Episodes
Episode 1 - Castleman’s Corkscrew (Tx 13/4/08)
Undoubtedly one of the most scenic railway routes in Hampshire. It ran from Brockenhurst to Hamworthy and was part of the original Southampton to Dorchester route. In this episode Hannah walks the part known as the ‘Old Road’, passing through the picturesque New Forest between Brockenhurst and Ringwood. She joins an entertaining brother and sister act revisiting their childhood home, talks to a driver of the Bournemouth Belle and hears of a grisly murder of a gatekeeper in the 1800’s.
Episode 2 - Longmoor Military Railway (Tx 20/4/08)
Longmoor Military Railway ran from Bordon to Liss in Hampshire. Originally built to house troops returning from the Boer War, Longmoor Camp grew to become the largest training railway in the world. Hannah walks part of the track that has been converted into a walkway and cycle path. She is joined by artist, conservationist and train enthusiast David Shepherd, amongst others, as she unravels memories from their past.
Episode 3 - Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway (Tx 27/4/08)
The Somerset & Dorset railway swept through some breathtaking scenery along the route from Bath to Bournemouth, and was known fondly as the ‘Swift and Delightful’. It was one of the most controversial Beeching closures and attracts a sense of outrage even now. Today, sections of the route have been turned into a Trailway a multipurpose pathway for just about everyone, and in this episode Hannah walks along parts of it between Sturminster Newton and Spetisbury. She is joined by a former British Rail employee involved in the closures and meets someone who is passionately negotiating with landowners to re-open it for public use.
Episode 4 - The Hawkhurst Branch (Tx 4/5/08)
This branchline ran from Paddock Wood to Hawkurst in Kent, passing through deeply wooded valleys and hilltop villages. During this episode Hannah will be retracing the steps of hop pickers who used to come here in their droves; she will be hearing from those who used to ride the line, and meets an amusing husband and wife team, who live in the original station house at Cranbrook.
Episode 5 - Meon Valley Rail (Tx 11/5/08)
The Meon Valley line was built in 1903 and stretched across undulating countryside from Alton to Fareham in Hampshire. Hannah covers the area between West Meon and Wickham where the trackbed has been turned into and official footpath. Along the way she hears about how world leaders met at Droxford station during the planning of the D-Day landings and visits a haunted tunnel in the middle of the night.
Episode 6 - East Kent Railway (Tx 18/5/08)
This episode features the railway built by a group of Kent colliery owners. Hannah attempts to unearth traces of this railway with the help of those who worked and travelled on the line. She takes a look at what remains of some of the collieries and hears from men who used to work there, drawing comparisons to the closures of the coal mines to the closure of the railway line. She begins her journey on a train at Shepherdswell station and finally emerges along a track at Wingham, Canterbury Road, having visited many places of interest along the way.
Episode 7 - Sprat & Winkle (Tx 15/6/08)
This line ran from Southampton to Andover via Romsey in Hampshire. It was built more or less along the course of the Andover Canal, which can still be seen in parts. Nowadays it has been converted into a 9 mile trail, and passes through the stunning valley of the River Test, arguable the best trout river in Southern England. Hannah visits the beautifully restored Horsebridge Station, meets a former signalman in Stockbridge and walks with a man who has the fondest of childhood memories, (including elephants), travelling up and down the line.
Episode 8 - Isle of Wight (Tx 22/6/08)
Many of the closed lines on the Isle of Wight have been turned into public walks and cycle trails. In this episode Hannah is joined by a former steam engine driver on a train from Ryde Pier to Shanklin. She attempts to find parts of the line that took holiday makers to the seaside town of Ventnor. She cycles along the estuary at Freshwater and talks to Paul Atterbury about his search for lost lines.
