Guestbook – Dumpman's Films

Ian wrote on 5 November 2021 at 11:45 am

Hi dumpman. It's Ian thanks for the two dvds love um. The two lines have been in my life since the 50s my family lived in and around Reading so when we go to the south coast the coach would come down the road B3349 from Hook to alton or the road A339 from Basingstoke to alton. The bridge is gone now on the B and A line you showed were the two roads meet before butt's junction I can remember going under it. In the 70s a friend of mine who had a car who is a steam fan looked and walked some of the B and A line it's changed so much now. The Meon line the coach would go down the A32 road. I said one day I'll walk along it but haven't. But you've done it for me thanks. Just to say love well recorded and information of the two lines. Thanks. Stay safe.

N. Hobden wrote on 12 September 2021 at 6:58 pm

Hellingly hospital branch line railway....very interesting and considering I have walked past Hellingly station many times never knew about the branch line to the hospital..... just been around there and sadly both crossing gates are gone and you cannot see the rail marks in the road. Also found a small book on the history of the branch line with some great photos. Keep finding this stuff Chris it is so interesting. ? P.s. so was the article I found about how you got the nickname Dumpman..?

Steve McCombe wrote on 31 July 2021 at 8:41 am

Westerham Branch Line - Chris, many thanks for your excellent DVD and customer service. My father and uncle walked the line in the 1940s, and there are some videos on YouTube of the line in use, Alan Snowdon's 1958 film perhaps being the best. Dunton Green station was one of my locations for train spotting in the late 1960s and early 1970s when my grandparents lived in Otford. I first explored the branch line more than 50 years ago. I cycled to the Brasted station site, the main building still standing and long before the M25 was built. I then walked towards Chevening Halt through the main cutting and it was just so peaceful. Westerham station site was also visited, with the Crown Hotel opposite. The platform was still in place along with the base of the signal box plus various signal wires and other bits and pieces. At Dunton Green, the main station building was still in use, the disused branch platform being accessed from the up platform through a covered passageway. The branch line track in the station vicinity and three goods sidings were still in place, and my brother and I would play on that track as we knew the Mr Burgess who worked in the ticket office. Dunton Green signal box was still standing, with its lever frame and illuminated panel, and it closed in 1973. It was only used after 1962 if, for example, access to the goods sidings was required. During the construction of the A21 bypass in the 1960s I remember seeing goods wagons in the sidings being used on that project on one occasion. I visited Dunton Green again in 2015, walking from the former A21 bridge in Dunton Green for about three quarters of a mile along the route, including crossing that stream. The signal post base shown in your film may have been part of the abandoned project to install colour light signals on at least part of the branchline. A post for such a signal was installed at the exit to the branch in 1961 alongside the signal on the main line (photo in Dunton Green Station Gallery 3 on the really informative Disused Stations website) and was then removed. The Brasted station site shown in your video was particularly interesting along with the shots of the surviving sections of the route. Overall, it brought back some great memories from more than 50 years ago. Best wishes, Steve

Derek Hunt from Waterlooville wrote on 30 November 2020 at 6:30 pm

Just watch the Meon valley DVD, fantastic thoroughly enjoyed it,finally found out were the railway bridge crossed to A32, keep it up Regards Derek

Gary Cross from DARTFORD wrote on 9 August 2020 at 10:00 pm

Hi Chris, Just bought your Hawkhurst DVD set. Absolutely fantastic! Would highly recommend your films to others. Very nicely narrated with a touch of wry humour. A real treat! ***** Any thoughts on the Crab and Winkle Line?

David Farron from Bradwell wrote on 29 July 2020 at 10:21 am

Thank you for the IOW DVD brings back some childhood memories.

Chris Bedford wrote on 23 June 2020 at 7:53 pm

Steve Pilfold you genius ! Mr Pilfold has worked tirelessly to provide the continuation of this website for Dumpman Films. I am deeply deeply indebted to you sir.

Chris Bedford wrote on 10 June 2020 at 10:22 pm

Steve Pilfold, you a clever man, this website is looking great, I salute you.

Anonymous from The Internet wrote on 23 August 2019 at 10:46 am

Hi there 'dumpman1', We just had to contact you to say that your services are incredibly amazing! We only ordered your 'Weymouth Quay Line Travelled' DVD, yesterday (21st August 2019)!! Not only does the DVD arrive at the speed of light, we get a free gift/demo DVD, too! How do you do it 'dumpman1', when almost everyone else on eBay, can't?!? My wife and I lived in Parkstone, Poole, Dorset (about 30 miles away from Weymouth) for over 45 years.Over the coming months we will be purchasing your other 'Dorset' DVD documentaries. We wish all eBay sellers were as good as you, 'dumpman1'!! With kindest regards from, your amazed customers, Ian & Judith Rabjohns

Raymond Robert pickett from The Internet wrote on 10 August 2019 at 4:17 pm

Hi, just watched your film on Kemptown Railway line. First I would like to thank you for the excellent service.. Found the film fascinating to watch, especially as I've lived in Brighton all my life (84years). Always been fascinated with the tunnel but never expected to see the inside of it. Thanks again will have to study your other clips, especially the cycle routes along the the disused tracks.

Nigel Rowe from The Internet wrote on 9 May 2019 at 7:49 pm

Hi Chris Firstly, thanks so much for the fast despatch of your latest DVD to me! You put Amazon Prime in the shade! This is a line I am not at all familiar with. However, how I enjoyed your walk/ride/drive along it. I had no idea that The Wrecker and Oh Mr Porter! were filmed here, and I have both films on DVD! Funnily enough, we drove from Basingstoke to Alton last weekend (to avoid a congested M3), I had no idea we were running alongside the line and even driving on it at one point. As with all your films, I thoroughly enjoyed this one - you are an inspiration to us all! We walked from Blandford Forum to Shillingstone last year, all still in situ, a really good walk. I look forward to you doing some of the S&D, although I appreciate it is a mammoth task. Still, you could always do shorter sections... Thanks again for this DVD. It is worth every penny. I will be ordering more soon - the IoW walks look good as I spent many childhood holidays in Ventnor and travelled the remaining lines (Ryde-Ventnor and Newport and Cowes) with a holiday runabout ticket. All the best Nigel

R.C. from The Internet wrote on 7 May 2019 at 10:22 pm

Thank you Chris they are really superb! Nothing is better than your Alton to Basingstoke DVD. I would love to buy several pints if I ever meet you.

Dave from The Internet wrote on 7 May 2019 at 9:52 pm

Received the Westerham Branch Line DVD on time but didn't get a chance to view it until yesterday. What an interesting DVD!! Really enjoyed it. Until late 2016 I lived in Dunton Green and had walked part of what was the track to Westerham myself - great memories. I look forward to purchasing some of your other 'disused railway track' DVDs. Regards - Dave.

C from The Internet wrote on 21 February 2019 at 1:34 pm

Hi Thanks for putting these films together, very interesting and nice to watch. I will be back to order again just need to save my pocket money or so the misses says. I am interested in the Salisbury to West Moors and as a volunteer on the Mid Hants railway the Meon Valley line and Lord Nelson on the mainline. Thanks again and liked the bike.

RS from The Internet wrote on 18 January 2019 at 9:03 am

Hi Dumpman, We purchased your video of the Sprat & Winkle line from ebay on 5th January 2019. We thoroughly enjoyed it, the presentation was excellent. We live in Andover and have walked quiet a bit of the track bed, but we never found as much as you did. Well done.

Anonymous from The Internet wrote on 18 January 2019 at 9:00 am

Hi there, I bought your Meon Valley set a while back, which was very impressive. I would now like a copy of everything you have on the Isle of Wight railway network.

Anonymous from The Internet wrote on 29 November 2018 at 6:16 am

Thank you for the Lyme Regis to Axminster dvds received today and watched already ! I'm well pleased, thankyou. Have left you 5 star feedback. Watching it was for me quite emotional. I was on the platform on 27th Nov 1965 (aged 13) the day the Axminster & Lyme Regis branch line closed. I spent many happy years at school near the station and countless trips on the train between Lyme and Axminster. I have never been able to "walk the line" but your film is the nearest I will ever come to it. Looking back I wish I had the vision and encouragement to have measured and photographed every inch of the railway when it would have been so much easier to access all areas than it would be today (health & safety etc). I know that in the early 70s there was an attempt to keep the line running but by then some of the land had already been built upon thus stopping any chance of the line being opened from Axminster all the way to Lyme. I retired 18 months ago (66 now) and my ambition has been to build a oo gauge model of Lyme Regis station in the late 50s until closure. I have spent 4 years researching and collecting pictures, videos, books aswell as model locos that would have run on the branch in that period. Your film is an important part of my collection and I'm grateful for the quality of it and that you had the foresight to do it. I should have bought it when I first saw it on eBay a couple of years ago. Anyway I've got it now and I'm very pleased with it. Thankyou once again. Regards, Mike

NC from The Internet wrote on 31 October 2018 at 9:23 pm

Hi Chris, I've that many of your dvds it's hard to not double order off the list you send, but I've selected the 3 you've featured in your email. Absolutely love your dvds you have a calming persona, keep it up. Cheers.

Anonymous from The Internet wrote on 12 September 2018 at 10:49 pm

Hi Dumpman, thanks for hours of excellent dvds.Have always had interest in disused railways as i drive over the old taunton to chard branch daily and also walked part of bridport branch in the early 80s when it had only been closed around 7 years so. The infrastructure was still present. Anyway keep up the good work and perhaps do a Somerset dvd sometime in future....cheers Steve

B from The Internet wrote on 5 September 2018 at 7:31 pm

Hello Chris, Just finished looking at the three DVD set of the Princetown Branch and it is brilliant!

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