| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 512.1 | Any train buffs out there ? | KERNEL::SHELLEYR | There are always options | Tue Nov 26 1991 14:39 | 4 |
| I undersatand that there used to be a line down to Viables from
Basingstoke station. I don't know where it went.
Roy
|
| 512.2 | | KERNEL::MENDELSOHN | Greg Mendelsohn, Programming Support | Tue Nov 26 1991 15:35 | 13 |
|
It went from Basingstoke to Alton, via the bit of railway that has
got marooned in the middle of the Viables roundabout.
You can see where it crossed the Farleigh Rd (B3046) going into
Cliddesden as the right hand side of the railway bridge still exists
there.
From there it went up a shallow hill to the old station in Cliddesden
and then onto Alton with stations at a few more villages imbetween
(I suppose)...
Greg
|
| 512.3 | For more info ... | KERNEL::FLANDERSD | Boogie my speakers away | Wed Nov 27 1991 09:02 | 8 |
|
If you were to frequent the wine bar in the Viables Craft Centre
(called Porters), you would find that their menus have details of the
old railway line from Basingstoke to Alton, and also about a film which
was made around the Viables railway staion in c.1937.
It seems that the railway never made much money and was removed in
about 1950.
|
| 512.4 | Oh Mr Porter What Shall We Do etc etc. | KERNEL::OSBORNE | | Wed Nov 27 1991 15:18 | 9 |
| The film in question was something like; "Oh Mr Porter", and there was
a song from that film which was very popular during those times.
The film was focused around a railway bridge which stood where the
underpass from Cranbourne Lane goes to the center of the said
roundabout. I have a feeling that Will Hay or something like that was
the star of the film.
Dave
|
| 512.5 | | COMICS::WEGG | When the snowman brings the snow | Thu Nov 28 1991 09:25 | 14 |
| "Oh Mr. Porter" did star Will Hay and was made in 1937, I have a copies
of almost all of Will Hay's films - there's an admission!
The story was set in Northern Ireland but actually filmed at a piece
of line in the South of England that had just closed. It may well have
been the one at Viables - a friend of mine knows exactly where but he
has moved to New Zealand and I'm reluctant to ring him to ask. I do
know that the station mentioned in Will Hay's biography is NOT the
correct one.
If none of the previous repliers object, I'll cross-post this note
in the Industrial Archaeology conference (SILK::IND_ARCH).
Ian.
|
| 512.6 | nit picking | KERNEL::SHELLEYR | There are always options | Thu Nov 28 1991 11:57 | 5 |
| Interesting stuff. I noticed a slight conflict Ian in Dave's earlier
reply. He mentioned that the line was closed in the 1950's but the film
used a line that had just closed in 1937 ????
Roy
|
| 512.7 | Quite right to pick nits - my excuses... | KERNEL::FLANDERSD | Boogie my speakers away | Thu Nov 28 1991 12:41 | 9 |
|
I could very easily be wrong about the closure dates (I was repeating
them from slightly inhebriated memory). The information came from the
menu at Porters wine bar (named after the Oh Mr. Porter film I
believe). In the wine bar they do also have maps of the old line with
stations at Cliddesden adn Lasham (and maybe 1 or 2 others) and also
the timetables and some posters
Dave
|
| 512.8 | | COMICS::WEGG | When the snowman brings the snow | Fri Nov 29 1991 09:19 | 17 |
| Curiosity got the better of me, and I called my friend in New
Zealand this morning.
The line was built very late (about 1899) and dismantled during
the 1st World War. The track was relaid after the war, by public
demand, and the line continued to be used until about 1935.
The station at Lasham still exists and appears to be a scrapyard
now, you can see it from the A339.
The line was indeed used for scenes in the film "Oh Mr. Porter!".
The engine used in the film, "Gladstone", was borrowed from the
Kent and East Sussex Railway. I've seen this film dozens of times,
and to find out I've been driving parallel to the old tracks every
morning for the last 3� years has come as a bit of a surprise!
Ian.
|
| 512.9 | And...... | ODDONE::PAYNE_R | | Fri Nov 29 1991 13:34 | 7 |
| AND....
THE OLD STATION AT CLIDDESDEN IS STILL THERE !!!, BUT ONLY THE
PLATFORM, THIS STATION IS /WAS THE ONE USED IN TH "PORTER" FILM.
RICHARD (who is far to young to remember, but my dad can!!)
|
| 512.10 | | KERNEL::SHELLEYR | There are always options | Fri Nov 29 1991 14:05 | 8 |
| �THE OLD STATION AT CLIDDESDEN IS STILL THERE !!!
Theres no need to shout.
Is this station visible from the road or accessable, as I wouldn't mind
checking it out sometime.
Roy
|
| 512.11 | | KERNEL::MENDELSOHN | Greg Mendelsohn, Programming Support | Fri Nov 29 1991 18:02 | 15 |
|
You can see what remains of Cliddesden station from the road, but
I don't you can get into it. I think it is now a private house.
As far as directions are concerned, drive through Cliddesden from the
Alton Road, past the Jolly Farmer. Turn left at the pond, and follow
the road to a fork. Turn left again.
That should get you near there. Sorry to be vague, but at this exact
moment I can't think how to _drive_ there. I have only passed it
whilst walking across fields...
I'll drive past it tomorrow (its only around the corner)
Greg.
|
| 512.12 | Oh, Mr. Porter! | COMICS::WEGG | Some hard boiled eggs & some nuts. | Wed Apr 29 1992 14:17 | 7 |
| There's a chance to glimpse the Alton to Basingstoke line
and Cliddesden Station as it was in 1937.
BBC2 are showing "Oh, Mr. Porter!" on bank holiday Monday
4th May, at 8.20am.
Ian.
|