My 2010 Videos, Popularity on YouTube

Wow - what a load of over-reaction to a comment. If you think someone is a stirer why rise to it?

Back on topic.

This is a subject that has fascinated me for several years. I have to say that some locos don't seem to attract that much interest which is a shame. 48151 is one that springs to mind in my area but she always puts on a great show (and noise) and has some lovely climbs and scenery on her trips.

Rather than give my top ten I noticed that there is a great variation in viewings for the same loco. For example, looking at the total of 49 videos I uploaded in 2010 Duchess of Sutherland "scored" between 212 and 1387 - that's some variation. Other examples are Princess Elizabeth 197 - 593, Tornado 200 - 1394 and Scots Guardsman 196 - 1459. So it's not just the popularity of the loco nor does it seem to be the location and, as I only "advertise" on this site, that can't be the reason. The only thing I have noticed is that if you upload early (especially while folk are still "following" the tour online) then you seem to get better viewing numbers - sadly my system is so slow the stuff usually only becomes available after everyone has gone to bed - that's my excuse anyway.

Chris

 

This (absolutely brilliant) video on Youtube proves just what 48151 is capable of,a stunning beast.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X7mVOZk54M

Cheers,
Mark

 

It is intresting how some videos end up with many more views than others. I have a mix of main line and preserved steam videos and I have looked through mine and a couple have ended up being 'feature videos' like the one I took of 44932 and 35028 in the snow before Christmas, that one had some hits from a USA model railway website (someone who posted there linked to it!), they probably picked that up through a featured video when searching snow. Most of the other videos I took of main line steam around the south east have had not had half as many views as that one managed in 6 weeks. Perhaps its just the snow! My most popular videos by far were of the Bluebell's new station at East Grinstead, fairly dull videos but a subject many people are intrested in I guess!

 

I have also found that my 44932 & 35028 video has done much better in a couple of months than all of my other mainline videos. My most successful video of 2010 by far is of the first Northbound spoil train from East Grinstead, which went through 7,000 views today. An enormous number for a class 66 shuffling up and down. But videos I thought might do well haven't done so at all. I have a video from the lineside of 30777 climbing Upwey Bank and that has barely over 200 views. But another 30777 video of mine, just a Cathedrals Express around Kent has 500 or so views.

 

Hey many thanks for the plug and kind comment Mark . Seems a long time ago that I shot that now; not overly happy with the fast zoom looking back but those were the limitations of my equipment at the time. Not another person within sight of me, and it's had 32,000 views! Just a case of being in the right place at the right time I guess. And that seems to be the recipe for high viewing figures; if you capture something dramatic and unusual, a record breaking run etc., you'll get the views regardless of the quality of filming. Short and snappy, high impact seems to win this race.

 

I can understand this, particularly for railtours where a great number of views seem to come in a short space of time. This is perhaps facilitated by the essentially short nature of these sequences, so the observer does have to spend too much time in watching. But surely it isn't true of the sort of films I do, which are longer and don't necessarily have a newsworthy theme. But some get several hundred hits, a few over a thousand and I'm curious to know why! I suppose I'll never find out, but I'm still curious.

Regards

 

Absolutely agree with that Ralph. Think I get mine up last of anyone generally, because I'm not prepared to upload anything I'm not 100% happy with (i.e. the editing), and I just don't have the time to upload on the day; the effect of my slowness is apparently reflected in the viewing figures. Something else that seems to have an effect is the width of appeal of the video; just putting 'high speed steam train' as the title as opposed to ''46115 at Penrith with The Royal Scot' will get far more clicks from steam enthusiasts around the world.

 

I'd rather you sacrificed hits for quality, I've always liked your videos - they seem to be a standard higher than most.

 

Well, what can I say! I've just watched your film of 48151 blasting up Ais Gill and you have 32,155 views! I should wish! Very good film and well done indeed!

Regards