Tunnel Cottage is one of the most unusual houses that lie on railway property. It is the bijou dwelling that nestles between the two imposing, castellated towers that form part of the extraordinary northern entrance to Clayton tunnel on the London to Brighton line.

Built by the LBSCR in the 1840s, the 2266 yard long tunnel is now a grade 2 listed building. The cottage was added to the ramparts in 1849. Some believe that the tunnel and cottage are haunted by the victims of a terrible train crash that happened in the tunnel in 1861.

This film shows the various views that passers by and trainspotters will be used to taken from the nearby road bridge. More interestingly, having gained permission to enter the land, there are numerous views that you would not generally have access to.

These include close up footage of the tunnel mouth, detailed views of the decorative stonework on the facade walls, views of the house and structure from the hill behind and views of the surrounding garden and land.

Although the cottage occupies part of the structure, there are empty catacombs in the hexagonal towers that make interesting viewing; these are shown with the aid of a 5,000,000 candle power torch.

Spectacular views are taken from the top of one of the towers which was accessed specially for this film.

Most exciting is the "secret passage" which runs horizontally into the hillside from the back of the cottage. After some yards it meets a large vertical shaft, much like the ventilator shafts that serve the main railway tunnel. This is also explored with a powerful torch showing as much detail as possible.

Finally, some views at the southern end of the tunnel show the of ventilator shafts along the hilltop in relation to the tunnel mouth. One of the ventilator shafts is seen close up to show how they were all originally constructed with doorways.

 Includes constant commentary.

Running time: 42 minutes. Price: £7

Crowhurst to Bexhill West Trackbed Explored 2009

A thorough trek along the disused trackbed of this line in January and March 2009.

At the time of filming, there was every indication that a long disputed link road would be built across the stunning Coombe Valley, bisecting the line just to the north of the site of the old viaduct before joining the course of the trackbed from Sidley down to the A259. A huge inspiration was to get out there and capture these images before they are wiped from the landscape forever and replaced by noisy congestion.

Starting at Crowhurst station and then thoroughly working down the trackbed, every aspect remaining is examined. See the site of the 17 arch 417 yard viaduct that was blown up in 1969 and get views from either end of where it used to run; a quick nose through the undergrowth shows piles of bricks remaining at both ends that were not removed by demolition contractor. Foundations on the valley floor that would have supported the structure are also featured.

South of the viaduct sees the track converted into a bridleway, whereupon the course of the line is followed by bike, hopping off occasionally to film the underside of bridges. Heading towards a deep cutting on the outskirts of Sidley, the point where the proposed new link road will join the track is speculated upon. Particular attention is paid to bridges from this point on as they will be demolished to create space for the new road. The grand three arch bridge that currently serves Glover's Farm is a particularly good example.

Arriving at the north end of Sidley station having travelled the deep cutting, a thorough nose around the site is carried out. Close ups of the threatened road bridge, views of the site of the station building at road level and numerous shots of the filled in platform areas are included. Perhaps more exciting is finding evidence of the old footbridge that used to serve the platforms by rummaging around on the steep, eastern bank. Brick remains that used to surround the waiting rooms are seen. Footage from 2006 showing the goods shed before it was demolished is also included.

South of Sidley, the trackbed turns into a superb, green corridor running through the middle of an urban area. This is followed doggedly down as far as the A259 where a junction will be formed with the link road. A few awkward to access sights are enjoyed along the way.

Having appreciated where the large, steel bridge that carried the line over the A259 and Down Road would have been, the track runs through what is now Beeching Road Industrial Estate towards the terminus at Bexhill West station. A visit inside the station building was made possible by the generosity of the current residents and numerous original features remain. Also on the station site, the loco shed remains, at least in part, despite being partially re-clad to make it usable as a current day industrial unit.

Running time: 3 hours 10 minutes (3 x dvd). Price: £12

Tunbridge Wells West Disused Railway Line Tour 2010

A short film showing all accessible trackbed on this short stretch of disused single line.

The two stations at Tunbridge Wells, once finished in the late 1800s, needed a rail link between them. LBSCR set about building this in 1872. In railway history terms, it is a fairly late casualty, being taken out of service in 1986.

Starting at Tunbridge Wells West station (home of the Spa Valley Railway), numerous shots of the old station building are taken across the station yard (car park) using the embankment on the south side, much to the bemusement of some of the shoppers. A few views inside the building showing the fabulous multicoloured brickwork and fine features up close are also included.

The relationship between the remaining buildings and the trackbed is shown and then we move off east to pick up the course of the line in the Montacute Road coach park. We slip quietly under the recently repaired road bridge and then on through the tunnel, which is examined in some detail. The cutting running up to the road bridge carrying Warwick Park Road is travelled until extended gardens block the path of travel.

A footpath a few yards further east that used to carry pedestrians under the line is our next port of call with unhindered access along the remaining trackbed all the way to the old junction with the line that still serves the town today.

Includes constant running commentary and occasional irrelevant observations.

Running time: 28 minutes. Price: £6.

Redgate Mill to Heathfield Track Bed Explored 2010

A detailed film showing an exploration of most of the track bed, earthworks, tunnels, stations, bridges and other features that remain on this stretch of disused line.

Despite the title, the first scenes in the film are at the still used station at Eridge, where folk would have boarded trains to travel down the Cuckoo line. Subsequently, the line is picked up at Redgate Mill junction, where the Cuckoo line veered away from the current day line to Uckfield.

Closed in 1965, the line was well known for its deep cuttings, towering embankments and being a constant series of reverse curves that made it a potentially dangerous line to travel. At least one case of a loco jumping the rails killing it's driver is documented in the history books. Apart from the numerous spectacular bridges, made from a beautiful brick and local stone mix, there are also two tunnels, numerous signal gantries, telegraph poles and other relics from the time of the railway.

The first station south of Redgate Mill junction was Rotherfield and Mark Cross and the owner of the property allowed access to film the platform and surrounding area . At one time, there was a swimming pool between the platforms, whereas it is now a water feature in the garden, as seen in the film.Although access was not gained into the delapidated Mayfield station, numerous views from the outside are included and a full explanation of how the bypass of 1990 was built along the track bed. Heathfield station is now a shop and numerous views from the outside are also to be seen here.

Keep a look out for the albino squirrel that lives in the forest near Heathfield !

Running time: 3 hours (3 x dvds). Price: £14. 

Lydford Junction & Mary Tavy Stations Explored 2010

A short film showing some of the views around these two fascinating, Devon, disused stations.

Before closure, two railway companies ran competing train services up this valley with tracks side by side between Tavistock and Lydford. Nowhere is this more clearly visible than at Mary Tavy, highlighting the delightful lunacy that pervaded during the railway boom years.

Lydford junction is significant as it was the only station that was shared by both lines and is often reported as having nothing left to see. Having slipped surreptitiously over the fence and wandered happily along the eerily derelict platforms, it can be seen that there are indeed views still worth seeing.

Mary Tavy still has its station building, although this is only briefly focused on here. Far more interesting is what you can see just to the south of the station, showing the proximity of the tracks, the long views down green and empty track beds and the superb granite bridges.

Look out for Great Western Railway boundary marker from 1895 hiding in a hedgerow, a most exciting find.

Running time: 20 minutes. Price: £5.

Princetown to Yelverton Railway Trip Recreated 2010

A lively, amateur enthusiast's journey between these two destinations in April 2010. 

Having walked this line on a family holiday as a child in 1980, I always harboured a wish to come back and do it again, but this time I brought along my camera and a bike. What you see here is a dogged attempt to film nearly all the trackbed and all the points of interest on this route, recreating a driver's eye view as if you were sat on the front of the loco !

Starting at Princetown and descending through the moor on a fabulously sunny day, the sites of the various halts (King Tor, Ingra Tor, Burrator) are sought out and a quick nose into the granite quarry of Foggintor is included. These spectacular quarries are where Nelson's Column and sections of London Bridge were extracted from. Indeed, there are still parts of London Bridge that never got delivered that were left sitting by the track bed at the entrance to Swelltor quarry, views of which are included here.

Numerous places where the line built in the 1870s deviates from the original Plymouth and Dartmoor Railway of the 1820s are also featured. Other than the delightful views of the moor, you get to see the spectacular Burrator reservoir from above and general distant views off towards Cornwall. 

Descending to the lower end of the line, I managed to get an invitation to go in and film around Dousland station in full detail, where there was much to see. The station building and platform still remain and are lovingly preserved with a number of GWR features to see.

More surprising was the fact that I was allowed in to roam and film to my heart's content around the site of Yelverton station. For many years, this fascinating station site has been notoriously awkward to access and well known for being a closely guarded hidden gem.

The nature reserve that Yelverton station site has become was a really fantastic sight. I was kindly given a detailed tour by the owner and then allowed to film unhindered for as long as I needed to. The fact that I was there in April before all the spring growth obscured all the views made things even better. 

Views include the platforms bringing in the line from Princetown, merging with those of the mainline from Plymouth, a spectacular accommodation bridge, a deep cutting through the rock and a loco inspection pit. Enjoy a trip through the fantastic 680 yard long tunnel towards Horrabridge and marvel at the amount of water pouring through from above ! There are numerous other points of interest; one of the most superb sites I have ever had the pleasure to visit.

Apart from the film which represents the journey down across the moor, there is a section at the end of the third dvd showing a slide show of a number of stills taken at the same time.

The photo used in this listing is one of the aforementioned stills. It shows the greatly overgrown platforms in Yelverton station where passengers from Princetown once alighted as they appear today.

Includes constant, enthusiastic, well informed commentary, packed with historical facts.

Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes (3 discs). Price: £13. 

Cuckfield Royal Observer Corps Nuclear Bunker – a restoration project 2010

This film shows the progress of a restoration project with a difference ! When the opportunity to do a job on this ROC site came up, bunker enthusiast Mark Russell jumped at it.

Relatively sparsely furnished, but not flooded or badly damaged, this bunker made the perfect site for Mark to put his vision into action: restoring and re-kitting an ROC post to its former glory as it was during use.

A rotten floor was removed, much painting was done, seized pumps were freed and vintage chemical toilets were made to shine like the day they were made. Numerous other authentic and original items were brought in to complete the scene, including bunk beds, communications equipment, bomb plotting maps, tools, rations and a host of other bits of and pieces.

Footage starts in mid 2009 showing a relatively empty space in need of attention. A further visit at the end of 2009 shows great progress in décor improvements, while a final visit in May 2010 shows the full restoration on one of the open days. Mark gives us a detailed history lesson on the surface and then descends to complete an informative tour of this fascinating, underground, historical time capsule.

Running time 52 minutes. Price £7.