Channel 4 Programme

This looks interesting, I note that Peter Snow is to drive the train himself!

http://www.seenit.co.uk/peter-snow-to-present-channel-4-railway-restoration-series/

 

If driving a steam locomotive is a 'boyhood dream' then why doesn't he go on one of the many Driver Experience courses available? I'm sure he can afford it.

 

The programme will no doubt bring a good deal of publicity to the four participating Railways.

 

Hmm. Will be interesting to see what they pick and then do with it. The blurb says they are taking 4 carriages from derelict shells to running order. Also mentions from 1860 and a royal saloon used by Queen Victoria. I suspect those railways involved will have been sworn to silence, so I'll just quietly hope that some how Didcot's dreadnought has got on the list.

 

So many deserving cases, I to would love to see the Dreadnought restored.

 

The railways concerned may have been sworn to silence but the grape vine is usually pretty good. Perhaps it is all being filmed at Carnforth?

 

Link not working?

 

Strange as it works for me.

 

Weird. Can you give date and time plse?

 

The article does not actually given a time and date, so I am assuming that it will be in the coming months. If you go to the Seenit website it is on the main page.

 

I think everybody in the wooden carriage fraternity knows who's doing the vehicles for the programme.

Not something I'd be wanting to be involved with though.

Sawdust.

 

So come on then do tell, what carriages and where ? I think to achieve any restoration in the 6 months it would need to be done with full time staff, certainly not volunteers doing it one day a week.

 

Why? Is it all going to be “looks good on camera but falls apart after 3 months” standard?

 

I did. It didn't go down well

Sawdust.

 

If you've ever restored a basket case you'd know you want to take a little more time.

We did Gresley BTO 43567 as part of a hlf project in about 18 months to 2 years, from a complete chicken shed to runner.
That was me working full time for most of the project plus a few others part/full-time and volunteers up to seven days a week.

You can only throw so many people at a carriage before they start getting in each others way. If you add in to the mix lead times with suppliers, you'd need a wizard in charge of project management.

Sawdust.

 

Could it be done so that it looks ok for filming, then the coach is withdrawn and finished to a decent standard after the cameras stop rolling?

 

You mean they did the other side after the fact?!

 

How many remember "Challenge Aneka" where the remedial work took longer than if she had not visited

 

I remember her running around in those tight Lycra shorts... That's for another discussion though!

 

There's no way on Earth you could go from Chicken Coop to IOWSR standard restored coach in 6 months! However these programmes should be judged differently, and if it gives a good flavour of carriage restoration in a way that entertains and engauges with the wider public, then it has the potential to be a great programme, and an even greater publicity tool for the vehicles and railways involved.

Personally I would prefer a finished film that resembled Channel 4's Grand Designs rather than Trainspotting Live, so I look forward to seeing what they create!

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