Channel 4 Programme

Overall quite an entertaining series. Somewhat more serious than the recent fly-on-the-wall documentary on channel 5 about the North Yorkshire Moors, which was also interesting but pointed at a non-railway enthusiast market. So unless there's a fifth episode showing Peter Snow "driving" the engine/train, there wasn't much footage of the ensemble together and running on the Llangollen. Which was a pity as it would have shown to a degree how the carriages had developed over the 100 years that Peter Snow kept mentioning.

As a personal remark, one thing many folk are surprised at, at Pickering when showing them what the L.N.E.R.C.A. is up to. Is the costs involved in restoring the vehicles and these days it's not just your wooden bodied former hen house, it's Mk1s too. Equally they're surprised at where we get some of the parts. As Mrs Middleton said.......eBay! Also some at least enthusiasts are starting to realise it's not just the locomotives that are the "star" of the show. As carriage also need TLC to and can add to the overall picture. Especially when you consider that it's the carriages that the travelling public have the closest most contact with, so if the carriages aren't well maintained, it doesn't matter how shiny and well maintained an engine, they'll vote with their feet and the likes of TripAdvisor..........

 

2392 - There is a 5th episode showing Peter Snoew driving the train, with all 4 coaches at Llangollen next week.

 

I very much hope you are right. Sometimes I get the feeling that there are enthusiasts who would tolerate the use of Pacers provided the railway concerned issued Edmondson tickets.

PH

 

It's a shame that they didn't show some of the inventive places where parts were sourced from, like a crusty old barn or something, that sort of thing is my bread and butter, I would like to see a series focusing on the long term restoration of a carriage, going more in depth on the various craftsmanships involved so that the viewer learns something along the way, obviously that sort of thing has a particular target audience, and the long production time will most likely make it untenable an idea to float to any production company, grand designs seem to have got filming long projects down to a fine art so it can be done. Regarding the most recent episode I think they should've tried to recreate the gas lamps and refit them but with a retrofitted bulb or something, it's certainly been done before, finding one in the roof was quite a stroke of luck and it should've been exploited. Other than that no complaints so far.

 

Somewhat ironic that one week we see vinyl signs being applied as "there are no real signatures who can do the job now" and the following week we see a signwriter painting crests, signs and lining by hand.

 

I think a lot of railways have started to realise this in recent years.

The Mid Hants for example used to have an attitude of ‘people don’t care what they ride in as long as there is a steam loco on the front’. Now they have got rid of their awful Mk2s, and are putting efforts into restoring Bulleid coaches.

The Swanage railway was for so long Mk1 only. Now they have two Bulleids restored and in service, and two Maunsells well on their way to joining them. There are also more in the pipeline.

WSR now have their heritage coach project.

Bodmin have restored a Victorian first class saloon, with a top light now being worked on.

And there are many other examples. The likes of the IOWSR have always led the way, but now others are seeing the light.

I wonder if this is in part driven by the lack of availability of MK1s? In the past if you needed more capacity, you could just go to BR and buy more mk1s. Not so easy any more, and restoring what you’ve got is the only option.

 

I'd like to see some Mk. 2a carriages restored for heritage diesel haulage myself. A rake of 2a's and a Metro-Camm Pullman in inverted blue/grey would be perfect for mainline haulage.

 

I seem to recall that at one time, NASA was buying 8" floppy disk drives from eBay for the Space Shuttles... I've found it invaluable for buying obsolete electronic components.

 

Can I mention the Severn Valley? Rather biased but if you show up there on the right day (and not necessarily a gala day) you can have ride in stock from 3 of the 4 pre nationalisation companies. Dare I say it but the SVR's always seemed to try and put its carriages on an equal footing with its locos?

 

Its not so much that there are no sign writers, its probably that the railway concerned either hasn't got anyone in house that can sign write, or that they can't get someone to do it, at a time they need it done, so using vinyl is a next best solution,
On the KESR, we always had Meg and Alan, to do most of the lining out, and the then general manager passed comment that he thought it took too long, that it could be quicker if we used vinyl as all he was concerned about was having that coach in commercial traffic as soon as possible , I'm of course commenting on the disabled coach. we had many such moments , of pressure being exerted to hurry a coach into service

 

Don't do it people! Just don't!

 

ohh, my head now hurts,

 

Yes I didn’t mention the SVR, because I regard it in the same way as the IOWSR - a line that has always placed equal importance on its coaches.

 

I know it's only mk1s, but a small mention for us at the GWSR, we really do look after our coaches - I go elsewhere and am always impressed with other lines' vintage carriages, but I've never come across as many Mk1s in as good condition in one place elsewhere.

 

We-ell, last time I was there the maroon rake was looking a bit grimy. As has been said though, their pre-nationalisation coaches are superb, and always a highlight for me.

 

It's not easy being perfect all the time!

 

So it's not just me then?!

 

Assuming this thread is attracting the carriage fans, just a heads up that next week 2-8 is NNR 'the story of suburban travel' and will be an excuse to show off their MK1 suburbans, quad-arts and vintage train set, with extra services (think only one set running each day) and, of course their incomparable MK1s, all potentially with appropriate motive power. Wish I was able to make it

 

No its not, a few times, when I see threads hijacked to suit personal agenda's I think, why do I bother? , its very tempting to just not post anything I suppose in the hope that if you deny the oxygen of publicity, the antagonist will give up.