435 Chris Bedford ~ Adventures With Abandoned Railways

<p>I'm excited to introduce this week's guest, Chris Bedford—also known as Dumpman. I first discovered Chris and his work when I walked the Downs Link back in 2016. Chris is the owner of Dumpman Films, and he makes documentaries about disused railways in southern England.</p> <p>Back when I was researching my book on the Wey-South Path, I bought one of his films on the Hardham canal tunnel, and I found it really fascinating. You may know that two of my favorite trails are the Wey-South Path (which goes along a mostly disused canal) and the Downs Link (which follows a disused railway). I love exploring these bits of history, and I find abandoned transportation routes especially interesting.</p> <p>Outdoor adventures don’t have to be about physical fitness and endurance. They can also be about exploration and reconnecting with history. I hope you’re inspired to explore your area’s history after listening to this episode!</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>About Chris Bedford</strong></p> <p>Chris Bedford is an explorer and documentary filmmaker. His business, Dumpman Films, is based in Sussex and specializes in hunting out hard-to-find scenes, views, and journeys and making them available. If it’s interesting and awkward, he’s in there. Although based in Sussex, the material is by no means limited to Sussex.</p> <p>Chris makes homemade films about odd places. Abandoned railways/disused railways feature heavily; what magic there is in seeing an abandoned railway station or tunnel or other such relic left behind as a result of Dr Beeching’s axe. However, wartime bunkers, sewers, canal tunnels, collapsing piers, disused industrial sites, old roads and ruined Victorian asylums crop up too.</p> <p>Learn more about Chris and the history of his films <a href= "https://dumpman.co.uk/history-of-dumpman-films/">here.</a></p> <p><a href="https://dumpman.co.uk/">Website</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/22615392661/">Facebook group: Disused Railways of Sussex</a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><span style="fon