported giant hoists used for lifting coal onto ships and are a reminder of the epic scale that was once a momentous industry.
14:00So these are the hoists.
14:02Yes.
14:03Towards each of the hoists, a boat could come.
14:06So how many hoists did they have?
14:07Oh, there were over 20 when the dock was working at full capacity.
14:13These hoists were fed with wagons by a locomotive pushing the train up a hill.
14:21And each wagon was detached and lifted in the hoist and tipped directly into the ship.
14:26So you can just imagine that port, how busy it would have been if you had 20 ships, over 20 ships at each one of them, tipping over tons of coal.
14:37Yes. It must have been an amazing sight in its heyday.
14:42Coal exports declined between the wars, and so too did the dock railway, but a new use was found for it in the 1950s.
14:50There were lots of sidings which had become redundant, and a local entrepreneur, Di Woodham, saw the opportunity to actually scrap the steam locomotives that British Railways were making redundant in the 1950s and 60s on those sidings, and brought about 350 locomotives to Barry.
15:15Steam locomotives.
15:16Steam locomotives, yes.
15:17Wow.
15:18But a couple of diesels as well, actually.
15:20So preservationists were then coming along and saying, we'd like to buy a locomotive and restore it.
15:26Well, because they're incredibly complex machines, and they're difficult to scrap, actually.
15:31That's right. Over 150 have been restored and steamed, and that's why in the UK we've got the biggest preserved railway lines in the whole of the world.
15:40Yeah.
15:41The station not only has an incredible museum inside, but in the old train yard, John and his team have saved many locomotives and wagons, including his pride and joy.
15:53Oh, wow.
15:54Yeah, so this is our diesel locomotive shunter, and behind it we have our 1928 Great Western locomotive.
16:03Look at that!
16:05Wow!
16:06Ah!
16:07She's a beauty.
16:08Yeah, she's not far off being finished now.
16:09That's incredible.
16:10This is a site you don't see very often, is it?
16:11I don't need it.
16:12So, what can you tell me about this locomotive?
16:13Well, it was built in 1928, the Great Western Railway, and it's a locomotive which has an affinity to this part of the world. There are lots of these in South Wales.
16:31I wanted to ask you about Barry Island as a tourist attraction.
16:34Well, the railway made Barry Island a tourist attraction because before it was very inaccessible being an island.
16:42Barry became a busy tourist destination with a lovely old vintage fairground.
16:49After the Second World War and the introduction of paid two-week holidays, more and more trains came to Barry and phenomenal numbers.
16:59Maybe 150,000 people was the sort of order of the day, so it was an incredible feat to get all those people in to the station in the morning and take a similar number away in the evening.
17:12Gosh, I mean, people must have had to start queuing up pretty early to get on the right train.
17:16Yeah, so everybody was given a position based on the train that they were on.
17:21It used to stretch right the way up the street outside of Barry Island Station.
17:26That's incredible.
17:27Unfortunately for the railway, as people got better off, so they were able to buy cars or come down by coach.
17:34And so after about mid to late fifties, the numbers started to trail off.
17:39Basically, you've got a full life-size model railway just for you.
17:44Yeah, that's what I say to my wife.
17:50But these wagons and locomotives aren't the only piece of Barry's railway history to be preserved.
17:56In the late 1890s, Barry Pier Station was constructed right along the waterfront, providing transportation to people coming and going from steamboats.
18:09However, to get there, the railway didn't go over or around.
18:13It went directly under, creating a 280-yard tunnel that cut through Barry.
18:20And although bricked up, I have managed to get access to this special place of history.
18:26We are now in the tunnel that connected Barry Island Station to Barry Pier.
18:32And through this, hundreds of thousands of holiday makers would have made their way excited about starting their holiday on the beach.
18:40So it feels like you can almost feel their excitement standing in here.
18:44But fun little fact.
18:46In this tunnel, the royal train was hid during the Second World War.
18:51When the King and Queen came to visit South Wales, they brought the royal train down with them and then they placed it in here to protect it from air raids.
19:00But it's an extraordinary structure and it's always just really fun to be in an old tunnel like this.
19:07And this is the end of the line where you would have come out of that tunnel and onto the beach.
19:24And just look at this view.
19:26Now, behind me is where Barry Pier Station used to be.
19:30Just think about it.
19:31Millions of tons of coal have come through here before the war.
19:35And then hundreds of thousands of tourists have come through after.
19:39It's just incredible.
19:41Now, these tracks do not lead to anywhere anymore.
19:45But they are a powerful testament of how the railways changed this country, how they changed this town and how memories were made for generations.
19:56The Welsh coastline and seaside resorts are truly spectacular.
20:00And Barry Island Station has a fascinating history.
20:04Now, we're heading across rolling countryside and down to the south coast.
20:14Perched right on the edge of the sea, Dawlish Station is the epitome of British coastal railways.
20:21For more than 175 years, it's brought holidaymakers to the Devon coast.
20:28Famous not only for the seaside charm, but also for the black swans that glide along the brook through the town.
20:37In 2014, storms tore through the sea wall, severing the railway line and showing just how vulnerable yet vital this station remains.
20:49The reality is the railway line runs on the sea front and obviously Mother Nature isn't always very kind to us.
20:57Chris has been looking after the Devon and Cornwall local railways for many years.
21:02In order to fix the railways as a result of that storm, we needed many, many people, many contractors, lots and lots of material, concrete, steel and the goodwill of the local community.
21:15So not only is the sea a problem in making holes within the wall, but it will also affect the embankments and the cliffs as well.
21:24So what we've needed to do is go in and do soil netting, where we go up, drill big holes, put big pins in and steel mesh that will hold everything in place.
21:34So it doesn't necessarily always protect everything from falling, but all it will do is catch anything so that the line isn't made unsafe.
21:43The storm may have destroyed the sea wall back in 2014, but it also built something new.
21:52The Friends of Dawlish are a community determined to protect, preserve and make Dawlish beautiful.
21:59My name's Carol Holbeek. I've been a volunteer gardener here for the last 10 years.
22:08The Friends of Dawlish were formed after the great storm.
22:12There's about 12 of us and we come down here every week.
22:18I volunteer because my father was a railway man, so I feel I've got trains in the blood.
22:27All my childhood holidays were spent down here and I've lived here for 25 years.
22:35And this is the place that touched my heart as a youngster and continues to do.
22:44The dedication of volunteers in Dawlish and all over the railway network is truly something to admire.
22:51Back in Sheringham, I have so much more to see, but I also need to visit the next station along the track, Waybone.
23:05Oh, look at this ticket office. It's fab.
23:10Well, hello. Can I get a return?
23:12Yeah. Please.
23:13Of course.
23:16Thanks very much. Thanks very much.
23:19Today's train's right. Hold on.
23:22Owen. Hello. How are you?
23:24Nice to meet you. How are you doing?
23:25How are you doing?
23:26So, this is, oh, so we've got, do I have diesel as well or just steam?
23:29Yes, so today we've got steam and the diesel rail car.
23:33I just bought a ticket and I'm not entirely sure which one I'm on.
23:36Am I on steam or diesel?
23:39So, with that ticket, you can run on any train you like today.
23:42Oh, that's brilliant.
23:44So, are you a volunteer here then?
23:45I am, yes, yeah.
23:46OK, so what's that like then?
23:48It's, it's fantastic really. It's just another world of imaginations really.
23:54You come on here and you've got like another family full of railway people.
23:59And how long have you been here?
24:01So, this is currently my eighth year of being on the railway.
24:05I started at a very young age at ten.
24:08So, I join the youth development group and we meet up once, twice a month,
24:12group of youngsters and we just get given loads of different jobs.
24:16How brilliant. How brilliant.
24:18Well, look, I hear they've got scones on this one, so I'm going to get on it.
24:21They do. Yeah.
24:22Thanks everyone, thanks for joining us.
24:23Enjoy your cream tea. I will.
24:29Hello.
24:31And I think this might be my train.
24:32The cream tea train?
24:33Yes.
24:34Yes.
24:35Of course.
24:36So, before we go, would you like to go and meet the crew at the front
24:39that's going to pull it on the steam train?
24:40Would that be alright?
24:41Of course.
24:42Honestly, that would be great.
24:43They love showing the loco off, so we'll go and have a look.
24:44Shall we go?
24:45Yes, shall we go.
24:52The fellas that make it go.
24:53How are you? I'm sorry. Nice to meet you.
24:55How are you, Michael?
24:56How's Nick?
24:57How are you?
24:58And it.
24:59And Michael is my husband.
25:01He's your husband?
25:02He's my husband.
25:03We are on the crew today, the guards and the drivers.
25:06So, how long have you been together, not as a married couple,
25:09but working on the railway together?
25:10Since the start.
25:11Eleven years now, yeah.
25:12Eleven years, yeah.
25:13Eleven years, yeah.
25:14And what about you, Nick?
25:15Uh, yeah.
25:16About 40 years.
25:17About 40?
25:18Yeah, yeah, yeah.
25:19But I'm always struck by the level of commitment that you all have.
25:22And just out of interest, just because I'm a bit of a speed freak.
25:25How quickly does it go?
25:2725 mile an hour here.
25:29And then how quickly could it go?
25:3270 mile an hour, yeah.
25:33Probably, I think you're 70, yeah.
25:34Something like that.
25:35Yeah.
25:37Is there any chance that I could have a...
25:39Absolutely.
25:40Have a break?
25:41Yeah.
25:42I can show you around.
25:43Oh, brilliant.
25:44And they're dirty.
25:45There's their foot there.
25:46Oh, get in.
25:48Oh, man, it's massive.
25:50Oh, man, that's a lot of coal at the shovel there.
25:53We will use about a ton and a half in a day.
25:56How far have you got to throw it?
25:57Right down the front of there, so if you look...
25:59So right out the front of the firebox?
26:01That's about eight, nine foot down there, I should think.
26:03And we have to cover the whole thing.
26:06So it's got to be even?
26:07Even.
26:08Well, normally you would fire around the edges and a bit thinner in the middle,
26:11but yes, you've got to keep it all covered all the time.
26:13Right.
26:14Otherwise, you'll end up damaging the boiler, so it's a...
26:16Oh, so it's a properly skilled job.
26:18We've got no computers on here, nothing like that.
26:20It's just pure mechanical.
26:22Everything is mechanical.
26:23And know-how.
26:24And analogue gauges.
26:26See, I'm going to have a t-shirt made that I'm strictly analogue.
26:29I just am, because I am.
26:31We'll get on you one as well, then, because I will.
26:33I will.
26:34We'll start a clover that is strictly analogue.
26:36Yeah, that's right.
26:37See you, mugger.
26:41While Michael and Nick stoke the fires, I'm off to find my seat
26:45for the short journey to Weyborn Station.
26:48Oh, it's a great...
26:50Look at that.
26:51It's a proper cup of tea.
26:52Exactly.
26:53I'm very much looking forward to seeing Weyborn Station,
27:14and I can't wait to get stuck in.
27:16Now, I'm not sure at this point whether I need to be.
27:20Whether I need to be here or back in the...
27:23I'll go back to Signal Fox.
27:25I'm in the east of England, in beautiful Norfolk,
27:46while Damien is off to one of the country's busiest coastal cities, Brighton.
27:51For generations, this has been the start of your holiday.
27:56A short train journey from London, and on a glorious day like today,
28:00you are steps away from the beach.
28:03Elevated high above the city with incredible vistas,
28:07this station remains one of the most beautiful coastal destinations in the UK.
28:14Brighton Station has welcomed visitors since 1841,
28:21when a beautiful Italianate building was carved into the hillside in a major engineering feat.
28:28Sheltering the surge of holidaymakers who transformed Brighton
28:33from a fishing town into a thriving seaside resort.
28:37A station built on innovation.
28:40It stands as a monument to the age of steam and leisure.
28:44I've tracked down Ross to tell me a little bit more about the history of the station
28:49and its incredible glass canopy.
28:52Why such an impressive station that's clearly pushing the boundaries of engineering and architecture of the time?
28:59By the 1880s, the London Bright South Coast Rail, they wanted some dramatic statement about how successful they were.
29:07The massive glass canopy, or the glass roof sheds just in front of me here, really was a statement of change.
29:15And it was deliberately built to consciously encircle the old, original, elegant, understated Italian building.
29:25And the station itself, it wasn't just a sort of terminus station, was it?
29:29They were actually constructing trains here as well.
29:32Yes, there was a goods yard, there was a goods station, there was a locomotive works,
29:37there was an engineering and coach repair area as well.
29:41It was a really huge area.
29:43I don't think it's too much to say that Brighton was something of a railway town for a short period.
29:50I mean, all of those things coming together, you've got the trains coming in, you've got this incredible structure,
29:55you've got trains being repaired, built, shipped, dispatched.
29:59That must have been the equivalent of having an enormous car manufacturing plan, but focused on the railways.
30:07Yes, and it was dramatic, and it was really large and special, and it attracted workers from all over the country.
30:15But it also, as a station, was a big feature of Brighton.
30:20Now that I've seen the upstairs of the station, I get to sneak off to one of the station's hidden spots.
30:34Like City, I also have my own special entrance, thanks to Rob, who knows this station better than anyone else.
30:42Rob!
30:44Come on in.
30:45How are you doing?
30:47How are you doing?
30:48How are you doing?
30:49So this is where they keep you?
30:51I'm here 24 hours a day.
30:52These tunnels are incredible.
30:54What were they originally built for?
30:56Well, they weren't originally a tunnel.
30:58This was the outside of the station in 1840, and this was a pathway up to the back of the station.
31:05And it wasn't until later that they were actually covered over.
31:09I could see why you spend so much time down here.
31:12I get the excitement from you.
31:14And this, it's impressive upstairs, but looking now at what they've achieved down there, oh my God.
31:20And right on top of all of this incredibly dense engineering, you've just got the delicate timber of the platform.
31:28Yeah.
31:29So yeah, there's the walkway there, there's the platforms along there, and you slightly lose your bearings in here.
31:37It gets even spookier, doesn't it, as you come along here.
31:43This was the original cab road for the horse-drawn carriages to come into the station.
31:49Over the years, it's been built over and hidden beneath the station's many expansions.
31:56But one of the interesting things that you can see along here, there's some ruts in the wall there.
32:03Now that was for, you had horse and carriages queuing, waiting to get onto platform.
32:09So instead of using their brake or getting the horses anxious, they'd rest the wheel back on the brick wall and use it as a brake.
32:16And that's just made these lovely scallop marks in the wall.
32:19Yes, and they run all the way down this wall.
32:22Yeah, just waiting to pick up passengers like taxis do nowadays.
32:26Fantastic.
32:31No, not the end.
32:33Not quite the end, but almost.
32:36Yeah, it was breeze blocked up, but it does go then out to platform one seven and eight.
32:41And then the taxis could go out to the front of the station and off down Queens Road down to the seafront.
32:48Completing the loop.
32:49Yeah.
32:54From day trippers to modern festival goers, Brighton has always been more than a stop.
33:00It's a place where journeys begin, memories are made, and the sea is just a few steps away.
33:07As the trains roll in and out, Brighton timelessly and proudly brings its heritage into its present day.
33:17Back in beautiful Norfolk, I'm on a short trip from Sheringham to Weibhorn Station.
33:32This is essentially a coastal line.
33:34Look at the sea.
33:35It's fabulous.
33:37What a lovely experience.
33:51Weibhorn Station was opened in 1901.
33:54Built by a local craftsman, it's been described as an Edwardian masterpiece.
34:00And I can see why.
34:02I've seen a lot of the lane and who runs it, but now I have the privilege to learn just how it's all controlled.
34:16Simon.
34:17Yes.
34:18Hello, I'm Si.
34:19Very nice to meet you.
34:20Good morning, Si.
34:21Good morning.
34:22So this is the signal box?
34:23Yes.
34:24Yep.
34:25So there's a lot of levers.
34:26Yep.
34:27We control the direction the trains move, either into one platform or the other, via the points.
34:32OK.
34:33And the signals give the driver the authority to move towards the next signal.
34:38So that's the train leaving Sheringham, so we need to send in two bells back.
34:43So you want to press the button back twice.
34:46OK.
34:47OK.
34:48OK.
34:49So that's the train on its way.
34:52We've said, great, thank you very much.
34:55Yep.
34:56So we now need to signal the train into the platform.
34:58Grooms.
34:59So the first thing we need is a lever cloth.
35:01Lever cloth.
35:02The teetail.
35:03Which is the teetail.
35:04Yeah, you see.
35:05Yeah.
35:06Well then you see.
35:07We have the signal diagram above, that shows us where the signals are.
35:10Oh dear.
35:11So in this case, the first one we need to move is number 28.
35:14And we need to press the platform one button above it at the same time.
35:18Right.
35:19So press the button and pull lever 28.
35:24And now lever 29.
35:29Oh, that's stiffer.
35:30Why is that?
35:31It is.
35:32It's further away.
35:33Oh yeah, of course.
35:34Yeah.
35:35Because it's mechanical.
35:36Of course, yeah.
35:37We just need to go and get the token off the driver.
35:39I put my teetail down.
35:41The token system was developed by Henry Woodhouse in the 19th century.
35:46It was invented to prevent collisions with other trains on single track lines.
35:52The token is a physical object the driver of a train entering a single track line must be in possession of.
35:59This train received a token at Sheringham.
36:03And now hands it off to Simon when it enters Waybone Station.
36:07And there's the token off the driver.
36:09So it's literally just you hold your hand out and he just does that.
36:13Yeah.
36:14Just drops it onto you.
36:16Which isn't too bad when he's coming past at this speed.
36:19He's coming through at 10, 15 miles an hour.
36:21Right.
36:22They can come with you at quite a thump.
36:24Quite a thump.
36:26That's an understatement.
36:27Yes.
36:28There's about half a ton of metal in that.
36:29Yeah.
36:31I'll follow you.
36:32Right.
36:37Now our driver needs a different token to continue safely onto the next station.
36:42But first, I need to change some points.
36:45Yes.
36:46So we need to put the point lock back in.
36:49Number nine.
36:50Trains have been controlled by mechanical signal boxes since 1843.
36:55Change the points, which is number 10.
36:59All right.
37:00Surprisingly, they're still fairly common throughout the UK.
37:05And then get the token out for the train to go towards Holt.
37:13Now that we have the next token for the driver, we need to clear some more signals.
37:18So, back to the end of the frame.
37:20Yeah.
37:22Leaving number 27.
37:24Leave another 20.
37:25Start up.
37:26Yeah.
37:30And then number 26.
37:3226, boss.
37:34Key token?
37:35Yes.
37:36Yep.
37:37It's all happening here.
37:39I never thought a tea towel was so useful.
37:41Yep.
37:42And then this needs to go to the driver.
37:45OK.
37:48Are we doing that?
37:49We're doing that.
37:50Great.
37:52Where's the driver?
37:54Somewhere near his engine.
37:55Oh, that fellow there.
37:56Great.
37:57Smashing.
37:58Platform one.
37:59Get in.
38:00Right.
38:01I'm off with my token.
38:02This is the driver.
38:03Hello, Bob.
38:04How are you?
38:05Nice to meet you.
38:06Yeah, and there's your token.
38:07Thank you very much, sir.
38:08Not at all.
38:09Have a safe journey.
38:11No, I'm not sure at this point where I need to be.
38:16Whether I need to be here or back in the...
38:19I'll go back to the signal box.
38:24And that's it.
38:25That's it?
38:26His way.
38:27He's on his way.
38:28We're checking the train as it leads.
38:30Making sure all the doors are closed correctly.
38:32There's nothing hanging or rattling or any unusual noises.
38:36No.
38:37Any reason to stop the train.
38:39So we're checking everything is safe as part of our duties here.
38:44And we're checking.
38:45It's got a tail lamp on the back.
38:47So we know that the train is complete.
38:49Well, that's brilliant.
38:51Absolutely brilliant.
38:53I must confess that that was highly confusing and really rather stressful.
39:06It's like a swan.
39:07It's like a swan.
39:09You know, the train's running backwards and forwards beautifully on the track.
39:14It means that you have such a huge amount of effort and work that goes on behind the scenes to kind of keep that motion going.
39:24It's remarkable.
39:26Remarkable.
39:27Really privileged to see it.
39:33Before I get the train back, there's just one more stop for me.
39:37I have to visit the beating heart of the station.
39:40The whole railway looks seamless, but this is where the graft happens, isn't it?
39:46This is where you keep them on the rails.
39:48That's what gives us all the buzz.
40:02Heading further afield in the UK is Derry-Londonderry's Northwest Transport Home.
40:07It is one of the most scenic railway lines in Northern Ireland.
40:12The route offers breathtaking views of the coastline, while the station itself provides vital links to the city and a welcoming community space.
40:21It takes many people to keep the station running and Mark is one of those at the centre of it all.
40:28My role entails being responsible for the customer services side of the northern area for Northern Ireland Railways.
40:34So the Northwest Transport Hub sits in its location right beside Loch Foyle.
40:40It also sits on the doorstep of the Peace Bridge.
40:45London Derry is a city that takes great pride in itself, as Northern Ireland's second city,
40:52from commuters to holidaymakers to students to even local football and sports teams utilising the station.
40:59So this station plays a huge part in keeping the city moving.
41:02Another key contributor to the development of the station is Michelle.
41:08This railway station is really special.
41:12Waterside Station was opened in 1874, replacing an earlier station that was built in 1852 when the railway arrived in Derry.
41:19It's the very last surviving Victorian Terminus Station in the north of Ireland, and it is in a beautiful setting.
41:28When you walk inside, you're hit by the space, about how it has been modernised and about the passenger facilities.
41:36It's a warm, inviting space. You know, people are happy to come to the station, even if they're not using public transport.
41:44And they can sit and they can look out the window, have a coffee and actually watch the river go by.
41:50From the riverside views of Derry Londonderry to the Norfolk coast, it's all stunning.
42:01Back in marvellous Weybourne, one stop away from Sheringham, I'm meeting some of the talent that keeps the poppy line running.
42:10Gentlemen. Hi, I'm Sy. Nice to meet you. Hello, Sy. Hi. Hi, I'm Keith. I'm the chief engineer. Nice to meet you, Keith.
42:21Hi, I'm Dylan. I'm one of the apprentices. Hiya, Dylan. I'm Daniel. I'm another apprentice here.
42:25Oh, well done, lads. Well done. Welcome to our engineering emporium. It's fabulous, isn't it?
42:31What is the thing you do here? Why? Well, I mean, here, in the running shed, we maintain the low coast.
42:37Every 28 days, we stop. We wash the boilers out thoroughly. They're all thoroughly inspected, check for any wastage, cracks.
42:44We re-box it up, refill the boiler, put the water treatment in, and it's ready for another 28-day cycle.
42:50The whole railway looks seamless, but this is where the graft happens, isn't it? This is where you keep them on the rails.
42:56Yeah, that's what makes, that's what gives us all the buzz. And what, lads, what, what was it?
43:01Because in the digital age, you don't expect lads your age to want to get dirty with spanners and big bits of machinery.
43:09What was it that you, that you just loved that attracted you to this opportunity?
43:13It was just that. The opportunity to get hands-on, get dirty and get involved.
43:18Right? Yeah, like, um, sitting at a computer or an office all day just doesn't appease me. I'm much for hands-on work.
43:23And it's so important that you guys do it because, Keith, it's another generation that you're giving a skill set to, to keep it alive, right?
43:30Exactly right. I mean, one of the things I wanted to introduce was an apprenticeship training scheme.
43:34Yeah. Because you need people with the right skills and the right attitude that can handle and deal with those sort of working environments.
43:41So we decided we grow our own through an apprenticeship.
43:44It's brilliant, Keith.
43:45It is a real pleasure and an honour to lead the team that we have here.
43:49And they've got some really good, cracking members of the engineering team.
43:55Atmosphere, camaraderie, plenty of banter.
43:58Aye, I bet, I bet, I bet, I bet until you get some stick, boys, do you?
44:02Oh, yeah.
44:04You can always tell when they've settled if they start giving you back.
44:06Ah, yeah, that's it. The lads are in, the lads are in.
44:09It definitely feels like there's a really lovely, bright future and that's great.
44:16Fancy a cover?
44:17We'll get you a mug of engineer's tea then.
44:18Come on, I've missed a mug of engineer's tea.
44:20I'll follow you lads, I don't know where I'm going.
44:22I'll follow you lads, I'll follow you lads, I'll follow you lads, I'll follow you lads.
44:36To end the day, I've come back to splendid Sheringham to be by the sea.
44:42What a great day here in Sheringham.
44:45Two different railways with two very different stories.
44:50You have the Bitten Line bringing people here directly to the coastline
44:54and then you have the wonderful North Norfolk Railway.
44:58Keeping the heritage of steam and that golden age alive.
45:04I've met volunteers, I've met engineers and I've met signalmen.
45:08All working together as a community to keep the place running.
45:12Providing a time capsule of history that anyone can visit and experience.
45:19And then there's the seaside.
45:22The fresh Norfolk air, the promenade, the beach huts.
45:28The people having a splash and a laugh in the water.
45:33But the railways didn't just bring visitors, it actually shaped this town.
45:38And it's proof, isn't it, that railway stations aren't just places to catch a train.
45:45They're part of our community and transport us to some of the most beautiful places in Britain.
45:52Next time stations that are much more than just a transport hub.
46:07The years we've been forming bonds with these remarkable places.
46:11What keeps that passion about railway stations and exploring green futures.
46:18So you've got a building that's carbon neutral effectively.
46:21The king's east.
46:22The king's east side of the road.
46:23Theamı and east side of the road.
46:24Then there are many of the east behind forests
46:27so that our city has been combined with our city successfully.
46:29The kursuit.
46:31The king's east, the shore of the ì—¬ lonely station.
46:34The king's east.
46:36The king's east, the king's east, the king's east.
46:39The king's east, the king's east is west.
46:41The king's east and east is south, the king's east.
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