Gwili Railway on BBC2

Hi all -

The Gwili Railway appeared on BBC2 tonight, as part of Andrew Marr's "Making of Britain" series. For those that didn't catch it, the programme can be seen online, at the link below. The interesting stuff starts at 30:15...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00np25k/Andrew_Marrs_The_Making_of_Modern_Britain_A_New_Dawn/

Look out for one of the vintage coaches (TVR No.220), having a starring role!

Cheers.

 

Nice to see Mr Marr wearing a Hi Visibility sports jacket whilst walking up the middle of the 4 foot!

 

Damn it - the blooming Beeb doesn't allow me to watch this as I'm in the states - hrumpphh

 

Must say I too groaned when I saw Mr Marr striding up the four foot. Dont programme makers realise that it sets a bad example?

At least they used a railway in Wales for that part of the programme where he was explaining about what I think was the first recorded organised industrial action, and it involved a South Wales railway signalman.

46118

 

What I spotted was Mr Marr in the 4 foot, with a TPWS overspeed sensor grid behind him. I doubt the Gwili has progressed to having this level of technology fitted, why would it, so not only is he not wearing a hi-vis jacket, as required by NR, but I see no safety boots, orange trousers, hard hat or gloves - all mandated for non-traincrew on Network Rail lines.

Its not only a bad example, but breaking any number of railway regulations, and do we know that the line was closed? Being a single line the train could have come from either side at any time...

Rant over...

John

 

Appropriatley he was travelling in a Taff Vale Railway coach too

I don't know where the Network Rail scenes were filmed, presume South Wales too, but I did also wonder how such permission was given on what appeared to be a working line.

 

The section filmed 'in the four foot' looks very much like the top end of the Abercynon branch, operated by Arriva. There are a lot of public foot crossings on this section of line, so could it be that the cameraman is positioned on the foot crossing?

 

Unlikely. Mr Marr would have been mugged and the film crew would have returned to a car without wheels.....

(Ducks)