Paul Merton, Secret Stations

[thejuggler]

Does anyone know where that stretch of line was just before the 2nd or 3rd advert break ? The train looked to be going through a hole in a cliff above a road

Possibly the West Highland line, just east of Beasdale where the railway is close to the A830.

 

[craigybagel]

Week 1 - Attadale, Drigg, Silecroft, Ferryside, St Keyne Wishing Well Halt

Week 2 - Beasdale, St Andrews Road, Braystones, Newton St Cyres, Pontarddulais

Week 3 - ?????

He visited at least two other locations in the Heart of Wales (Pen y Bont and Knucklas), did they appear in week 2?

 

[GarethJohn]

I've enjoyed these programmes done in Paul's inimitable style, despite the continuity errors. I believe he is doing Reddish South and probably won't want to wait a week for the next train.

Not sure where the total of 152 of request stops has come from as the list does change from time to time, with some stations added and others becoming compulsory stops. I believe St. Andrew's Road ceased to be a request stop two years ago and the programmes were certainly made more recently than that as we saw the loco-hauled sets on the Cumbrian coast.

What ''Continuity errors''? They film him on a Train, film trains on that line and then ones that stop at the station and a few narrations added on from a studio.
Whats missing? Do you expect numerous Camera crews out filming each train from the inside, from the platform as he catches/gets off it, a few more along the route and one in the Helicopter.
This is a similar program to Portillo's where the destination and the ride is the subject and not the Train. Those programs last about one series filmed by obscure SKY channels that few watch.

 

[crispy1978]

He visited at least two other locations in the Heart of Wales (Pen y Bont and Knucklas), did they appear in week 2?

If he did, not in any detail - he got off at Burnley Barracks as well, but again no feature was made of the station or surrounding area.

 

[Harbornite]

I enjoyed watching this programme on C4 I player and i am looking forward to the rest of the series.

However, I do wish some of the spotters would understand that TV prpogrammes about trains aren't made for their consumption. They are made for the average man or woman in the street who want sot watch an interesting and enjoyable programme. They don't care if the wrong train is cut into a joining sequence.

Good point. Anyway there was footage of BR blue and DRS 37s so that should suffice for some people.

 

[richw]

I've enjoyed these programmes done in Paul's inimitable style, despite the continuity errors. I believe he is doing Reddish South and probably won't want to wait a week for the next train.

Not sure where the total of 152 of request stops has come from as the list does change from time to time, with some stations added and others becoming compulsory stops. I believe St. Andrew's Road ceased to be a request stop two years ago and the programmes were certainly made more recently than that as we saw the loco-hauled sets on the Cumbrian coast.

He's working from the book mentioned earlier in the thread. I'm guessing that it's a few years old

 

[Parallel]

I've enjoyed these programmes done in Paul's inimitable style, despite the continuity errors.

Indeed, I appreciate that it's made for the typical viewer rather than a railway enthusiast, but it did make me laugh when he was on a GWR 143 that appeared to be travelling on a rural line in Scotland

 

[DarloRich]

Good point. Anyway there was footage of BR blue and DRS 37s so that should suffice for some people.

it will do for me

 

[crispy1978]

I've enjoyed these programmes done in Paul's inimitable style, despite the continuity errors. I believe he is doing Reddish South and probably won't want to wait a week for the next train.

Not sure where the total of 152 of request stops has come from as the list does change from time to time, with some stations added and others becoming compulsory stops. I believe St. Andrew's Road ceased to be a request stop two years ago and the programmes were certainly made more recently than that as we saw the loco-hauled sets on the Cumbrian coast.

Wikipedia shows 148 request stops at the moment.

 

[backontrack]

Burnley Barracks could be stop no. 4...

 

[Parallel]

Wikipedia shows 148 request stops at the moment.

St. Andrews Road is not listed in the timetables or on station departure boards at Bristol Temple Meads or Clifton Down as a request stop any longer, but rather confusingly First still have a sign up at the station saying that it is a request stop and to signal clearly to the driver...

Gowerton is also no longer a request stop.

 

[IanD]

However, I do wish some of the spotters would understand that TV prpogrammes about trains aren't made for their consumption. They are made for the average man or woman in the street who want sot watch an interesting and enjoyable programme. They don't care if the wrong train is cut into a joining sequence.

It's not even about trains. The train bits are just a device to link the various adventures of Mr Merton.

I'm enjoying the series though. I'm an enthusiast but don't give a monkeys about any continuity errors.

 

[Busaholic]

So do I. A lot has happened there than many people know - even the locals.

Wycliffe and the Body in the Saltings, the working title of the book the author W.J. Burley was working on at his death!

 

[backontrack]

Personally, I think that the request stop feature seems completely arbitrary and unnecessary, unlike in the book, which gave it an actual purpose. It seemed much more like a journey in the book. And in Portillo's programme, there's some sort of theme for each journey at least - something that links theme together - and the Bradshaw element doesn't seem unnecessary.

 

[Kite159]

Wikipedia shows 148 request stops at the moment.

Well on that list, I know Avoncliff is no longer a request stop, and the same with Bearley.

------

Anyhow, another good episode I found, a wide range of request stops featured. Although when I did Reddish South to Denton last December, there was nobody else around Reddish South

 

[theblackwatch]

I mentioned it to the guard anyway - I had heard stories of them otherwise just reversing in their "normal" location

That happened to me a number of years ago - I deliberately caught a train from Looe that was booked to stop at the station so I could 'get the track in the book'. I was a bit miffed when it stopped at the junction itself and reversed there.

Not to be outdone, on my next visit a few years later, I walked from Liskeard to Coombe Junction station to board the train there, thus forcing the unit to come up to the platform to pick me up.

 

[richw]

That happened to me a number of years ago - I deliberately caught a train from Looe that was booked to stop at the station so I could 'get the track in the book'. I was a bit miffed when it stopped at the junction itself and reversed there.

Not to be outdone, on my next visit a few years later, I walked from Liskeard to Coombe Junction station to board the train there, thus forcing the unit to come up to the platform to pick me up.

Certainly wouldn't want to walk the other way. The area around Coombe junction is quite pleasant. The footbridge at the end is good for getting photos of mainline trains on the viaduct,

I've rather enjoyed all the landmarks and organisations he has visited, the Asda warehouse was interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes that we don't even think of.
I'm getting redundant end of June with new job starting late August, so I may well go off and explore around smaller stations in the Devon and Cornwall area to see what's around. I'd never considered getting off the train at say Menheniot or st Germans before despite them being 10-15 mins from me, I may go exploring in my 7 weeks of unemployment,

 

[Crossover]

Well, I walked the other way...I didn't do my research!

 

[richw]

Well, I walked the other way...I didn't do my research!

I applaud you, that is a rather steep hill!

 

[CharlieSpotted]

I've often wondered if there's any merit in just getting off at some local stations (not necessarily request stops) on local routes just to have a wander around and see what's around.

I commute from Wolverhampton to Birmingham every day, often on the local stopper services, and yet I have no idea what Tipton or Smethwick (etc.) are like. Seems like a bit of a shame.

 

[craigybagel]

I've often wondered if there's any merit in just getting off at some local stations (not necessarily request stops) on local routes just to have a wander around and see what's around.

I commute from Wolverhampton to Birmingham every day, often on the local stopper services, and yet I have no idea what Tipton or Smethwick (etc.) are like. Seems like a bit of a shame.

You're really not missing much......

 

[crispy1978]

Good series, albeit a bit short at only three episodes. Hopefully a second series will be commissioned, as there is still plenty to explore (Cambrian Coast, Far North, Conwy Valley, North Wales, etc) - quite enjoyed it, although sometimes felt some of it was a bit rushed - fitting 6 places in to an hour with adverts means each place only got 6-7-8 minutes of coverage at times.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

You're really not missing much......

Probably not, particularly on this route, but the point is when you're passing through these places, you just don't know, do you?

 

[craigybagel]

Probably not, particularly on this route, but the point is when you're passing through these places, you just don't know, do you?

Fair point.

 

[Crossover]

I applaud you, that is a rather steep hill!

Yes, I found that soon after! Was also more concerned when I paused to let a full length articulated lorry pass me heading down the hill - I really hope he knew where he was going! There will be a trip report at some stage - not had much chance to write one yet for various reasons

 

[as1981]

Did anyone else thinking that showing him standing on the track wasn't a good idea (at the YTA hostel stop)? There probably isn't anything else coming on that line but it wouldn't surprise me if someone copies the idea on a busier line.

 

[Cletus]

Were the brothers in Manchester forum members?

 

[Parallel]

Well, I walked the other way...I didn't do my research!

I've alighted at Coombe Junction and walked back up to Liskeard too - But I studied at Aberystwyth so am used to steep hills!

 

[richw]

I've often wondered if there's any merit in just getting off at some local stations (not necessarily request stops) on local routes just to have a wander around and see what's around.

.

I've been thinking about doing the same. My commuting covers me near enough along the entire Cornish main line, yet I've never visited St Germans, Lostwithiel or Saltash,
I'm being made redundant soon, and although secured work it doesn't start until 6 weeks after my redundancy date, so I will have plenty of time to do some exploring soon!
Google maps suggests St Germans isn't far from the coast path, and maybe a 2-3 hour walk from Looe, so maybe I will do a St Germans to Looe walk soon.

 

[Strat-tastic]

Were the brothers in Manchester forum members?

ZZ Top!