BTF John Betjeman goes by train

[DADRENO]

Correction to comment below -

I first arrived in Norfolk March 3rd 1958 via this line, disembarking at Heacham, from where I walked, with kitbag to my new posting at RAF Bircham Newton.

Later, I discovered that my new girl-friend's dad was signalman/porter etc. at Snettisham.

Pleasant Memories of the early fifties.

[arrivayorkshire]

one of my all time favourite short films.

i love it and sir john is definitely a hero of mine :-) "were leaving the london line,you see-from kingggsss lynn,to hunstanton" superb :-)

anyone who enjoyed it should consider the purchase of the BTf boxed sets,fantastic series well worth it.this film appears on vol1

[DADRENO]

I first arrived in Norfolk via this line, disembarking at Heacham from where I walked, with kitbag to my new posting at RAF Bircham Newton. Later I discovered that my new girl[friend's dad was signalman/porter etc. at Anettisham. Pleasant Memories of the early fifties.

[vegas2004]

Fantastic watching that!

[jeffs0de]

absolutely marvellous,Ilive by the old railway line & wish that the trains still ran! What a sacrilege and rape of britain that allowed the destruction of britains great heritage of inter village links. an absolute dissaster in the name of finance saving, shame on the Government.

[schmidtee]

people who watch this should check out my profile for a documentary about the rail line :)

[kevster61]

Thanks for posting this. I grew up in the early 60's (born 1961) in 'Hunston' and remember the station. As far as I know I don't think I ever used the line and sadly it all closed I think in 1969. Wolverton station is now a private house but looks very nice all the same - the spirit of the line and station has been well preserved.

Please do not remove this footage - so sad it all gave way for the buses.

[dan205]

Most old school norfolk folk call it Hunston for some reason, never got why though, it's one of the first things that I remember after moving here.

It's clearly Hunstanton though, I guess a Norfolk accent saying it quickly though would sound like Hunston.

[DADRENO]

Yes - I remember it pronounced that way by the locals. Hunston was easier to say!

[THERESALWAYSSOMEONE]

I go there each year and find that these days the 'kids' don't speak the Norfolk tongue any more! Shame.

[crazyh0rse]

I was born in Lincolnshire and we were told that the locals pronounced it Hunston. Obviously some did and some didn't. Just like some people pronounce Wisbech as Wisbeach, and others Wisbeck. Isn't the UK fun?

[florhand]

A classic film I hadn't yet seen (though always wanted to)- thank you!!!

[PMDVD]

JB did another programme about the line to the coast from Evercreech.

[Fairypoppy]

Brilliant as ever Betjeman at his best,thank you for sharing.

[countrycaravanner]

Absolutely brilliant - brought back many happy memories of travelling on the steam train to Kings Lynn and back to Hunston everyday in the 60's

[Kinitawowi]

This line fell under Beeching 11 years before I was born, but my father was always fascinated by it and, at one point, was interested in campaigning to have it reopened. Good to see what he was fussing about.

[markimark03]

this is such a lovely video :O). it fills me with love for my county and my region and my country :). English people are fundamentally peaceful and nice after all. just take them to the coast of norfolk and they'll realise how much they like peace after all!

[markimark03]

i've never heard hunstanton pronounced as "hunston" and i'm a norfolk boy! although, he's right about snettisham being pronounced "snetsham"

[Kinitawowi]

I lived in Hunstanton for 18 years and I've definitely heard that. I snagged a book out of the library about it - apparently it's local laziness, which also creates Snetsham and also weird shortenings of Dersingham. Possibly responsible for syllable drops in Ingoldisthorpe as well.

[markimark03]

in fact, i take that back, i checked with my mother and she says all her aunts always used to say Hunston. it makes sense really. i love norfolk place names and their random pronunciations... we used to live in wymondham (pronounced windam), and that's near to Costessey (pronounced carssey)!

[zoet07]

I would love to see "Metroland" on YouTube.Maybe another fan of JB has a copy.

[01276]

Metroland could be up within the next month then, got a copy all ready to be burnt to computer then uploaded. I'll let you know when I put it up

[Isidore98]

What I like about this is that it includes the ordinary things. Flash pictures of steam engines have nothing on this evocative film ... Notice how many staff are around... And by the way it can be Hun'stun - to say it like that is regarded as old-fashioned, but Betjamin is correct.

[Nilgob]

"Deliciously, and unexpectingly, there's a poster which says come to Bavaria"

Immaculate!

[Deltic9]

Fantastic stuff, a wonderful window into a long forgotten past. Nostalgic? maybe, but somehow I feel films like this hold a key to the future so much more than Sir John may ever have even dared to hope for. Terrific to see this, am I the only one that watched this more than once.

[PetrCechNo1]

Its Weird To Think That Back Then The Station At Lynn Was HUGE But Now Its Just Nothing :( Also Its HUNSTANTON Not HUNSTON As He Said

[movement26]

Beautiful short film showing England in days gone by.Thankyou 01276

[SteffanLlwyd]

When global warming really kicks folks are going to have to go by train again...even from Aberystwyth to Carmarthen?

[DADRENO]

Whatever happened to Bridget of Snettisham? Her dad was signalman/stationmaster/ticket­ collector.

[DADRENO]

Brilliant! I travelled this line 3rd March 1958 on my way to my first posting (Bircham Newton) as a National Serviced RAF policeman. Never before will you see it again! Alex

[thaberland]

Thankyou I use to ride the track when it was steam engine's what a lovley memory,

[JimTLonW6]

Agreed! Though it's a distinct surprise to see Sir John as anything other than a very old man!

[VixEpp]

What a wonderful, nostalgic, and completely different look at a journey to Hunstanton from King's Lynn! I loved this!