Friends of Tracing the Rails
At Tracing the Rails, we deeply value the collaborations that have enriched our show.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following partners for their invaluable support:
Steyning Museum
Steyning Museum has been a cornerstone of support for Tracing the Rails® and a vital guardian of Steyning’s rich local history. The museum is run entirely by dedicated volunteers and is widely respected for its carefully curated collections covering the town, the surrounding Downs, and the Steyning Line itself.
We are especially grateful to Andrew Woodfield, Curator of Exhibitions, at the time of filming, whose knowledge, generosity, and enthusiasm were invaluable. Many of the photographs, cine films, and reference materials featured in the early part of the series were sourced directly from the museum’s archives, and several volunteers also contributed insights and local expertise, even interviews to the production.
We were proud to film an interview with Andrew in front of the Steyning Station exhibit, which he curated with great care and historical accuracy, an exhibit that perfectly reflects the museum’s commitment to preserving local railway heritage.
Henfield Museum
Henfield Museum has been a generous and enthusiastic supporter of Tracing the Rails®, providing invaluable local knowledge, historical context, and access to Henfield’s rich railway and social history. Run by a committed team of volunteers, the museum plays a vital role in preserving and sharing the story of Henfield and its place on the Steyning Line.
We are particularly grateful to Alan Barwick, Curator of Henfield Museum, who has supported the project not only as a historical advisor but also as a trusted script editor. Alan’s deep knowledge of the Steyning Line, combined with his meticulous attention to historical accuracy, has helped strengthen the series at every stage.
Alan is also a passionate public speaker and regularly delivers engaging talks on the Steyning Line and local railway history throughout the area. These talks are highly recommended and well worth attending for anyone with an interest in Sussex’s lost railways.
Dumpman
Chris Bedford, widely known as Dumpman, has been a constant source of support and inspiration to Tracing the Rails® from the very beginning. A passionate railway historian, filmmaker, and archivist, Chris has contributed to the project in multiple roles, as an occasional guest-presenter, a trusted production assistant, and a steady guiding presence behind the scenes.
Chris is also the creator and administrator of the highly respected Disused Railways of Sussex, a thriving online community that has helped connect countless people with Sussex’s lost railway heritage. His work has inspired not only our own series, but many others to get out, explore, research, and document what remains of these forgotten lines.
Multi-talented, quietly knowledgeable, and characteristically unassuming, Chris is one of the kindest and most generous collaborators you could hope to work with. He also produces and sells his own railway history DVDs, which are widely admired for their care, accuracy, and deep local insight. We are extremely grateful for his continued support and friendship.
Visit: https://www.dumpman.co.uk/
Neville & Kate Chambers
Neville Chambers and Kate Chambers have been long-standing and much-valued supporters of Tracing the Rails®. Hard-working and generous with their time and encouragement, they have backed the project consistently and with genuine enthusiasm.
Neville previously lived in the Steyning Line area and often tells us how the series evokes strong feelings of nostalgia for a place that clearly still means a great deal to him. A lifelong railway enthusiast, his passion extends beyond the screen, with railway signalling and ephemera forming part of his own garden landscape (how Kate feels about this remains a matter of good-natured debate). That quiet, personal connection to railway history aligns perfectly with the spirit of the series.
When our previous drone finally reached the end of its working life, Neville and Kate very kindly stepped in to provide a replacement, ensuring filming could continue without interruption. Through Patreon, Neville also became an Executive Producer of the show, for which we are deeply grateful. Away from the cameras, they jointly run Chambers Property Care, a busy and well-respected property maintenance business. Their support has made a real and lasting difference to the project.
Gaugemaster's ModelGIANT and Model Railway Quest
Model Railway Quest and Gaugemaster's ModelGIANT have been invaluable collaborators in bringing the world of miniature railways to life in Tracing the Rails®. Their support helped shape the dedicated model railway section of the series and brought an extra dimension of creativity and enthusiasm to our work.
Model Railway Quest, created and presented by Dawn Quest, is a vibrant, knowledgeable destination for model railway enthusiasts of all kinds. Dawn’s engaging videos, featuring interviews, layout tours, show coverage, and modelling tutorials, reflect her deep passion for the hobby and her background in journalism and television production. In working with us, Dawn guest-presented in an episode and shared not only her expertise but a fabulous day of collaboration with “Grumpy”, whose company we fondly remember.
Alongside this creative collaboration, Gaugemaster's "ModelGIANT" (the new identity for the shop originally known as The Engine Shed) has been a cornerstone of support both personally and practically. Located in Ford, West Sussex, ModelGIANT is one of Europe’s largest model and hobby shops, offering an extensive range of locomotives, track, scenery and modelling materials for hobbyists at every level.
Presenter and Director first met while working at The Engine Shed in their teens, a connection that makes this partnership especially meaningful. ModelGIANT’s passion for the model railway community has made a real contribution to our project.
Together, Dawn Quest and ModelGIANT exemplify the inclusive, creative spirit of the model railway world — and we’re delighted to include them among our collaborators.
Visit: https://www.modelrailwayquest.com/
Visit: https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/modelgiant
Rob Bell
Rob Bell is a British engineer and documentary presenter best known for Walking Britain’s Lost Railways, a Channel 5 series exploring the history and landscapes of closed railway lines across the UK. A hugely supportive friend to Tracing the Rails®, Rob brought his expertise, enthusiasm, and genuine warmth to our Episode 4 filming, and his kindness and encouragement throughout the project have meant a great deal to us.
Visit: Rob Bell
Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman is an English record producer, broadcaster and lifelong railway enthusiast, famed as one-third of the Stock Aitken Waterman pop music hit-making team and as a passionate supporter of railway heritage. Along with his wonderful son, Peter Junior, Pete kindly gave a memorable interview for Episode 5 of the series. His generosity, humour and shared love of railways made their contribution truly special, and we are extremely grateful for their support.
Will Stratford & The Watercress Line
William Stratford and the Watercress Line have been hugely influential collaborators and supporters of Tracing the Rails®. Will is widely known to railway enthusiasts for the extraordinary volume and quality of content he produces for the Watercress Line, capturing everything from heritage operations and special events to behind-the-scenes engineering and restoration work.
Alongside his professional role with Network Rail, Will runs the Watercress Line’s media unit, where his skill, energy, and instinctive understanding of what railway audiences love has helped build one of the most engaging heritage railway media outputs in the country. His work has set a benchmark for how heritage railways can communicate their stories in a modern, accessible way without losing authenticity.
Our own project took a significant leap forward after meeting Will. His encouragement, practical advice, and generosity with time and expertise gave Tracing the Rails® renewed confidence and momentum at a crucial stage, and we remain deeply grateful for his support. Both Will and the Watercress Line exemplify the best of the heritage railway movement: professional, welcoming, and driven by a genuine love of railways and the people who care about them.
Rewind TV and Richard Latto
Rewind TV has been a hugely important broadcast partner for Tracing the Rails®, faithfully screening the series on free-to-air television via Freeview, satellite, and connected TV platforms. Rewind TV’s commitment to archive, classic, and specialist factual programming has provided the perfect home for the series, allowing it to reach a wide and appreciative national audience, well beyond online platforms. Their support has played a key role in giving the project countrywide visibility and broadcast credibility.
We are also extremely grateful to Richard Latto, a presenter on Rewind TV and passionate supporterTracing the Rails®. A lifelong music, Doctor Who, and classic television enthusiast, Richard shares our presenters love of vintage broadcasting and has become a fast and valued friend of the project. He has appeared on screen, helped behind the scenes as a production assistant, and is often seen at our public screenings, always offering encouragement and practical help.
Together, Rewind TV and Richard embody the spirit of the project: a shared love of television history, storytelling, and community-led production. We are deeply thankful to both for their continued support and friendship.
Visit: https://www.rewindtv.uk/
Steyning & Henfield Communities
The Steyning and Henfield communities have been at the very heart of Tracing the Rails® from day one. This project could not exist without the warmth, curiosity, generosity, and quiet pride of the people who live along the former line and continue to care deeply about its story.
We are grateful to the local publications who have consistently supported and shared the project, from BN5 Magazine in Henfield to Steyning YourMag, helping the series reach its own communities first. The same is true of local Facebook groups, community pages, and the many residents who stop to say hello, share a memory, or simply offer encouragement as we film along the route.
We are especially thankful to individuals whose knowledge and goodwill have enriched the series, including Dr Janet Pennington, whose historical insight and generosity of spirit have been invaluable, and Catherine Mant of the Steyning Society. We also extend our thanks to Russell Barnes and the Steyning & District Community Partnership, to local businesses such as H J Burt, and to the many dedicated railway people who have shared lived experience.
There are so many more contributors, helpers, and friendly faces than could ever be listed here. Together, they form something rare and special: a community that values its past, supports creativity, and welcomes those who try to tell its story with care. We are profoundly grateful to each and every one of them - Thank you.
John Bond, Henry & The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway gave Tracing the Rails® one of the warmest welcomes we have experienced anywhere, making our day of filming both memorable and genuinely special. Nestled in the stunning Exmoor landscape, the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway is internationally admired for its ambitious restoration of the original narrow-gauge line.
We are especially grateful to John Bond, who not only helped facilitate our filming but has also, through Patreon, become one of the show’s Executive Producers. John’s enthusiasm, encouragement, and belief in the project have extended well beyond a single visit, and we are delighted to be working with him on a further project as Tracing the Rails® continues to grow.
And then there is Henry, widely and affectionately known as the UK’s last railway collecting dog. Henry is very much part of the fabric of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway experience, delighting visitors and embodying the gentle, human spirit that runs through heritage railways at their best. Together, John and Henry exemplify everything we love about the railway world: passion, generosity, and a deep respect for tradition.
The Railway Ramblers
Railway Ramblers have been stalwart supporters of Tracing the Rails® since our very first broadcast, offering encouragement and enthusiasm through Facebook and online, which has meant more to us than we can properly express. Founded in 1978 by Nigel Willis, who placed a small ad in The Railway Magazine asking if there were others in the UK who were interested in accompanying him on walks along abandoned railways. The response was far greater than he had expected – a big surprise, in fact – and, as a result, he decided to form a club. Railway Ramblers are now a long-established national walking organisation dedicated to promoting the enjoyment of the countryside by rail, organising walks that begin and end at railway stations and celebrating the enduring relationship between rail travel and exploration. Their philosophy, combining sustainable travel, heritage interest, and the simple pleasure of discovering landscapes on foot — aligns beautifully with the spirit of our series.
We are very much looking forward to filming with Railway Ramblers for Episode 5 and cannot wait to meet them properly on location. We promise better photographs (left) will follow once we have shared the path together, but in the meantime, our sincere thanks go to the group for their loyalty and support. In many ways, Railway Ramblers embody exactly the kind of thoughtful, inquisitive explorers we hope Tracing the Rails® inspires: people who travel lightly, look closely, and value the stories hidden in the landscape.
Other Collaborators:
Amberley Museum, nestled in the South Downs, has been an incredible resource, preserving the industrial heritage of the region. Their contribution helped in bringing authenticity and depth to our series.
Bluebell Railway, We are grateful to the Bluebell Railway for kindly allowing us to film in the ticket office, and to Gerry Brown for welcoming us into the ticket printing workshop and sharing his expertise. Together, their generosity added authenticity, texture, and historical depth to the series.
Oakley Property kindly granted access to land in Shoreham, enabling us to film the historic railway intersection before later development reshaped the area.
Southern Railway and Staff at Shoreham-by-Sea Station showed patience, professionalism, and active support while we filmed on site throughout the day.
Steve Dudman of Dudman Group generously granted permission for us to film at the cement works, adding vital industrial context to the series.
Friends of St Botolph’s were wonderfully kind and supportive, allowing us to film within the church and generously hosting a community screening. Steyning Festival invited us to be part of their wonderful tradition and gave us the opportunity to meet and engage directly with the people of Steyning. The White Horse warmly welcomed filming, patiently hosted many crew lunches, and screened Part One of the series what now feels like a lifetime ago. The Old Railway served as an invaluable base during filming in Henfield and welcomed us to film a full live Christmas show within its walls.