Shanklin to Ventnor Trackbed Tour

Description

A look at the features of Shanklin station starts off this film, with particular attention paid to the disused platforms.

Thereafter, the track bed is cycled, taking in all the remaining features, all the way to Wroxall.

On reaching Wroxall, a branch of Travis Perkins is found to be occupying the station site. Having made friends with the storemen there and allowed them to have a go on the bike, access is gained to their warehouse, in which there are platform remains to be seen. A building which used to be the station hotel (unusually built on the platform) is also taken in, as is the site of the old goods yard with its decaying industrial buildings still standing.

South of Wroxall, the track bed is walked as far as possible, with a short detour around a private nature reserve. A hop over the fence at Manor road bridge sees a short walk along the final few yards to the northern portal of Ventnor tunnel.

An energetic scramble up St Boniface down shows where the two tunnel ventilation shafts were sited (only one now remaining). A view of Ventnor station is also seen from high on the hill with the help of a zoom lens. The film closes with the camera bolted to the roof of a car, travelling the length of Ventnor station site until reaching the southern portal of the tunnel.

From 20/5/12, the addition of a filmed walk through Ventnor tunnel is included. This footage was shot in 2002 by Mr Philip Lindhurst and kindly donated to complete this film. The spectacular length of the tunnel is appreciated along with a rare view up the ventilation shaft, the top of which was seen earlier in the film. The workings in use by the water company are also seen along the way before the walkers emerge into the daylight at the northern end of the tunnel.

Includes constant, well-informed commentary throughout and reference to a vintage map.